Roadtrip! Chicago to LA

[AKmoney]

Day 2- 11 ??????????
So far, thinking about hitting up (in no particular order yet) Death Valley NP, Sequoia NF, Grand Canyon North Rim, Moab, Sedona, Havasu Falls, maybe Yosemite. Doubt I will be able to fit everything in though. Looking to camp most of the time.

Definitely won't have time to hit up everything. Is it a must to make it all the way to the coast?

Despite my suggestion you probably won't be able to do Grand Canyon North Rim. The Kaibab Plateau (as it's known) is 9,000+ feet in elevation and the only road that leads up there, AZ-67, is often shut down until May due to heavy snow. El Nino makes that likely this year. If you were doing this trip a few months later I'd say go for it.

I'd do something like this: 2-3 nights near Moab, then take UT-24/UT-12 down to the Bryce/Zion area and do a couple nights down that way. Then take 89 down to Flagstaff/Sedona and do a couple nights there. From there you could head to Vegas.

Don't rush things. I spent 3 nights in Moab a couple years ago and it didn't feel like it was enough. I could spend a whole week there easily...

 

[gizmopt2002]

Yes the benefit is not as much wind resistance up top. If you are worried about weatherproofing a nice tarp bungeed over the containers should help with that.

Just remember when moving around parking lots, backing up, or on a trail that it is behind you. . . have had some near misses after forgetting that thing was out of sight out of mind.

Sweet. It's been something I've been thinking about fro awhile. So I think I'll finally bite the bullet.

Also found these containers, which are 20x29, so they fit perfectly on the carrier. And they're only $8.97! HDX 27 Gal. Storage Tote in Black-HDX27GONLINE(5) - The Home Depot

 

[BrianSD_42]

Trip report here ---> http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...2s-2015-3rd-gen-moab-trip-picture-thread.html

I made it through with my truck and a stock Tacoma in 9 hours.

You should allow for 12 hours and bring gear to camp illegally if you break down or it gets to late at night.

We started right at 8am and finished about 5:30.

 

[AKmoney]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...2s-2015-3rd-gen-moab-trip-picture-thread.html

I made it through with my truck and a stock Tacoma in 9 hours.

You should allow for 12 hours and bring gear to camp illegally if you break down or it gets to late at night.

We started right at 8am and finished about 5:30.

Wow, great pics on that thread... Much better than the ones I took on my measly Moab trip report

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/166144-quick-moab-report-lotsa-pics.html

To the OP: Like I said, don't rush your trip and spend the entire time driving. Stop and smell the roses if you can.

 

[wadle5]

You guys really should spend more time in actual Vegas. It is a dump.

Yes the nice parts of the strip are sort of cool. The rest is a dump. Nearly all the local population lives just above the poverty line out in Henderson. Most people in Vegas want to move away from Vegas. LA is not that great either.

To skip Yosemite for Vegas or LA, well to each their own.

Sorry Vegas folks!

Yeah I mean it definitely has a lot of horrible going on, but from a visitor I thought it was definitely "cleaner" more welcoming than L.A. But yeah I have heard both and actually have a friend that lives on base out there. LA would be pretty bad for daily living.

Sweet. It's been something I've been thinking about fro awhile. So I think I'll finally bite the bullet.

Also found these containers, which are 20x29, so they fit perfectly on the carrier. And they're only $8.97! HDX 27 Gal. Storage Tote in Black-HDX27GONLINE(5) - The Home Depot

Yeah we had the brand I believe it was a called a bumper buddy, and have had it for over a decade. Great for trips, when not in use in town it actually folds up as well so it isn't as cumbersome. Haven't been on trips lately when it has been necessary so the last time I actually used it was for hunting, and we would just put the deer on it instead of hauling them up to the roof rack or throwing in the back of the Runner...so versatile! But yeah we just used your regular gott containers or even a weatherproof bag for up top and would fully wrap the cargo on the rear in this to prevent any elements getting into it. I just went overboard in strapping it down because was paranoid about getting to my destination only to realize I hadn't nothing left on the rear.
Jealou

 

[gizmopt2002]

On the way to the south west if you stop in Springfield MO which most people do going down route 66 I would be willing to be a guide to the local trails and off road park etc. You can camp there and hit some amazing trails also. That is a beautiful time of year to cruise the park.
Look up SMORR in Seymore MO.

Blue

Thanks for the offer! Right now I'm taking I80 West to Denver, but that might change.

 

[carlomagne]

LA isn't thhhaaaatttttt bad. If you guys are looking for some amazing food, LA has plenty of spots. It'll geta little pricey but the food is amazing. Traffic is terrible but it does have some pretty awesome places to visit.

 

[gizmopt2002]

Anyone know of any good offline mapping software? I used to use Microsoft Streets and Trips, but it has been discontinued. Or even a decent GPS unit maybe used.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Anyone know of any good offline mapping software? I used to use Microsoft Streets and Trips, but it has been discontinued. Or even a decent GPS unit maybe used.

BackCountry Navigator Pro for Android ($9.99)
- download the maps at home over wifi before hitting the trail
- GPS on Nexus7 will work with the app with no wifi while on the trail
- displays current position relative to trail points marked on map
- multiple free hi res maps available from within the app
- share export import .gpx files

Well worth the investment.

Nexus 7 v2 Android tablet, used $100. Again well worth the investment.

I can even share my GPS points from Moab with you. Additional free data downloads are available at Trail Damage. Com.

Brand new, $130, ten available.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/ASUS-Google-N...roid-Tablet-NEW-K644-/201504182609?nav=SEARCH

Don't let the 2013 date fool you, the v2 Nexus7 (2013) for $130 is by far the best budget tablet you can buy. It even runs the latest Android 6.0 pure Google OS. I've got one and it is still going great. Bluetooth HD audio, 1080p, Wireless charging, 9-10 hours battery life and more.

 

[generald]

Here maps by Nokia (recently sold) or maps.me have worked excellent abroad for me. Here is incredible IMHO. Both free, preload via wifi. I'm aware of ios versions but could be android too.

 

[gizmopt2002]

What about PC based? I have a sweet Lenovo 2-in-1 with Windows 10 and GPS on it. I already have a Windows 10 tablet as well that's collecting dust. Wish someone would trade it for a Nexus tablet.

 

[gizmopt2002]

Here maps by Nokia (recently sold) or maps.me have worked excellent abroad for me. Here is incredible IMHO. Both free, preload via wifi. I'm aware of ios versions but could be android too.

I have an old Motorola phone I loaded HERE maps on for the ladys car. Works really well. I did find a Garmin nuvi 1300 on CL for $20. Just figured out how to use GPSFileDepot.com and BaseCamp (from Garmin) to upload custom maps to the GPS unit. Pretty slick I thought.

 

[gizmopt2002]

Finally started making a packing list broken down by Have/Borrow/Buy. Handy to buy things slowly before the trip. Speaking of which, anybody have any camping gear for sale? Majority of my stuff is in-accesible (long story) until June.

Anyone use a Fiskars Axe? This one seems really good for the price. Robot Check

I have several tents though, it seems like a 7 x 10 would be fine pretty much anywhere we camp along the way?

 

[Geezer81]

Drop by and I'll buy you a Portillo's Lunch/Dinner here.

 

[gizmopt2002]

BackCountry Navigator Pro for Android ($9.99)
- download the maps at home over wifi before hitting the trail
- GPS on Nexus7 will work with the app with no wifi while on the trail
- displays current position relative to trail points marked on map
- multiple free hi res maps available from within the app
- share export import .gpx files

Well worth the investment.

Nexus 7 v2 Android tablet, used $100. Again well worth the investment.

I can even share my GPS points from Moab with you. Additional free data downloads are available at Trail Damage. Com.

Brand new, $130, ten available.
Asus Google Nexus 7 2nd Generation 2013 16GB 7" Android Tablet New K644 | eBay

Don't let the 2013 date fool you, the v2 Nexus7 (2013) for $130 is by far the best budget tablet you can buy. It even runs the latest Android 6.0 pure Google OS. I've got one and it is still going great. Bluetooth HD audio, 1080p, Wireless charging, 9-10 hours battery life and more.

Want to trade for my Windows tablet? LOL.

Let me know those waypoints. Whats the policy on camping there?

 

[gizmopt2002]

Thanks all for your suggestions! Unfortunately as with everything, it didn't go as planned.

Moab was excluded as time didn't allow for it.
North Rim was closed for the winter still, the cold weather followed us out there so we weren't able to camp until the end in the SW (Having a 3 y.o. kinda limits us)

We ended up staying in Denver, Utah, Las Vegas, and El Capital State Beach Park in California. We had a blast though, sad it's over. We decided next time to breakdown the trip to one or two main destinations to spend more time at places. Too much to do, not enough time.

The hitch cargo carrier was awesome, I highly recommend one. We were packed to the gills, I don't think I have a photo but all the load leveled out the truck, ha.

I ran premium the entire time, I don't have the exact mileage numbers yet, but I believe the average is about 16MPG and we did just under 5k miles. Averaged 80-90 on the highway. No leaks, and HG didn't seem to rear its ugly head as I was paranoid about it. Looking forward to taking another trip with these suggestions soon.

 

[gizmopt2002]

For the number people like me

Avg $/gal= $2.42 (premium)
Total = $736
Avg. range = 300 mi

4,800 mi
16.27 avg. MPG