Driving under 26,000 gross from Oregon to NC

[Dark Helmet]

Have been following a couple of related threads... Am flying into Portland, OR next Wed. morning and picking up a customised rollback in Newberg for a dealer in Elizabeth City, NC. I was going to drive down to CA and then over to I40 for the majority of the trip because of high passes and the possibility of needing chains on/in the vehicle. Yesterday I was studying the more northern route, I84 to I80 and did not see any thing that looked like they would be needed. Did I miss something? :???: Thanks to all in advance!

Gonna try the northern route I84 to I80, weather permitting.
http://maps.yahoo.com/#/directions/?lat=41.04621681452063&lon=-99.580078125&bb=59.57885104663186%2C-145.283203125%2C22.51255695405144%2C-53.876953125&o=Portland%20International%20Airport%2C%20Portland %2C%20OR%2097218&d=601%20N%20Hughes%20Blvd%2C%20Elizabeth%20City%2C %20NC%2027909-3530

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=94111&d=1390265845

[tommag]

Not sure of the under 26,000 lb limit, but over 26,000, allvehicles are required to carry chains. They are not hard to put on, just stop after a few hundred yards and re-tighten them.

[OBIII]

I don't know anything about your question, but I do have relatives down around Manteo, NC. :) Mayhaps we've passed at some time in the past. Drive safely.

OB

[jonp]

You did miss a few things. Your asking about going from Portland to E City so I'll assume that you are just worried about the Rockies. A lot of guy will drop down in the winter and take "the southern route" across to avoid the snow and mid-west. In Oregon the road next to the Columbia sometimes gets icy due to the moisture off the water but I would not worry about that. Cabbage Patch Hill near Pendleton can be a fun ride due to snow. Never had much trouble in Idaho or Utah but the climb from Salt Lake into Wyoming can get snowy in the winter and 80 across Wyoming, while flat, can be treacherous due to high winds and ice. I've been on it several times and had it shut down due to those conditions. Driving in the left lane with my truck and the trailer was in the right lane due to the wind. If I was traveling from East to West or vice versa I always took that route instead of I70 because I figured if the weather was bad I would rather go off the road in Wyoming where it was flat instead of off the mountain in Colorado into a gorge. Other than that its typical winter weather driving.

There are a couple of alternate routes you might consider. If you are thinking of I40 then you might consider taking I84 East to Twin Falls, ID then cutting south on hwy 93 through Nevada to Vegas. Stay on 93 and it will drop you onto I40 in Kingman. You might also, if thinking of I5 South to I40 come down into California then split onto Hwy99 in either Sacramento or Stockton and then pickup 58 East in Bakersfield. This will avoid LA and going down then back up onto 40. 58 East will put you on I40 in Barstow.
I40 can get snowy around Flagstaff, AZ and Amarillo, TX but not that bad, imo. I used to run it constantly and never had much of a problem.

One thing you can do is pick up a Truckers Atlas like http://store.randmcnally.com/2014-rand-mcnally-motor-carriers-road-atlas-retail.html. This will have the roads in better view for you than a standard atlas but more importantly for you will have all of the States DOT Phone Number and Web Sites for road conditions on one page for easy reference.

[Freightman]

Don't worry about Amarillo we have been so dry it can't snow suppose to be in the 60 for the next seven days. Texas New Mexico and Oklahoma are in a major drought we would welcome a snow if it had water in it. :roll:

[jonp]

Don't worry about Amarillo we have been so dry it can't snow suppose to be in the 60 for the next seven days. Texas New Mexico and Oklahoma are in a major drought we would welcome a snow if it had water in it. :roll:

60's in Amarillo in January? Strange weather. Must be Global Warming :roll:

[quilbilly]

The drought of the century that California is having extends all the way to British Columbia this winter. All but a few of the ski areas are closed except for the ones that make their own snow. There is very little snow anywhere west of the Rockies. You should have not difficulties taking I-84 into Idaho and beyond for the next ten days. Check the ODOT webcams on HWY 26 just south of Mt. Hood (Blue Box Summit and Snow Bunny) to see just how little snow there is. For the record, this is actually global cooling in action due to sunspot activity.

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

Also be aware that some states require all trucks (even rental moving trucks) to pull into the weigh station (if open)

If you head South out of OR on I-5 there is a Mountain pass just at the border with CA (can't remember the name) that if it is bad weather, you will be required to put chains on, or the road will be shut down ...

[starmac]

Starting out in Newburg, there is nothing that would convince me to go south into Cali at all.

[lylejb]

Also be aware that some states require all trucks (even rental moving trucks) to pull into the weigh station (if open)

If you head South out of OR on I-5 there is a Mountain pass just at the border with CA (can't remember the name) that if it is bad weather, you will be required to put chains on, or the road will be shut down ...


that would be the Siskiyou pass.

www.tripcheck.com is the ODOT website that has links to all the traffic cams in the state, as well as a few miles into the next.


As for WHY you would WANT to go to cali........I can't help you

[SciFiJim]

You might also, if thinking of I5 South to I40 come down into California then split onto Hwy99 in either Sacramento or Stockton and then pickup 58 East in Bakersfield. This will avoid LA and going down then back up onto 40. 58 East will put you on I40 in Barstow.

If you are thinking of this route, be aware of road construction going on between Fresno and Bakersfield.

They are adding a third lane, which means that there is often only one lane of traffic. Traffic can back up for miles.

[Dark Helmet]

Thinking now is I84 to hwy93 southbound till I can pickup I40. Will I need/be required to have chains on the I84 leg to say Wells,NV?

[Dark Helmet]

lylejb Thanks for the www.tripchek.com link. Looks like I may carry chains whether or not I have to use them.

[lylejb]

no problem Dark Helmet.

I only traveled I84 east from Portland to Umatilla army depot / Hermiston, about 180 miles. What I can tell you is that IF there's any snow/ ice problems, it's in the Gorge. About Troutdale to the Dalles.

Hood River, Or is just on the east side of the Gorge, and it's weather forecast for Wed. is


Wednesday:

partly cloudy Partly to mostly cloudy. High near 50F. Winds light and variable.

Wednesday Night:

partly cloudy Partly cloudy skies. Low 34F. Winds light and variable.

from www.wunderground.com

It sounds like you shouldn't have a problem, in Oregon at least.

[starmac]

That would be the scenic take your time route. I'm not sure how you would get to wells on I 84, wells used to be on I 80. I have been in just as bad of weather on 40 as I have going the northern route, If I just wanted to hurry down to forty I would stay on the interstate to south of Salt lake city and either cut aacross to Cortez and hit 40 at albq, or take 191 on down through the reservation and hit 40 at gallop.

[Circuit Rider]

Cabbage Hill on I-84 can be really bad this time of year. Used to cross it when I ran the roads. CR

[Larry Gibson]

Thinking now is I84 to hwy93 southbound till I can pickup I40. Will I need/be required to have chains on the I84 leg to say Wells,NV?

You definitely want to avoid Cabbage hill going up the Blues east of Pendleton and Ladd Canyon east of LaGrande on I84 this time of year.

I traveled I84 to 93, south to Bend, 20 to Burns, 78 to Burns Junction and 95 south to Winnemucca, NV. Only one small pass there and never needed chains with 5th wheel. Best to check with ODOT as they have up to date road conditions. At Winnemucca you have a choice of going east on I80. Best let the current and forecasted weather reports make that decision at that time. If bad go south west on I 80 to the 95/Fallon exit and take Nevada 95 to just south of Las Vegas/Henderson. Then it's weather decision time again; Continue on 93 to Kingman if EB on I40 looks ok. If weather is still bad go south on 95 to I10. I10 should be pretty much clear sailing across the country EB. As a matter of fact I'm heading out to Florida next month on I10 with the 5th wheel. Good luck and travel safe.

Larry Gibson

[mpbarry1]

actually ladd and cabagge are good right now. Iwork for odot here, so if you want to pm me i can give you info when you are ready to leave.

[starmac]

Been over Ladd and cabbage more times than I can count, but never chained for either of them, If they put the chain law up, I detoured through tollgate. Usually had a lot more snow, but way less traffic.

[Dark Helmet]

ODOT Tripchek is showing carry chains morning and afternoon on OR20, Santiam Pass, etc. :sad:
Doesn't look like I'm going to avoid it.

[jonp]

That would be the scenic take your time route. I'm not sure how you would get to wells on I 84, wells used to be on I 80. I have been in just as bad of weather on 40 as I have going the northern route, If I just wanted to hurry down to forty I would stay on the interstate to south of Salt lake city and either cut aacross to Cortez and hit 40 at albq, or take 191 on down through the reservation and hit 40 at gallop.

?491? 191 will run you down through Chinle to 40 and is a good road but if your going to do that I would cut into 160 east at Mexican Water and run it to 64 east '
to either Shiprock or Farmington and come down to 40.

[jonp]

I guess the point to this is that if you talk to 100 truck drivers you are liable to get 100 different answers to how to run the route.

[jonp]

Thinking now is I84 to hwy93 southbound till I can pickup I40. Will I need/be required to have chains on the I84 leg to say Wells,NV?

You definitely want to avoid Cabbage hill going up the Blues east of Pendleton and Ladd Canyon east of LaGrande on I84 this time of year.

I traveled I84 to 93, south to Bend, 20 to Burns, 78 to Burns Junction and 95 south to Winnemucca, NV. Only one small pass there and never needed chains with 5th wheel. Best to check with ODOT as they have up to date road conditions. At Winnemucca you have a choice of going east on I80. Best let the current and forecasted weather reports make that decision at that time. If bad go south west on I 80 to the 95/Fallon exit and take Nevada 95 to just south of Las Vegas/Henderson. Then it's weather decision time again; Continue on 93 to Kingman if EB on I40 looks ok. If weather is still bad go south on 95 to I10. I10 should be pretty much clear sailing across the country EB. As a matter of fact I'm heading out to Florida next month on I10 with the 5th wheel. Good luck and travel safe.

Larry Gibson
Is that truckstop in Burns still open that has the great homemade pies?

[starmac]

?491? 191 will run you down through Chinle to 40 and is a good road but if your going to do that I would cut into 160 east at Mexican Water and run it to 64 east '
to either Shiprock or Farmington and come down to 40.

That may be the difference between you and me. I figure if I go that route, why bypass cortez then go through the shiprock scales. LOL Actually I would rather blast through Albq on 40 than mess with farmington, 550 and 25.
Besides if he crosses a NM scale, even in a little truck, he will have to pay to cross, my way they never know you were there.

[jonp]

That may be the difference between you and me. I figure if I go that route, why bypass cortez then go through the shiprock scales. LOL Actually I would rather blast through Albq on 40 than mess with farmington, 550 and 25.
Besides if he crosses a NM scale, even in a little truck, he will have to pay to cross, my way they never know you were there.
There is that and I can't argue with you on that point

[Dark Helmet]

Gonna try the northern route I84 to I80, weather permitting. Hope the weather here holds or causes a large delay- forecast windy and 1-3 in. snow.
http://maps.yahoo.com/#/directions/?lat=41.04621681452063&lon=-99.580078125&bb=59.57885104663186%2C-145.283203125%2C22.51255695405144%2C-53.876953125&o=Portland%20International%20Airport%2C%20Portland %2C%20OR%2097218&d=601%20N%20Hughes%20Blvd%2C%20Elizabeth%20City%2C %20NC%2027909-3530

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=94111&d=1390265845

[Dark Helmet]

Got back just before 9 pm this evening. Shoulda made it a 6 day trip. GPS's still suck IMHO. Truck is nowhere as clean as in the picture.:bigsmyl2:

[jonp]

Tad chilly up there on I80??

[Dark Helmet]

Not too bad. Oregon wasn't too swift. Got in a snowburst in Boise ID that had me thinking for a minute. Hit a few rough patches elswhere (the grade just east of Pendelton,OR comes to mind) , didn't allow enough time for mountain driving and Oregon truck speed limits really killed me for time. Supposed to begin snowing here tonight/tommorow and get 6 " give or take. The snow isn't gone yet that was coming down when I left .:groner: Managed to squeeze in a visit to Graf's so it wasn't all bad.:-P After I left Graf's Sat. the fun began with my GPS giving a grand tour of MO and TN.

[jonp]

I mentioned cabbage patch ;)
better chk weather again. ECity might get a foot. That will b fun

[Dark Helmet]

Heck, any snow around here is fun, literally and figuratively.

[jonp]

That is no lie. Everyone at work was freaking out about a possible 8in tomorrow night. Back home that's just a ho-hum and a "I've got to shovel the driveway again, crud". All a matter of perspective.

[starmac]

He is home , and probably singing....... Let it snow, let it snow. lol