Roadtrip

[texasranger556]

Gotta drive from Baltimore to Seattle mid January. Driving a half ton 4wd with an enclosed trailer. Would route 94/90 or 80/84 be a better bet? Won't have my sled with me, so trying to avoid getting stuck in the snow this trip .

Looks like either route is around 2800-2900 miles and ~45 solid hours driving in good conditions.

Suggestions?

 

[yammadog]

I would think there are less mountain passes going I90, pretty much just western montana thru idaho and the rest is flat except for the the cascades.

I've been all the way across from PA to WA on 90.....sorry no input on 80...

 

[Lake Cle Elum]

I make that trip about every summer on a motorcycle. Here's my take:

Hwy 80/84 will have less elevation change and be further south, so less snow and bad weather (maybe). BUT, damn near every semi going cross country is on that road. The run slowly, side by side uphill, holding you up. Downhill, they run side by side and will run you over. I hate it and avoid if I can.

You can save 57 miles on Hwy 90 if you do the following: Just west of Sturgis, SD, exit onto Hwy 34 at "Whitewood" and take to Belle Fouche. Take Hwy 85 north turn the town of Belle Fouche and then head west on Hwy 212. It breaks up the boredom of the freeway, but watch for deer the first 60 or 70 miles....

So, if it were me, I'd do 94/90 unless the weather looked ugly.....

 

[V-Man]

I've done both and neither were much fun. I'd take 90 if weather wasnt a concern. Watch the forecast before you leave and try to take the one with less snow!

 

[waterdog]

I have done both and I would definitely watch the weather and base my decision on that factor. Time wise flip a coin in January. Your going to save yourself some headaches by avoiding any storms that are north or south.

Have fun.

 

[Adrenaline Revolution]

If it were me I would take 90.
You only have one real STEEP pass to be concerned about if it's icy and someone else here would be able to give the correct name, I can't remember.
I believe it is near/on the border of Montana to Idaho...Independance Pass maybe??? (4th of July pass?)

I went over it in a two wheel drive van with garbage street tires, in the winter, pulling an overloaded U-Haul trailer and by the time I got down on the West side of it I was ready to change my shorts.

I slid all the way down that sucker...Long and steep.
But I was just a young kid then, a lot of years ago so the old memory may be making it worse than it really was.

I've driven 90 all the way to Chicago quite a few times and it's definately the better one to be on in case you need some help or something.

Bring your sled and get some fun out of it!

 

[V-Man]

[/U]
But I was just a young kid then

This reminds me of my first trip across in a huge POS UHaul. It was one of those that you push the gas to the floor, max out at 55MPH, and never let up until you need gas or food. After a while, holding down the gas pedal was becoming a real drag and was actually quite tiring. We pulled over and got a rock from a road cut to hold it down for us. Cheap cruise control!

That was all fine and dandy until we were coming down a big hill in West Virginia, gaining speed on a sub compact in front of us, and it was time to kick off the rock. Well, my brother in law kicks the rock with his foot and guess what happens. It gets lodged behind the brake pedal so he can't brake, and is still pushing down on the gas. I quickly dove down there with my hands, got it out, and thew that sucker out the window.

Classic moment I'll never forget.

 

[yammadog]

This reminds me of my first trip across in a huge POS UHaul. It was one of those that you push the gas to the floor, max out at 55MPH, and never let up until you need gas or food. After a while, holding down the gas pedal was becoming a real drag and was actually quite tiring. We pulled over and got a rock from a road cut to hold it down for us. Cheap cruise control!

That was all fine and dandy until we were coming down a big hill in West Virginia, gaining speed on a sub compact in front of us, and it was time to kick off the rock. Well, my brother in law kicks the rock with his foot and guess what happens. It gets lodged behind the brake pedal so he can't brake, and is still pushing down on the gas. I quickly dove down there with my hands, got it out, and thew that sucker out the window.

Classic moment I'll never forget.

Nice drama for a road trip!!!

If you take 90 you can check out mt rushmore on the way and of course....WALL DRUG....LOL See the signs for miles and nothing but the signs.....we got caught in a blizzard, shut down the highway and stayed there for 2 days playing cards.

 

[MAC29]

Gotta drive from Baltimore to Seattle mid January. Driving a half ton 4wd with an enclosed trailer. Would route 94/90 or 80/84 be a better bet? Won't have my sled with me, so trying to avoid getting stuck in the snow this trip .

Looks like either route is around 2800-2900 miles and ~45 solid hours driving in good conditions.

Suggestions?

Run to the east coast once a month> Take 80 or take the advice of a summer time motorcycle rider who knows all about trucks.

 

[V-Man]

If you take 90 you can check out mt rushmore on the way and of course....WALL DRUG....LOL See the signs for miles and nothing but the signs.....we got caught in a blizzard, shut down the highway and stayed there for 2 days playing cards.

You actually stayed at wall drug?!?! I didn't know you could. There has to be more to this story than just playing cards.

 

[texasranger556]

Nice drama for a road trip!!!

If you take 90 you can check out mt rushmore on the way and of course....WALL DRUG....LOL See the signs for miles and nothing but the signs.....we got caught in a blizzard, shut down the highway and stayed there for 2 days playing cards.

I've seen Wall Drug in the summer, almost can't pass it after seeing 100 signs for it. Reminds me of "South of the Border" along 95 in South Carolina, known for its 165' sombrero.

Mt Rushmore might be cool with snow on it...

 

[yammadog]

You actually stayed at wall drug?!?! I didn't know you could. There has to be more to this story than just playing cards.

No, we stayed at a hotel nearby and hung out all day at the store and those little shops...it was cool the first day, but got old real quick.....it was a tough drive thru montana at the time they didn't have the speed limit and driving the uhaul with trailer and car hauler..I wanted to pull over and unload the car and let it rip....LOL

Devils tower is not that far off the path either....most don't drive that length very often, if ever, might as well see stuff you might not see otherwise. We only drove during the day so we could see what we would miss at night. Our last night on the road was Moses Lake, WA and cruising thru the columbia gorge that next morning was WAY cool....this is a cool country, going from the plains getting into the drainage going up to the divide...and seeing the mountains. So many words to describe the great place we call our country

 

[snoboy]

RIBLETT!! whats up? How's the wrist? Everything heal up OK? Have you been working on the eastcoast? Are you coming back for Wedgetail work?

 

[texasranger556]

RIBLETT!! whats up? How's the wrist? Everything heal up OK? Have you been working on the eastcoast? Are you coming back for Wedgetail work?

Yeah the cast has been off for a while now, should update my avatar I guess . Flight test schedule is ramping up in January so they asked me move back out. Can't say I'm complaining...the 3 inches of snow we've gotten here doesn't quite cut it. The kitty cat likes its powder .

Keep in touch...hope to ride every weekend I don't have work!

 

[texasranger556]

Leaving today... looks like I90 is no worse than any other route.

 

[BIGSKINS]

Hurry up RIBLET get your butt back here, let's see some pics of the new trailer behind your rig. You like it?

Almost forgot to tell you......STEELERS SUCK AZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.





BIG

 

[texasranger556]

Hurry up RIBLET get your butt back here, let's see some pics of the new trailer behind your rig. You like it?

Almost forgot to tell you......STEELERS SUCK AZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.





BIG

Yeah I like it. Its black, a great background color for Steelers magnets!

Less than 2000 miles to go...What say you pick up my sled and meet me somewhere in Montana or Idaho!

 

[BIGSKINS]

Yeah I like it. Its black, a great background color for Steelers magnets!

Less than 2000 miles to go...What say you pick up my sled and meet me somewhere in Montana or Idaho!

I will wait til' you get back, then we can load up that new trailer and see how it does in Canadian snowy roads..








Big