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09-14-2021, 01:15 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 6
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Best time to travel west
Hi there! Any suggestions on when is the best time of year to travel west, Colorado, Utah, etc. from Midwest? Avoiding wildfires and snow main concern.
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09-14-2021, 01:53 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 448
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I'm thinking late May-early June to avoid the worst of the wildfires and miss most of the snow, except at higher elevations.
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09-14-2021, 02:01 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
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Late Spring.
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2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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09-14-2021, 02:03 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 272
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PodGeek
I'm thinking late May-early June to avoid the worst of the wildfires and miss most of the snow, except at higher elevations.
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X2
Even though where I live we had wildfires start in early April this year. But we also had almost no snow this year and a no rain spring too so that didn’t help.
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09-14-2021, 03:36 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lburke
Hi there! Any suggestions on when is the best time of year to travel west, Colorado, Utah, etc. from Midwest? Avoiding wildfires and snow main concern.
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I just returned from a trip through the states mentioned. No fires encountered but enough smoke from CA fires to make air very uncomfortable.
Snow in CO an UT As well as the other mountain states can show up at anytime. Just less likely in Summer months.
I plan my trips into those states from late Spring to Mid/Late Fall. Then just make sure i'm prepared to hunker down for a few days should a storm pass through.
Extra food, plenty of propane, wark clothes, and sleeping bag(s).
Also chains for both TV and TT.
Being prepared seems to have a preventive effect for me----so far anyway.
__________________
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"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
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09-14-2021, 09:04 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Baraboo, WI
Posts: 605
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If you travel in the Rockies, it can snow at high elevations any time of the year. Always carry food, water, propane, sleeping bags, and warm clothing. If you plan for weather emergencies, you are prepared and may be uncomfortable. If you don't prepare, you could be dead.
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09-14-2021, 09:12 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanMike
I just returned from a trip through the states mentioned. No fires encountered but enough smoke from CA fires to make air very uncomfortable.
Snow in CO an UT As well as the other mountain states can show up at anytime. Just less likely in Summer months.
I plan my trips into those states from late Spring to Mid/Late Fall. Then just make sure i'm prepared to hunker down for a few days should a storm pass through.
Extra food, plenty of propane, wark clothes, and sleeping bag(s).
Also chains for both TV and TT.
Being prepared seems to have a preventive effect for me----so far anyway.
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What purpose would chains on the TT serve ? Semi's don't ever chain the trailers.
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09-14-2021, 09:17 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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I've traveled from Nebraska to Montana pretty much every month of the year. Probably 30-40 trips over the years. I start monitoring the weather about a week or two before I leave, just in case I need to make a change in plans. I follow the weather everyday for the entire trips, just to be safe.
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09-14-2021, 11:49 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82
What purpose would chains on the TT serve ? Semi's don't ever chain the trailers.
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actually semi's do chain trailers. required in many states when chains required and going down mountain passes. often just one rear wheel to keep trailer behind tractor.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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09-15-2021, 12:04 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 103
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We leave Fort Worth the second week of May for central Idaho. Four years and zero problems. Next year could be non accessible. You never know until you look at current conditions. Plan well, plan ahead, and travel safe.
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09-15-2021, 12:59 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: L\Anywhere and everywhere
Posts: 263
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I lived in Durango, Co for 14 years and, after selling our backpacking shop, bought our first rig and started working for the NPS as a seasonal Park Ranger.
Not aware of what Covid is doing, in normal times I would suggest after Aug. 15.That's when the crowds start thinning out as the kids have to be back in school. Yellowstone is also great then as the bears are scavenging to build up their fat layer before they hibernate, and are usually very visible
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Kayo
2014 Primetime Sanibel 3051 pulled by a 2013 Chevy Silverado 3500HP dually diesel. Full timers wince 2003 with DW of 53 year. NPS Park Ranger
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09-15-2021, 01:47 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Right Half of OR
Posts: 593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82
What purpose would chains on the TT serve ? Semi's don't ever chain the trailers.
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Don't know where you travel, but chains are required for commercial vehicles to carry usually mid-Oct thru April. They can be required to be used on most highways in the West when conditions dictate. "Drag chains" keep the trailer in line with the tractor most of the time. A set of chains for one axle on your TT is more than just a good idea.
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Greg 'n Deb
2020 R-POD 195 HRE
'17 Tacoma 3.5L,'07 Tundra 5.7L w/ tow pkgs.
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09-15-2021, 01:56 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 65
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I live in Montana west of Yellowstone Park. Lots of good suggestions so far-get the long range & daily forecast if-I had to chain up anything I wouldn’t move from a RV Park or Walmart. Utah can be pretty hot after June 1; I would consider late March thru May and then again in the fall would be great. Because of cold night temps in high elevation Utah & Colorado, be prepared for a quick winterization w/antifreeze- may last only a couple days. Daytimes very pleasant and warm, temp goes down w/ the sun at night.
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09-15-2021, 02:14 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 97
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Living in the high Rockies I find the best time to be out camping is the September-October time frame. The fall weather and colors are absolutely perfect. Days are warm and the nights are chilly enough to make for good sleeping. Snow storms are rare and the snow melts quickly. Spring is mud and mosquito season. Uncomfortable camping and limited hiking opportunities.
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09-15-2021, 03:48 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 448
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Some of us are suggesting a late spring time frame because the OP specifically mentioned wanting to avoid smoke from wildfires.
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09-15-2021, 05:10 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Dripping Springs, TX
Posts: 101
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If you have a diesel engine, ensure you have an engine warmer installed.
Ensure you have chains, keep your propane supply healthy, extra batteries, bottled water, warm clothing for sudden temoerature changes. We try to visit before school lets out or as folks are returning home to start a new school year. Check those 10 day weather forecasts wherever you plan on going!
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DrippingDuo
Chappy and Liz
Dripping Springs, TX
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09-15-2021, 07:57 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO
Posts: 74
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Think Memorial Day to Labor Day. We have been snowed on earlier in the spring, last year with 4 inches on April 20 south of Pueblo, and just after Labor Day in the fall we have had snow. The only sure things are unprediuctable weather and unprepared flatlanders. Watch weather forecasts for wind and be prepared with winter supplies.
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09-15-2021, 08:28 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 30
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This year in Arizona most of the wildfires were in June and early July. But no snow at that time. There is always areas to see and visit without any issues and maybe a little reroute
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09-15-2021, 08:54 PM
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#19
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Scoundrel
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Posts: 2,786
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I'd travel mid to late spring; also September through October. Yes it can snow early fall but those storms are fast moving and drop their frozen precip on warm roads... doesn't last.
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09-16-2021, 12:08 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Mid Michigan
Posts: 1,098
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If Montana is one of your etc's, we just left Glacier NP. Great time to be there as the crowds are down some. The colors are starting to change in higher elevations. Also the weather is great for hiking and cool nights for sleeping but not much chance of having to drive through snow. We plan our long trip west from Michigan every year for just after Labor Day for these reasons.
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