LeeFL's Summer Roadtrip

[leefl]

I promised months ago, when i posted about our original tentative route for this roadtrip, that i would post photos, so here we go: -

After 11 hours and 633 miles we arrived at our first stop in rainy Mississippi. Nice site tho, overlooking the lake at Paul B Johnson State Park, near Hattiesburg

[jheacox1]

Nice site. 11 hours though...don't know if I could pull that off. Like to keep my days under 7 hours.

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[leefl]

Got a 10.5 drive to Sunset Texas on Monday, then a 10 hour drive to Albuquerque on Tuesday.
We did toy with the idea of moving on to Texas tomorrow, since it's so wet here, and forecast to stay rainy tomorrow, but we'll probably stick with the original schedule.

[jheacox1]

Safe travels to you and yours. You're really putting on the miles per day. Do you plan to keep up that pace throughout your trip?

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[leefl]

Our traveling days range anywhere between 3 and 11 hours, but with a lot around 9 hours. Just wanting to make the most of the destinations ��

[lbrjet]

Have a great trip.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[Fushux]

Awesome. Keep up with pictures. We leave next week for a 3 week CA and Oregon trip.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[leefl]

So, we've arrived in Sunset, Texas, after a fairly stressful day of traveling.

Some lessons learnt today: -

Jackson, Mississippi has the worst roads I've experienced anywhere in the world ... and I've traveled a lot.

I20 through Louisiana sucks too. The ridges on the road kill fuel economy.

Dallas/Fort Worth traffic and road works can kiss my shiny metal ass.

Never trust GPS. It took us through some neighborhood in Fort Worth to avoid traffic between two highways, and there was road work and we ended up having to drive along a road with oncoming traffic and squished against the side of the road with trees scuffing against the side of the camper ... anyone have good suggestions for getting rid of scratches on the camper ?

[jheacox1]

Crap. Sorry to hear the not so good news. But hey you made it safely. That's the important thing. Maybe you can buff the scratches out?

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[leefl]

Yeah, hoping i can get the scratches out by waxing and buffing after trip,. Certainly won't have time while on trip.
As you say, at least we got here safe, despite the best efforts of some maniac drivers around fort worth. Had to brake hard and swerve to avoid the guy in front of me who locked his wheels trying to avoid the guy in front of him who suddenly slammed on the brakes and then cut across 3 lanes to take an exit.
Thankfully i have pretty quick reactions, and now have brakes that actually work ��

[leefl]

Well, we made it to Albuquerque.
Today was a 4th gear kinda day. Much of the day was spent in 4th gear to stay around 60-65mph through the Texas high plains and into the New Mexico mountains, but often having to drop to 3rd to keep close to 60mph, and sometimes along the climbs above 7000ft along I40 having to drop into 2nd gear at 4500rpm to keep close to just 50mph.
I never knew a V8 engine would have to work so hard, and now wish I'd paid the extra $8K for the turbo diesel. I know we'll have the same, or even worse into Utah, and later the Rockies

[gspot01]

Was interested to read this. Leaving in five days to drive I-40 from Memphis to Santa Fe over two days. Safe travels!

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[Time-Travelers]

Which brand/model GPS are you using?
Safe travels!

[jheacox1]

Glad you made it safely through the head winds. Even though the V8 does that just remember it was made to do that. And do it for a long time. 6% grades are tough and even more so at higher altitudes. Even the diesels run at 50 mph with a decent load, big difference is their rpms are lower. Sounds better, feels better because of their torque too but make no mistake, their engine is working hard as well. I had the same thoughts you did going up and down the mountains in WV and in the northeast. Stopped to eat at a truck stop and was talking to a guys hauling around the same weight I was with his 350 turbo diesel. Asked him how it was and he said I'm eating fuel, I said me too. I guess the only difference is he was eating his fuel more quietly. ;-)

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[Steeljag]

Drive safe, and enjoy your adventure !

[leefl]

Originally Posted by Time-Travelers

Which brand/model GPS are you using?
Safe travels!

I was just using Google maps navigation, not an RV specific GPS. I thought I'd be ok since most of the route is interstate and I've checked in advance for low bridges etc.
I guess the lesson of that day is to "just say no" when it asks if you want a faster route to avoid traffic.
The other lesson is to check in advance for tolls. I had to avoid a toll road at last minute too, since i didn't realize there were no toll booths, and it's a "pay by mail" system ... but of course i won't be at home to receive mail for 2 months, so would no doubt end up with late payment fines etc

[leefl]

On a positive note, American RV Park in Albuquerque seems really nice. Very friendly staff, nice sites (tho not the biggest), and a breakfast buffet which we'll check out soon

[leefl]

btw, meant to mention before that the average for yesterday's drive was 6.7 mpg in the end

[lbrjet]

I have towed 22,000 miles and my worst days mileage, 6.75, was on that same stretch. Only day ever it has been under 7.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[jheacox1]

Originally Posted by leefl

btw, meant to mention before that the average for yesterday's drive was 6.7 mpg in the end

Wait until you hit the rockies. I'm betting you'll see 2.5 mpgs uphill through Ikes Gauntlet and those canyons afterward. I guess it'll all even out though considering what goes up must come down. ;-)

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab