Trip Planning

Oakman · 12-15-2012, 12:34 PM

I rely heavily on Microsoft Streets & Trips for the early stages in trip planning. I'm currently in the beginning stage of planning our trip to the rally in Washington D.C. This is the route we will take going to the rally.

I also use Google maps and I really love Google Street View when available. Once we start the trip we use our Rand McNally GPS as a navigation aid and we also have paper maps.

Modern technology is wonderful but even so, I still fear encountering something like this where turning around isn't an option.

dwaynerz · 12-15-2012, 01:55 PM

you can get turned around there... just gonna involve lotsa cops to stop/block traffic for ya

that being a white clearance marker sign, it might be winter clearances for snow pack etc. a good rand macnally trucker atlas will give you just as accurate info on height/weight restrictions and restricted routes as well. have read too many stories where google routed somebody to a body of water or a farmers field.

BOBFIDY · 12-15-2012, 02:02 PM

Bob.....that is just about the way we came back from DC to the St. Louis area in September this year.
If you have the time.....think about spending a couple nights and a FULL day at Dayton, Ohio and go thru the AIR FORCE MUSEUM there at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. It is well worth the time and effort.

Oakman · 12-15-2012, 04:13 PM

dwaynerz, that low clearance doesn't show up on the truckers atlas because it is a parkway in NY and I've been informed that trucks aren't allowed on parkways in NY. I have learned that if trucks aren't allowed, don't go there.

Bob, thanks for the heads up on the Air Force Museum.

dwaynerz · 12-15-2012, 10:50 PM

true, trucks arent allowed on a parkway in ny. but most low clearance sings are in yellow.

Oakman · 12-16-2012, 08:46 AM

I failed to mention that part of my trip planning also includes checking the Mountain Directory for steep grades. I was surprised by the number and length of mountain grades along I-68 in Maryland.

Whisky · 12-16-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oakman

I rely heavily on Microsoft Streets & Trips for the early stages in trip planning..

MS S&T is an excellent planning tool - I've been using it for years. When traveling from Tejas to the West Coast by myself I would set-up my laptop (with it's matte screen) on the pax seat of my car and run the program continuously while I drove (at the same time using my car's navigation).

I used S&T because of 1) the laptop's large screen and 2) because of the program's "zoom out/in" feature.

I like to sightsee as I drive - always taking different routes - and by zooming out I could look for interesting things to detour and see (Rivers, Lakes, etc - things that I wouldn't have know were there if I wasn't able to zoom out and see)

One year, in our Roadtrek near Bend, Or, the laptop quit. So used to having it that I told my Wife we'd cut the trip short and go straight home if I couldn't get the laptop fixed (Geek Squad at a Best Buy in Bend did fix the problem - for free, by the way) - so we continued the normal trip.

I built pedestals in front of the center consoles in both my Roadtrek and my pick'emup truck (out of PVC) upon which I could mount the laptop - the table swiveled so that it could be didicated towards the driver, the copilot or in the center for both to see - the pedestals came apart in about a minute for storage but I always left them up - a good place to put stuff.....Bill

here's a pic of the laptop pedestal that was in the pickup (with one of my Pups checkin' it out..)

Oakman · 12-16-2012, 11:50 AM

Whiskey, I really like the pedestal setup you have. That's a good looking puppy dog you have there too, looks like a navigator in training.

Whisky · 12-16-2012, 03:04 PM

thank you - couldn't find a pic of the one I made for the Roadtrek

Sake, the navigator, usually sits in the pax seat, loves to watch how I'm driving.....Bill

BOBFIDY · 12-16-2012, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oakman

I failed to mention that part of my trip planning also includes checking the Mountain Directory for steep grades. I was surprised by the number and length of mountain grades along I-68 in Maryland.

Bob.....We drove I68 in Maryland going to and coming back from Maryland last summer and had no issues at all. Yes there are some long pulls and long downhills.....I guess they average out if you go both ways.....but in TOW/HAUL mode we had no problems at all. And its a very pretty drive and no tolls.

**Herk7769** · 12-16-2012, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oakman

dwaynerz, that low clearance doesn't show up on the truckers atlas because it is a parkway in NY and I've been informed that trucks aren't allowed on parkways in NY. I have learned that if trucks aren't allowed, don't go there.

Bob, thanks for the heads up on the Air Force Museum.

Ditto. I was told by a long time 5th wheel driver that if it says "trucks" it means ME; so listen up!

dwaynerz · 12-16-2012, 08:00 PM

first time i drove I68, my impression of it was that they just took a concrete truck to the top of the hill and dumped them out. not for the roughness of the road, but because it didnt look like they did any grade work/hill leveling/flattening at all. it certainly is a steep son of a gun.

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