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05-22-2011, 11:24 AM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Austin
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #10861
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Austin Texas to Colorado
Well our big summer vacation RV trip is almost here. (The main reason we upgraded to the the 2011 F250 Diesel and a 5th wheel camper.) We are traveling to Colorado with our Keystone Montana 5th wheel camper for 2 weeks. We will be gone for 2 weeks. While we travel a fair bit around Texas to Texas State Parks, this wil be our first long haul RV trip and our first time going through mountainous areas with the 5th wheel. So, I was looking for any advice or words of wisdom...
Here is our route info:
Travel from Austin, Texas to Caprock Canyons State Park. Here is where I need some road advice. Heading north out of Abilene, it looks like there are two choices for roads up to Caprock Canyon State Park - Texas Highway 70 or US Highway 83. Has anyone here made this treck and any advice on the best route with a 38 foot 5th wheel that weighs abou 11,500 lbs?
From Caprock Canyons we travel up to Canon City, Colorado and the Royal Gorge area. The route here is pretty straight forward (get over to I-25 and go north).
From Canon City, we go to Colorado Springs. Again, looks like like an easy treck.
From Colorado Springs we head up to Estes Park. I was planning on taking the I-25 up to Longmont then 36 into Estes Park. Any thoughts or advice on this?
Finally coming home is just a long treck back the way we came unless someone has some better ideas.
Thanks,
Chris
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05-22-2011, 02:03 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Leona
Posts: 6,382
M.O.C. #2059
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We just made a similar trip from Temple, Texas. We traveled from Amarillo to Dumas and Dahlhart, then across to Texline and into NM to Clayton and on to Raton to pick up I 25 to all points north. There was some construction along this route.
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05-22-2011, 02:25 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Ore City Texas
Posts: 1,648
M.O.C. #2224
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We follow the exact same route from Amarillo as Stiles has indicated. We make this route a couple of times every year.
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05-22-2011, 02:51 PM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Austin
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #10861
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Thanks for the info guys... I was looking at Google Earth and the Street View and noticed that the underpass (under the train tracks in Dalhart) is only 13 feet 6 inches... That is a little troublesome as I believe I am at 13 feet 6 inches on my 2007 3400RL (with dual AC units). Is there another way around that without driving out of the way too much?
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05-22-2011, 02:55 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,159
M.O.C. #6433
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We go to Colorado every summer, but starting from north of Dallas we get to Amarillo up US 287.
But a quick look at google maps streetview and also google earth, TX 70 and US 83 appear pretty much equal. You can (virtually) travel the entire route on google maps and look and judge for yourself if no one can advise from personal experience.
At Amarillo, we typically go west on I-40 to Vega and north on US 385 picking up US 87 in Hartley. Slightly further but eliminates going thru Amarillo (except on the interstate) and the lower speed limits and traffic lights at Dumas. Also heard there is some construction on US 87 as you head west out of Dumas.
If looking for a quick overnighter, there is a small RV park at the very top of Raton Pass, Cedar Rail RV Park. Great views. We typically overnight there on our way up. Only
about 25 sites and not all are long enough for you, so you might call ahead if you are interested.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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05-22-2011, 03:01 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,159
M.O.C. #6433
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by cgaskins
Thanks for the info guys... I was looking at Google Earth and the Street View and noticed that the underpass (under the train tracks in Dalhart) is only 13 feet 6 inches... That is a little troublesome as I believe I am at 13 feet 6 inches on my 2007 3400RL (with dual AC units). Is there another way around that without driving out of the way too much?
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I am going to have to admit that I traveled that route 3 years pulling the Monte before I noticed that clearance sign. There are so many 5ers much larger than me that travel that route I never even considered there to be a clearance issue. I don't have a second air, but my vent covers are almost that high. A good friend with a 3295RK with second air also travels that route every year with no problem. And I have never seen any spare parts laying on or beside the highway at the location.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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05-22-2011, 06:10 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Leona
Posts: 6,382
M.O.C. #2059
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I can't remember even going under an underpass at Dahlhart. I wasn't towing on this trip, so I might have without noticing. It is always a good idea to check, but as much truck traffic as goes through there, there has to be a work around for the low clearance bridge.
One time my GPS tried to route me under a bridge with 10' 9" clearance. I caught it in time and had a place to turn around. We used plan "B".
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05-23-2011, 04:37 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,159
M.O.C. #6433
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Looked at google street view again. They have raised it to 13'-7" now so you have an extra inch to work with.
There are so many large 5ers go thru there I would not worry about it. But it would probably scare you death if you stood to the side and watched your rig go under at 30 mph.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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05-23-2011, 06:27 AM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Garland
Posts: 450
M.O.C. #10688
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We follow the same route Stiles described. If you are worried about clearance in Dalhart, you can detour south about three blocks in town and go under a different railroad overpass that is 14' 6 " I believe.
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05-23-2011, 08:28 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Ore City Texas
Posts: 1,648
M.O.C. #2224
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We have gone through that underpass more times than I can count, but my rig may not be as "tall" as some. The last time I came up from that underpass, we had smoke rising from the trailer. BUT. . . it had nothing to do with the underpass. Had a broken spring and the tires were rubbing and close to ignition.
That's another story, but remembering that underpass brings back that disturbing picture again.
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05-23-2011, 02:50 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,298
M.O.C. #5165
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I strongly recommend that you measure the height of the front AC with the Monty hooked to the truck. I have a front AC on my 2006 3475RL. I can clear anything higher than 13' without any problem (a few inches to spare). I use a PostIt note with the height of my Monty on it stuck on the dash of my truck. Keeps a solid reminder in front of me in case I have a senior moment at the wrong time!
__________________
F-250 King Ranch Crew Cab 2012, Single Wheel, 6.7 L Diesel, Transfer Flow Internal 50 Gallon Fuel Tank, Upgraded Ford Software for 50 Gallon tank, 2006 3475Rl with Mor-ryde King Pin, 2nd AC, 2nd Battery, Pressure Pro TPMS, Wet Bolt Shackle Kit
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05-23-2011, 03:31 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bonita Springs
Posts: 1,943
M.O.C. #6977
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Nice looking truck ;; Don't forget to take a jug of DEF with you if you run short as I did and the truck ran but the ford garage never filled the unit so the millage went down to 9 mpg and didn't run rite so now i carrey a gal jug extra with me as they say it usses more DEF when towing .. sailer
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05-23-2011, 03:33 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bonita Springs
Posts: 1,943
M.O.C. #6977
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By the way did yoy add air bags yet , it will level your ride when towing with the F250 ;;; sailer
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05-23-2011, 04:10 PM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Austin
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #10861
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by sailer
Nice looking truck ;; Don't forget to take a jug of DEF with you if you run short as I did and the truck ran but the ford garage never filled the unit so the millage went down to 9 mpg and didn't run rite so now i carrey a gal jug extra with me as they say it usses more DEF when towing .. sailer
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Yeah, I have a 2.5 gallon jug I keep in the 5er. Thanks for the tip though.
-Chris
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05-23-2011, 04:13 PM
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#15
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Austin
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #10861
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by sailer
By the way did yoy add air bags yet , it will level your ride when towing with the F250 ;;; sailer
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Yup. I installed my airbags back in February. They made a world of difference!!
-Chris
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05-23-2011, 04:15 PM
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#16
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Austin
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #10861
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by timandsusan
I strongly recommend that you measure the height of the front AC with the Monty hooked to the truck. I have a front AC on my 2006 3475RL. I can clear anything higher than 13' without any problem (a few inches to spare). I use a PostIt note with the height of my Monty on it stuck on the dash of my truck. Keeps a solid reminder in front of me in case I have a senior moment at the wrong time!
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Yeah, I need to measure again now that I have airbags and the TrailAir hitch. I wonder what other people that have a 2007 3400RL are at height wise... When I am hooked up now it looks fairly level.
-Chris
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