Tips for long trip with travel trailer?

4X4Dodger wrote:
To the OP: This topic comes up frequently and the answers are always divided about the same they are here. It always surprises me the number of answers that are essentially fear based...fear of driving at night, fear of mountain roads...

I'm a realist. In my case it's not fear but experience. I've done many all nighters, many 15 hour days. As I get older, it's just getting harder. No more all nighters, and limiting myself to 12 hours at a time. But we do leave very early in the morning on these typr of trips. It's nice to have a few hours in the evening to relax and recuperate.

I once saw a rolled over car in a ditch at 5:00 am on I-70 in Utah. There were first responders on sight tending to one person on the road, but no one tending the the people laying the ditch. Because there was nothing they could do for those poor people. Someone fell asleep at the wheel. I don't want to be that car.

That's really the only caution I would add to this. Do what makes sense for you and your family. Don't take unnecessary risks just to make it somewhere by a certain time. Plan well and your trip will be a pleasure.

However, night driving is great. It's cooler, traffic is light. The only caveat we've run into is that some of roadside stops for breaks are a whole different world at night and not in a good way.

My dad was an over the truck driver. When we started traveling distances he told me to plan 2 hours for every 100 miles. And I've found over the years that this is a pretty accurate planning number. That makes it a 17 hour trip for you. I've done 15 hours days, no way could I do a 17 hour day. I'd do one 10-12 hour day, and one short day. Especially with kids.

But don't hesitate to make this trip. You'll be glad you did!