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Is a cross-country drive this time of year suicidal?

V

Viper GTS

Lifer
I'm working on moving cross country & I have a bit of a dilemma. I'm in Oregon right now, & I have an apartment full of stuff in Pittsburgh. I also have a truck in Pittsburgh that I can't sell, give away, or donate because I never completed the title transfer. The apartment and parking spaces need to be empty by the end of the month.

I have two plane tickets to fly out Christmas morning with my brother, pack the truck with as much heavy stuff as we can (goal being 1000 lbs to reduce the moving company bill), and drive back.

Seeing stuff like this makes me nervous as hell. I took I-80 across two months ago & hoped to do that again. My truck is only 2WD, but it has done well on several trips through heavy snow (Oregon to Montana & Oregon to Wyoming trips in winter) and I would have chains.

I have essentially a week to do the drive (have to be back at work Tuesday the 2nd), is this suicidal? Any suggestions on routes that might be a little less treacherous?

BTW if anyone wants a free F-150 (that made a cross country trip without incident), or wants a tax write-off for a donation LMK... I'm more than happy to give it away I just have to make sure the title gets transferred cleanly so I'm not stuck with any liability. I figure a month to get a duplicate title & then it could be donated or whatever without a problem. I just don't have that much time, I have to get it out ASAP.

Viper GTS
 
Originally posted by: slayer202
who doesn't want a free car?
Click to expand...

I tried to donate it, but because the original owner signed the title & I put my name on the back (but never sent it in) nobody will take it.

I know the guy I bought it from, & can get a duplicate title to solve the problem it just takes longer than I have.

Viper GTS
 
I did it last year at this time, twice!
Although I went a very southern route.
My sugestion would be if you have some extra time go south and take I-10 to I-5 and come up from the bottom of Oregon.
It will take longer, but you only have to traverse one major mountian pass and you avoid alot of the messy weather in the Rockies and the Columbia River gorge.
 
Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
I did it last year at this time, twice!
Although I went a very southern route.
My sugestion would be if you have some extra time go south and take I-10 to I-5 and come up from the bottom of Oregon.
It will take longer, but you only have to traverse one major mountian pass and you avoid alot of the messy weather in the Rockies and the Columbia River gorge.
Click to expand...

I have a week, we did it the other direction (Portland to Pittsburgh) in under 72 hours. I'm willing to take a little longer to minimize my chances of getting stranded somewhere.

Viper GTS
 
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
I did it last year at this time, twice!
Although I went a very southern route.
My sugestion would be if you have some extra time go south and take I-10 to I-5 and come up from the bottom of Oregon.
It will take longer, but you only have to traverse one major mountian pass and you avoid alot of the messy weather in the Rockies and the Columbia River gorge.
Click to expand...

I have a week, we did it the other direction (Portland to Pittsburgh) in under 72 hours. I'm willing to take a little longer to minimize my chances of getting stranded somewhere.

Viper GTS
Click to expand...

I have S&T 2007 open right now. Via I80 it's 36 hours of straight driving. Via I10 it's 58 hours of straight driving time. That's a big chunk of time. There aren't that many storms that would cause your trip to be delayed 20 hours.
 
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
I did it last year at this time, twice!
Although I went a very southern route.
My sugestion would be if you have some extra time go south and take I-10 to I-5 and come up from the bottom of Oregon.
It will take longer, but you only have to traverse one major mountian pass and you avoid alot of the messy weather in the Rockies and the Columbia River gorge.
Click to expand...

I have a week, we did it the other direction (Portland to Pittsburgh) in under 72 hours. I'm willing to take a little longer to minimize my chances of getting stranded somewhere.

Viper GTS
Click to expand...


I-10 is probably your best bet then, just figure a way to dodge Los Angeles and you are golden. Only problem is a good portion of it is desert wasteland, but you can burn through it quickly with 75-80mph speed limits for most of the TX,NM and AZ portions.
 
If there is a problem on I-80, they'll close it off and route you to a nearby town to stay until it blows over and road is safe to use. You'll be fine with your 2WD truck. There are a few hairy spots (high-altitude) in Wyoming, but that is all, really. I'm sure you've already seen the "road gates" with flashing lights for when they need to close it off.
 
Originally posted by: randalee
If there is a problem on I-80, they'll close it off and route you to a nearby town to stay until it blows over and road is safe to use. You'll be fine with your 2WD truck. There are a few hairy spots (high-altitude) in Wyoming, but that is all, really. I'm sure you've already seen the "road gates" with flashing lights for when they need to close it off.
Click to expand...

Wyoming doesn't worry me too much, I did the rockies two months ago at 1 AM in the snow. It wasn't fun, but we did alright. I do remember all the gates, if they do close it off how do you know when it's re-opened? If it's really bad going through behind a plow would be ideal...

I saw an article a couple weeks back about people being stranded on I-80 in IL somewhere for like 20+ hours. That doesn't strike me as fun.

Viper GTS
 
Originally posted by: Turin39789
The F150 is to be picked up in Oregon after your trip is over?
Click to expand...

If I drive it back I'm getting the title dealt with & selling it. The only reason I'm even remotely willing to give it away is to avoid the drive. I figure I can get $1500 for it, between the cost of flights/gas/hotels/etc, saved shipping costs, and salvaged value of the truck I stand to make $1000 by doing the drive. Nice to have, but my parents hate me right now because they think I'm risking my brother's life over it.

:roll:

Viper GTS
 
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Originally posted by: Turin39789
The F150 is to be picked up in Oregon after your trip is over?
Click to expand...

If I drive it back I'm getting the title dealt with & selling it. The only reason I'm even remotely willing to give it away is to avoid the drive. I figure I can get $1500 for it, between the cost of flights/gas/hotels/etc, saved shipping costs, and salvaged value of the truck I stand to make $1000 by doing the drive. Nice to have, but my parents hate me right now because they think I'm risking my brother's life over it.

:roll:

Viper GTS
Click to expand...

well good luck either way. just don't do anything stupid over $1000
 
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Originally posted by: Turin39789
The F150 is to be picked up in Oregon after your trip is over?
Click to expand...

If I drive it back I'm getting the title dealt with & selling it. The only reason I'm even remotely willing to give it away is to avoid the drive. I figure I can get $1500 for it, between the cost of flights/gas/hotels/etc, saved shipping costs, and salvaged value of the truck I stand to make $1000 by doing the drive. Nice to have, but my parents hate me right now because they think I'm risking my brother's life over it.

:roll:

Viper GTS
Click to expand...


Ah ok. You would give the truck to someone and not make the trip. I'm not always a close reader. I'd be interested if you decide to give it up, though I also don't think the trip will be suicidal. Have you looked at the (usually inaccurate) 10 day forcast that will show you the weather for your travel days?
 
If you take I-10, honk at the MS/LA border so I know you're okay! 😛

I just drove from Kingston, NY -> Picayune, MS and back in three days. It was... unpleasant.
 
As you've figured, this tme of year, much of the drive across I-80 will be chancey...LOTS of places for heavy snow, plus blowing/drifting can easily close major interstates for several hours. Going the recommended southern route has it's advantages, but will add a day or so to your drive, plus, there's always a chance of snow going thru the rockies, even down south, PLUS, you'll have the siskyous going north into Oregon from Kahleeforneeya...and they can get as bad as any in the Rockies.
 
Yea I guess I don't know too much about driving through the rockies, Pittsburgh is 6 hours from me, not 40. I think if you have enough time that you can stop and wait out a bad storm it still should'nt be a problem, but again I've never been through the Rockies.
 
He shouldn't take the Sierras or the Siskiyous if he takes I-80, he should cut north on I-84 in Utah. That still means the Blues and the Gorge though. Not much better because of the ice this time of year, but at least a few less miles.

edit: BTW, I might take the truck to give it away but because of where I live it will need to pass DEQ for the title transfer.
 
I went from Las Vegas to Atlanta this time in 2k4. I was on I-40 though. It still snowed to high hell and a trip that should have taken me two days took me four. Was a fun trip though!
 
Yeah, it is. I took I-80 from California to Pennsylvania once during December. I got blown off the road in a blizzard by an 18 wheeler once, and the oxygen sensor failed in Utah leaving the car almost impossible to start. Not to mention the -30 wind chills in Wyoming this time of year.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Is a cross-country drive this time of year suicidal?
Click to expand...

Yes, you might as well go steal a crappy Taurus handgun out of an unlocked pickup truck and off yourself.
Click to expand...

i'll sell you a Taurus 9mm Millennium Pro (Titanium slide) cheap!
 
Well if the OP does end up giving it up, I really would be interested in picking it up as long as it runs at least decent. I could give my 72 no heat beetle a break and get some work done on it. I'm sure I'm not the only person interested and the OP may actually want to give it to someone he knows, but I want to go ahead and throw my hat into the ring.
 
I have made the Or to Pa dirve several times, I figure btween 50 and 60hr driving.

In Dec 1986 I loaded my 1/2 ton Toyota pickup with everything that would fit out of my 3 bedroom house in Corvallis Or and headed for Scranton Pa. I was incredably lucky and had very nice weather all the across. Good luck

I have a son in Pittsburgh, maybe he would be able to find a home for your truck?
 
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