Moving from Vancouver, Wa. to Loveland, co end of Oct via I-70 need advice (motel)

[christiharri5]

We are relocating to Loveland, Co. from Vancouver, Wa. at the end of this month(Oct). We will be going I-80 with our 26'Penske truck pulling our mini van on a car carrier. I am worried about snow and the steep grades that time of year. Looking for input from anyone who may have done it or knows about doing it? Also should we have chains? does anyone know if Penske gives them to you with rental? Any info would be greatly appreciated as My husband will be driving the Penske truck and I will be following him in the F150 with the 4 kids. Thanks

Christi

[Tom Emmerling]

I80 can be pretty bad in the winter time. Luckily it has not snowed much so far. I would take chains just in case and try to travel during the daylight when it is warmer. Most importantly take your time if it is snowing!!!!! And Don't be afraid to pull over and wait it out if it gets too bad. I am not sure about the chains for your penske truck, that would be a question for them. Welcome to Colorado.

[sunsprit]

The I-80 route at the end of October is typically pretty clear and more fall-like weather than the winter weather with violent snowstorms that would concern you. The road is still warm from the longer days sunshine and warmer temps; even light snowfall will melt upon falling onto the road. Your bigger concern might be some isolated ground flurries that block visibility.

IMO, don't mess around with chains. If a storm front moves in that is so seriously dumping so much snow on the road to make it difficult to travel ... you simply shouldn't be driving in those conditions. At this time of the year, such a front will move on through very quickly, and the roads will be cleared very soon except for the few shady areas where a patch of snow/ice may remain for awhile. Find a motel and wait it out until the roadway is cleared. It will be a lot less stress and much much safer for you and your family. Do your driving during the daytime ... it's a different experience driving the 26' truck with the tow rig and it's not worth the trip time savings and risk to be learning how to drive such a rig at night.

Of course, coming through on I-80 will take you to I-25 Southbound at Cheyenne ... and, like most of your route, there's not a lot of hard climb mountain passes to worry about. It's more like slow climbs and descents .....

Your heading mentions driving I-70 instead of I-80. You'd be much better off avoiding the high mountain steep grades of I-70 and exposure to fall storms by going the I-80 route from I-90 to I-15 to I-80 to I-25, or I-90 to I-25.