Interstate 8 from Yuma to San Diego

Drove it many times with our motor home pulling a van. It's a long pull, but just take it easy and put on your flashers if you need to. Most of the trucks crawl up at 35mph or so, and we just fall in line.

DandM-AG wrote:
Hello All,

I was thinking of pulling our 40' fifth wheel west from Yuma to San Diego on I-8. The grade looks like it climbs fast on the map. Does anyone have any experience on the drive? If so, would you recommend taking this route due to this apparent steep grade?

Thanks,
Mark

Did that in the last week, also done it 50's before. Drove it before it was I 8. No problems what so ever. Just watch out for supper doggy, he will smell your goody's and set down it he don't like them at the top of the hill.

Great information, thanks everyone for responding.

Should be an interesting trip!

Mark

No problems with our rig.

If I remember correctly the signage says for the downgrade either max 25 or 35 MPH towed downhill. Depending when you do it, the weather at the top can be ugly but you will be in and out of quickly.

The standard wisdom is to limit your down hill speed to the same as your up hill speed, don't let the speed ramp up on you. Down shift first then exhaust brakes if so equipped then the service brakes.

Stop when you can and check the wheel temperatures. An extremely valuable tool for this and many other purposes is a $15 IR thermometer.

As opposed to driving around, its the best route.

One grade of about a dozen we've found in western US that gives you a chance to burn some carbon off the injectors.

I've put trans in manual 2nd and crawled to the top more than once.

No big deal but you'll know its there.

The steep part is not that bad. It is after the steep part and just a slight incline that goes on for long time I don't care for. Still better than driving around IMO.

DandM-AG wrote:
The grade looks like it climbs fast on the map.

It's a standard interstate that is only about 4000' high with all kinds of vehicles.

Your concern should not be the upgrade unless you have engine cooling issues but the downgrades and your ability to control your speed, ie brakes, tires, etc.

You shouldn't have any problem. Just gear down going up and gear down coming down.

It is a long up hill pull for sure. It all depends on your TV. I have a 2014 F 350 with a 6.7 diesel pulling a 36' travel trailer and it is no problem.