First trip with fifth wheel

djorgensen3 · 06-13-2012, 01:10 PM

I am looking for advice on routes from the wisdom of the "board". The family and I are going to be headed to Iowa to visit family from Phoenix with the fifth wheel in tow. The family wants to stop at "Four Corners" on the way up to Iowa. So I ask this, what is the best route to get back to I25? My trailer is 37' so really, really twisty roads might be good for me to avoid since its my first trailer....ever. Thanks in advance for the help!!

rjshiflet · 06-13-2012, 01:16 PM

We did that without a trailer one time (my wife is scared of mountain roads) - so we drove up Hwy. 191 through basically flatlands of Utah. It'll take you up through the beautiful Arches National Park, then you'll hit I-70.

Head east over the Rockies (not winding or scary at all) and down into Denver where you hit I-25.

It'll be a breeze the best I remember from 30 or so years ago.

TURBS · 06-13-2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djorgensen3

I am looking for advice on routes from the wisdom of the "board". The family and I are going to be headed to Iowa to visit family from Phoenix with the fifth wheel in tow. The family wants to stop at "Four Corners" on the way up to Iowa. So I ask this, what is the best route to get back to I25? My trailer is 37' so really, really twisty roads might be good for me to avoid since its my first trailer....ever. Thanks in advance for the help!!

Where in Iowa?

djorgensen3 · 06-13-2012, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Where in Iowa?

Sioux City

djorgensen3 · 06-15-2012, 03:23 PM

What about the route from "Four Corners" to Durango, Colorado to I25? Is it a nice safe route or should I stick to the route suggested by rjshiflet?

BigKidzFun · 06-15-2012, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djorgensen3

What about the route from "Four Corners" to Durango, Colorado to I25? Is it a nice safe route or should I stick to the route suggested by rjshiflet?

We did the 4 corners to Durango route last week with the 5th wheel in tow. That's an easy road with no surprises. How you're going to get from Durango to I25 is the interesting part. Don't take 149 out of South Fork. That hill is a monster! Staying on 160 would be easy, but boring on the east end.

djorgensen3 · 06-26-2012, 10:59 PM

So......made it most of the way. Headed home and just past Pueblo, Colorado my truck decided to give up. Something blew between the aftercooler and throttlebody....i think. So we sat on the side of the road for a couple hours waiting for a tow back to the KOA and truck was sent to the dealer. Tow guys were good guys and the KOA had the best spot saved for the trailer. I guess tomorrow we shall see what the damage is.

Glenn5995 · 06-26-2012, 11:18 PM

Sorry to hear of your problems. Hopefully they have you up and running again quickly.....but then they are forecasting 111 for a high on Thursday, so maybe delaying your return a bit isn't such a bad idea.

Good luck

Rsgtivr6 · 06-26-2012, 11:44 PM

What is the weight on that trailer? A 37' 5'er TH seems mighty big for a 2500. Just curious...

djorgensen3 · 06-27-2012, 11:41 AM

It is 11000# empty. The only thing we have upgraded that is of concern as far as weight goes is four 6v batteries. The truck does fine and actually pulled better than the Furd dually that towed the trailer to the KOA. The dually did have much better suspension though so I do think I will look at some overload springs for my truck and upgrade shocks to RS9000's.

Rsgtivr6 · 06-28-2012, 12:40 AM

Dang, that is one light TH for that size. Most of the new ones (at least FR ones) are weighing in around 12-14k for a 37-38'.

djorgensen3 · 06-28-2012, 11:24 AM

Well I haven't actually scaled it yet so I can only go by the sticker. I know I can definitely feel it back there compared to my sister in laws 30' TT. It does have a gen in it and two fresh water tanks so I don't fill them completely when towing. And I believe the fuel tank is pretty big too.

You may also like: