Byways and secondary roads
Yukon
wintering on the shores of Ross Barnett Reservoir in Mississippi. Nice
place. The weather is great, most of the time.
We were pretty much in a hurry to get here, so we drove along the
major Interstate highways. It was always my intention to travel on
secondary roads if possible. I think we would see more interesting
landscape and it would be less hectic. The Louisiana's I-10
strenghtened that belief for me!:-)
Do any locals here avoid Interstate highways as a rule? How do you
plan your trips? Do you just get off the Interstate and pray for the
best? Would person be okay along the byways with 37' fifthwheel? My
thought on that is, one sees semi-trucks just about anywhere, so why
not a fifthwheel trailer?
I would appreciate if someone would share his/her experience. I must
add I am relatively new to towing a 37 footer. (so far, it's been lot
of fun.) Thanks, Yukon.
Bob Hatch
news:1167366793.9...@k21g2000cwa.googlegroups.com
We try to travel off the freeways as much as possible. We travel with a 37
foot MH, and tow a Honda Accord. Take a look at our travel map, if you have
Streets and Trips, 2006 or 2007, you can download the file, and view it
close up.
http://www.bobhatch.com/travelsAndTrips/Fulltime%20Travel%20Map.htm
By traveling the "red roads", we can go slower, more often we have better
roads, see things you can't see from the super slabs, and enjoy the fulltime
life at our own pace. I've never taken the time to add up the freeway miles
vs. the "red road" miles, but I'll bet in the over 20,000 miles we've done
in the last 2 years, less than 4,000 miles were on freeways.
How do we plan our trips. I have a Streets and Trips template that has all
the Corp Parks, RPI Parks, and Passport America Parks as pushpins. If I'm
moving from point a to point b, I try to find one of those three parks on a
route that is not super slab. So far I've been pretty darn successful.
Freeways, bah.
--
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog
will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right!
I never would've thought of that!'"
--Dave Barry
http://www.bobhatch.com
http://www.tdsrvresort.com
Don Bradner
>Do any locals here avoid Interstate highways as a rule?
I don't know about "rule," but for us it is a mixed bag that has
steadily shifted more to the old US highways rather than the
interstates. We've been traveling about half-time since mid-2002, and
early on had a lot of "want to see now" places; those are out of our
system, and we have dropped well below the 100-mile-per-day average.
It is indeed much less hectic off the interstates in most cases. Roads
can be better, or worse, than interstates, but on average I would say
better.
We still tend to hit the interstates at the end of a trip (except the
last few hundred miles, since there are no interstates into our home
base) because after a few months on the road we usually are looking
forward to getting off the road for a month or two.
--
Don Bradner
donb (not don) at arcatapet dot com
www.arcatapet.net
Hunter
>
>Do any locals here avoid Interstate highways as a rule?
I like traveling the blue roads. I plan my trips by knowing where I
am and pointing in the direction I want to be. Then in approximately
100 miles I stop for the day/night.
It's really up to you. If you are in a rush, take the freeway. If you
want to get the local flavor, take blue roads.
An example. I went from Florida to NYC a few years ago..... I never
set a wheel on I-95.
I went up the coast, it was wonderful!
Hunter
Frank Tabor
>>"Yukon" <lo...@atlas.cz> wrote:
>
>>Do any locals here avoid Interstate highways as a rule? How do you
>>plan your trips? Do you just get off the Interstate and pray for the
>>best? Would person be okay along the byways with 37' fifthwheel? My
>>thought on that is, one sees semi-trucks just about anywhere, so why
>>not a fifthwheel trailer?
>
> We picked up a copy of the Motor Carriers Road Atlas at a truck stop a
> couple years ago. When is doubt about a road I check the atlas. If it is
> a "designated" road, it's safe for big rigs.
>
Only problem there, a designated road is for 102", over 65'. There are a
lot of roads out there that are not designated highways, but are certainly
safe for RVs. Look at the Blue Highways. In fact there's a book about
them.
--
Frank Tabor
I'm not sure I've even got the brains to be President.
-- Barry Goldwater, in 1964
Lone Haranguer
> Do any locals here avoid Interstate highways as a rule?
We avoid interstates unless it's the only way to get there without major
detours.
How do you
> plan your trips?
I have a number of trip-planning CDs. Streets and Trips, Map N' Go,
Road Warrior, Rand McNally, etc. The evening before travel I choose a
spot which would be convenient to reach the next day, then I'll look for
campgrounds/parks within a 20 mile radius. We also have a Woodall's and
a "Free Campgrounds of the West" to locate camping spots.
Do you just get off the Interstate and pray for the
> best?
Only on our first trip in '83 when campgrounds in the northern part of
the midwest were closed. State parks usually remain open (with limited
facilities).
Would person be okay along the byways with 37' fifthwheel?
Don't see why not. I drive a 37' MH towing a Dodge Dakota.
My
> thought on that is, one sees semi-trucks just about anywhere, so why
> not a fifthwheel trailer?
>
> I would appreciate if someone would share his/her experience. I must
> add I am relatively new to towing a 37 footer. (so far, it's been lot
> of fun.) Thanks, Yukon.
>
We stayed at some COE parks in MS on our first MH trip to FL in Jan of
'83. Usually we were the only ones there. I think an exploratory trip
over to TX, following the coast and then the Rio Grande would be a good
idea. We did that in winter of '87-'88 and learned a lot. Explored
from Corpus Christi to Nogales, AZ.
LZ
Lon VanOstran
> Do any locals here avoid Interstate highways as a rule?
Yes.
>How do you
> plan your trips?
I use Streets & Trips. I've created a "New North American Map" to which
I have imported and flagged, the locations (from Discovery Owners Group)
of all Wal Marts, Flying J's, Camping Worlds, COE parks, Sam's Clubs,
and Escapees "Days End" stops.
Then, we pick a road that looks interesting, and find a stopping point
125-175 miles from where we are. After planning the trip, I do a "save
as" on it, giving it a new name, and my clean "New North American Map"
is always clean and ready for my next trip.
>Do you just get off the Interstate and pray for the
> best?
Pray for the best? Being off the Interstate _IS_ the best.
>Would person be okay along the byways with 37' fifthwheel?
It works for us. Just watch for low bridges. They are rare, but labeled.
>My
> thought on that is, one sees semi-trucks just about anywhere, so why
> not a fifthwheel trailer?
Exactly!
>
> I would appreciate if someone would share his/her experience. I must
> add I am relatively new to towing a 37 footer. (so far, it's been lot
> of fun.) Thanks, Yukon.
We've been towing a 36' fifth wheel for 18 months now, and had a 35' MH
for 6 years, and various other MHs for several years before that.
Just take the next exit and slow down. Life here in the slow lane is
fantastic.
Lon
Lon VanOstran
>
> But though I feel a bit like a "voice crying in the wilderness" I need
> to remind you that while ALL interstate highways, in all States,
> permit 102" widths. MANY States restrict or prohibit vehicles over 96"
> wide on *certain* roads. These restrictions vary widely. Jurisdictions
> with restrictions included AL, AZ, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MD, MI,
> NE, NJ, NY, NC, OK, PA, VA & WV.
>
> Some argue these rules don't apply to THEM, citing a paucity of
> arrests and the fact that most large rv's are now wider than 96". As
> usual, laws tend to remain on the books. More important - SOME of the
> restrictions are absolutely valid from a safety POV, and only fools
> ignore the rules.
Nobody anywhere has ever come up with a single example of a RV owner
being ticketed, or otherwise bothered by any law enforcement regarding a
wide body RV on local roads in America.
This has been a non issue since wide body RVs first appeared more than
12 years ago.
No examples of insurance company noise after an accident. Nothing!!!
There have been two or three examples of DEALERS being hassled over them.
It's a non issue.
Lon, who has been traveling two-lane-roads in wide bodies for the past
11.5 years.
Tom J
> Do any locals here avoid Interstate highways as a rule? How do you
> plan your trips? Do you just get off the Interstate and pray for
> the
> best?
Don't just pray for the best. Since you are towing a 5th wheel, get a
copy of the Rand McNally Motor Carrier's Atlas as already suggested,
but for a different reason. It list all the low clearance bridges
(under 13' 6") so you know bridge clearances on any road you drive
BEFORE the 5th wheel hits the overhead bridge.
We drive over half of our mileage off the interstates when in the US
and almost all when in Canada. BTW, there is a good highway that runs
parallel to I-10 through much of LA, but I know of no way to avoid all
that construction in TX.
Tom J
Dusty
news:208ap2t3s5np8sur0...@4ax.com...
...
> It's really up to you. If you are in a rush, take the freeway. If you
> want to get the local flavor, take blue roads.
The freeways serve a purpose--fast, easy, direct passage. That and that
sometimes, especially out here in the mountainous west, they're the only
good way to get from one place to another. But, for sheer enjoyment, we
prefer the smaller roads...and will almost always take them when we can.
For instance, at this time of year, it's darned hard to get "out of"/through
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, w/o relying on the freeways. But,
when we get past the snow & mountains and more into the desert, it'll be
side-roads all the way...
Dusty - Everett, Wa.
...
Carl A.
"Lon VanOstran" <RV...@stopspamwmconnect.com> wrote in message
news:4vksmuF...@mid.individual.net...
>
> Nobody anywhere has ever come up with a single example of a RV owner being
> ticketed, or otherwise bothered by any law enforcement regarding a wide
> body RV on local roads in America.
>
> This has been a non issue since wide body RVs first appeared more than 12
> years ago.
>
> No examples of insurance company noise after an accident. Nothing!!!
>
> There have been two or three examples of DEALERS being hassled over them.
>
> It's a non issue.
>
> Lon, who has been traveling two-lane-roads in wide bodies for the past
> 11.5 years.
It may be a non-issue from the legal and insurance viewpoints, and of no
import to the captains of oversized landyachts.
But have you thought about the ethical aspects? Is it fair and considerate
to other motorists to endanger them by crossing the center line in tight
spots, or slowing down traffic on windy mountain roads?
The closest calls I've had on 190,000 miles of driving backroads have
involved wide-body RVs coming at me while taking up 2/3rd of the road. I
wish them all encounters with low bridges, etc.
--
Carl A. in FL
Photojournals of my travels are at
http://sky.prohosting.com/chainfl/
Hunter
wrote:
>Don't just pray for the best. Since you are towing a 5th wheel, get a
>copy of the Rand McNally Motor Carrier's Atlas as already suggested,
>but for a different reason. It list all the low clearance bridges
>(under 13' 6") so you know bridge clearances on any road you drive
>BEFORE the 5th wheel hits the overhead bridge.
I'll never forget being in upstate NY watching a fiver back down a
long curvy hill... wife on the road trying to guide hubby behind the
wheel.
They missed the low bridge sign, luckily they stopped before taking
out their bedroom.
Hunter
Hunter
>
>I congratulate Lon for not going half way. Once he decided to supplant
>Oz as my anklebiter, he throws himself into the role with gusto.
Lon merely pointed out a fact, that differs from what you wrote and
you don't like it. That does not make him an anklebiter.
Hunter, who has a wide body trailer and takes it wherever she feels
safe to take it
Neon John
wrote:
>>"Yukon" <lo...@atlas.cz> wrote:
>
>>Do any locals here avoid Interstate highways as a rule? How do you
>>plan your trips? Do you just get off the Interstate and pray for the
>>best? Would person be okay along the byways with 37' fifthwheel? My
>>thought on that is, one sees semi-trucks just about anywhere, so why
>>not a fifthwheel trailer?
>
>We picked up a copy of the Motor Carriers Road Atlas at a truck stop a
>couple years ago. When is doubt about a road I check the atlas. If it is
>a "designated" road, it's safe for big rigs.
Yep. I've noticed that both Pilot and TA have the non-laminated one
(maybe last year's?) on sale for $9.99.
If you don't have a GPS then the laminated one is nice. One can use a
grease pencil or dry board marker to lay out the course of travel and
then wipe it away afterward.
John
---
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
Cleveland, Occupied TN
Don't let your schooling interfere with your education-Mark Twain
Janet Wilder
Buy yourself a present, The Rand McNally Motor Carrier's Atlas. This
atlas will highlight all roads approved for commercial traffic (trucks)
If they can use the road, so can you. The atlas also list low clearances
from Interstates to county roads. It's not "all" inclusive, but it's
pretty inclusive.
The phone numbers of all the state highway departments are also in the
atlas. Call if you are not certain about a route.
Another book we used a lot was the Mountain Directory, East and West
versions. These guides let us know about steep grades.
I assume you already have some sort of trip-routing software?
We fulltimed in a 37' fiver and one-ton then in a 40+ fiver and
Freightliner and mostly took the "blue highways"
The atlas is available at most major truck stops. The Mountain Directory
is sometimes available there, too. Camping World carries them as do
on-line book stores.
BTW, we stayed at one of the two campgrounds on the reservoir twice.
Lovely place. We enjoyed touring Jackson and especially the capitol
building. It's a wonderful example of beaux artes architecture. It's one
of our favorite capitol buildings.
--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life
Lon VanOstran
> The closest calls I've had on 190,000 miles of driving backroads have
> involved wide-body RVs coming at me while taking up 2/3rd of the road. I
> wish them all encounters with low bridges, etc.
It's not nice to lump all drivers of wide body rigs with those who lack
good sense and driving skills.
It's also not nice to ignore the fact that every 96" wide RV which has
an awning installed is also technically illegal on many roads.
Lon, who doesn't force other drivers out of their lane.
Janet Wilder
> Yep. I've noticed that both Pilot and TA have the non-laminated one
> (maybe last year's?) on sale for $9.99.
The current year's atlas is always cheaper near the end of the year. I
used to replace mine in October.
>
> If you don't have a GPS then the laminated one is nice. One can use a
> grease pencil or dry board marker to lay out the course of travel and
> then wipe it away afterward.
A few years I bought the laminated one at an end of year sale at
Flying-J. Found it lasted a lot longer than the regular one when the
dogs used it for a pillow.
Carl A.
Lon,
not to make an issue out of a relatively unimportant post, but you have in
the past often suggested to people that they read your posts carefully,
parse, and use common sense in interpreting.
With that in mind, allow me to point out that I did not wish ill fortune to
all drivers of wide-bodied rigs, as you appear to accuse me of having done.
I specifically wish encounters with low bridges to those assholes who come
at me on a narrow country road, going at high speed, and taking up 2/3rd of
the road.
I see nothing "nice" about such behavior and feel justified to respond in
kind.
Happy New Year!
wwe...@mungedhughes.net
In the FWIW category: My son, who is CHP and worked in the Commercial
division for a while, pointed out something that I had never thought
of. CA has certain highways that are designated for big rigs and also
a map of "approved highways" for over length Motorhomes. That he
pointed out is that it only applies to the state or federal highways,
not to the county roads or routes. While a local administration may
have a restriction for their highways. they must have it posted before
it can be enforced.
For example, when we lived there, I was concerned because our 42'
motorhome was restricted to approved highways with exception to go off
the highway up to one mile for fuel or to reach home. Since we lived
five miles off the highway, I wondered if we would get stopped. He
pointed out that we lived on a county road and that "state"
restriction did not apply. This may apply in other states which will
have to be checked individually.
So - Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
George
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
Lon VanOstran
Since your post with the ill wishes was posted in response to my post,
it seemed reasonable to ass/u/me that it was aimed at me.
If not, I apologize for misunderstanding that which seemed so obvious.
Lon
William Boyd
Yep, the Natchez Trace is a real scenic trip too, but not many places to
stop and buy any thing.
A little known road in MS. that is very good is 25, four lane and not
much traffic. That is between Jackson and Starkville, the rest is
expected to be worked in soon.
But as for Louisiana, their roads are so poorly maintained you are
committed ti the interstates, I tried the paralleling high way along
I-20, US-80 and could not believe the condition. Now I-49 and US-71
might be better, I have not traveled them. But I-10 and US-90 is just as
bad as US-80.
Texas has very good to excellent secondary routs. Some I call Texas
Interstates, ie. Damed there is just to many to name.
I venture to say any road in Texas is much better than any high way in
Louisiana.
Arizona and New Mexico seems to be great also.
With respect to the wide bodies, that is a progressing term. Years ago
all TTs were 84" then they started making the wide bodies, 96". So now
one calls his 102" a wide body, of course it is, but what about the
others. I dont think it makes as much difference with the width as it
does with the length. A long rig will not bend in the middle like some
of those down town buses, that is what is needed. That would really look
neat, but hope for a pull through all the time.
--
Can't we all just get along?
BILL P.
Just
Me
&
DOG
Carl A.
>
> Since your post with the ill wishes was posted in response to my post, it
> seemed reasonable to ass/u/me that it was aimed at me.
>
> If not, I apologize for misunderstanding that which seemed so obvious.
>
> Lon
A clear case of misunderstanding of aim and intentions --- except possibly
that I wished to bring out that there is more to this issue than the law and
insurance aspects which you considered.
I can assure you that if you, or any one else, would take a land yacht on a
narrow 2 lane highway, use 2/3rd of the roadway, and move towards me at high
speed --- I would be gleefully remembering the 10' underpass I just came
through.
May this never happen to us in 2007. Happy New Year.
Ron Recer
"Carl A." <cha...@yahoxox.com> wrote in message
news:_hglh.15275$h_1....@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
>
> "Lon VanOstran" <RV...@stopspamwmconnect.com> wrote in message
> news:4vlgu8F...@mid.individual.net...
>> Carl A. wrote:
>>
>>> The closest calls I've had on 190,000 miles of driving backroads have
>>> involved wide-body RVs coming at me while taking up 2/3rd of the road.
>>> I wish them all encounters with low bridges, etc.
>>
>> It's not nice to lump all drivers of wide body rigs with those who lack
>> good sense and driving skills.
>>
>> It's also not nice to ignore the fact that every 96" wide RV which has an
>> awning installed is also technically illegal on many roads.
>>
>> Lon, who doesn't force other drivers out of their lane.
>>
>
> Lon,
>
> not to make an issue out of a relatively unimportant post, but you have in
> the past often suggested to people that they read your posts carefully,
> parse, and use common sense in interpreting.
>
> With that in mind, allow me to point out that I did not wish ill fortune
> to all drivers of wide-bodied rigs, as you appear to accuse me of having
> done.
>
> I specifically wish encounters with low bridges to those assholes who come
> at me on a narrow country road, going at high speed, and taking up 2/3rd
> of the road.
The 'taking up 2/3rd of the road' isn't confined to 'big rigs'. I have had
mid size and conpacts do that to me on mountain roads, especially the 'Going
to the Sun' road in Glacire NP. Once they see that I am not going to crash
my dually into the side of the mountain or drive off the edge, they get back
into their own lane where they have more than enough room to start with. To
some a 9'-10' wide lane doesn't appear wide enought to drive on!
Ron
William Boyd
I think if that happened to me I would hug the centerline and just stop,
make em get on their own side. :-(
Gitta break them some way, some time. ;-)
Janet Wilder
> I see where Hunter <HHam...@aol.com> contributed:
>
>
>>Lon merely pointed out a fact, that differs from what you wrote and
>>you don't like it. That does not make him an anklebiter.
>>
>>Hunter, who has a wide body trailer and takes it wherever she feels
>>safe to take it
>
>
> written word, I am not even slightly surprised at your completely
> dishonest anklebiting response. Please do take your wide trailer
> anyplace you like.
>
> You'll probably get away with it, too.
Especially if she takes it to Pennsylvania. The state police told us
they never bother tourists in RVs on the designated "no wide load"
roads. According to the PA Trooper, those signs are for commercial vehicles.
Glad the Pennsylvania State Police are more welcoming than you, one of
its less-friendly citizens.
William Boyd
Janet, every state has to have a less-friendly citizen. Undoubtedly they
looked far and wide before they found WILL,
But apparently fits their criteria, as they have kept him for a long
ratatou...@yahoo.com
300 of them were on Interstates -- I am a big fan of the Blue Hiways
and Green-Dot Roads.
Pete
Janet Wilder
> Janet, every state has to have a less-friendly citizen. Undoubtedly they
> looked far and wide before they found WILL,
> But apparently fits their criteria, as they have kept him for a long
> time. ;-)
>
Maybe someone will buy his old van and then he would have to be confined
there forever <vbg>
Janet, posting from the shelter of his filter, I hope.
Janet Wilder
You haven't lived until you've traveled the gray roads in a Freightliner
hauling a 40 foot fiver. Trust me, it's an experience.
Janet, married to a true adventurer <g>
PaulT
"Janet Wilder" <kellie...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:45972062$0$21879$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
Maybe we could start a buy the van fund. I will volunteer as treasurer.
Please send all cash and checks to me. (By the way, I prefer cash)
Paul