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Easiest route from Grand Canyon (Williams) to Bluff, UT

roadschooladven
Explorer
Explorer
First time poster here. Also "new" to RV traveling (been stationary full-timing for 18 months). Need some advice please!

We will be traveling to Bluff, UT from Williams, AZ tomorrow. I will be driving my own vehicle and my husband will be towing our 38' fifth wheel with his F250 7.3 diesel. His truck is in excellent shape, but he feels we're pushing its limits with our heavy load (~16K lbs). We would love to go east on I40 first and see Petrified Forest Nat'l Park, then head north on 191. But I've been researching that route and it seems difficult. Should we just take 89 from Flagstaff up to 160 and then get on 163? What's the easiest route? Thanks for any help!
8 REPLIES 8

valhalla360
Nomad
Nomad
Have you towed with this setup yet?

Double check your ratings. You are likely well over both payload and tow rating.

A quick check of the last 7.3 (2003) had 3380 payload and 12,500 tow rating.

With 16k 5th wheel, you should be at around 3200 pin weight at a minimum and could easily be north of 3500lb. Add in 200lb for the hitch weight plus anything else including the husband and you will easily be over the payload.

Not saying people don't do it but he's right about the truck being pretty marginal.

If you have Google Earth (not Google Maps), you can enter a route and then by right clicking, it will show you a profile of the route so you can get an idea of the grades involved. Not perfect but pretty good.
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TexasShadow
Explorer
Explorer
the last time we took 191 north from I 40, several years ago, part of the road was rougher than a cob, but passable. Maybe that has improved. Other than that, there are no grade problems I can think of. From Bluff, if you go north, the road rises gradually, but steadily all the way to Moab, I think.
If you decide to go that way, go south on 180 from Holbrook, down to the south entrance of Petrified Forest, then drive north up through the park...then you won't have to back track.
TexasShadow
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Desert_Captain
Explorer II
Explorer II
If you end up going east on I-40 to the Petrified Forrest make a stop at Meteor Crater. It is a little pricey to get in but worth a visit {once}.

Here are a couple of pics:



This is a shot of the largest fragment ever found of the Meteor, look at the size of this "rock"... it weighs 20,000#!



:S

ppine
Explorer II
Explorer II
None of those roads are difficult. Relax. All of them are fine.

roadschooladven
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks. We weren't planning on stopping anywhere in Navajo Nation, so not too worried about covid. Would prefer going through the Petrified Forest, so not looking for the quickest route. Just the least grades mainly.

roadschooladven
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks! We don't have a problem with speed haha. Even semis pass us on occasion...

Lwiddis
Explorer
Explorer
US 89 and US 160, through Tuba City, are the quickest by an hour or so.

Reservation Corona virus numbers are horrific. Navajo Times..Oct. 11th...

https://navajotimes.com/coronavirus-updates/covid-19-across-the-navajo-nation/
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agesilaus
Explorer II
Explorer II
We've taken 191 a number of times thru the reservation and I don't recall any major grades if that is what you are worried about. Went thru there last summer. Just western two lane highway. Watch your speed the tribal police will give you a ticket. Gas up before you leave I-40 the res was in a lockdown and I don't know what is open.
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