Snowbird Newby Heading to Yuma, AZ from NYC

Welcome to the RV lifestyle, and congratulations on the RV rig. That F-350 King Ranch dually is certainly up to the task of pulling a 40-foot fifth wheel. For a new Snowbird making this trip (from tight New York City/ East Coast infrastructure to wide open Western interstates) will be an adventure. While managing a massive RV rig, safety and comfort should dictate your schedule, not speed. Realistically, you should plan for 6 to 8 driving days, putting your total calendar time at 7 to 10 days once you factor in rest days and weather. Here is a breakdown of why it takes that long, along with a suggested game plan for your journey.

Total Distance: Roughly 2,400 to 2,500 miles depending on your exact starting point and route. Safe Driving Speed: 60 to 65 mph. (Towing a 40-foot trailer is not a race; keeping it at 62 mph saves fuel, keeps tire temperatures down and gives you stopping distance). Daily Driving Limit: 300 to 350 miles per day (about 5 to 6 hours behind the wheel). As a beginner, driving much further than that will lead to mental fatigue, which is dangerous with a 10 to 13 ton combined vehicle weight.

Why a “Newbie” Needs Extra Time: A 40 foot 5th wheel tracks differently than a bumper pull, but it’s still massive. Crosswinds across the Midwest (especially Oklahoma and New Mexico) will require your full attention. High profile rigs do sometimes get blown over. When you fuel, you won’t just pull into a regular Exxon station. You’ll be hunting for truck stops (Pilot/ Flying J, Love’s or TA) with wide lanes and easy pull through or straight shot fuel islands. 

You’ll be stopping every 200 – 250 miles. Hooking up, leveling, checking tire pressures and securing the inside of the RV takes 30 – 45 minutes at both ends of every travel day. Avoid cutting straight across the mountains of Pennsylvania and West Virginia if you can help it, or at least take the gentler grades. Moving a rig of this size across the country requires specialized planning that a standard GPS will completely miss. Leaving the New York metropolitan area with a 13′ 6″ high 5th wheel requires extreme caution. Standard parkways (like the Palisades, Hutchinson or Merritt) strictly prohibit trailers due to low bridges. You should probably utilize designated truck routes (such as I-95 or I-80). Drive safe and we’ll see ya in Yuma.