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1/2 Cross Country Trip -- Might need some Help -- Utah to Wisconsin

Fubeca

Fubeca

1/2 ton status
Joined
Dec 18, 2002
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Location
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Hi folks!
Well, I'm finally moving and I'll be towing a big fat trailer behind my K-5 and I'm a little worried that I may have trouble.

P38.JPG


Here is Mapquest's version of my planned route.
Map

I will be going pretty slow because of the weight and wind resistance from the trailer. So, I will likely stop in Cheyenne the first night and somewhere between Lincoln NE, and Des Moines, IA on the second night. I'm planning to sleep in the back of the blazer so if anyone knows of a good place I can park and sleep around those areas, let me know.

If you live along the route, and you would'nt mind me calling you if I get in trouble (or if you want to go out for lunch or dinner /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) PM me your phone number or email me at [email protected].

Anyway, thanks and wish me luck! /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif
 
I'm not near your route, but if that rig has an automatic, do yourself a favor and install the 28,000 Lb. GVWR B&M "Super Cooler" tranny cooler on your rig before you leave. The $50 you spend now could save you a $1,500+ tranny rebuild. /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif Just pulling Parley's Canyon from SLC to Park City will give the tranny a serious workout! /forums/images/graemlins/eek.gif

It's a shame to move a nice rig like that to Wisconsin. It'll look like Swiss cheese after a couple of years of salted winter roads there. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
I already have a big B+M stacked plate cooler and a tranny temp guage. I even pulled the trailer up through a local canyon to see how hot it would get.

That blazer goes in the garage in WI. I'll be driving a beater commuter car and keep the blazer in good shape. I've already had my experience with rust out there. /forums/images/graemlins/eek.gif
 
As far as a good place to sleep, most of the larger truckstops (TA, Flying J, Pilot, etc...) are usually a pretty safe place to stay because there are people in and out around the clock. They have a resturant to eat breakfast at, restrooms, and for about $7.00 you can buy a shower ticket if you start to stink /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif. I wouldn't stay in a rest area, too many freaks hang out in there, there's a reason truck drivers call rest areas "pickle parks" /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif. If you have a cb you can listen to the truckers on channel 19 and know a lot about road and trafiic conditions like accidents, stopped traffic at the bottom of the mountain, contruction back-ups, etc..

Good luck on your journey.
 
Yeah, I have a CB -- and it even works most of the time /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif
 
Hope you have a good, uneventful trip.

If you're looking for place to stay and sleep, I know that you can park and camp overnight in any Wal-mart parking lot.

[ QUOTE ]
It's a shame to move a nice rig like that to Wisconsin. It'll look like Swiss cheese after a couple of years of salted winter roads there.

[/ QUOTE ]
Unfortunately, this is true. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
I made the move from Logan, UT to WI last summer. I was checking your mapquest route and couldn't believe that you are moving to my neck of the woods in Hammond, WI...you must be planning on commuting to minneapolis also.
 
Yep, I'll be commuting /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif. What are the chances of 2 ex-Utah, CK5ers in Hammond? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
There Is a Flying J truckstop right off I-80 In Des Moines Iowa. Might be a good Place to stop for the night.
 
That first mountain pass you are going to hit on I-80 coming out of Utah, going towards the Wyoming state line, is going to be a killer. The rest of your route will be a piece of cake. There will be some gently rolling hills going across the continental divide in Wyoming, but once you hit Nebraska it will be flat and boring the whole way. Iowa has the biggest truck stop in the world called the I-80 truck stop, but that is about all Iowa has. When you get to Wisconsin, stop into a decent sports bar and grill, and treat yourself to some fried Walleye and French Fries with a cold beer. MMMMmmmm...GOOD!
 
[ QUOTE ]
but that is about all Iowa has.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey now!! /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif

We have other stuff....like corn fields....hogs....humidity and plenty of rusty cars!
/forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif

Mark, the closest you will get to me is Des Moines....I hope you have a safe and uneventful trip. /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
I am hoping to leave on Monday, but might not get out until Tuesday.

Thanks all -- I hope things go well too.

Beast, too bad i'm in a hurry, I'd stop by and see you.
 
Thanks JMS, pm me your phone number and I'll let you know if I make it that far!
 
I am an hour east of Des Moines. Right off I-80. Sending my phone number if you need anything. Have a safe trip.
 
there is an Bozzlemans/AMBEST truck stop at milemarker 50somthing in nebraska, just up the road from cheyenne WY, I always loved stopping there when I was driving OTR, clean showers/ bathrooms, good food, cute girlies working the counters and plenty of room to park, inexpensive fuel too. oh yeah, if your leaving out of SLC try going up to I84 then cutting east to I80,I drive it everyday its actually 4 miles shorter distance, and no big hillclimbs or descents. Sorry to see a fellow Utahn leaving for the east, Oh well WI is very pretty country! /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
Well, I made it!!
Thanks to everyone who offered to help if needed /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

I only had to fix the trailer twice (stupid factory numbskulls!) Somehow the spring that held the brake adjuster wasn't installed right so I had to pull the hub off and fix that half-way. Then I noticed that one of the brake wires had been pinched and cut so I had to fix that too. Good thing I packed all my tools at the back of the trailer!!

After I weighed the trailer I'm amazed I even made it out of town /forums/images/graemlins/eek.gif

So now I just need to get acclimated to tornado season and I'm all set /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
 
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