How far would you go?

tawoo · 02-18-2015, 06:53 PM

I have a 2014 Jayco Jayflight 267BHS. My question is how far would you travel pulling a TT like mine? Or, how far have you pulled your TT on it's longest trip? I live in Upstate NY and want to visit our kids/Grand kids in Sacramento California. About 6,000 miles round trip. Pretty far...

clubhouse · 02-18-2015, 07:08 PM

Mine traveled 2400 miles from the factory to Sacramento, CA -- I don't see why yours wouldn't do NY to CA with no problem.

I assume you have an appropriate tow vehicle; then just take your time. I would think it should take 6+ days each direction.

tawoo · 02-18-2015, 07:18 PM

Thanks! I have a 2014 Silverado that has no problem with power to pull it. My only gripe is the bouncing action I sometimes get even though I have a heavy duty weight distribution system. I was figuring on a week there and a week home.

slabat · 02-18-2015, 07:28 PM

I would not hesitate to pull a trailer that far, take your time and you will do fine. I look at these as a trip each day not as one long trip if that makes sense.

gcloss · 02-18-2015, 07:46 PM

If I were retired or had plenty of time, I would not hesitate to pull from NY to California.

As far as bouncing is concerned, it may be time for some good shocks like Bilsteins. I had a Ram 1500 that bounced all over, replace all 4 shocks with Bilsteins and it was like a new truck. Solid as a rock when towing.

jddave · 02-18-2015, 08:14 PM

tawwoo
My wife & I just retired December 2013. Leaving Mid April 2014 we traveled 13,000 miles thru 17 states,Vancouver Island, British Columbia and Alberta. Only repair was to replace two back tires that wore out on the many tight mountain switch back roads.
Quite a few fellow RV ers said we would have a problem hauling our 24RKS trailer up the many Rocky Mountain roads but our 2010 Ram with just a gas 5.7 hemi performed with no issues.

Enjoy your Jayco.

Pam & Dave

Flyrotor · 02-18-2015, 08:57 PM

I've pulled from Idaho to Texas, two long days, not too bad though. I would love to have the time to make the trip you are planning.

Given the opportunity, I would not hesitate to pull the cross country trip.

Good luck, have fun

oldmanAZ · 02-18-2015, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tawoo

Thanks! I have a 2014 Silverado that has no problem with power to pull it. My only gripe is the bouncing action I sometimes get even though I have a heavy duty weight distribution system. I was figuring on a week there and a week home.

If your whole truck and trailer is bouncing, like gcloss said, maybe new shocks would help. You didn't say how many miles you have on your truck, but new shocks might be an excellent move.

Designs of some weight distribution systems work to dampen side-to-side movement at the hitch (sway), but I haven't heard of any that dampen the 'hobby horse' rocking up and down at the hitch.

Because there is nothing to stop the TT and TV from pivoting up and down at the hitch under certain loads, speed, and road conditions, it is possible to get into an irritating 'harmonic' rhythm situation. When I've experienced this, it didn't last very long and ended when the road surface changed.

tawoo · 02-19-2015, 06:57 AM

Wow, thank you all for the encouragement and tips I needed to do this drive. We are going for a month I figured on two weeks to see our family and two weeks to travel. I'm retired but the bride has two years to go. Then, it's four months on the road for us every year.

SouthCo · 02-19-2015, 07:18 AM

Only limit on how far I'd go is the time I had (assuming there was somewhere far that I wanted to go). So far our furthest is from MD to FL.

Seann45 · 02-19-2015, 09:44 AM

Your retired.. time to change your thinking.. it is not the destination it is the trip. Take your time enjoy the sights.. some days I only go 100 miles some days I go 600.. it all depends on how I feel and the weather.. There are many beautiful places to see stop and see them. Also remember the ST tires on your trailer are only rated to 65 mph.. A blow out can ruin your day.. or even worse your trip..

RedHorse1 · 02-19-2015, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seann45

Also remember the ST tires on your trailer are only rated to 65 mph.. A blow out can ruin your day.. or even worse your trip..

110%!!
I cruise less than 65mph for that reason.
That sounds like an excellent adventure that you are considering. Our longest trip to date has been about 2000mi which isn't far compared to some other posts.
To prep for a trip like that I'd:
1) check the tires carefully
2) check (or have checked) the brakes and bearings
3) get a tire pressure monitor

DJL1967 · 02-19-2015, 01:54 PM

Completed 8400km's last year over 23 days and plan on over 10,000km's this summer over 30 days. I would have kept going if I had more vacation time.

Locky66 · 02-19-2015, 02:07 PM

The distance is no problem at all with your trailer. I would put a set of Maxxis tires on it and check into shocks if your having the bounce problem.

DocBrown · 02-19-2015, 02:32 PM

How far you want to go is all a matter of how much you want to spend and how much time you have.

In 2005 we took our old 17ft hybrid on a trip out west and did a total of almost 6000 miles. We had a fantastic time.

Doodlebug · 02-19-2015, 03:36 PM

I made the trip cross country a long time ago. I would suggest, that if you have the time.....a week out and a week back gets awfully short. That was the schedule we had and it was tough, without pulling a trailer. 450 miles/day is going to be tough if you expect to stop and see some things and there are tons of things to see and do.

Desert RVers · 02-19-2015, 05:44 PM

tawoo, I think it's very doable with the month you have. But, you might want to consider 10 days driving each way so you can stop and see sights that interest you along the way. You would still have 10 days to visit with your family when your here in the west. Driving with an RV can be more stress than a car, so if you can drive less per day, you will be less frazzled at the end of the drive.

tawoo · 02-19-2015, 06:09 PM

More great tips and encouragement! Thanks all especially the folks that have actually traveled while pulling a travel trailer that distance. You speak from experience.
That will be the balancing act; time with family versus sights to see. One month does not seem so long after all.

spoon059 · 02-19-2015, 06:23 PM

If I had the time I would drive all over the country and Canada. I try to limit myself to 500 miles a day or less. Fill up with gas in the morning, fill up with gas around 250 miles or so (stupid small tank in the Tundra) and stop for dinner. 6 hours driving in a day is usually enough for me, especially with a 2 year old and a boy who will be about 4 months when camping season comes around.

spoon059 · 02-19-2015, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tawoo

That will be the balancing act; time with family versus sights to see. One month does not seem so long after all.

When I was about 14 the family took a 6 week cross country trip. Left MD, went down south, across the Gulf Coast and northern Texas, through New Mexico and Vegas, back down south a little through Cali, then up the Pacific Coast Highway (best drive of the trip was the PCH!!!), then back east through Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, up across the Great Plains and northern US and back to MD. 6 weeks wasn't enough. When I do it again I plain to take 3 months or more. Enjoy the places you like and scoot through places you don't. Take a couple days or a week in nice locales and truly enjoy the experience...

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