Best Napa CA to Asheville NC Route -- I-80 or I-40?

[sherbert]

Hello Everyone,

I'm moving soon from Napa, CA area to the Asheville, NC area. I'm driving a 26' Budget truck (diesel, if I recall correctly) towing either a car dolly with a '98 Camry or a 6x12 trailer (if I can find one that cost less than a house ;-). The truck is going to packed to the gills (including the trailer or car pulled behind it). My worry is crossing the mountain range here in West on my way back to NC. Given how loaded down the truck will be, I'm assuming it would be wise to go with the route that offers the least severe grades to reduce danger of overheating, etc.

My questions is, would I be better off taking the I-80 route or the I-40 Route? Is there that much of a difference, and if so, which would be the better option?

Thanks,
sherbert

[glc]

Welcome to RTA!

I show I-40 as being a shorter and faster route than I-80. Take I-5 to CA-46 to CA-99 to CA-58 to I-40.

Overheating will not be an issue with a diesel truck. They are built to haul heavy loads. You are smart in getting a diesel, U-Haul 26 foot trucks are 10 cylinder gas and get terrible mileage. Diesels will get almost twice the fuel mileage.

A piece of advice - do NOT do a cross country move with a dolly, get a car trailer that gets all 4 wheels of the car off the ground. I don't know about Budget, but U-Haul rents them. Maneuvering with a dolly is difficult, you CANNOT back the rig up like you can with a trailer.

Get a quote from Penske for the truck, if you are a member of AAA they offer a discount. Their 26 footers are diesel.

[DonnaR57]

Penske in our area rents the trailers that you can put a car on. Be careful how you load said car, though, and don't try to attach anything onto the trailer around the car.


Donna

[sherbert]

Welcome to RTA!

I show I-40 as being a shorter and faster route than I-80. Take I-5 to CA-46 to CA-99 to CA-58 to I-40.

Overheating will not be an issue with a diesel truck. They are built to haul heavy loads. You are smart in getting a diesel, U-Haul 26 foot trucks are 10 cylinder gas and get terrible mileage. Diesels will get almost twice the fuel mileage.

A piece of advice - do NOT do a cross country move with a dolly, get a car trailer that gets all 4 wheels of the car off the ground. I don't know about Budget, but U-Haul rents them. Maneuvering with a dolly is difficult, you CANNOT back the rig up like you can with a trailer.

Get a quote from Penske for the truck, if you are a member of AAA they offer a discount. Their 26 footers are diesel.

Hello.
Thanks for the info on the diesels. I was not aware of their being less susceptible overheating and, along with the improved mpg, that is good news! I came in on the I-40 when I first moved out to CA back in '94 (pulling a 6x12 with my S-10 Blazer). I guess there is a certain symmetry to returning to NC by the same route! : -)

I'll also check out Penske.
Thanks!
Thanks!

[sherbert]

Penske in our area rents the trailers that you can put a car on. Be careful how you load said car, though, and don't try to attach anything onto the trailer around the car.


Donna

Hi Donna,
I had not considered backing up with the car on the dolly. I know that the car carrier is a few hundred more than the dolly, but I imagine it would only take once getting stuck trying to maneuver somewhere to make me instantly see the value of going with the car carrier-trailer. The advice on not loading extra items on it also makes good sense!

Thanks!