Trans-Labrador highway

[pstyer]

Has anybody driven the Trans-Labrador Highway with their Escape trailer?
We're considering it returning from Newfoundland in a few weeks.
What precautions should we take before starting?

Thanks in advance,
Peter Styer
Frewsburg, NY

[cpaharley2008]

Over on FGRV there are several threads on visiting Newfoundland and their travels there.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by pstyer

Has anybody driven the Trans-Labrador Highway with their Escape trailer?
We're considering it returning from Newfoundland in a few weeks.
What precautions should we take before starting?

Thanks in advance,
Peter Styer
Frewsburg, NY

Hi: pstyer... The term "Highway" should be loosely accepted, though I have never driven it!!!
Some "Lingo lessons" might be helpful. "Stay where 'ur at and I'll come where 'ur too"!!! If you get to Niagara Wine Escape in Sept I'll be all ears. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[steve dunham]

The Canadian definition of gravel such as in “gravel road “ is any rock smaller than your head
At least that what I was told by multiple Canadians
After driving the 100 Km to Pickel Lake in Ontario I tend to agree

[Ian and Sue]

Originally Posted by pstyer

Has anybody driven the Trans-Labrador Highway with their Escape trailer?
We're considering it returning from Newfoundland in a few weeks.
What precautions should we take before starting?

Thanks in advance,
Peter Styer
Frewsburg, NY

My mother and step father did it in their truck camper....the "gravel" is very sharp. They got a flat in their Load range B truck tire. They saw many trailers with flats....bring extra spares(note the S)....not many services on the way.....oh and the bugs....great when they got there but not so great getting there!

[Fournier]

i am from norft shore of quebec, and i know this road, for me i wont never use it with trailer,

if you go , you need some spare tire for your truck ,,,and trailer.

i want sometime in NFLD but i use boat to south sidney to port au basque.

[Doug2000]

From some travel blogs I have read in the past about this road and some long distance towing I have done in the US, I would advise against any towing that is not on pavement with our trailers. My advise, stick to the pavement.

If you go, take many spares as others have noted, and expect a broken winsheild from the transport passing you giving you a gravel shower.

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by Ian and Sue

My mother and step father did it in their truck camper....the "gravel" is very sharp. They got a flat in their Load range B truck tire. They saw many trailers with flats....bring extra spares(note the S)....not many services on the way.....oh and the bugs....great when they got there but not so great getting there!

One good thing is that the thick coating of dead bugs on the front of your Escape will help protect the fiberglass from damage from the gravel roads.

[MyronL]

We drove north in a station wagon from the ferry at Port o' Basque to way up as far as the unpaved roads began to make us nervous and to an obscure lobster fishing village. Wonderful experience. Like being back in another century. I wouldn't take my trailer on that without plenty of emergency supplies.

But that was back in the 1970's. Must admit --a tad amazed to learn there's unpaved roads in Newfoundland today.

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by MyronL

...But that was back in the 1970's. Must admit --a tad amazed to learn there's unpaved roads in Newfoundland today.

There are still unpaved roads in many parts of Canada.

[steve dunham]

There are still unpaved roads in many parts of the US
In our county they have torn up old asphalt roads and turned them back into gravel roads due to cuts in state funding , In many cases the gravel roads are smoother than the paved ones

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by Dave Walter

There are still unpaved roads in many parts of Canada.

The farm to market road system in Iowa is still pretty much alive and well. I believe that with some creative routing I could drive the 300 miles across the state, still all on gravel. We do have some of the highest quality road and concrete limestone in the United States. Really good motor patrol operators are getting more scarce now. Who’s drive 70 mph on the gravel when you were young and dumb? Raise your texting thumb.
Iowa Dave

[pstyer]

Just finished the Trans-Labrador highway!!!
It was an experience! I have never seen so much undeveloped country in my life. In one area we drove 250 miles without seeing any type of development. The country side rolls on forever. A green carpet of spruce, birch and alder bushes.

In preparation for the gravel roads, I made one modification to the trailer. I added mudflaps to protect the front corners from rock chips. I'll add a picture.

Here's the break down of the road conditions.
1. Blac-Sablon QC to Red Bay, NL - 50 mi (80 KM) Paved asphalt in extremely poor condition. Large potholes and construction. Average speed was 20 - 25 miles per hour.
2. Red Bay, NL to Marys Harbor - 50 mi (80 KM) Brand new pavement. Absolutely smooth. Average speed 60 mph.
3. Marys Harbor to Goose Bay. 275 mi (456 KM) Gravel road except for the last 50 mi. (80 Km). Most of the road was dry and dusty. Some sections were rough but most were very passable. Average speed was 32 mph. The last 50 miles was new pavement and very smooth.
4. Goose Bay to Labrador City - 326 mi, (543 Km) Paved highway in very good to excellent condition. Average speeds were between 55 MPH and 60 MPH.

Problems we encountered:
Twice we were alerted to liquids draining out of the trailer. The small handle of the drain on the fresh water tank sits behind the wheels of the trailer. Rocks being thrown up were opening the valve and letting the water drain. I used a small piece of pool noodle and lots of tape to protect the valve and that solved the problem.

This afternoon, we discovered the outer glass on the window mounted in the door was cracked in a thousand places. (See Picture) It could not have been from a rock as we never passed any trucks that were throwing rocks. I believe it may have been stressed on one of the large potholes in the first section of highway. I will probably never know. I contacted ETI concerning a replacement.

Peter Styer
Frewsburg, NY

[cpaharley2008]

That door sort of looks cool now, like antique glass.....

[Iowa Dave]

Hey Peter
If you don’t make yourself a unique decal indicating this journey you’re missing the boat. I’m envious and can’t wait for the in person report.
Iowa Dave

[skiman]

Originally Posted by pstyer

Just finished the Trans-Labrador highway!!!
It was an experience! I have never seen so much undeveloped country in my life. In one area we drove 250 miles without seeing any type of development. The country side rolls on forever. A green carpet of spruce, birch and alder bushes.

In preparation for the gravel roads, I made one modification to the trailer. I added mudflaps to protect the front corners from rock chips. I'll add a picture.

Here's the break down of the road conditions.
1. Blac-Sablon QC to Red Bay, NL - 50 mi (80 KM) Paved asphalt in extremely poor condition. Large potholes and construction. Average speed was 20 - 25 miles per hour.
2. Red Bay, NL to Marys Harbor - 50 mi (80 KM) Brand new pavement. Absolutely smooth. Average speed 60 mph.
3. Marys Harbor to Goose Bay. 275 mi (456 KM) Gravel road except for the last 50 mi. (80 Km). Most of the road was dry and dusty. Some sections were rough but most were very passable. Average speed was 32 mph. The last 50 miles was new pavement and very smooth.
4. Goose Bay to Labrador City - 326 mi, (543 Km) Paved highway in very good to excellent condition. Average speeds were between 55 MPH and 60 MPH.

Problems we encountered:
Twice we were alerted to liquids draining out of the trailer. The small handle of the drain on the fresh water tank sits behind the wheels of the trailer. Rocks being thrown up were opening the valve and letting the water drain. I used a small piece of pool noodle and lots of tape to protect the valve and that solved the problem.

This afternoon, we discovered the outer glass on the window mounted in the door was cracked in a thousand places. (See Picture) It could not have been from a rock as we never passed any trucks that were throwing rocks. I believe it may have been stressed on one of the large potholes in the first section of highway. I will probably never know. I contacted ETI concerning a replacement.

Peter Styer
Frewsburg, NY

Did the mud flaps work?

[Ron in BC]

Wow, that's impressive. Didn't even know that road was there. Talk about being off the beaten track.

Ron

[Viajante]

You didn't pass trucks throwing rocks. Different than driving to Alaska. What was the truck traffic like? And did you need spare tires?

Congratulations on making the trip!

[sunrisetrucker]

Originally Posted by pstyer

Just finished the Trans-Labrador highway!!!
It was an experience! I have never seen so much undeveloped country in my life. In one area we drove 250 miles without seeing any type of development. The country side rolls on forever. A green carpet of spruce, birch and alder bushes.

In preparation for the gravel roads, I made one modification to the trailer. I added mudflaps to protect the front corners from rock chips. I'll add a picture.

Here's the break down of the road conditions.
1. Blac-Sablon QC to Red Bay, NL - 50 mi (80 KM) Paved asphalt in extremely poor condition. Large potholes and construction. Average speed was 20 - 25 miles per hour.
2. Red Bay, NL to Marys Harbor - 50 mi (80 KM) Brand new pavement. Absolutely smooth. Average speed 60 mph.
3. Marys Harbor to Goose Bay. 275 mi (456 KM) Gravel road except for the last 50 mi. (80 Km). Most of the road was dry and dusty. Some sections were rough but most were very passable. Average speed was 32 mph. The last 50 miles was new pavement and very smooth.
4. Goose Bay to Labrador City - 326 mi, (543 Km) Paved highway in very good to excellent condition. Average speeds were between 55 MPH and 60 MPH.

Problems we encountered:
Twice we were alerted to liquids draining out of the trailer. The small handle of the drain on the fresh water tank sits behind the wheels of the trailer. Rocks being thrown up were opening the valve and letting the water drain. I used a small piece of pool noodle and lots of tape to protect the valve and that solved the problem.

This afternoon, we discovered the outer glass on the window mounted in the door was cracked in a thousand places. (See Picture) It could not have been from a rock as we never passed any trucks that were throwing rocks. I believe it may have been stressed on one of the large potholes in the first section of highway. I will probably never know. I contacted ETI concerning a replacement.

Peter Styer
Frewsburg, NY

Did you need to bring extra gas?

[rbryan4]

Wow, quite the epic trip! Had only a vague idea of that area so I mapped it.