Any comments on highways, routes, loops, RV parks/places to stay or "must sees" along this??? Or general comments....be gentle, please
We're leaving in early July headed to Wisconsin for our first workamping gig. We will be in Livingston and then Nacogdoches while still in Texas, on Hwy 59. We start our workamping job in WI on August 1 or when we get there if before August 1.
We are members of Good Sam, Escapees and Passport America.
Thinking about the following route northward:
* Hwy 59 to Texarkana, pick up IH 30 to IH 40 in Little Rock, AR
* IH 40 to IH 55 North (just west of Memphis)
* IH 55 to IH 39 in IL
* IH 39 to IH 90/94, which is our destination
The most direct route would be IH 35 north, but we have been there/done that so many times....and I really do not want to spend a night in Kansas. Besides, this route will take us through states Dave has never seen. That is partly why we are full-timing!
I am thinking dividing the trip up...say a couple of 200-250 days, then take a 2-night break, etc. I do NOT want to tow this rig 200+ miles every day. Could do, but do not want to do. And, of course, trying to hit the cities other than during rush hour, so some days may be 100+ only.
I also thought about avoiding St. Louis by taking IH 57 to IH 80 west and then IH 39 north but not sure if that is totally out of the way.
Would like to stay on interstates and avoid huge cities (if possible) as this is our first long-distance tow with the 5er. The cities usually have bypasses/loops so that may not be such a big deal.
I grew up in a big city and have driven solo cross-country north/south and east/west a few times, once towing a U-Haul trailer and once driving a big U-Haul truck, so cities / finding bypasses and loops is not that scary.
Thanks everyone and whoohoo! we are short! Moving to the RV park this coming Thursday and the adventure begins!
We are just about loaded (well, the 5er, not us literally ). Now as long as the truck pulls that rig out of the lot, I think we'll be good! Okay, at least until we hit a scale for the first time!
Cheers!
-- Edited by TxYellowRose on Saturday 19th of June 2010 05:15:45 PM
-- Edited by TxYellowRose on Saturday 19th of June 2010 06:50:50 PM
phyllen said
08:00 AM Jun 21, 2010
Looks like you have it all planned out. Enjoy this new life of yours.
53 Merc said
08:07 AM Jun 21, 2010
One question, why the concern about hitting a scale? Do you intend to scale at a truck stop? The information is good to have, but you can't get individual tire weights at a truck scale. Only be the set of axles. Generally, that is steer axle, drive axle, trailer axels. Then, if the scale is not too busy, they will generally let you unhitch and take the truck back over the scale without an extra charge. Helpful if you talk to the weighmaster before you start and describe what you want to do and why. They have seen people like us before.
(BTW, state scales don't want you in the way.)
flyone said
12:08 PM Jun 21, 2010
TxYellowRose, If you go north through Ill on I-57 try and stop by a place called Wayne Fitzgerrald State Park, on Rend Lake. Very nice park for a short layover, no FHU's and no reservations but during the middle of the week you should have no problem getting one of the premier sites out on the peninsula that juts out into the lake. Nice little winery just on the oppsite side of the I-57. Get a local bottle of wine watch the sunset, and enjoy life for an evening or two. Good luck in Wisconsin and beyond.
Flyone
TxYellowRose said
06:36 PM Jun 21, 2010
Merc,
It was not really concern, more my feeble attempt at humor. On a serious note, though, I would like to get initial weights at a truck stop scale just for my own information. I think there is one in Lufkin, so we might try that on our way out of TX if it is not busy.
I truly believe we are fine weight-wise but, again, would just like to know...ya know?
Thanks for the tips!
Cheers, B.
nessiekatt said
08:20 PM Jun 21, 2010
TxYeIllowRose,
I am not out there yet, but had a thought. I was at a recycle center and they had a scale. I asked if they would weigh RV's, and they said yes. So I was thinking that it might be a good alternative to truck scales. Just a thought for what it's worth.
Susan
injunear said
08:49 AM Jun 27, 2010
TxYellowRose, I think you could take I-57 to I-74 over to Bloomington, IL. That would put ya'll on I-39 where it starts north of the city.
Wayne
TxYellowRose said
01:56 PM Jun 27, 2010
Wayne,
That is what I was looking at this morning. Might be a better route and the distance looks about the same at first glance.
Any comments on highways, routes, loops, RV parks/places to stay or "must sees" along this??? Or general comments....be gentle, please
). Now as long as the truck pulls that rig out of the lot, I think we'll be good! Okay, at least until we hit a scale for the first time!
We're leaving in early July headed to Wisconsin for our first workamping gig. We will be in Livingston and then Nacogdoches while still in Texas, on Hwy 59. We start our workamping job in WI on August 1 or when we get there if before August 1.
We are members of Good Sam, Escapees and Passport America.
Thinking about the following route northward:
* Hwy 59 to Texarkana, pick up IH 30 to IH 40 in Little Rock, AR
* IH 40 to IH 55 North (just west of Memphis)
* IH 55 to IH 39 in IL
* IH 39 to IH 90/94, which is our destination
The most direct route would be IH 35 north, but we have been there/done that so many times....and I really do not want to spend a night in Kansas. Besides, this route will take us through states Dave has never seen. That is partly why we are full-timing!
I am thinking dividing the trip up...say a couple of 200-250 days, then take a 2-night break, etc. I do NOT want to tow this rig 200+ miles every day. Could do, but do not want to do. And, of course, trying to hit the cities other than during rush hour, so some days may be 100+ only.
I also thought about avoiding St. Louis by taking IH 57 to IH 80 west and then IH 39 north but not sure if that is totally out of the way.
Would like to stay on interstates and avoid huge cities (if possible) as this is our first long-distance tow with the 5er. The cities usually have bypasses/loops so that may not be such a big deal.
I grew up in a big city and have driven solo cross-country north/south and east/west a few times, once towing a U-Haul trailer and once driving a big U-Haul truck, so cities / finding bypasses and loops is not that scary.
Thanks everyone and whoohoo! we are short! Moving to the RV park this coming Thursday and the adventure begins!
We are just about loaded (well, the 5er, not us literally
Cheers!
-- Edited by TxYellowRose on Saturday 19th of June 2010 05:15:45 PM
-- Edited by TxYellowRose on Saturday 19th of June 2010 06:50:50 PM
Merc,
It was not really concern, more my feeble attempt at humor. On a serious note, though, I would like to get initial weights at a truck stop scale just for my own information. I think there is one in Lufkin, so we might try that on our way out of TX if it is not busy.
I truly believe we are fine weight-wise but, again, would just like to know...ya know?
Thanks for the tips!
Cheers,
B.
I think you could take I-57 to I-74 over to Bloomington, IL. That would put ya'll on I-39 where it starts north of the city.
Wayne
That is what I was looking at this morning. Might be a better route and the distance looks about the same at first glance.
Cheers!