Los Angeles to Houston,TX with a U-HAUL 14Ft. Good idea?

[Markuslalaland]

Hey Guys,

I m new on this website, I m relocating for my job from LA to Houston,TX and was thinking of driving there probably with a U-HAUL truck 14Ft probably by myself:(

What do you guys think?

Any recommendations on where to stop? I was thinking Phoenix day 1 then somewhere between Ciudad Juarez and Austin.


Please help as I've never took such a long trip by myself and don't know the area at all.

Many thanks in advance.

Have a good day!

[DonnaR57]

Welcome aboard RTA!

First, a U-Haul trip by yourself can be fun. My husband just went from mid-Missouri to San Diego by himself in a U-Haul. You can read the report about it here. I wrote the report. He did the actual drive, but I was his support at home.

Second, if you are trying to drive this in 3 days (it's about 1550 miles, depending on exactly where in "LA" you start from), you'd be best off doing 500 miles a day. My husband found that comfortable by himself, but he's a former long-distance truck driver. Maybe you'd want to stretch it into 4 days??? But for a three day drive, you can stay somewhere around Tucson, AZ, and then somewhere around Van Horn, TX. You didn't say what time of the year this trip is, but be prepared with an extra day: Already this route has seen some closure due to icy weather. I know, seems odd so far south, but elevations cause that.


Donna

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

I think you are on the right track. Your first day, you should try to get a bit farther than Phoenix. I'd shoot for at least Tucson, and possibly even onto Benson AZ. Your 2nd night, Fort Stockton TX would make for a good stopping point. Those would give you 3 pretty even spaced days of 500 miles each, which will take you 8-10 hours a day depending upon how often you stop, etc.

Note, that I-10 does not go to Juarez Mexico, it stays in El Paso, completely on the US side of the border. Obviously with a UHaul, you can't cross the border, but Juarez is one city you certainly don't want to visit (El Paso is completely fine though).

Otherwise, don't worry too much. A UHaul truck is really pretty easy to get used to, it drives like a big van, but there's not that much more too it.

[Markuslalaland]

Thanks Donna for your answerQ It is really helpful.

I m planning on taking this trip in one week from today.Do you really think I should prepare for some icy roads?

Also do you have an idea of how much gas it will cost roughly? (Company is paying for it but just to get an estimate)

Many thanks for your help!

[Midwest Michael]

Icy roads are certainly within the possibility of things at this time of year. There have already been some winter storms to impact I-10 this winter, but you'd have to check the forecast to see what things looking like as you get closer to your departure date.

Ballpark estimate for fuel is going to be about $400.

BTW, Donna suggested Van Horn as a stopping point for night 2, but I think you'll need to get farther east than that. Its more than 600 miles from there to Houston, which would make for a long last day.

[DonnaR57]

In reviewing with a better map than I was using last night, Michael is right -- Fort Stockton or even further would be better on Day #3.

My husband drove a 14-ft U-Haul for the first time when he was in his early 20s. Back then, they were stick shift, and he had never before driven a stick shift. (Now they're all automatic.) Anyway, he loved driving that thing even then, long before he ever thought of becoming a long-distance hauler.


Donna