Trip, Maine to Yellowstone

[safecracker]

After a couple of years of talking about going to Yellowstone we are finally going. We leave Saturday morning the 10th of May. We plan on being away from Home 6 weeks. Since Sue and I retired we been planning trip. We bought a new pickup in November and a utility trailer, 6.5 x 12 ft with a 4 foot gate. No additional ramps needed to load and unload the Spyder from the trailer. Here are some pics of the Spyder loaded. Bruce

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[Peter Aawen]

Sounds like it's gonna be an epic adventure! That trailer looks like it's the goods too.

Looking forward to following your travels.

 

[bikerchris1270]

Just a thought… maybe protect the Spyder's Radiators from possible debris while trailering...

 

[Raven]

Have a safe and fun trip.

 

[RayBJ]

That's a nice trip. Try to get in Mt Rushmore, Devils Tower, Bear Tooth Pass, Needles Park, and Badlands along the way.

 

[safecracker]

RayBJ, we plan to. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[djh3]

Keep an eye on your ramp along the way for bends. Guys around here use those kind of trailers and I see the ramps "bow" a lot. But they drive up and down them with riding mowers probably 6 or 8 times a day also. So just be mindful. Sounds like a nice trip. Take your time and enjoy.

 

[spyderladyf3]

Hope you both have an awesome adventure, have fun, stay safe.

 

[baxter]

Beartooth Highway is closed until the end of the month for snow removal, and some other roads in Yellowstone. It's a little early for trips in that area.

 

[Br549rick]

Whaaaat??? Ride the Spyder!!!

 

[Peter Aawen]

Beartooth Highway is closed until the end of the month for snow removal, and some other roads in Yellowstone. It's a little early for trips in that area.

It looks like it's gonna be a few days yet until @safecracker leaves (from Maine), and then I guess they'll then take at least a few days to get to Yellowstone from there, and they mentioned planning "being away from Home 6 weeks", so I'd guess that they're probably going to be a week or two away from actually getting close to Yellowstone, which IIRC, means late Spring over there and should tie in nicely with your advice...

Not coming from that part of the World, and not having even it visited for a few years now (Damn!! I just worked out it's more'n 10 years now!! ), is it all that likely that the Wintery conditions & road closures etc over in that neck of the woods will extend too much beyond the end of May??

 

[rjinaz86323]

RayBJ, we plan to. Thanks for the ideas.

right down by Mt Rushmore you will see a sign for Iron Mountain Road. This is a must do as is Custer State Park and Needles Highway. They are all real close to each other.

 

[racoon]

...is it all that likely that the Wintery conditions & road closures etc over in that neck of the woods will extend too much beyond the end of May??

I've only driven over the Beartooth Pass once in my life, and that was during our Summer, in June.

I was driving a Geo Tracker, which was also known as a Suzuki Sidekick. It had selectable 4WD with manual locking front hubs.

As I started up I soon had to stop and lock in the 4WD hubs due to the ice on the road, and by the time I got to the top it was snowing fairly hard.

So yes, Wintery conditions may extend beyond the end of May.

 

[safecracker]

Thanks everyone for the great info.

 

[RapidSpyder]

A video of Iron Mt. Road and Needles Hwy

 

[blacklightning]

We are leaving NC for our cross country trip on Tuesday (gotta be with the wife for mother's day). The plan is to do all 48 states and see as much of the country as possible. The concentration will be on the States West of the Mississippi River. Got about 90% of my stuff packed and only need to gather rain and warm weather gear now. Going to give the bike a good washing and wax today. Tomorrow, I will be mowing the lawn one last time and doing other things such as changing water and air filters to the house. Gave the wife a list of numbers of my plumbers, electricians, mechanic, and the home warranty paperwork. I don't want the call that I got 3 years ago saying the "hot water isn't working". This time, just let me know on our nightly talk, but don't have me worrying while I try to ride. Lol!

 

[pauly1]

Check the road reports for conditions on Bear Tooth Highway. You should be ahead of the road construction start: they use that ugly chip sealing process out there that will raise hell with drive belts and sprockets. And yes, it can snow on any day of the year on the pass.

 

[safecracker]

Sue and I did a test run today. Loaded trailer tracked well and Spyder did not move. We rode over a wide range of roads with no issues. I did notice the fuel mileage really suffers. Leaving in 36 hours!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Deanna777]

We are leaving NC for our cross country trip on Tuesday (gotta be with the wife for mother's day). The plan is to do all 48 states and see as much of the country as possible. The concentration will be on the States West of the Mississippi River. Got about 90% of my stuff packed and only need to gather rain and warm weather gear now. Going to give the bike a good washing and wax today. Tomorrow, I will be mowing the lawn one last time and doing other things such as changing water and air filters to the house. Gave the wife a list of numbers of my plumbers, electricians, mechanic, and the home warranty paperwork. I don't want the call that I got 3 years ago saying the "hot water isn't working". This time, just let me know on our nightly talk, but don't have me worrying while I try to ride. Lol!

HI Blacklightning,

When are you going to be riding in Vermont?

What routes are you taking in Vermont?

Deanna

 

[Deanna777]

Sue and I did a test run today. Loaded trailer tracked well and Spyder did not move. We rode over a wide range of roads with no issues. I did notice the fuel mileage really suffers. Leaving in 36 hours!!!!!!!!!!!

HI Safecracker,

Hope you and Sue have a safe trip!

Deanna