Go Back  Offshoreonly.com > General Discussion > General Boating Discussion
Route help, Minn. to Ft Meyers Florida >

Route help, Minn. to Ft Meyers Florida

Notices

Route help, Minn. to Ft Meyers Florida

Old 09-07-2010, 07:54 AM
  #1  
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
RMPRam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Santa Barbara CA. USA
Posts: 1,026
Received 28 Likes on 7 Posts
Default Route help, Minn. to Ft Meyers Florida

I'm going to tow a boat from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Cape Coral, Florida. I'm using a 1T, gas motor truck to pull the rig. I've been told that taking HWY 65 from Nashville to Fla. #10 will cut out most of the mountains and add only a few miles to the trip. Any help/comments?
RMPRam is offline  
Old 09-07-2010, 08:03 AM
  #2  
Registered
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Cape Coral, FL
Posts: 2,470
Received 84 Likes on 32 Posts
Default

I have done the trip from St. Paul to Cape Coral many times I just went the way Garmin told me and the mountains were really not that bad. I think I went the same way as Google Shows.
Maritime_Eng is offline  
Old 09-07-2010, 09:46 AM
  #3  
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
RMPRam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Santa Barbara CA. USA
Posts: 1,026
Received 28 Likes on 7 Posts
Default route to cape coral

Did you go from St Paul-Madison-Rockford-Bloomington-Nashville-Chattanooga-Atlanta-Cape Coral?
Any tips on the roads, speeds etc? Is a gas 1T able to make the steep grades in the mountains? I'm pulling a 38' boat on a triple axle trailer.
RMPRam is offline  
Old 09-07-2010, 09:50 AM
  #4  
Registered
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Grand Haven,Mi Marco Isl. Fl.
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by RMPRam
Did you go from St Paul-Madison-Rockford-Bloomington-Nashville-Chattanooga-Atlanta-Cape Coral?
Any tips on the roads, speeds etc? Is a gas 1T able to make the steep grades in the mountains? I'm pulling a 38' boat on a triple axle trailer.
I go from Mi all the time just take 65 to Nashville 24 to Chattanooga and 75 on down it will be fine. I pull a 36 center console with a Escalade and none of it is a problem. Have a great trip!!
CHASIN THE DEAL is offline  
Old 09-07-2010, 10:00 AM
  #5  
Registered
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Cape Coral FL
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Mounteagle just west of Chattanooga is the only challenge.
Does your trailer have electric brakes? If not going down the backside is pretty hard on them. 6% grade.
salesmanship is offline  
Old 09-07-2010, 10:36 AM
  #6  
Registered
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Cape Coral, FL
Posts: 2,470
Received 84 Likes on 32 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by RMPRam
Did you go from St Paul-Madison-Rockford-Bloomington-Nashville-Chattanooga-Atlanta-Cape Coral?
Any tips on the roads, speeds etc? Is a gas 1T able to make the steep grades in the mountains? I'm pulling a 38' boat on a triple axle trailer.
Yes, that is the way I went. I came down with a 3/4 ton Gas Dodge and a Formula 311(33ft overall) and never had any issues. The trip was easy except comming down a few of the steep hills. You shouldnt have any issues.

One bit of advice if you are planning on towing at night with a gas truck make sure you fill up when ever you get a chance. When I was driving down it was sometime between 2 and 5am (somewhere between St. Louis an Nashville) and I was looking for an open gas station and could not easily find one. I had to go into a Waffle House and ask if anyone knew of a gas station open that was close by.

Last edited by Maritime_Eng; 09-07-2010 at 10:41 AM.
Maritime_Eng is offline  
Old 09-07-2010, 04:26 PM
  #7  
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
RMPRam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Santa Barbara CA. USA
Posts: 1,026
Received 28 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

Thanks for the help. I saw that you can go south from Nashville on RT #65 to Birmingham/Montgomery and then to Fla. #10 and avoid the mountains. It seems as if it is only 60 miles farther than going through Chattanooga and Atlanta, but I've heard that 65 is rough. Any thoughts from people that have taken this route
RMPRam is offline  
Old 09-07-2010, 06:23 PM
  #8  
PF Marine
Platinum Member
 
Coolerman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 1,787
Received 22 Likes on 12 Posts
Default

Hey Gary, I've heard both opinions on it. Dennis has driven it many times, give him a ring. Going through the mountains is definately more scenic, but you can get stuck in some pretty good traffic in Chattanooga and Atlanta. IMO, go the route with no construction.
Coolerman is offline  
Old 09-07-2010, 06:34 PM
  #9  
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Frankfort,ill
Posts: 12,861
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

whats da matter BIG Daddy ??? u dont like Chattanooga LOL .hauled our Cat 963 to hudson/newport richie fl on the Lowboy and Chattanooga sucked Ballz
RunninHotRacing163.1 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.