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DGLEICH's avatar
DGLEICH
Explorer
Feb 08, 2021

Need Help with a route from Yuma AZ to Illinois in mid April

Hi All,

My stepdad passed and left us a 1995 Winnebago Vectra 36' with a jeep to tow along.

His lot fee is up end of April so will have to fly down to Yuma AZ and drive it home here in Illinois.

Hubby worried about mountain ranges/passes to go thru coming home from there. on a limited budget so cant take too long getting it back.

What is the best route to drive this bad baby home with the jeep in tow?? it sounds like I-8 might be a bad ride?? thought i saw high winds that way???

Per google maps we would take i8 up to i-40 (and it changes names multiple times apparently) :)

does not appear too many mountain passes?? snow???
any issues with drug cartels on that road? i saw a gov warning about it.

Thanks so much for your helpful advice!!!
Dianne
  • DGLEICH wrote:
    thanks rk911

    as far as we know it is road worthy. he drove it to kingman every summer and down to yuma in winter. it does have new tires. he had the engine maintained. we can have someone check the fluid levels before starting off... it is good advice.

    thanks for the good luck... think we are going to need it!


    you'll be fine. i take it this will be your first time driving a MH? my advice is to deal with the climb east of Albuquerque and avoid Dallas/FW.

    will you be staying in the MH during the trip? have you any experience with living in a MH?
  • thanks rk911

    as far as we know it is road worthy. he drove it to kingman every summer and down to yuma in winter. it does have new tires. he had the engine maintained. we can have someone check the fluid levels before starting off... it is good advice.

    thanks for the good luck... think we are going to need it!
  • if you want to avoid steep climbs then i'd recommend:

    I-8 east to I-10 east
    I-10 east to I-20 north
    I-20 north to I-30 north at Dallas/Ft. Worth
    I-30 north to I-40 north at Little Rock
    I-40 north to I-55 north at Memphis

    this will avoid major climbs but you'll have some cities to deal with the worst (IMO) is Dallas/Ft. Worth. If you want to avoid DFW then take I-10 east to NM SR26 at Deming. Follow that to I-25 at Hatch and then follow I-25 north to Albuquerque where you'll pick up I-40 east. there will be one decent climb on I-40 a few miles east of I-25 but after that it's basically all gradual downhill to Illinois.

    at Oklahoma City you'll want I-44 east. I-44 is a tollway between OK City and Tulsa and again between Tulsa and the MO state line. if you want to avoid the tolls then stay on I-40 at OK City to I-55 at Memphis.

    the advice to be sure that the MH is road worthy is excellent and should not be discounted. me? my main concerns would be the tires, brakes, shocks...basically the suspension system. also fluids...oil, grease.

    other than freak spring storms your weather should be fine. good luck.
  • ndrorder

    Thanks so much... that sounds like a great plan.... Thank you again!
  • Depending upon you're aversion to mountain passes and inclines, you could also take I-8 and I-10 to Las Cruces, NM. Then Hwy 70 and Hwy 54 to Santa Rosa, NM continuing on I-40 as originally planned without any increase time and minimal distance increase. There will be one steep pass east of Las Cruces, but it is short, with a good road with minimal turns, and rarely ever snow. Everything else will just be crossing ditches.
  • We are figuring it will cost close to 900 bucks in diesel fuel.. :O
  • Thanks MountainAir05

    He did take great care of the RV. it has all new tires, he keeps the motor maintained. so should be in good shape.... Jeep in good shape as well. It was his home so he kept it in good working order.. spent almost all the money from selling the house to maintain it!! i was worried about going through mountain passes (telegraph pass?) and if they would be closed or bad due to snow at that time of year....
    Thanks so much! (if he had not have maintained it, i would be selling it on consignment at an rv dealer... :) )
  • I would be looking at the condition of the RV as in tires or other drive train items that might not be road ready. Your route seem OK. Your are looking close to 1900 miles more or less, That 200 gallons of fuel more of less. Plus any items that are not road ready.