L.A. to Chicago pulling a trailer - want flattest route possible

**domtrip** · 02-03-2009, 11:52 AM

Hello fellow road trippers,
I'm about to take a trip from L.A. to Chicago pulling a small trailer with a 2.4 litre, 150 HP engine and would like some advice on the flattest route possible. I've done a similar trip in the past and found it challenging especially through the Colorado mountains.

Thanks in advance.

(Road trip America is a great resource!)

**Midwest Michael** · 02-03-2009, 01:07 PM

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

I think I-80/I-15 would probably be the best/flattest route. I-40 would be a close second. I-80 gets a bit higher, but its a more gradual climb. Here is a great visual image of I-40's elevation changes. Since this is a winter trip, I'd probably look at the forecast and see which one of those two looks clearest.

**glc** · 02-03-2009, 02:05 PM

The flattest route is considerably longer than either of those - I-10/I-20/I-30/I-40/I-55/I-57.

**domtrip** · 02-10-2009, 01:37 PM

Thankyou, good to be here!
I think I'll go for the more gradual climb (I-80 / I-15), hopefully that'll be easier on the car. I'll definitely check the weather forcasts for the trip.

Thanks again, much appreciated.

**domtrip** · 02-10-2009, 01:46 PM

Thanks GLC,
you're right the flattest route is significantly longer. Too long for my schedule, I'll have to take the I-80 / I-15.

Appreciate it!

**Sykotyk** · 02-10-2009, 06:25 PM

I-80/I-15 is a good route. Just be sure about conditions going down Sherman (between Laramie and Cheyenne around MM 316-330), and near Elk Mountain (from MM 245-267).

Going west is worse than east if you experience bad weather. Now, is this a flatbed trailer, or a box trailer? If so, be mindful of the lightboard signs. if they say no light trailers, that will apply to you as they're specifically mentioning trailers with 20,000 pounds or less of payload.

Sykotyk