Eastern TN to Northern CA- best winter route?

[Snipechief]

In the next week we're traveling from ETN to Nor-Cal. What's the best Winter route? We will be in our Forza DP. Thx

[Morich]

I would have to favor !40 as one of the better routes but even then I would try to time the trip to allow for waiting a day or so if things get bad. I do not drive an RV on bad roads if I can plan to avoid it!
One of the nicer things about retired is that we avoid having firm plans!
At this time of year going any route further North or higher is going to be more prone to hitting snow, etc.
The ten might work better for weather but from your start it adds miles! But it might also work to go West on one route and then if things get out of control move further to the 10 if needed.
Point to know when planning winter is that the further North, the more campgrounds may be closed! Consider doing the last stretch to the coast on 8 to cut down the traffic, but then working up the stretch of coast is a bit of slow going.

[Snipechief]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'm still going to try 40, and hope I don't together in snow around NM & AZ.

[Morich]

Yes, it's always a trick to look ahead far enough to make any firm plans.
We got into having a basic idea of the plan but always left it open for sudden changes, We always found enough variety of places to plan for one and then change if needed.
The high places are often the question but rarely does any one specific storm cover both North and South ends of the high areas!

Watch Flagstaff for sudden changes that you may want to shift around!

[202235f]

Another vote for 40. I've made this trip in January with good results. As I recall, entering into Texas in Texarcana and exiting Texas in El Paso. Never thought I would get out of the Lone Star State! LOL.
Safe Travels!

[Ray,IN]

I drive ! 10, ! 40 involves mountain driving, snow and slick roads. On rvforum.net a man/Tulecreeper, lives near ! 40 and he always advises other to avoid ! 40 during winter.
Sure it's more distance to drive, but it's safer for your family.
I've encountered snow is Amarillo TX and had to overnight at one of the RV parks along ! 10 for one night while the interstate is cleared to NM. The next days sun usually melts the snow on pavement.

[Morich]

Originally Posted by 202235f

Another vote for 40. I've made this trip in January with good results. As I recall, entering into Texas in Texarcana and exiting Texas in El Paso. Never thought I would get out of the Lone Star State! LOL.
Safe Travels!

This one may not work as 40 doesn't come to Texas! Maybe 40,30,20 to 10 at El Paso?
Most likely way out of Tenn. seems to be 40, with decision time at Little Rock! Go 30 to Dallas or go further North into Oklahoma?
40 gets you into Ca. with less miles and the upside of less of the really heavy traffic North between San Diego and LA.
But 40 into LA does expose you to a lot more chance of snow and cold so. We make that decision as weather goes as we move!
When we get as far as Tucson, then we also decide if we want the more Southern I8 for less traffic to CA but more of the slower drag for going North!
We favor 8 over 10 on that last leg before Ca. but we don't like going North from there!

No good way to get there?

[Snipechief]

Ya, it's pretty good until CA. We usually go 40 and when we get to Bakersfield CA catch I5 north to CA Hwy 20 then to N 101 to Eureka. I think your right about Little Rock. That's whe6te the big decision will take place.

[Snipechief]

I think your right. Little Rock will be the deciding point. I'll check wx from there to Albuquerque and on to Flagstaff AZ. If it's iffy we'll shoot down to 30 to Dallas . From there 20 to i10 to Phoenix, then 95 north back up to i40 and then 58 to Bakersfield and then I5 north to CA hwy 20 to n. 101 to Eureka. Best I can figure to cover all bases if the wx is bad on 40. What a trip. We're leaving Monday.

[delhawk]

We've traveled across the southern tier of the country in November and December as well as late winter. See our trip in Personal Trip Journal - 2011 Triangle Tour as an example. Even if you choose a southern route you can run into a snow storm that will change your plans for a day or two.

[Snipechief]

We made it 300 miles, and we're at the Tanbark rv park in Dixon tn. They had a pull through 50 amp with a concrete pad perfectly level. Sipping some Beam and relaxing. Bonus points for dog not barfing. Cheers

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by Snipechief

We made it 300 miles, and we're at the Tanbark rv park in Dixon tn. They had a pull through 50 amp with a concrete pad perfectly level. Sipping some Beam and relaxing. Bonus points for dog not barfing. Cheers

I would call that a win! :cheers:

Aaron

[Snipechief]

Thanks, ya it's definitely different than pulling a 5v'er. I really like it though. Still have a lot to learn. It drove wonderfully. Plenty of power although we're not pulling a toad yet.
If anybody is listening, do NOT take the 840 bypass around Nashville. There are so many gigantic pot holes. At one point I hit one doing 60 mph and it actually turned the front wheels left. Terrible. I mean avoid this lime the plague. I'd rather be in Nashville traffic . Never again.

[Snipechief]

Here's a quick pic of the Forza at Tanbark I took while walking the hound.

[Snipechief]

Hmmmm, well we're not really parked like that lol.

[Snipechief]

Elk City, OK today. We've had some issues with the Forza. But so far I've been able to make repairs. But Seriously! On a brand new rig one would think that the fermco coupling that attaches the outlet of the black tank to the dump valve would have been connected. REALLY Winnebago. That's just unacceptable. Zero quality control. I could go on with everything that has fallen off the inside, but I'm in a happy place right now, and don't want to ruin it. Cheers!

[Snipechief]

Made it to Boron, CA enoute to Bakersfield today hopefully to get a water leak repaired behind the shower. We haven't neen able to use either h2o sys since Last Friday. It's been a challenge. Onward & upward we go.

[Marine359]

It’s quite the risk this time of year to take I-40. Weather can come in quickly in less time than it takes to make the transit from Flagstaff, through Albuquerque and into Texas. Unless you want to slog through snow, it’s safer to go take the southern route. Two years ago, in late March, we got snow in Sante Fe, and thought we could outrun the oncoming weather. We barely made it, but we’re still slogging through snow in Amarillo.

[Snipechief]

We made all the way on i40. I'm going to take i10 home when we leave. I40 is a absolute disgrace. I'm sure 10 isn't much better. We've sustained some damage from gigantic pot holes. I'm surprised we made it this far. I40 was pretty bad 1 1/2 years ago but now it's just plain bad. Avoid it if you can.

[Snipechief]

Made it to Bakersfield, CA yesterday morning. Wete staying at a real nice KOA, with camping world, and Walmart within a mile. Hope to get thos leak repaired soon. No water in the coach isn't fun.