Moving 2400 miles... how to plan stops?

[Trey22]

In October, we're moving from San Jose, CA to Dearborn Heights, MI (no, I'm not crazy, and yes, I have good reasons!).

We're driving a 26ft moving truck, distance is 2400 miles along route 80. I was trying to calculate how many miles we could realistically drive in a day. That way, I could plan our hotel stops along the way (in major cities).

I was thinking an average of 60/mph over 12 hrs = 720 miles. There would be two of us driving. Our driving style is to only stop for gas, quick bathroom breaks, and we eat on the road. At this rate, making the drive in 3 days might be tough (2400/3=800). Might have to include part of a 4th day in travel time.

 

[gorcorps]

I've driven route 80 before from CO to Chicago, and the speed limit is 70 through most of it IIRC. You may be able to make better time than you're assuming. It's also a lot of barren open land that isn't heavily policed, so if you're comfortable with the truck going that fast... you should have no really issues going 80mph on dry roads.

 

[Gothgar]

drive till you are tired, then get a motel

 

[nanobreath]

In October, we're moving from San Jose, CA to Dearborn Heights, MI (no, I'm not crazy, and yes, I have good reasons!).

We're driving a 26ft moving truck, distance is 2400 miles along route 80. I was trying to calculate how many miles we could realistically drive in a day. That way, I could plan our hotel stops along the way (in major cities).

I was thinking an average of 60/mph over 12 hrs = 720 miles. There would be two of us driving. Our driving style is to only stop for gas, quick bathroom breaks, and we eat on the road. At this rate, making the drive in 3 days might be tough (2400/3=800). Might have to include part of a 4th day in travel time.

That is probably pretty accurate, but I would easily drive 15-16 hours. I drive the same way you do, only stop for gas and piss breaks and eat in the vehicle. If you drive for 15 hours, leaves an hour for finding the hotel winding down, which leaves a very healthy 8 hours of sleep. Split over 3 days, averaging 60mph is completely doable.

 

[XZeroII]

Only 12 hours/day driving between two of you? Seriously? You should be able to do 18 hours. Heck, you shouldn't even need to stop at hotels as you can just sleep in the truck. You should be able to do 2400 miles in about two days without much trouble.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I'd two day it and push for a bit more than 12 hours. But definitely stay in a motel to unwind. The "drive until you're tired then find a motel" route works too. Plan for three, try for two.

 

[EagleKeeper]

3 days if you start early.
You are not going to be able to make 70mph all the way.
Sierra Nevadas, Salt Lake City/Wasatch Mts and Chicago will slow you down.

Figure stopping somewhere around Salt Lake and then Omaha/Des Moines.

Trying to push it when tired is not smart.

Take a 15 minute break when you refill the truck with fuel. Even if you have a second driver.

 

[BassBomb]

have one sleep while the other drives, you can make alot of time that way

 

[EagleKeeper]

have one sleep while the other drives, you can make alot of time that way

those trucks are not comfortable for sleeping in.

Catnap yes - Full rest - no

 

[BoomerD]

I've drive across country numerous times. 60 mph average might be a bit more than you'll actually get, depending on the truck and terrain, but it's a good number to shoot for.

12 hours in the truck may be more than you want, but you'll know after the first day. Remember, in most states, that 26' truck will have to go through the weigh stations...and that takes time, even when you don't have to actually stop. IMO, you're more realistic with a plan of about 600 miles in the Uhaul.

You'll be doing great if you make San Jose to SLC the first day.(~775 mi.) Elko, NV might be a better target. Then, the next day, you'll be making the most boring part of the drive...Nebraska. 700 miles of cornfields...nothing else but cornfields...(IMO, I-80 across Nebraska is worse than having teeth pulled.) Again, depending on the truck and your tolerance for the trip, you MIGHT make Des Moines, IA by the 2nd night...(SLC-Des Moines, 1066 mi) or you might have to stop in Lincoln/Omaha, NE. (Omaha-960 mi) Even that's pushing it pretty hard for a Uhaul.)

Personally, unless there's a "life or death" reason to push so hard, I'd plan on 4 to 5 days for the trip. If you're not used to driving trucks of that size, they can wear you out. It's not like driving your Honda across town... and if you have to deal with any wind...they can be...challenging...
Take your time, enjoy the drive, see the scenery.

 

[chitwood]

just thinking about a drive like that makes me feel worn out

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Boomer is right. The idea is to get where you're going safely. 4 or 5 days is a good plan. I used to drive for a living. Driving cross country in a rental truck like you're in a gumball rally is a good way to get dead.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I've drive across country numerous times. 60 mph average might be a bit more than you'll actually get, depending on the truck and terrain, but it's a good number to shoot for.

12 hours in the truck may be more than you want, but you'll know after the first day. Remember, in most states, that 26' truck will have to go through the weigh stations...and that takes time, even when you don't have to actually stop. IMO, you're more realistic with a plan of about 600 miles in the Uhaul.

You'll be doing great if you make San Jose to SLC the first day.(~775 mi.) Elko, NV might be a better target. Then, the next day, you'll be making the most boring part of the drive...Nebraska. 700 miles of cornfields...nothing else but cornfields...(IMO, I-80 across Nebraska is worse than having teeth pulled.) Again, depending on the truck and your tolerance for the trip, you MIGHT make Des Moines, IA by the 2nd night...(SLC-Des Moines, 1066 mi) or you might have to stop in Lincoln/Omaha, NE. (Omaha-960 mi) Even that's pushing it pretty hard for a Uhaul.)

Personally, unless there's a "life or death" reason to push so hard, I'd plan on 4 to 5 days for the trip. If you're not used to driving trucks of that size, they can wear you out. It's not like driving your Honda across town... and if you have to deal with any wind...they can be...challenging...
Take your time, enjoy the drive, see the scenery.

Scenery until Reno.
Flat brown desert until Salt Lake
Scenery until Cheyenne
Brown corn fields until Chicago
Crowded roads from Chicago onwards.

Boomer is being optomistic on what you might see:hmm:

And making it out to Salt Lake on the first day will be a stretch unless you get going early. Then Utah/NV state line may be the best target; Wells has a truck stop with a few motels - about 2-3 hrs west of SLC.

 

[skyking]

Then, the next day, you'll be making the most boring part of the drive...Nebraska. 700 miles of cornfields...nothing else but cornfields...(IMO, I-80 across Nebraska is worse than having teeth pulled.)

No kidding. The time I did it, we spotted the Cabelas and is sucked us right off the freeway for about a 4 hour walkabout break.

 

[Kelvrick]

No kidding. The time I did it, we spotted the Cabelas and is sucked us right off the freeway for about a 4 hour walkabout break.

Along that same route also has Scheels on the other side of Reno. Think of it as a 2 story cabelas with a ferris wheel.

 

[GhettoPeanut]

grab 20 redbulls, 10 waters, 10 power bars, 3 dippers, and you just get there like a man in one shot.

 

[kami333]

IMO, I-80 across Nebraska is worse than having teeth pulled.

Agreed.

I started driving through Kansas on I-70 (driving between Utah and the mid-West or East Coast), it added about an hour of driving time but worth it.


Also keep in mind that some trucks have speed governors, U-Haul used to be 55mph (been a few years so it might have changed) and Penske was about 65-70mph.

 

[SandEagle]

if u need to know about drbrn heights. pm me

 

[Capt Caveman]

I've rented uHauls for local moving. I can't imagine driving one of those piece of shit trucks that kind of distance.

 

[Kelvrick]

I've rented uHauls for local moving. I can't imagine driving one of those piece of shit trucks that kind of distance.

That is true. I don't think OP specified though. For all we know, it could be U-haul, budget, or penske.

 

[Miramonti]

I've found the biggest challenge in stopping in hotels overnight night is getting out the door early enough in the morning to not waste too many hours of the day sleeping in.

 

[Capt Caveman]

That is true. I don't think OP specified though. For all we know, it could be U-haul, budget, or penske.

Does Budget and Penske maintain their trucks better?

U-Hauls I've rented have had shitty brakes, loose steering, loud engines, etc. Never gave me any confidence or comfort driving one.

 

[blinblue]

Depending how crappy the truck is, you'll probably be doing a good bit more than 60MPH throughout a lot of the trip. The interstates throughout a lot of your trip will have 70-75mph speed limits. Of course I've never driven a moving truck, so maybe its best to stay at 60

Ah, didn't see you got the biggest one they got, I guess 60 is probably a good estimate. Try not to go too crazy driving through the endless fields of nothingness. It gets quiet tedious. I'd suggest some books on tape, or a good podcast series to get you through the drive

 

[EagleKeeper]

Does Budget and Penske maintain their trucks better?

U-Hauls I've rented have had shitty brakes, loose steering, loud engines, etc. Never gave me any confidence or comfort driving one.

10 years ago, the quality of UHaul trucks was poor. Since then, they seem to have upgraded their fleet

The ones that are used for Long Hauls/one ways are usually a higher quality. It can be expensive for the company to send a wrecker out 50-100 miles from nowhere to pull the truck back and/or repair it.

I've rented uHauls for local moving. I can't imagine driving one of those piece of shit trucks that kind of distance.

As previously stated, I took at 26ft UHaul from LV to Denver with no issues on the truck. It was ready and clean when I picked it up. Gave the deposit (full payment) on the CC and headed to the Storage Facility the next day to have the truck loaded up by a couple of backs.

Agreed.

I started driving through Kansas on I-70 (driving between Utah and the mid-West or East Coast), it added about an hour of driving time but worth it.


Also keep in mind that some trucks have speed governors, U-Haul used to be 55mph (been a few years so it might have changed) and Penske was about 65-70mph.

No governor on mine - I was able to get up to 75 coming out of Flagstaff on the downhill slope. I did 70 across NM the next morning.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I'd try to get it done and over with as soon as possible.

Drive for 6 hours... Switch Drivers... Drive for 6 hours... Switch Drivers... Drive for 6 hours... Go to cheap motel. Sleep 6 hours.. Drive for 6 hours ... Switch Drivers ... Drive for 6 hours ... Switch Drivers ... Drive for 6 hours ...

If you are able to average 60mph, then you'll only have 4 more hours left to go. Caffeine will take care of that.

If you can average 65mph, then you'll have less than 1 hour left to go.

If you can average 70mph, you'll have arrived about 16 hours and 20 minutes into your day 2 drive.


If you were stuck going 55 or less, then you've still got a good 8 hours or so ... so time to find another cheap motel....


Personally, most I've ever gone in a day is about 1300 miles, but that was going over 80mph a lot of the time... and I was in somewhat comfortable car .... it would suck ass to go 2400 in a moving truck, but I think it could be done with only 1 stop for sleeping if you can endure sleep deprivation...