seeking advice for cross country drive

*Thank you in advance for your thoughtful input, and for taking the time to read my thread*

I am 2 weeks away from starting my cross country drive, and am looking to nail down some additional information from the Veteran Road travelers prior to heading out. My plan is to utilize Truck stops, as one stop shops for fuel, food, sleeping and showers.

Specifically I am searching for Active Deer zones to stay out of at night, and truck stops that I shouldn't bother to sleep at along the proposed route listed below. Or any other pertinent information you feel I would benefit from for safety.

I don't want to provide too much information but feel the following is pertinent to my specific concerns above. So if you have information about the route below, please don't hesitate to chime in.


My route from Washington to Tennessee will be spread out over 6 days, with driving primary at day, and sleeping in the Canopy of my pickup truck at night. (Unless there is a recommendation to do some driving at night, in lower deer population zones.)

I am estimating my average speed to hover around 55 -60 mph, I'm sadly running a gasser, and pulling a loaded car trailer. Steep grades will obviously be severely slower on ascent and descent.

Day 1 Monroe WA to Missoula MT area via I-90 (483 miles)
Day 2 Missoula to Billings area via I-90 (343 miles)
Day 3 Billings to Rapid City SD area via I-90, US 212 and I-90 (323 miles)
Day 4 Rapid City to Sioux City IA area via I-90, I-29S (427.3 miles)
Day 5 Sioux City, to Columbia Missouri area via I-29S, I-70 (403.7 miles)
Day 6 Columbia to Memphis TN via I-70, I-55 (392.6 miles)

I have a 26 gallon capacity tank for fuel, and estimate anywhere between 8-10MPG towing. That equates to stops for fuel anywhere between 180 - 200 miles as to not 'blow in to the pump on fumes'.

I have AAA Premier RV coverage for any unexpected incidents. I have just performed a series of maintenance tasks on the truck in preparation for the drive. Spare Trailer and Tow rig tires inspected and secured, I replaced the worn tires for the trailer, regular oil change, tranny flush, tune up, put new tires on the truck. Trailer Brakes inspected, and all breakaway and auxiliary chains are in good working order. Trailer Lights are inspected, and working.

I have relocated the CB onto the Dash of my truck for ease of operation, and intend to have it tuned to 19 for chatter, information etc.

If you were sending your loved one across country on this drive, what would you tell them, where would you recommend they sleep/shower, where would you tell them to skip driving at night.


This is not the first time I've towed. Nor the first time across country, and I have had firsthand experience with 5 deer and a sports car at 2am... I lost. This is however the first time across country by myself, and with fuel prices rising, forcing me to sleep in the back of my truck to offset the extra cost of fuel with my 2 dogs, and a little extra 'insurance policy'. I have erected curtains on the canopy for privacy, and rigged an internal locking mechanism, so that once inside, an outsider cannot easily gain access.

I have a respect for the truckers on the road, who have a function to perform, see a million idiots for every mile, and don't have time for the nonsense that a layperson can create for them on the road. You need space, respect, and to generally be left alone to perform your job.

I apologize for the lengthy post. Just wanted to provide information that you may in turn have ahead of time, and which may be pertinent in relation to the response you may generate to my inquiry.

~Nanners,
Monroe to Memphis

Maybe I'll chat with one or two of you on the CB on the road in a couple weeks - it's going to be a long drive.

 

Good to know. Thank you.

I hate rush hour in a sports car let alone truck and car trailer. As for slow poke, I don't have much choice on that matter. I refuse to be the genius that blows up the engine and breaks down on the side of the road, because I was trying to go another 10mph faster up that mountain pass.

Yes, that was a slight exaggeration more for a chuckle than anything else. I'm insured with an Austrian company - glock.

Listening material covered! Upgraded my stereo to handle everything from satellite, to ipod, to my droid. I'd run out of sanity and road before music now.

Now that would be ideal. Sometimes I can't fall asleep till 4am, other times I'm passed out by 10pm never back to back nights however!

I'd like to hear if any of you have been to truck stops on that route I provided that I should stay away from.

Keep the info coming!

Also. Does a person have to make reservations in advance at the truck stops to park overnight? How does one go about that?