Comments | damnitnicole: route planning (it's really hard to find free info about mountain highway grades)

damnitnicole

route planning (it's really hard to find free info about mountain highway grades)

Mar 27, 2009 00:23

I know I've got a few truckers, ex-truckers, and general road-trippers reading here. I need your help.

I'm pulling a trailer from (metro) Phoenix to Norman, Oklahoma.

In the interest of not only gas mileage, but wear and tear on my van, I'm trying to find the least steep way uphill to get from here to I-40.

up AZ87, though Payson, and then along ( Read more... )

arizona, travel, lazyweb, my vehicle, plans

Comments 12

jhf March 27 2009, 11:58:24 UTC

I've never been further west than Dallas, so I don't have first-hand experience in AZ. I do have a 2006 trucker atlas, though -- this used to be my favorite part.

I'd expect your first-choice route to have plenty of heaves and dips, and would probably stick with I-17 unless I knew the Interstate hadn't been graded very well either; there isn't enough difference between the two to make the constant little climbs and descents of the former worth it.

It would also depend a bit on how I felt about the trailer brakes. Wide shoulders are good.

As for I-10: don't do it. :-) If you're concerned about your van, climb and descend the steep bits at 25 or 35 with your four-way flashers on, in the right lane, and drop the transmission into 3 or maybe 2. Give everyone the finger and pocket the gas money.

You probably knew most of that last bit, but eh.

damnitnicole March 27 2009, 13:45:35 UTC

Interestingly, the best choices I've been given by Rennies who've gone these ways are ( ... )

anonymissity March 27 2009, 18:11:43 UTC

i would absolutely recommend you stay as far out of northern az as possible. those switchbacks, even for a normal car, are incredibly terrifying.

damnitnicole March 28 2009, 00:03:36 UTC

Exactly.

Thread 8

thismissjess March 27 2009, 13:59:07 UTC

i think that is the route i took from AZ to NY. i went up through OK & Missouri and ohio.

its pretty flat from what i recall. very straight. i got from phx to amarillo the first night. so you should get to OK the next day.

damnitnicole March 27 2009, 14:31:13 UTC

Oh, I know I'm not worried about anything after I reach 40. I came down the way you're describing.

I'm just trying to find something better than hauling a heavy old trailer through the mountains between PHX and I-40.

richaarde March 27 2009, 23:25:45 UTC

The nice thing about Google Maps is if you put it into "terrain" mode and zoom in close, it gives you contour lines. So that way you can judge how steep the grades are. For comparison's sake, the first big hill on Route 280 here in NJ rises 500' in about one mile. Distances and travel times are from Mesa AZ to Albuquerque NM ( ... )

damnitnicole March 28 2009, 00:08:44 UTC

Two hours isn't nearly $60 in fuel, if it's not steeply uphill. More like $10. Let's say $20 with the trailer.

I've gone 17, and that way is pretty much out of the question with a trailer.

Thanks! Yeah, I'm not good at topographical maps.