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Advice on trip carrying propane tanks, firearms and ammo

teaser452

teaser452

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So, the move to NC is next week. Destination is Topsail Beach. Am in the process of planning the route. Normally we travel at night and go straight through NYC, Baltimore and it's tunnels and Around the Washington DC beltway.

Now, I have never been pulled over in the dozens and dozens of trips I have taken, but given Murphy and his law, I'm thinking this route won't be appropriate for the things we're carrying. Never mind the firearms and ammo, also concerned about hazmat rules with the propane.

Does anyone know of a good website or App that I can use to build a route so I can spend as little time in NY as possible and NO time in NJ? Also need to navigate around Baltimore and it's tunnels.

Maybe someone who runs around with a camper has some insight into what they use to plan a route avoiding bridges and tunnels that don't allow hazmats.

My google fu seems to be failing me.
 
Well, if the Federales are any help, you still need some alcohol and tobacco. ;)

(Just keeping it on the first page for you. And keep your guns under lock and key and your ammo stored separately and you won't have problems in any state. Well, no problems unless the ossifer wants to be a d-word.)
 
When I visit family in MD I head west into PA, then south. It passes through NY briefly but skips the horrible parts.

On paper it's about an hour longer of a trip, but once you factor traffic it's way shorter and the drive is through rural PA, not urban NY. I find it to be a beautiful drive and I don't have to so much as buy gas in NY.
 
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Use the western route. Mass pike to I-84W to Scranton PA, then I-81
to Harrisburg, PA, to I-83S to Baltimore 695W beltway around the west
side of Baltimore to I-95 south around DC then continue as usual to NC.

Southbound $.50 toll on the mass pike from exit 9-10. Northbound tolls
$1.50 Hudson River Bridge upstate NY and the same $.50 from exit 10-9
on the mass pike.

The route is about 40 miles longer but keeps you in NY a short time. Conn
can't do much about. Keeps you out of NJ and Delaware. Minimal time in
Maryland. Bypasses DC itself. The Traffic is lighter this way to.

Malodave
 
Malodave said:
Use the western route. Mass pike to I-84W to Scranton PA, then I-81
to Harrisburg, PA, to I-83S to Baltimore 695W beltway around the west
side of Baltimore to I-95 south around DC then continue as usual to NC.

Southbound $.50 toll on the mass pike from exit 9-10. Northbound tolls
$1.50 Hudson River Bridge upstate NY and the same $.50 from exit 10-9
on the mass pike.

The route is about 40 miles longer but keeps you in NY a short time. Conn
can't do much about. Keeps you out of NJ and Delaware. Minimal time in
Maryland. Bypasses DC itself. The Traffic is lighter this way to.

Malodave
Click to expand...


I second this route... yes the pike and 84 can get backed up, but as long as you time that part right, then you're fine.
 
I-84 from CT -> NY -> PA is the shortest route through NY. it's just over 70 miles.

then to avoid NJ, I think you have to go into Scranton then take I-476 south towards DE.
 
This will work. The only thing I'll say is that the first exit in New York after you cross from CT is tricky. It's right, I mean right, on the NY/NJ border. If you go one way off that exit you're in NY. Go the other way, and you're in NJ. I only stopped because I needed coffee and a bathroom. I was most unhappy when I realized I was in NJ. Which I only knew because the gas was so much cheaper than just down the road.

PA is very 2A friendly, but MD is not.

Malodave said:
Use the western route. Mass pike to I-84W to Scranton PA, then I-81
to Harrisburg, PA, to I-83S to Baltimore 695W beltway around the west
side of Baltimore to I-95 south around DC then continue as usual to NC.

Southbound $.50 toll on the mass pike from exit 9-10. Northbound tolls
$1.50 Hudson River Bridge upstate NY and the same $.50 from exit 10-9
on the mass pike.

The route is about 40 miles longer but keeps you in NY a short time. Conn
can't do much about. Keeps you out of NJ and Delaware. Minimal time in
Maryland. Bypasses DC itself. The Traffic is lighter this way to.

Malodave
Click to expand...
 
Malodave said:
Use the western route. Mass pike to I-84W to Scranton PA, then I-81
to Harrisburg, PA, to I-83S to Baltimore 695W beltway around the west
side of Baltimore to I-95 south around DC then continue as usual to NC.

Southbound $.50 toll on the mass pike from exit 9-10. Northbound tolls
$1.50 Hudson River Bridge upstate NY and the same $.50 from exit 10-9
on the mass pike.

The route is about 40 miles longer but keeps you in NY a short time. Conn
can't do much about. Keeps you out of NJ and Delaware. Minimal time in
Maryland. Bypasses DC itself. The Traffic is lighter this way to.

Malodave
Click to expand...


This looks like a great route. Except for the DC ring. It's in VA, so that's plus 1 , but hazmat issues? I need to look into that. Thinking about going from Harrisburg PA all the way down to Harrisonburg in VA to completely avoid the DC area. This will be a daytime trip also. I am not familiar with traffic patterns in other parts of VA. I have to think they're far better than The DC ring at rush hour.

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it. I don't wanna be the guy who gets stopped, hits the news with an "arsenal" and have you guys guessing who the NES'rs screen name is.
 
Is the propane in 20-pound portable tanks, or is it in a built-in camper tank? If the former, you might think about selling here and buying new down there.
 
Woodstock said:
Is the propane in 20-pound portable tanks, or is it in a built-in camper tank? If the former, you might think about selling here and buying new down there.
Click to expand...

20 pound tanks, all but one is full. 6 of them. 160-180 bucks roughly. I've thought about it. Even put out feelers to anyone looking for tanks. Haven't found anyone willing to buy.

Ultimately. the vehicle will have a bunch of guns, a bunch of ammo and 6 tanks, and that's it (should make an awesome news article!). Everything else is being shipped seperately. (can't take the chance of putting the propane in the pod. Too much risk, and obviously not the guns or ammo, too much money tied up in them)

Not bringing the propane would help a lot. Just can't bring myself to get rid of them for free.

ETA: just updated my yard sale advert to include propane tanks
 
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I just did this drive. Get to Matamoras, PA and head south from there. You'll spend minimal time in NY this way and bypass NJ completely. To be super safe, go from PA into DE and then VA, which leaves minimal travel through MD. Or look up Hancock, MD - this way you'll only do two miles through MD.
 
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They'll think you're going down to join the militia.

Propane in the tunnels is a no no. I'm also heading south in 2 weeks and am looking for some apps as I'll be towing the trailer.
 
We moved to western SC.

The route I like best traveling back from New England is

Mass Pike all the way to Albany,
87 south to 84
84 west to 81
81 south

this way you avoid 84 in Connecticut, which is a mess.
 
Shire Guy said:
I84 to I81 all the way to VA/NC border, enjoy the mountains and skip all the commie shitholes.
Click to expand...


No question about this route being a nice drive with no traffic delays after getting thru CT. Did it for a trip to Savannah as I had no use for the BS along 95 with a heavy load.
 
I'd do 84→81→64→95, sure it may add extra time/miles but I'd want to stay out of indian country as much as possible. I my mind it doesn't make any sense to be so close to freedom just to get boned by some overzealous douche bag with a badge in MD.

I have an uncle in MD whose jaw damn near hit the floor when he found out both my mother and I have LTCs on our last family get together, even as he held them he had difficulty believing it. I'm not sure if he can CC but IIRC he was able to get whatever permit he has through a "donation" back in the day.
 
I think you're seeing a pattern here... avoid the shortest route through NYC and all the other $hitholes of NJ, Philly, Baltimore and DC at all cost.

I would do I-84 to Scranton, PA, then I-81 south until way into Virginia, then I-64 east to cut over to I-95 south.
You will only have about 50 miles through upstate NY on I-84 and maybe 15 miles through MD on I-81 between PA and WV.

That will add about 160mi and 2hrs according to google versus going that shortest route, but I bet time wise, will be less actual difference.
 
So what would happen if you get stopped in NY just passing through? Depends on the cop stopping you?
 
Propane tanks will get you arrested if you're caught traveling through any of the tunnels or over any of the bridges outside of an escort. Years ago NYC had a hazmat route that had you traveling over the Throgs Neck Bridge, however, they got rid of it and decided that any hazmat that went through the city had to occur before 6:00 am and required an escort by NYFD and a unit of the NYPD ESU.
 
SteelShooter said:
So what would happen if you get stopped in NY just passing through? Depends on the cop stopping you?
Click to expand...
Idk about propane tanks but as fire as firearms are concerned, follow FOPA, keep your mouth shut, and stick to the speed limit.
 
Ok, so we've got our trip route planned out thanks to all of you.

Now, new question that doesn't need a new thread.

We are considering renting a uhaul cargo trailer. (because we have too much crap)

Under FOPA, I can't find anything saying that I CAN'T put the guns and ammo, locked up separately of course, in the trailer. Does anyone have any insights into whether I can put them in there? I could put the guns and ammo in the cab of the truck, but that will be very cramped. May not even fit, frankly.

ETA: We have decided to skip carrying the propane tanks. So, I've got 10 20lb cans, some full. If anyone wants one, some, or all, hit me up and you can pick them up. Free.
 
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You really should search out the legalities of what you are doing instead of asking peoples opinions on the internet.

Wouldn't it suck if you got pulled over and violated some law and the only thing that runs through your head while you are getting ass-raped in prison is that 'Greg on NES said it was cool to do this' ?
 
Greg said:
You really should search out the legalities of what you are doing instead of asking peoples opinions on the internet.

Wouldn't it suck if you got pulled over and violated some law and the only thing that runs through your head while you are getting ass-raped in prison is that 'Greg on NES said it was cool to do this' ?
Click to expand...

Greg, I have read every thing I can find on FOPA. I can't find anything that says you can't carry unloaded guns locked up and ammo locked up in a trailer. I'm really looking for someone who can point me to a place that says I cannot.

It's one of those things about the law. Laws say what you CANNOT do. But FOPA is one of those laws that says what you CAN do. FOPA doesn't seem to specify where you carry the evil guns and killy ammo.

For example, how or where to people who pull campers keep their guns when traveling over state lines?

Again, just looking for someone who has read something or knows of something I haven't.
 
UncleDuke said:
Propane tanks will get you arrested if you're caught traveling through any of the tunnels or over any of the bridges outside of an escort. Years ago NYC had a hazmat route that had you traveling over the Throgs Neck Bridge, however, they got rid of it and decided that any hazmat that went through the city had to occur before 6:00 am and required an escort by NYFD and a unit of the NYPD ESU.
Click to expand...
You can go over the GW bridge with propane on the top level, unless they changed that within the last 10 years or so....
 

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