Are they finished with the road construction on I-70?
Earlier this summer there were detours around the tunnel.
Any other problems due to the flooding?
We're in Salt Lake City and need to head east to northeast Oklahoma in a couple weeks but looking at I-80 instead. Unless there are early winter storms.

We are on I70 in Gypsum CO right now heading to Moab UT. We came through the Eisenhower tunnel Wednesday the 18th. We are only 12' 10" so we didn't have any issues. The tunnel top is flat by the way. Jack is right about traffic, we left Denver at Noon and there was quite a bit of traffic in both directions then. The short tunnel after the Eisenhower going east is only using one tube of two right now as they are working on the eastbound side. Traffic is detoured around the tunnel going east.

Cold here this morning at 36!

Mark

X3 or X4  Not a problem.  Just drove the route a couple of weeks ago. Not a problem at all.  However, we drove it on a Sunday and there was a lot of traffic backup coming from the Vail area.  Some of it due maybe to construction on the east bound side of the road. Not stopped - just a lot of slow traffic.  I would suspect a lot of this traffic was due to it being the last weekend of summer and a great many people were returning east from the Vail area toward Denver.  That was our take as the east bound lanes were open, just a lot of traffic.

As to the mountains and tunnels: not a big deal at all for our rig - up, down or thru.

Bill

 

Neil,

If you do go through Santa Fe, keep in mind that there is a bypass on the west side of the city that would be best for towing a large trailer.  We took the route you just mentioned back in 2009 on our way to Pagosa Springs, and we ended up driving through Santa Fe itself on Highway 84.  Fortunately, we were only towing a 26-foot trailer with an F250, but even with that, it was fun finding a place to fuel up with even that short of a rig.  The bypass is labeled as Highway 599.

Terry

Terry, after reading your post I think I finally figured out why there is so much conversation about carefully picking a route. You are all in the four wheeler mentality. Once I get squared away and start to attend some rally's I need to teach a course about shifting that mentality to big rigs. I pull 53' trailers and have a different mindset when I set out. I know I can't pull up to just any old pump but I navigate my way through towns and cities with little or no concern for my size. I have been in situations where I had my front bumper within a inch or two of a building and my steer tire on the sidewalk just to get the trailer to clear a phone pole on the opposite side of the street. I wouldn't have gone that way a second time but my point is that a huge 40' fifth wheel equates to about a twenty foot trailer because of the axle location. Once we shift your thinking to big rig from four wheeler, you will easily adapt to tight inner city streets and no longer have a phobia about picking routes. My goal is to make all of you comfortable about exploring without worrying about backing out do a bad situation. I should also teach a course on backing. Believe it or not, you can back your motorhome or fifth wheel into places you could never pull them into.

Mark,

Keep in mind that I've also driven 18-wheelers.  I always mention being cautious of one's route and choosing a fuel stop simply because I've read a number of RV novices that have hit fuel pumps stanctions (not sure of that word - metal posts set in concrete at the edges of the corners of fuel islands), poles and even overhead covers.  As for your "course," knowing the geometry would be fine, but until one has actually gotten the experience, I still suggest caution.

Terry

Jack Mayer wrote:

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Practice is what gives you the ability to make reasonable judgments about Iffy situations. Many/Most people that get larger RVs have not a clue as to how to maneuver and park them. I make that statement after watching them for 13+ years fulltiming, and working in campgrounds for much of those 13 years.

Like Mark said, it is not all that "difficult" to park a large rig, or maneuver it in most situations. It does take some experience. I do wish people would at least READ some commercial driving training literature and do a little practice with some cones.

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Jack and Mark:

So spot on.

One thing to bring to people’s attention who have pulled “bumper” trailers and then move to 5^th wheels is the big difference between the two as to what the wheels of the trailer will do – and when – in both reverse and forward.  They’re really different (due to the geometry) and that can cause someone who, for lack of a better word, “graduates” to a 5^th wheel some surprises as to how they handle – and how to handle them.  30 minutes in a big open parking lot can sure be worth a lot to someone starting out.

Both you guys should teach a course on that – and put some of that literature on your website – Jack.

Bill

 

NWescapee wrote:

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And that is a course I would sign up for in a heart beat!!! LOL, now that we sold the car after downsizing enough to get rid of it, (2 weeks ago), I am learning to drive the F450. So far I have not towed, Dale has been more than patient but a bit nervous with my learning to corner with a wider truck with dual wheels. I truly need to learn but my last towing experience was with a mini van and small (18 ft) TT. Yep, big learning curve ahead of me.

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Not meaning to get off-topic here, but the time you drove our F450, you didn't seem to have any problems at all.  Granted, it wasn't in town, but I'll bet that before long your confidence level will be way up there.  So, stick with it and don't be afraid to tow.  Just do your first towing on either 4-lane roads or 2-lane with shoulders until that confidence builds.

Terry

I would have a good time teaching backing techniques. One of the first rules is don't back the truck, steer the trailer. You never know where the truck will end up...steer the back end of the trailer, you know exactly where you want it. Put you hands on the bottom of the wheel, push it the direction you want the trailer to go. By the way, you guys in pickups don't have a blind side, I'll let you back my truck up. That will introduce you to a true blind side. But keep in mind, I don't have an automatic. It is against my religion to put an automatic in a semi. Sorry Jack. I can't change me. I still only use the clutch for starting and stopping. And not always stopping.

two additional rules, no matter how good you are, you will have to pull up to correct backing angles and, you will not always be able to get under it fast enough. 

-- Edited by MarkS on Tuesday 1st of October 2013 12:38:15 PM

Bill, thanks for your comments. I'm sure not afraid to get out an look when backing up.....a lot. Looking is cheap, hitting stuff isn't. Never thought about not getting out of a site though. And yes you loose the leverage at the trailer connection on a 5th wheel due to it being on top of the axle "if that makes sense".

MarkS wrote:

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I would have a good time teaching backing techniques. One of the first rules is don't back the truck, steer the trailer. You never know where the truck will end up...steer the back end of the trailer, you know exactly where you want it. Put you hands on the bottom of the wheel, push it the direction you want the trailer to go. By the way, you guys in pickups don't have a blind side, I'll let you back my truck up. That will introduce you to a true blind side. But keep in mind, I don't have an automatic. It is against my religion to put an automatic in a semi. Sorry Jack. I can't change me. I still only use the clutch for starting and stopping. And not always stopping.

two additional rules, no matter how good you are, you will have to pull up to correct backing angles and, you will not always be able to get under it fast enough. 

-- Edited by MarkS on Tuesday 1st of October 2013 12:38:15 PM

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Mark:

I understand the blind side in a semi is different from a pickup as I used to do what you did – just not for as long. Yep, it was a lot easier with a city tractor that had a rear window, like a pickup does, to back a trailer.  When you can see it becomes so much easier.  I was referring to backing the trailer to the curb side and but not being able to see around the street side of the trailer thus the street side becoming the blind side in so many words.

Your comments about steering the trailer and not the truck is very good advice.  When I have taught someone to back a fiver that is the first thing I would advise.  Drive the trailer, not the truck.  But make sure you know where the front of the truck is going so as not to back it onto something.  ‘Must keep the head on a swivel.  (Have a story where a driver of the remote truck in Atlanta stadium, not me, didn’t see a VW bug and backed the right front steer wheel of the tractor right up on the hood of that VW.  He just didn’t see it. Except for the cost, pretty funny picture.)

Please keep the good advice to all coming.

Bill

PS, I learned to not use the clutch early on when I lost mine on the opposite side of the state.  Had to learn in a hurry early on.  Had to put the trans in a low gear and actually start the engine “in gear” and then knock it out of gear to stop.  It was a long way home doing that but I made it.  All good 'ole guy stories.  I know you have many many more.