Travel advice for 1st long haul

[rracer5]

If you've got ST tires on your TT (and you most likely do), keep your speed at or under 65 mph. Most ST trailer tires are not rated for more than that. Keep your inflation up to specs & inspect the tires at rest/fuel stops. I use an infrared thermometer to check tire, wheel & hub temps at every stop. If they're all running pretty equal ....good. If you find one that is a lot hotter than the rest, you may have a problem on that wheel & should check it closer right away.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/General-Tools-Instruments-ToolSmart-Infrared-Thermometer/1000092949?cm_mmc=SCE_BINGPLA_ONLY-_-ToolsAndHardware-_-SpecialtyHandTools-_-1000092949:General_Tools_&_Instruments&CAWELAID=&k pid=1000092949&CAGPSPN=pla{ifdyn:dyn}&k_clickID=e4 804a9a-6202-4c88-9cad-d25134e66377

Here's one for example but, there are others both cheaper & more expensive.

Arrive safe and enjoy your trip!

[spock123]

I like INRIX apps and it's free. Another good apps to have is gas buddy. A great item to buy is a good tire pressure monitoring system, TPMS. I know you have one for your truck but you need one most of all for your camper, it's piece of mind riding down the highway knowing your camper tires are fine


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[timfromma]

Originally Posted by rjshiflet

Perhaps the best advice of the entire thread. :-)

We love taking the back roads for that very reason...enjoy the journey.

Not always possible. For those of us still in the workforce, vacation time is limited and we sometimes have to put in long hours behind the wheel so we have enough time to enjoy our destination.

[Tapex]

I use the SCOPE method Stop, Check, Out, Prevent, Enroute rule every 100 miles for long trips. With driving at least a speed you are comfortable with, cause only you can answer to your actions while towing. Have fun stay safe and enjoy & Happy Camping

[Martsing]

Originally Posted by Homebrew

Carry enough water to use the bathroom on the way.
Watch traffic patterns a week before to determine the best departure time.
Plan all fuel stops at large fueling stations like truck stops/rest areas.
Make sure the beer is on ice for when you arrive.

That last sentence is one of the best pieces of advice I ever got. Nothing tastes better than that first cold beer right out of the cooler after a drive day and a clean set-up.

Perfect!

Marty

[17 Oaks]

The journey IS the destination! If the destination is what's important then fly or go by Greydog...I live off I 10 in S Tex, 75 mph speed limit, gateway to the Tex coast. I am running 80 mph in my truck when I look up in the rear view mirror and see white knuckles on a steering wheel and two eyeballs full of highway stare. Pulling over I see a 5th or motor home go past me like I am standing still...there goes another destination driver.

You might want to make a Critical Items Checklist (CIC): 2 pages. T2, T1.

T2: Is the day before you leave and is a list of items to check that if you don't have on hand it will delay the trip. Full tank of fuel, low tire or flat tire, check engine light on, dead/weak batteries, low/no propane, etc.

T1: Visual inspections. Tires, chains, electrical, propane, slides in, steps up, electrical off etc. These are items that can impact your trip causing a delay or result in a catastrophic result enroute.

If you are the driver make the CIC your responsibility. If you have a partner they should have a list of items to support the trip and need to have on day 1-arrival. Food, drink, medicines, toys for kids, food for dogs, coffee, etc.

[CampingGator]

We drive 65 MPH when we are towing our TT. My brother-in-law went to a driving class and the instructor told them to drive at 63 MPH. This way, most everyone goes around you and you can stay in the right lane. Any time you move from one lane to the next you increase your risk of having an accident. Driving on the interstate is stressful enough. Plan for 65 when you are looking at times and miles to drive in a day. At least experiment with this to see if you find it less stressful. And remember to have a great time!

[spock123]

I normally drive at the speed I have to get where I'm going, I like to drive 63 but sometimes when I have to travel a lot of miles I run up to 75. It would be nice if I could drive 250 miles but sometimes I have 500 miles so I have to speed up, I have sometimes driven 900 miles but it's not fun then


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[Vince and Charlette]

17 Oaks: Wow, great saying, "The Journey IS the destination". I could never put my RV experience into words, but that captures it precisely.

BTW - Pilot/Flying J discount is 6 cents per gallon if you use their RV credit card. It rings out as a "corporate" card and gets discounts on numerous other things such as coffee (AKA: lifer juice - for those with military experience).

[17 Oaks]

Tip save on gas and diesel

Buy Wal Mart Gift Card (free) using your Mc/VISA.

Most have gas some have diesel.

Gift card gets 3 - 10 cents off your fuel purchase

[fil564]

Fuel up when it is convenient not when you need it,our first trip we took was to Maine and the Tundra I had at the time had a 26 gal tank. I would try and go until I had 1/4 tank left then figure I would get gas. Usually passed all of the truckstops and large sized gas stations by then then I would get off at the next exit with gas then would end up driving off the beaten path to find a station and then fight the size of the rig and the traffic to get in and out. Lesson learned and now I fill up when it is convenient to get it.

[JustB_Rad]

To add on to that, if we're going on a long trip where I know I can't get there on a tank of gas...If I stop, I add fuel. That way when I'm on the road, and everybody falls asleep, we can keep driving. Nothing more frustrating than stopping for food, not adding fuel, everyone falling asleep and then an hour after food you have to stop and everybody wakes up.

[purduepete97]

So true JustB!!! Let em sleep!!!

[sparkyd05]

I only travel 300 to 400 miles a day. Usually fill up in the morning when fuel in tank is cooler.

[spock123]

Originally Posted by sparkyd05

I only travel 300 to 400 miles a day. Usually fill up in the morning when fuel in tank is cooler.

I don't think that would make any difference


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[JustB_Rad]

Originally Posted by sparkyd05

I only travel 300 to 400 miles a day. Usually fill up in the morning when fuel in tank is cooler.

Check the blinker fluid and muffler bearings too?

[Vince and Charlette]

JustB, You just stated the very reason we switched from a 5ver to a Class A. With five of us together, it was often less than an hour between stops. In addition, three adult-size children pressed together in the back seat of a pick-up...well, you get the idea.

[DavidBo]

Originally Posted by JustB_Rad

Check the blinker fluid and muffler bearings too?

Hey, I only use the finest synthetic blinker fluid. I usually pick some up when I'm buying more magnetic bearing grease.

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by sparkyd05

I only travel 300 to 400 miles a day. Usually fill up in the morning when fuel in tank is cooler.

For us, that's the limit before I need fuel. So, when we stop and setup for the night/days, I go searching for fuel without the 5'er.

[spock123]

I don't have the problem of running out of diesel. But when you need fuel there is no need of running around looking for the cheapest place. I don't buy diesel at truck stops as I can look around and find a cheap place somewhere else close to where I stop for the night, I have a extra 100gal tank. Before the extra tank I would always carry a couple 5 gallon cans, you never knew, most times they were never needed


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