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Dottie5's avatar
Dottie5
Explorer
Mar 30, 2014

Anyone familiar with I40 through NM and AZ

Hi, I'm new to this board and new to RVing. My dh and I recently purchased a 31ft travel trailer. We've only driven it from the point of purchase to home - but that was 600 miles through Oklahoma and got a good taste of how it handles in the wind. And it was windy! But we did ok with the help of an anti-sway hitch.

Anyway, we have been considering some trips. One is to Anaheim CA to take our kids to Disneyland. Here is my question:

We are road trippers and have driven out to California numerous times before the TT. We live in the Denver area and take I70 west. That route consists of, first the Continental Divide/Eisenhower Tunnel then on to Vail Pass and then through Glenwood Canyon and then there is a stretch of road through Utah (at least a couple hours of driving) that is nothing but up and down and winding back and forth. It's pretty but, frankly, we've driven it so many times I can't stand that stretch through Utah anymore. And I have a feeling with a TT it will be an even longer drive and even more frustrating.

We have only traveled I40 once from CA to CO and I can't remember the route that well. Taking I25 down to Albuquerque then west on I40 into CA will add about 160 miles to the trip as opposed to the I70 route but if there is less elevation, less winding turns, the travel time difference might be minimal if at all.

I'm trying to be mindful of the breaking that will have to be done and the engine having to work so hard with all of that elevation gain and terrain on the I70 route. My dh says it's no big deal. However, he hasn't driven that Utah stretch as many times as I have and even without a TT, the constant down shifting and up, down, round and round gets tiring.

Anyone familiar with taking a southern route out of Colorado to California? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Sorry this got so long :o