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Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Kentucky | We will be moving to NC this summer and are currently trying to decide the best route to drive my horse. We will be pulling a 2 horse bumper pull with just the 1 horse. Initially we were thinking of driving through Arkansas and Tennessee on I40 because it seems like a much prettier drive than the LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC route. We have never driven cross country and really like the idea of seeing some of Arkansas and TN from the road! I was talking to a friend about this and he said that he drove through TN once with a Uhaul and it was "dangerous" because of the elevation changes in the mountains of eastern TN. He said that he would not go that way if it was him, but I'm also pretty sure that is the only time he ever drove anything bigger than a Suburban. Has anyone made this drive? And if so, how was it? Scary? Dangerous?
Also if anyone knows of any good places to run barrels around Winston-Salem/Piedmont Triad let me know! I will be a new resident starting June 10 and would love to hit some races! :) |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
  
| ohkissmydash - 2015-04-15 2:05 PM We will be moving to NC this summer and are currently trying to decide the best route to drive my horse. We will be pulling a 2 horse bumper pull with just the 1 horse. Initially we were thinking of driving through Arkansas and Tennessee on I40 because it seems like a much prettier drive than the LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC route. We have never driven cross country and really like the idea of seeing some of Arkansas and TN from the road! I was talking to a friend about this and he said that he drove through TN once with a Uhaul and it was "dangerous" because of the elevation changes in the mountains of eastern TN. He said that he would not go that way if it was him, but I'm also pretty sure that is the only time he ever drove anything bigger than a Suburban. Has anyone made this drive? And if so, how was it? Scary? Dangerous? Also if anyone knows of any good places to run barrels around Winston-Salem/Piedmont Triad let me know! I will be a new resident starting June 10 and would love to hit some races! :)
Well if you take I-24 you will go up at least one mountain. But it's not really all that bad if you drive smart. Just remember the trucks go slow up hill and faster downhill and you'll be okay ( talking about semis )
I've driven all over TN with horse trailers. The worst parts are the construction zones. But most GPS systems will alert you about those if you use one. I also recommend NOT driving near big cities between 4-6. As thats work traffic and it gets terrible. lol
=) If you need a place to stay the barn I board at does really nice room rentals for like 65 a night I think and they of course have a place for you to put the horses up for the night. look up clearview farms. It's more off I-65 though than I-24. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 138
| Its perfectly safe, but is very different compared to TX. There arent wide shoulders or as straight of roads. You wont really avoid it. Weve driven back and forth several times and I40 is what we always take. MS, AL, etc are HORRIBLE roads and go through some shady cities. I wont go that way unless I want to lose my lunch or worse.
So really I40 is pretty easy going Highway. It doesnt get tricky until Mt Eagle (Thinking it goes from I40 to 24), just before you get to Chattanooga. But it is a 4 lane, with lots of signs letting you know to get ready to slow down. Weve hauled our LQ several times with no problem, so I dont think a bumper pull will have any issues. Just slow down. No Biggie.
Roads around here take getting used to for those coming from out west. Almost all roads are curvy with little to no shoulder. But speed limits reflect that. Youll be fine. Its a beautiful drive through Arkansas and Tn.
Edited by CallMeSkidmark 2015-04-15 2:19 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 138
| americanpride08 - 2015-04-15 2:12 PM
ohkissmydash - 2015-04-15 2:05 PM We will be moving to NC this summer and are currently trying to decide the best route to drive my horse. We will be pulling a 2 horse bumper pull with just the 1 horse. Initially we were thinking of driving through Arkansas and Tennessee on I40 because it seems like a much prettier drive than the LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC route. We have never driven cross country and really like the idea of seeing some of Arkansas and TN from the road! I was talking to a friend about this and he said that he drove through TN once with a Uhaul and it was "dangerous" because of the elevation changes in the mountains of eastern TN. He said that he would not go that way if it was him, but I'm also pretty sure that is the only time he ever drove anything bigger than a Suburban. Has anyone made this drive? And if so, how was it? Scary? Dangerous? Also if anyone knows of any good places to run barrels around Winston-Salem/Piedmont Triad let me know! I will be a new resident starting June 10 and would love to hit some races! :)
Well if you take I-24 you will go up at least one mountain. But it's not really all that bad if you drive smart. Just remember the trucks go slow up hill and faster downhill and you'll be okay ( talking about semis )
I've driven all over TN with horse trailers. The worst parts are the construction zones. But most GPS systems will alert you about those if you use one. I also recommend NOT driving near big cities between 4-6. As thats work traffic and it gets terrible. lol
=) If you need a place to stay the barn I board at does really nice room rentals for like 65 a night I think and they of course have a place for you to put the horses up for the night. look up clearview farms. It's more off I-65 though than I-24.
Agreed. If you can avoid Chattanooga during rush hour, do it. It gets hairy at the 24/75 split. I've skirted Nashville traffic and never really hit much of anything out in W TN and Arkansas. Before leaving, do a little research on any major construction zones that may be on 40 or road closings. They were doing work on it a little while ago, but its been over a year since I've been that way. |
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 Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | I have hauled in the mountains of NC and my best advice is to downshift when going down steep grade hills and don't ride your breaks or you could burn them up. make sure the breaks on your truck and trailer are in good shape just incase. Where in NC are you headed?? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
| A friend of mine and I hauled from where we live in the raleigh area to murfreesboro for a show in October. Beautiful drive. Black mountain is the biggest challenge and its steep ups and downs when hauling a load. But, pulling a 2 horse bumper pull with 1 horse, you should be absolutely fine, as long as your truck is sufficient to pull. We were driving an F250 pulling a 3 horse with living quarters with 1 horse. The trailer kind of pushed the truck down the mountain, but her truck had the engine assisted braking feature and we cruised down easily. Going up, get in the right lane and stay out of the fast lane and you'll be absolutely fine. Eastern TN/western NC is absolutely beautiful. Highly recommend the ride. |
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Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Kentucky | Horsesnharleys- My husband and I are moving to Winston-Salem, NC to start our medical residency at Wake Forest Baptist. He's doing anesthesia and I'm doing Family Medicine. We are SO excited to get out and see another part of the country. Even if there aren't as many barrel races as in Texas, I'm really excited about all the cool trail riding opportunities that there are in that area.
For people from NC, where do most people run barrels? It seems like there are some IBRAs in the Winston-Salem area but everything else seems closer to the coast. Since I'll be working a lot, I'm not sure how far I'll be able to haul. Would really like to be able to find some places to go within an hour or two. Thanks for all yall's input so far! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | Check out the NBHA District 06 schedule and there are rodeos, I'm just not sure how many, and where. Welcome and good luck with the drive! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | Sorry, I meant to give you the link................ http://bnb-stables.com/NC06.html
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Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Kentucky | Oh wow, that is great! Thank you so much! Turnn3home- I'm sending you a pm. :) |
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 Veteran
Posts: 112
Location: ga | Check out srarodeo.com and iprarodeo.com |
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Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | There is a really nice indoor arena in Taylorsville called Lone Hickory Arena that has a lot of barrel events and clinics
http://lonehickoryarena.com/
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 Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | We've been through there a time or two with a horse trailer and it was fine...just take your time! We had engine assisted breaks and that helped a lot. Downshifting vs. riding your breaks is good too, like someone else mentioned.
I'm not sure if it's just bc I'm not from there, but nashville during high traffic times about gives me an anxiety attack with a trailer.I would definitely avoid going thru there during rush hours if you can.
Edited by MOGirl07 2015-04-16 3:49 PM
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Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Kentucky | Thanks yall! Sounds like we will be just fine and in for a pretty drive to boot! We will def plan to miss Nashville at rush hour. No need to get our panties in a wad on such a nice leisurely road trip. haha Anyway, I need to figure out if my truck has engine assisted breaking. If not, can yall give me some tips on downshifting? I'm from flat-ish country so have little experience with this. Is it just like what it sounds like? Slow down, shift from D to 2, and then go down to 1 if necessary? I probably sound really dumb right now.... 
Edited by ohkissmydash 2015-04-16 9:17 PM
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I drove thru there at 3 am with my boyfriend .. pulling a loaded down 4 horse.. he was asleep and it was the first time I had drove mountains.. and i have driven all over... but not mountains....I have to say the semis scared me to death!!lol..I went reallllllllly slow down hill and around curves and I mean the kind where you have them shootin you the bird.. and the only time he woke up was to yell at me for riding the brakes. |
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 A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | ohkissmydash - 2015-04-15 10:28 PM
Horsesnharleys- My husband and I are moving to Winston-Salem, NC to start our medical residency at Wake Forest Baptist. He's doing anesthesia and I'm doing Family Medicine. We are SO excited to get out and see another part of the country. Even if there aren't as many barrel races as in Texas, I'm really excited about all the cool trail riding opportunities that there are in that area.
For people from NC, where do most people run barrels? It seems like there are some IBRAs in the Winston-Salem area but everything else seems closer to the coast. Since I'll be working a lot, I'm not sure how far I'll be able to haul. Would really like to be able to find some places to go within an hour or two. Thanks for all yall's input so far!
Black Mountain is the devil. Lol. But it's not the worst thing in the world
You'll be close to Lone Hickory which is a beautiful arena. Zero space to park or warm up but pretty place. They're IBRA folks there. NBHA is the biggest entity in the state. Our state finals will be on this side (east) of the state this year in williamston. Last year was Asheville. There will be some bigger added money independent open shows in Asheville also, called No Bull.
You shouldn't have any problem finding a place to run. :) |
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