Picking up my trailer from LAX to IN in mid-December

[peejaykay]

As the subject says, driving from Los Angeles to Indiana and back in mid December. 2 drivers, allowing for 3 days to get there and 5 to get back.

Suggestions? Anyone tow a trailer through Vail pass in the Winter or should I play it safe and head immediately south to I40 west?

[Naio]

Delighted to hear your trip went well!

[peejaykay]

Happy to report that I did the 5700 mile round trip with an additional driver without issue in 7 days. The truck towed awesome, no sway. The 3P propride hitch is fantastic. We stopped and went no problems through high winds and many many semis on route 55/44/I-10. I have full confidence that the truck will continue to perform with an additional 1k in the trailer. We trailered at 55-60 the whole way back, so it took awhile and we had some really long days on the road. But we did great, and the truck did great. Forgot to get weights from the scales. There is a scale near my storage unit so I'll have to try next time.

[peejaykay]

yep. Doing the southern route both ways. For the amount of miles it adds in the grand scheme of things, it's a no brainer. I'm also going to install my Propride when I pick it up, so I hope its not too cold. Doubt the dealer is going to let me work on it in his shop, even if its my tools.

[oldtrojan66]

Maybe I'm chicken, and I had not towed much, a few years ago I towed a 24'TT from western WA to Indiana. I went all the way south to Bakersfield, and then I-40 across. I still ran into some REALLY cold weather around Albuquerque and if I had it to do over, I would go I-10 as far as possible then slant north and hope for no snow! From LA, no question, I would go I-10 all the way to Mobile, AL, right up to Indy. This was my first cross country haul and I had a 74 Chevy 1/2 to with weight distribution and trailer brakes adjusted well. Still white-knuckled it much of the time around heavily traveled areas.

[RAS43]

Looks like the OP has decided to take a southern route and I would agree. I70 over Vail Pass and the Eisenhower tunnels in the winter can be an unhappy experience. All it takes is one commercial vehicle without chains or a private vehicle with questionable tires trying to get to a ski area or home afterward to spin out and the road may close for hours. Then you sit and hope that you don't run out of fuel in the backup that can go for miles. Tow companies and body shops make a lot of money in the winter here.

[time2roll]

I like the snow so I would probably take the low road out and through Vail on the way back when you have more time.
Carry chains for the drive axle and one trailer axle. Test fit before you leave.

[VegasBT]

I grew up along I-40 just east of Albuquerque (Moriarty, NM, to be precise, "Where New Mexico gets ugly and stays that way"). I'd also recommend taking I-10 through El Paso and San Antonio, although the El Paso - San Antonio stretch has to be one of the most boring drives in America. I remember making money in high school during snow storms helping the local tow truck owner pull people out of ditches who refused to believe it snowed in New Mexico. It is the desert, after all....

[GoPackGo]

I-10 to I-59 or I-65 north.

[peejaykay]

Thanks. I'm realtively new to West coast and never lived in the mid west, so I'm never sure where snow starts out there on a regular basis. I think empty, I might go through Colorado because its so scenic in the winter. However, towing seems out of the question.

[mileshuff]

No way would I want to tow I-70 in winter. I-40 is better but stretches across Arizona and New Mexico can easily have blizzard conditions and snow packed highway. I-10 stays clear most of the way.

If you go I-40 you can hold up for a day in Kingman or Ash Fork if weather is poor. Snow will be a problem starting just east of Ash Fork. At night snow could be an issue starting just east of Kingman.

[jaycocamprs]

Yea the extra 200 miles to go down to I-10 isn’t that much. But it's a choice you don't have to make till after you leave Elkhart. If it's warm and clear go I-40, if not go farther south.

[peejaykay]

I routinely push 700mi legs with my wife. Sucks, but we split it and it works. This time, I'm with my brother. We both have several thousand miles of towing experience. I'm from New Hampshire. I know how to drive in snow.

General consensus is I40 furthest north. Preferably I10. The mileage difference is negligible, I'll go I10 and keep it safe. On the way home, I'm expecting to take at least 4 maybe 5-6 days on the road. I have days built in to allow for the unforseen...good advice, thanks for the tips.

[naturist]

That's 2,000 miles, give or take a little, in 3 days? That would call for 660 miles per day, more or less, which will take you AT LEAST 13 hours drive time each day. And that assumes no bad weather, which is really pushing your luck IMHO.

That's also taking I-40 to St. Louis, and that would be absolutely the farthest north route I'd even attempt at that time of year. Of course, all bets are off if you run into snow.

You don't mention what, if any, experience you have driving in snow. If none, I highly recommend flying and leave the RV at home. As for Vail Pass, no way, forget it towing an RV. Even if you were an ace driving in the snow.

[jplante4]

You're already south so just do I40 to I35. If you were coming from San Francisco then there would be a decision to make, but from LA just stay south.