At The Limit : Min-maxing, or a game of compromises - [Epic Trailer Towing Roadtrip Montreal <---> SoCal]

[nathanchrisman]

Great write-up and attitude with all responses. This is a great example of a forum like this being used well.

Nice job estimating and confirming with real measurements. If I may, I think there is one more important thing to “measure”; if you feel in control when towing. I have had experience towing within specs that is scary and outside specs that was not. I’m willing to bet a fair few dollars that you have just about a perfect rig and will have no trouble hauling it with the Maverick.

Tuning the WDH to your setup can take a while but is so very with it. I personally love them for loads over 3,500lbs.

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[imboden013]

Pretty darn thoughtful and well documented.

I hope Bryce Canyon is on your list, kinda appears to be. UTAH has some breath taking places. So the sky at night doesnt play any games. Joshua Tree is also awesome. The Grand Canyon will be packed during the time frame your going, but start earlier hydrated and end late in the evening. The way your map has you traveling to the Grand Canyon is through Indian land, make sure you have gas and extra gas cans. Everyone closes up early in those parts if your doing night driving.

Wow what a journey.

If go close to Moab, the Arches and the views of the Colorado River from Dead Horse Point are spectacular.

 

[guigson]

Great write-up and attitude with all responses. This is a great example of a forum like this being used well.

Nice job estimating and confirming with real measurements. If I may, I think there is one more important thing to “measure”; if you feel in control when towing. I have had experience towing within specs that is scary and outside specs that was not. I’m willing to bet a fair few dollars that you have just about a perfect rig and will have no trouble hauling it with the Maverick.

Tuning the WDH to your setup can take a while but is so very with it. I personally love them for loads over 3,500lbs.

Good point. I tend to get hung up on specs and numbers due to my job I guess. Thanks for reminding me of the intangibles like confidence and feel while driving. So far on the two trips I made (one 20km countryside roads and one 200km highway) I felt great if not maybe overly confident because I had expected the truck to struggle a bit more. Note though that this was at sea level without any major road challenges.
Thanks for your message

 

[guigson]

If go close to Moab, the Arches and the views of the Colorado River from Dead Horse Point are spectacular.

Arches is definitely something we are looking forward to! I'll ask my wife about Dead Horse Point, she's the one building the activity/point of interest list at the moment. Thanks!

 

[mav_kev]

Arches is definitely something we are looking forward to! I'll ask my wife about Dead Horse Point, she's the one building the activity/point of interest list at the moment. Thanks!

I'd second Dead Horse Point as a worthy stop over since you'll be in the area. Just beware, it's a state park and thus entry is not covered under your National Parks pass. It was $20 for a car this time last year.

 

[billbillw]

Not sure if it was mentioned, but I'd certainly plan for a service stop/Oil Change during that trip, maybe halfway. That's a lot of high stress miles on the ecoboost.

 

[guigson]

Not sure if it was mentioned, but I'd certainly plan for a service stop/Oil Change during that trip, maybe halfway. That's a lot of high stress miles on the ecoboost.

Yes, its lost somewhere in the thread but I plan to have the fluids checked & replaced either when I reach Vegas, SoCal, or Flagstaff.

 

[imboden013]

I'd second Dead Horse Point as a worthy stop over since you'll be in the area. Just beware, it's a state park and thus entry is not covered under your National Parks pass. It was $20 for a car this time last year.

Been years since I was out there at that time it was free entry.

 

[Noahma]

Looks like a great trip! Here is a little bit of info for the time you wander into Colorado. Most of our parks are now on summer timed entry signups. So before you get here, go to the websites for the parks you would like to visit and sign up for a time slot. The two biggest are Rocky Mountain National park over Trail Ridge Road (although, you might want to leave the trailer where your staying for that one) And Hanging Lake outside of Glenwood Springs.

 

[GPSMan]

Go to both of those places mentioned above in Colorado.
Also, in CA we found most NP are close to empty in October. Our favorite time to visit is October.

Some camp sites close Nov.1 due to the incoming snow season. But some of our best visits were mid-late October.

 

[GPSMan]

Looks like you are missing Northern California? What a pity. Try to come north.
Everyone should see 30 foot diameter 350 foot tall Redwood trees. And California has more Volcanos than Hawaii. You should drive the Volcanic Highway in Northern California. Dozens (hundreds?) of caves and lava tubes to explore and no crowds.

Highly recommend the parks in Northern California.

Example:

 

[GPSMan]

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
Northern California and Southern Oregon

If you make it to Southern Oregon, Crater Lake should not be missed.

 

[guigson]

Looks like you are missing Northern California? What a pity. Try to come north.
Everyone should see 30 foot diameter 350 foot tall Redwood trees. And California has more Volcanos than Hawaii. You should drive the Volcanic Highway in Northern California. Dozens (hundreds?) of caves and lava tubes to explore and no crowds.

Highly recommend the parks in Northern California.

Example:

Your photos are stunning! We will not be visiting Northern California this time around, we are planning a separate trip for that in the next 5-10 years.

 

[GPSMan]

I am about to embark from San Francisco, through most of B.C. to some of Y.T. and the southern part of Alaska near end of summer in our Maverick.

 

[Delzona]

Looks like you are missing Northern California? What a pity. Try to come north.
Everyone should see 30 foot diameter 350 foot tall Redwood trees. And California has more Volcanos than Hawaii. You should drive the Volcanic Highway in Northern California. Dozens (hundreds?) of caves and lava tubes to explore and no crowds.

Highly recommend the parks in Northern California.

Example:

That's really interesting information about the volcanoes! I've seen the sequoias and they are a sight to behold! It's just a mindblower when see how huge they are and that some are older than America!

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