chubco
California
New Member
Joined: 01/03/2010
View Profile
 Offline
|
We have option of either I-5 to I-40 east from Lake County, Ca. to Little Rock, Ar. or we can go I-80 east and thence south from Denver on down to Little Rock. Which route is easiest to pull (mountains) with 2007 Ford (4.6 L) reg cab 4 x 4 and 3000# trailer with surge brakes. Thanks for any tips, advice. First time towing east.
|
Doug and Cassi Glass
Clifton Forge, VA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/20/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I-40 has the least hills. I-10 even less.
I-80 goes east from Salt Lake City all the way across Wyoming, much of it above 6000 feet.
I-70 goes thru Grand Junction to Denver via Eisenhower Tunnel which is about 11,000 feet. Long, long climbs and long, long descents.
|
sealevel ram
San Mateo, Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 02/13/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Personally, I would go I-5, and cut over to 99 north of Bakersfield. Take 58 over Tehachapi to I-40 east all the way.
There is a long pull up to Tehachapi, a hill out of the Colorado River valley, and the Arizona Divide at Flagstaff, and maybe you will go a little slow leaving Albuquerque.
Haven't been this way is a couple of years and my memory may be spotty. Can't think of any other hills to speak of.
* This post was
edited 04/19/12 12:18pm by sealevel ram *
"I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure."
|
lanerd
Newport, OR
Senior Member
Joined: 03/03/2003
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
sealevel ram wrote:68 over Tehachapi to I-40 east all the way.
There is a long pull up to Tehachapi, a hill out of the Colorado River, and the Arizona Divide at Flagstaff.
Ahhh.. that's actually "58" not 68. typo?
Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35 CAT C7
Toad: 2011 GMC Terrain SLT2
Tow Bar: Sterling AT
Toad Brakes: Unified U.S. Gear
TPMS: Pressure Pro
Member of: GS, FMCA, Safari Intl, CAT
RETIRED!! How sweet it is....
|
sealevel ram
San Mateo, Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 02/13/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
lanerd wrote:sealevel ram wrote:68 over Tehachapi to I-40 east all the way.
There is a long pull up to Tehachapi, a hill out of the Colorado River, and the Arizona Divide at Flagstaff.
Ahhh.. that's actually "58" not 68. typo?
Thanks. I corrected it. Having cataract surgery next week.
|
|
|
skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
Interstate highways are all limited to 6% grade by construction standards and I suspect you will encounter at least SOME 6% on any route you take. Probably slightly more on I-40.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
|
boogie_4wheel
SLC, Utah
Senior Member
Joined: 09/12/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
I would go I40. You have a good climb approaching Albuquerque and another climb leaving Albuquerque. After that your in Texas and you don't change elevation anymore  I've traveled I40 almost all my life from Flagstaff to Fort Smith (or turned south on the Indian Nation Turnpike just east of OK City).
I70 is a 'no' unless you have your heart set on seeing the pretty country in Colorado between I15 in Utah till Denver. After Denver I have no idea what it is like.
I80 out of Salt Lake City has a few good climbs till you get 100mi or so in to Wyoming. After that you could ride the wind that almost always blows eastward then turn south for Denver.
2005 2500 Cummins/48RE/3.73, QCLB, 4wd, BigHorn, Edge Juice w/ CTS + Turbo Timer, ISSPro Oil and LP pressure gauges in cubby hole, GDP 20/2 filters on frame rail, Custom Diesel Steering Box Brace
'10 Forest River Shockwave Toy Hauler 21'
Honda EU3000I Genny
|
BillMFl
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 04/08/2012
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I70 after the Denver foothills is flat as a pancake for long boring days. But getting there from Utah is a hard slog towing. I40 is a piece of cake vs I70.
Order is illusion. Chaos is reality. But right or wrong I'm still the captain. 
|
chubco
California
New Member
Joined: 01/03/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks for all the input. Consensus seems to be that I-40 is best so that is the route we will take. Thanks again. Tom
|
Allworth
Orlando, FL
Senior Member
Joined: 10/10/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Online
|
US 50 through Colorado (Grand Junction to La Junta) is far more interesting than any of them. Some real mountain grades, but nothing that cant be taken slowly and easily.
Formerly posting as "littleblackdog"
Martha, Allen, & Blackjack
2006 Chevy 3500 D/A LB SRW, RVND 7710
2008 Titanium 30E35SA; EZ-Lube axles; wet bolts; spring hanger gussetts; BFG Commercial TAs
"Real Trucks Don't Have Sparkplugs"
|
|
|
