To interstate or not..?

[cwf]

Well, folks,
Any thoughts on traveling with their AS on other than 'interstates'? Besides the inherent problem of 'safety' of 'interstates', what is your choice?

Would you rather drive interstate or 'side roads'?

Just wondering what the folk here have to share as 'experiences'?

[sandlapper]

where we are headed

how much time we have

if there is an alternate route


There is often a US highway that more or less parallels the interstate. They are generally pretty good and take you through the small towns. A neat trip but a time killer, and not very fuel efficent. But well worth it if you have the time. With the interstate usually near by you can always get back on.

A good , smooth interstate (ha!) can be a pleasant ride, set the cruise, enjoy the scenery. Here in the east, the big road is usually pretty crowded , especially with trucks. Out west, wide open and less traffic.

So, make the most of both.

John

[mandolindave]

There was a highway that I hated.....But when I got my trailer, it turned into a flat dream come true.

There was a highway that I loved.....But when I got my trailer , it turned into a
hilly nightmare.

Traffic lights are the cons of off highway travel. But going slow can be less stressful, you'll have more time to react to road hazards

[Bill M.]

Actually I like and do both. I generally think that if an interstate goes there then that is most likely the easy way to go.

[Skater]

Sometimes, the vacation lies in the destination. Other times, the vacation lies in the journey.

[polarlyse]

BOTH. Depending on our schedule and the weather. We like getting off the highways and taking the time to enjoy the By-ways.

[mojo]

I'm 200+ miles from any interstate in any direction. They are only good for racking up miles on long trips. Otherwise, I prefer the blue highways.

[mstephens]

In California the big roads are falling apart. Much of I5 feels like it will take the wheels right off your trailer. US101 is cratered. Many of the LA Interstates are like driving over broken concrete blocks. We are just learning which ones to avoid totally.

All Interstates are not created equal! While California Interstates are a nightmare, the ones we rode in Florida were a dream. Texas wasn't bad either.

We need a trillion dollar investment in the Interstate system. Somehow, I don't think it is coming. So, picking out smaller less used roads is becoming a habit with us.

[Len n Jeanne]

We typically drive at around 60 MPH to maximize gas milage. At that speed, the two-lane roads are just as appealing. A two-lane federal highway is just fine, unless it takes you through too many towns.

Also in driving through the mountains we will sometimes consider the lowest pass, both in terms of gas milage but also road conditions, as we frequently drive in spring and fall when it often snows in the high country. This might be the Interstate but oftentimes it is a federal or even state highway. On the other hand, during a snowstorm, there is something to be said for a divided highway.

One advantage of Interstates for long trips is that you can count on rest areas where you can pull over, walk the dog, eat lunch, take a nap, &c. conveniently.

[Phoenix]

Responses in tire failure poll related to the question, "My Airstream is towed on":

* Interstate and multilane highways -- 102 (62.96%)

* State and other improved two-lane highways, with shoulders -- 89 (54.94%)

* Mostly paved and well-maintained lesser-used "backroads" -- 42 (25.93%)

* Poorly/minimally maintained backroads and off-road -- 11 (6.79%)

Note: For the above data, 100% was possible for each category; and respondents could select any, or all, of the four categories to indicate which type of roads they drove on.

==========

Reference: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438...oll-76867.html (as of 04/15/13)

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by cwf

Any thoughts on traveling with their AS on other than 'interstates'? Besides the inherent problem of 'safety' of 'interstates', what is your choice?

Would you rather drive interstate or 'side roads'?

Just wondering what the folk here have to share as 'experiences'?

There is a reason why Airstream Interstates like mine are called "Interstate" and not "Backroads." Interstate highways are where they're happiest and exhibit their best performance. But, as Charles Kuralt once said, "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."

Given a choice, I plan my route so that I'm on the Interstate to get through major metro areas, and US or State highways the rest of the way.

My Garmin GPS has an "eco-route" feature, that lets you enter your fuel economy at different speeds, and then it will do trip routing based on least fuel consumed. Since it doesn't interface with the OBDII, it doesn't read actual fuel economy, but relies upon what I tell it.

So, I've managed to trick the GPS. I list my fuel economy as 14 mpg at 30 mph, 16 mpg at 40 mph, 18mpg at 50 mph, 17 mpg at 60 mph, 16 mpg at 70 mph, and 15 mpg at 75 mph. With these settings, my GPS generally routes me on Interstate highways in the city, and away from Interstates in the country, unless one route is significantly longer than the other.

When I'm towing my Honda Fit as a toad, I alter the settings at the upper end, so that the fuel economy I enter into the Garmin's Eco-Route program drops off rapidly above 65 mph, which is the towing speed limit listed in the Honda owner's manual. No point traveling on a 75mph Interstate highway if I can't go faster than 65 anyway.

When getting there quickly is important, I just don't use the Eco-Route feature, and get a regular "least time" routing from my GPS.

Originally Posted by Len n Jeanne

One advantage of Interstates for long trips is that you can count on rest areas where you can pull over, walk the dog, eat lunch, take a nap, &c. conveniently.

Here along the Gulf Coast states, rest areas have virtually disappeared from the Interstates. Closed, buildings torn down, parking replaced by grass to match the rest of the right-of-way. About the most I can count on is a visitor's welcome center when I cross a state line.

[Billshop]

Protagonist...I realize this is a bit "off topic", but since you tow a car, do you use a braking system on the car? If so, which one? If not, how does it handle?

[Royce]

Blue Hwy is first choice, Interstate when necessary. I agree with Mr. Kuralt, and enjoy seeing the sights along the way. If as sometime happens, I am holding up traffic on a Blue Hwy, I will pull over and let the herd past.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Billshop

Protagonist...I realize this is a bit "off topic", but since you tow a car, do you use a braking system on the car? If so, which one? If not, how does it handle?

Roadmaster Invisibrake, permanent install. Electrically activated by the brake lights, uses a vacuum pump spliced into the power brake system, so the car has power brakes even when being towed. No difference in stopping distance between towing and not towing, no sudden jerk when it activates. Can hardly tell the toad is there, without looking in the rear-view camera monitor. Plus, when I'm driving the Honda, you can't tell that the supplemental brake system was added, either; it still handles just as it did before the supplemental brake system was added.

[mamasuzy]

Originally Posted by cwf

Well, folks,
Any thoughts on traveling with their AS on other than 'interstates'? Besides the inherent problem of 'safety' of 'interstates', what is your choice?

Would you rather drive interstate or 'side roads'?

Just wondering what the folk here have to share as 'experiences'?

We try to avoid major cities by driving side roads around them....for example Phoenix, Las Vegas,and Salt Lake...the freeway traffic is too crazy!

[Ridgerunner3]

Originally Posted by Royce

Blue Hwy is first choice, Interstate when necessary. I agree with Mr. Kuralt, and enjoy seeing the sights along the way. If as sometime happens, I am holding up traffic on a Blue Hwy, I will pull over and let the herd past.

+1... I'm with you on this.

[cwf]

In Texas we have 80 mph toll roads. But every mile is over $.10 per mile per axle. So that is $.50 per mile I figure, that's a no go except it dodges Austin traffic for a piece an little to see down that part of I35.

There is no other "north south" Texas route. That is not really bad just the way it is...

My real concern is the construction/ destruction zones... Narrow and tore up.

[JFScheck]

Blue Highways always my first choice!

[swfloridaguy]

Originally Posted by JFScheck

Blue Highways always my first choice!

In Florida we have outstanding Interstates with smooth, flat roadbeds.
By keeping in the right lane, and driving a constant 65mph, all other traffic dutifully passes me by.
Merges with onramp vehicles can be dicey, but so far so good.

However, when possible I use State highways. Stops for fuel, chow, walking the dogs are much easier.
And, Heaven forbid, if there is ever a breakdown or flat, help is easier to find.
All things considered, I prefer the State highways.

[Len n Jeanne]

Protagonist, your GPS system sounds way cool. Where did you get it?

That's too bad about the vanishing interstate rest areas in the South. Fortunately they are still around the western states that we travel through. I recall some pretty grim ones in the eastern states when we lived further east, though-- dirty and occasionally somewhat scary.

Speaking of welcome centers, there is a really nice one in Fruita, Colorado on I-70. Free coffee and dump station. Our Best-of Show Rest Area award would probably go to the ones in Nebraska on I-80. Clean, with lots of green space. The award for Most Scenic Rest Areas would be along the 105-mile stretch on I-70 between Green River and Salina, Utah. The highway goes right through the canyon country. The pit toilets are pretty sketchy, unfortunately.