Traveling from Arizona to Ohio first time over the road

I don't know the specifics of your route, but it should definitely not take 5 days to drive 2000 miles.

 

If you can do 600 miles a day you can do it in a little over 3 days.

 

I don't know how heavy you are or what kind of situation you are in but once you make yourself into AZ on I-40 don't go all the way to Flagstaff, get off the interstate and grab US-60 and go through the border of the Tonto National Forest, that area is truly beautiful.

 

Follow this: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Pho...ed04cb55f7621842!2m2!1d-81.6943605!2d41.49932 and you should be o.k.

Stay out of truck stops.

 

Yeah here are a couple tips ... well more than a couple ...

Make sure you have an atlas. Write your route out before hand - YOU do not need a GPS for the trip, it is that easy.

Make sure that everything - from the registration to the insurance papers to the DOT inspection is done right. YOU KNOW don't leave home without them type of thing.

MAKE SURE YOU DO A GOOD PRE-TRIP AND IF YOU FIND ANYTHING WRONG, GET IT FIXED BEFORE YOU START YOUR TRIP. Even if it is a new truck do a pre-trip as if has a million miles on it and do this every day. You would be surprised at what shakes loose on a trip.

Get a log book and log your trips, even if you don't need to, you may end up with a cop who will tell you you need to have one.

AND finally, get a cooler, put some ice in it water, snacks and a little food in it just in case you need to wait for road service. Oh ... and bring something for your back and bottom - it will get tiring even with breaks.

 

hello....1983 truck.... oh my..... you may only get up to 55 or 60 mph top speed....I don't know for sure but I am just saying...... this sounds like a old truck to be taking so far.... check the brakes! Good luck my friend..... I would stay on the main roads just in case you break down. Oh I hope it has a/c....or heat?

 

Make sure you have your Arizona permits in your hand or money for the permits before crossing their scale. As for Mew Mexico, although you do not need to have the New Mexico weight distance permit in the truck anymore make sure the tax has been paid, they will check it thru the DOT number at the Gallup POE. If you are going 40 to 44 thru Oklahoma some of the Oklahoma Turnpike toll booths are unmaned and do not take EZ Pass, just the Pike Pass, so be sure to have change for the baskets. Check your tires real well, the long, hot highways in AZ and NM will blow them out for sure if they are rotted or bad. Good luck and enjoy, this is a great time of the year to travel thru the Southwest and Midwest.

 

Hey tell me more about this route. I have been wanting to try it as I hate I-17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff. How does it compare to I-17 mountain
wise?

 

Brian covered what I was going to say. Being local, you may not have to deal with scales. Make sure your paperwork is in order and make sure to pull into any scale if it is open since I doubt you will have a pre-pass on it. Also make sure you have money for the toll roads. I would give it a GOOD pretrip and get anything fixed that may draw attention to you BEFORE you leave. Just stay on the main interstates and you will be good.

If you take I-17 up to I-40 and cut across that way, stop in Amarillo at The Big Texan (right on the interstate) and grab a good steak! Once you get into Springfield, MO, if you take US60 south a few miles, you can grab a great meal at Lamberts. There is room for your truck. Google both places. They are really good!