Driving From West Coast to Michigan

We live in Michigan. It seems all the good PCs are on the west coast. Never drove that way. Any suggestions regarding driving an RV (PC) from Washington State or California to Michigan. One route takes I-90 to I-94.

We drove 30 foot TT and van but never a Class C. Is the 90-94 route treacherous for first timers in a PC? We would plan this drive when weather is best, say May-June.... This is scary as we would be camping on the fly and learning as we go!

Thanks in advance.

Ron and Linda

Hi Ron & Linda,

There is a lot to see taking I-90, passing through cool places like the Black Hills where Mount Rushmore is, and Badlands NP.  Right at Badlands is the Minuteman Missile Silo National Historic Site where you can tour an underground control room and also see a missile in a silo at another location.  East of there will be uneventful.

Starting near Chicago, we once took I-94 and found it to be quite refreshing.  We jumped up to state route 2 in Montana on that trip heading to the Banff/Jasper area.  We stopped into Theodore Roosevelt NP to see lots of buffalo, but there were none to be found at the time.

Is the 90-94 route treacherous for first timers in a PC?

I see similar comments all the time and I wonder what people think of the west?  None of the interstates are any more 'treacherous' than one back east.  Usually in better repair and with far less traffic.   Driving I-95?  Now that's treacherous!

Speeds may be a little higher than you are used to.  Don't worry about it, get in the right lane and do a comfortable speed for you.

Rest areas and fuel stops might be a little further apart.  Just fill every time you go below half.  Off the interstate if it says next gas 300 miles, they really do mean it.  But on the interstate it's all good.

Otherwise it's all good.  I mean we even have cell phones and Walmarts and stuff out here! 

Genuinely curious but what are your concerns?  I would be glad to help, all kidding aside.

Thanks for the replies.

My concern are the steep inclines and declines and first time driving a PC . Properly using the tow haul mode so not to creep too slow up it or too fast down.  Dont want you reading about a runaway PC.

Ron

Tow haul is really nice!  I have it on in almost any traffic only taking it off when on the freeway.  Despite the impression it is for steep grades I find it more useful in city traffic.

When going down a grade you turn on tow-haul and let the engine braking handle it for the most part.  Yes some of the grades can look scary but remember you are driving a fairly small truck compared to all the 18 wheelers on the road.  The first grade will be an interesting experience, after that no big deal.

And the interstates do not (mostly) have huge inclines.  The smaller roads are a different story but remember people travel them every day with no issues.

I suppose it depends on where you want to go in California.  In my jeep, I-90 cost about $20 in tolls just thru Chicago.  The traffic was awful.  I-80 is another route that can take you over the Continental Divide in Wyoming.  The hills have truck climbing lanes.  Utah is beautiful.  Nevada will give you the feel of the old West.  If you continue on I-80, Donner Pass isn't too bad or in Reno you can jump down to US 50 at South Lake Tahoe.  It is very pretty without going interstate speeds.  Both roads end up in Sacramento.  Traffic sucks southbound but gets better as you go North.  If you can get up to the Oregon coast, it is worth every gallon of gas to get there!

Patti

Ron and Linda,

We drove the Michigan to Washington to California and then back to Michigan a couple of years ago.
We did the I 94 - I 90 as well.  It was not treacherous.  

We did go to the Redwoods in Northern California and then to Reno.  The east/west drive between Northern California and Reno was extremely difficult.  We should have camped near
I 5, taken a day trip to the Redwoods and then taken I 5 to I 80 into Reno.

We find filling-up for gas at the Pilot/Flying Js the easiest.  Many have RV pumps and RV parking separate from the trucks.  We spent a few nights on the road at the Flying Js.  Get the Pilot/Flying J app for your phone and you can actually see exactly where the gas stations are in comparison to your location.  If you are a Good Sam/Camping World member gas is 3 - 5 cents less.

We also find the next exit book extremely helpful on long trips.  And if a AAA member you get the Woodalls Campground books as part of your membership.

Enjoy!

NorCal to Reno is easy- go  101 south to Novato then 37 to 80 to Reno.

Thanks for the replies.

My concern are the steep inclines and declines and first time driving a PC . Properly using the tow haul mode so not to creep too slow up it or too fast down.  Dont want you reading about a runaway PC.

Ron

Hi Again Ron and Linda,

Your experience with a van towing a travel trailer will not compare well to driving a PC towing a vehicle.  The PC will handle and "power" better in the terrain you are concerned about.  We have driven our PC-2350 towing our Jeep Liberty through all kinds of terrain, up steep & steady climbs at high altitude, down miles of decent, winding roads and all you can think of.  The performance and handling is not of concern for us.  BUT....our PC does have the infamous suspension upgrades that is often debated.

If buying a PC-2551 or longer, the suspension upgrades will be less a requirement, especially on PCs made since 2008 when the suspension was given minor improvements from Ford that are present to a 2018 model year.  The reason why it is less an issue on PC-2551s & longer is because of their longer wheel base and improved weight distribution on the axles.

Others have been discussing tow/haul mode, shifting gears and such, so for what it's worth I agree with them.

I think you will be pleased with your PC driving experience, in the end not worrying about strenuous driving for the rig and your handling of it.  If you feel otherwise afterward, there are always those suspension upgrades to make it better.

Ron Dittmer

NorCal to Reno is easy-go 101 south to Novato then 37 to 80 to Reno
We were 300 miles north of Novato (in Klamath, CA) so the suggested route was 299 to 395 to I5 to I80.  It was a beautiful area but 395 was being repaired so it was down to a single lane in many, many spots.  A beautiful drive, many small towns but very treacherous.

Flattestroute.com is an interactive map and graph that shows grade percentages and elevation changes.   Yellow zones are not even  worth worrying about. Orange and red are, depending on the length of the climb /descent. As the name  implies, it finds the flattest route.

Just asking.....Outside of nasty construction and traffic and unpaved routes and length limits and height restrictions, does anyone here study a route in advance to evaluate things like the grade and elevation to determine if they should avoid it?  We have always blindly forged ahead and come out the other side in good order.

Outside of nasty construction and traffic and unpaved routes and length limits and height restrictions, does anyone here study a route in advance to evaluate things like the grade and elevation to determine if they should avoid it? 

I don't on regular paved highways, I figure if 18 wheelers can use it I can with no issues.  If I know I am going to be 'out in the woods' I'll check more thoroughly but that is generally in the Jeep not the PC.

There is one decline we travel occasionally on US 95 north of Lewiston, Idaho that is always fun.  It drops 2,000 feet in less than 10 miles and has 5 separate runaway truck ramps.  I have not tried it in the PC yet but it might be interesting.  The 'new' US 95 is a good road with all the improvements despite the descent.  But if you want a challenge the 'old' road is still there.  It has 64 'S' turns, is called the "old spiral highway" and covers the same descent as US 95 but takes 15 miles with all the extra curves.

One suggestion that has not been made, but is definitely something to consider is to watch the weather for your planned route each day while traveling in the mountains.  We took I-70 to California in mid-September and encountered a "surprise" snow storm at the Eisenhower Tunnel.  The Denver weather and even the weather channel said that snow had just started to fall as we left Golden, CO.  But when we emerged from the west end of the tunnel about an hour later, we were greeted with 6" of snow on the freeway and a flashing sign warning of snow covered roads with a State trooper motioning to everyone to slow down.  It was the first time we had encountered such conditions with our Freightliner and fifth wheel, and it was quite an exciting decent to say the least.  We had thought that in September we wouldn't encounter snow, and we have since been told that such conditions can occur into June.  Just our two cents worth.
Gary and Susie

Flattestroute.com is an interactive map and graph that shows grade percentages and elevation changes.   Yellow zones are not even  worth worrying about. Orange and red are, depending on the length of the climb /descent. As the name  implies, it finds the flattest route.

Cool Website! It's amazing what you can find on the internet if you know what to look for. To answer to Ron's question- we just go for it. Only hit a problem one time coming off the Blue Ridge Parkway to find a campsite when the government was closed. The warning sign that told us we were not allowed on that road was at the bottom of the off ramp... Where there was no place to turn around and no place to go but onto that road. We watched a trucker slowly working his way through the narrow hairpin curves before we had a go. Not terrible but would have avoided it if we knew.