One more question in prep for our trip:

Any known issues towing a tandem axle trailer into LI? Expecting to take I78 from Allentown, to I287 to Staten Isl, north on 440 to Staten Isl Expy, Verrazano Bridge along Belt Pkwy (Shore Pkwy) into LI on rte27.

Is all this do-able and legal? I remember seeing signs for "passenger vehicles only" - does this mean no trailers??

Thanks for all your help!

K&RA

In NY State there are no Pick-up trucks, or trailers allowed on any Parkways. I think they may allow pick up under 7K GVW on them, but for sure no trailers. You may need to go to the George Washington Bridge, to the Cross Bronx Expressway, to the Throggs Neck Bridge, then follow signs for the Long Island Express way. These roads are truck routes and are deeply rutted also have big pot holes. You will need to be careful, especially if you happen to hit the road when its going more than 10 MPH!! Even the guys from American Chopper broke there trailer on the Cross Bronx!!

hey krac,
definetely no parkways! i will call you tuesday and we can finalize plans,we can meet bash and his crew at the train station , bash does someone in your crew know the way? do you guys all have ez pass? i can lend an ez pass to krac if you guys all have it? And we are up for dinner on fri ! Its gonna be cold! no bikinis on this run!
Jim 516-551-6295

Ok, thanks - sounds good Jcap, give me a call. We can to the GW bridge to LIE then instead.....

What?? no bikinis? Hmm, we''ll see......

Keith,
You definately need to take the Long Island Expressway. It's the only way. No Parkways with trailers, $ 500.00 fine. You can still take the Varrazano, but I'm not sure wich road goes to the expressway.
Anyone know ???

KRAK
I287 to 95N to exit 13 Goethals Bridge 278 across Staten Island over Verrazano Bridge (still on 278) turns into Gowanus Expwy into BQE(Brook-Queens Expwy to 495 Long Island Expwy (East Long Island). I have done it with a trailer before.

Superbash is right, thats the rout I take coming from the south, the BQE is the ruff-est road I've ever been on, do it in the dark and not on Friday eventing if possible. You should be able to make it from the Varrazano bridge to Johns shop in an hour to an hour and a half.

Eddie

OK, now we have completely confused you ,they are all correct! lots of ways to do it , thayes route is actually the best ,through manhatten, but if in a car or pulling a small trailer,DONT try it with a truck and 30ft trailer!! Fast Eddie and I both have experience with the same size rig.Take the verazano to the BQE (brooklyn queens expressway), when on the verazano just stay in the middle lanes and it puts you on to the BQE to the long island expressway(rte 495) east,and yes eddie is right the ride between the verazano and the long island expressway is one of the worst stretches of highway you will ever encounter! BE CAREFUL.There is no easy route on or off long island pulling a trailer.495 also has lots of construction going on.When are you planing on coming in?
Jim

Thanks all - not a problem -

We'll roll in to LI Thursday night (Oct 14); we can plan to get there according to the best timing you all offer, anytime after 5-6pm. Meeting JC Friday morning for shakedown, paper work, trailer fitting. If someone can pick us up at our hotel in Melville on Friday night, we'll pick up dinner.

From everyone's comments, it sounds like the best bet is to take the verazano to I278 = the Gowanus Expry = BQE (brooklyn queens expressway), to 495 = LIE.

If that stretch of highway is worse than I-10 across Louisiana over the swamps, I'll avoid it later in life too!

Jcap - just tried to call your cell, didn't want to get thru - call me (713.494.2630) tonight dinner time and we can touch base.


Again, thanks to everyone for the good pointers - we'll be careful and hopefully not get shaken up too much!