New Mexico - Montana Owners Club

BandJ · 07-21-2004, 10:05 AM

We will be traveling to New Mexico in the fall. How is the elevation. I have a Chevy 2500HD with 8.1 Vortec and Allison Tranny. I pull a 32 ft Montana that weighs 13,000 dry.

Bob Pasternak · 07-21-2004, 10:50 AM

The lowest point in New Mexico is 2842'. Mean elevation is 5700'. 13161 is the highest point.

vickster · 07-21-2004, 02:22 PM

BandJ - You will fall in love with New Mexico and you will see first hand why they call it "the land of enchantment". If you are in Albuquerque the first part of October be sure to take in a sight to behold -- the annual balloon fest. Contact the State Department of Tourism for a copy of the "2004 Guide to New Mexico". It is a well asembled and informative booklet about everything you ever wanted to know about New Mexico. You can e-mail them at: www.newmexico.org

P.S. Can you tell that I like New Mexico????

Bob Pasternak · 07-21-2004, 02:54 PM

We stayed at the American RV Park outside of Albuquerque for a week last year. It is rated #1 in NM. Really an outstanding park. There were probably 5 or 6 Montanas in it at any given time. If you do go there, after it is completely dark, come out of the park and go towards town. Stay on the frontage road (old route 66)about 2 miles where it breaks over the hill. You can See the lights of Albuquerque from one end to the other along the Rio Grande. If you go to Las Cruces, there is an over look about 6 or 8 miles west of Las Cruces on the south side of the road that will give you and excellent view at night.

Montana_152 · 07-22-2004, 02:11 AM

Please don't tell anybody what a great place the whole
state is. Some of us are trying to keep it a secret.

Bowie · 07-22-2004, 03:20 AM

Ahhh yes DO keep it a secret. But be sure to get down to Alamogordo to see the White Sands--gorgeous.

Montana_281 · 07-23-2004, 02:34 PM

New Mexico is my home state. Unfortunately I have not lived there is a number of years. Most of the elevation is high desert with a few mountain passes that are fun to descend. Highway 82 from Artesia to Alamogordo has seen a lot of trucks have problems. There are truck overrun ramps to slow your descent. Most of the other mountains in the southern part of the state are reasonable to drive. There are some where the curves are very tight. If you plan on seeing New Mexico please try the Mexican food which is really a combination of Mexican and Indian foods. My favorite is Si Senor in Alamogordo or Deming. Also, try the Apache Indian casino on the reservation at Ruidoso, New Mexico. Enjoy the blue skies!

ragdoll · 07-23-2004, 07:03 PM

BandJ - If you are in Albuq give us a shout, if we are in town we'll come see you all. Not planning any long trips since we got back from west coast and BC - going to the lake for a couple of weeks before long. You will love NM, of course we are prejudice.

Almost chili season - we put up 60 lbs a yr. In Deming, there is a little place about 1 mile west of the Super WM, stands by itself and is wonderful. My folks eat at Si Senors in Alamogordo all the time (I am from there, hubby from PA).

Save travels.

Northstar · 07-23-2004, 07:29 PM

Seems like I am aware of your secret. I plan on spending some time soon in New Mexico. Happy rving...

vickster · 07-24-2004, 03:52 AM

Ragdoll - Is invite only for BandJ or can any of us give you a shout next time we are in Albuquerque? We visit your beautiful state at least two times a year and discover something new every time - we just love it!

ragdoll · 07-24-2004, 06:31 PM

Vickster - The invite is for anyone coming to Albuq. Lots to enjoy in the state.

Safe travels.

Bob Pasternak · 07-26-2004, 02:30 AM

BandJ: One thing you might keep in mind with a truck that measures mileage in single digits, if you are off the interstate highway, there's not a gas station on every cormer in most western states. Unless you have an extra tank on that truck, if the gauge gets to 1/2 and you see a station, you might want to fill it.

Bob Pasternak · 07-27-2004, 03:48 AM

One thing I've not seen here is a warning to BandJ about the jackalopes. Fall is their mating season and one must be alert for them in early evening. Especially from Albuquerque on west through Arizona.

8.1al · 07-27-2004, 09:56 AM

My gosh yes. We've seen them so thick at times that we were almost afraid to keep driving. I'm really surprised you don't hear more about them.

Random Line · 08-08-2004, 04:14 AM

[quote]Originally posted by ragdoll

Vickster - The invite is for anyone coming to Albuq. Lots to enjoy in the state.
---------------------------

Vickster'

Thanks will try to remember that. On our trips to Phoenix we discovered the short cut State highway (82?) south of Las Vegas that lets us go from I 25 to I 40 and bypass Santa Fe and part of the mountains.
Good Road! Not much traffic. No grades to speak of. Pretty desert drive. Some development and home sites as I remember.

Once before our fifth wheel days I tried the County road connection that runs south from about the second interchange (#..23) west of Las Vegas on I 25. Very pretty many small farms or ranches, runs along a creek for quite a distance. Some small irrigated fields. Discovered a little winery in there but it was closed that day. Would like to know the name of that place... Just a nice pleasant drive also connecting I-25 and I-40. Road width and surface not as good as the other connection. But may try it again some day.

My maps are not here at the moment so I couldn't do any better on details than my memory allows. Sorry.

Great state New Mexico.

sreigle · 08-20-2004, 01:26 PM

We spent some time in NM this past February, or maybe it was early March. Carlsbad, Alamogordo/White Sands, then up to Elephant Butte. We have old friends in EB. You're right, White Sands is worth the visit. We also went to the missile visitors center south of W.S. Very interesting museum. Had to pass through the military checkpoint to get to the museum.

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