Self haulers, roads to avoid, Me to Ar?

[sailingbud]

I posted last fall asking advice about moving my boat. A lot of folks said don't do it but a few said go for it and I'm ready for a road trip. Now the snow has melted, grounds hard, I got a 1 ton diesel and a gooseneck trailer with tandem 7000 lb axles, side posts that will be perfect for adjustable supports and a 28' bed with rails to guide the cradle on and brace. My boat is 31'10" LOA with a 9' beam and 4'3" draft total height 8'+2' trailer.
Does anybody know about what roads are good or which to avoid hauling from Maine to northwest Arkansas?
Any other hauling advice? I'm leaving May 15th.

[JimsCAL]

I believe you will need permits since the load is over 8 feet wide.

[tomwatt]

There is an enormous amount of truck traffic in Penn. between Wilkes-Barre and Harrisburg, but decent enough road and truck lanes. I am presuming you're going down to I-40 and then across the Miss. R. right?
I don't think I'd want to approach from the north, but coming up from the Alma, AR approach is fairly new road.
I'm flat towing my Jeep via that route about a month later.

[BlackOak]

If you come through Memphis on I-40, take the north loop (I-240 north) around the city. The south loop has low bridges, and alot of construction.

You might also check, oversize loads cannot be hauled at night. Only during daylight hours, something like 30 minutes after sunrise and 30 minutes before sunset.

[frankdrebin]

Communications. Monitor the drivers on CB. Nice to know ahead of time where debris is or lane closures, etc.

Avoid heavy traffic areas during commute hours. Late night driving is the bomb. Sail right through, cooler on the rig too, but you're over size. Daylight only by statute. Plan ahead your stops. Waiting till near dark to start looking will get you ticketed. Avoid the GW. Go north around all of NYC. Pick up I-81, then bear south.

Permits? Signage? Pilot cars? Weigh Stations? All States are different. You may need a class B license. If you don't know what that is, you have class C. Your own rig, your own boat, your own trailer, then you do not need fuel permits, bingo stamps, states registrations (plural), log books, medical cards, etc. But ports of entry and other weigh stations will want to play 60 questions.

Downgrades. Find them! Plan for them! They can KILL you! You do have manual transmission and compression brake? Continous LIGHT application of brakes, constantly controlling inertia is better that panic braking each time speed soars. If sane braking is not controlling speed, you're in to big a gear. Be in the gear you want at the top of the grade. I have visions of you going down hill at 10-20 slower that the slowest big rig. Been there (no jake brake). NO FUN! Burnt brakes and roll overs are not too fun either. Have not been there. Jumping out is not an option. Runaway ramps are. If some one is in the way, too bad. Take them out.

Then there are the underpasses. 14 feet is the minimum on interstates. All bets are off otherwise. Know your height. Truck Driver Atlases have low underpass data in them. Find a truck stop. When I was actively driving, the first thing i saw on the horizon, by habit, was underpasses. Read the signs. Car drivers don't.

Drivers of those cute little things with four wheels....ummmm....cars, ARE CERTIFIABLE! One never notices this detail until your in a rig too heavy to stop on a dime.

One can hydroplane anything. Watch the weather.

Inspect everything every time you stop. Stop often.

Prepare the best you can, then hire a pro.

You did not state any experience or knowledge level, so i may have said too much.

If it was 8 feet wide and my boat, with weight and rigs in class C range, I'd do it.
Knowing east coast traffic and roads, oversize, with all the various laws and such, I'd punt.

Good Luck. All my best wishes.

[sailingbud]

My home location is north of the steep grades in Arkansas. The most direct route from here to there is Mo, I-44 to St Louis and I-70 to Columbus then north to I-90 across NY to Mass then over to I-95N.
I want to miss the turn pike, NY I-90 so am looking at hauling the boat back from I-95 to the bypass around Boston to a short bit of I-90 to I-84 to cross NY and Penn I-81 to I-80 south of chicago then down I-55 to cross the Missippi south of St Louis and hit I-44 west to hwy 71 south into Ar.
I have hauled heavier loads with cattle and horses which shift and hay that is just big and with a smaller truck. I've also hauled smaller boats and cars on trailers but not this big. My truck has 5sp manual F-350 diesel long wheel base crew cab and is good at holding the speed down. The boat is just 8000 lbs and I'm thinking about tarping around the hull to keep the wind from catching under it. The trailer has a good side frame for this. I have sourced all the permits and will need wide load signage. I don't know what I'm missing but this is my only option to get my boat moved. The transporter quotes were insane.

[tommays]

While shrink wrap might do well i think the tarps would be and issue as any flaping will destroy the surface

With the limit at 8'6" and you being 9' its hard to say if you will catch anybodys eye as boats like J24s are 8'9" and get moved a LOT

On the other hand the mobil DOT guys are all over the place ?

[sailingdog]

I would highly recommend getting a current edition of a trucker's atlas, as it will have the current regulations for wide load permits and contact information for obtaining them. At 9', you will be required to have permits, and if you don't have them and get pulled over, expect to get reamed.

Also, the point about license classes is key. What does the boat, truck and trailer weigh altogether? If you're driving a load that you're not qualified to handle and get pulled over, you're probably toast.

[sailingbud]

My truck is registered for 25000 lbs, trailer rated at 14000 lbs and boat weighs less than 8000lbs since I've already pulled out the engine. I'm getting all my own permits because calling a permit service I was told I needed a DOT number and would have to pay $175 for that and $29 per state then they read off the list of state fees which were at least double what the actual states charge. After checking with the Feds at DOT, Non-commercial haulers in my situation don't need a DOT number. Most states have a toll free number and can process everything over the phone or fax. NY and Pa are very difficult and I may use a service for them but most can be done in a day on the phone with a credit card for a $10 range fee some are more some less. Ohio and Mo have higher insurance requirements so I'll be getting a rider for that week and sending the forms to them to confirm it. I'm trying to cover all the bases cause I'll get busted the first time I don't. Other than that, I got the Atlas and will be digging out the CB radio, changing oil and have a check up scheduled at the diesel shop for a look over by fresh eyes.

[fordo]

Good Luck! Let us know how it goes.