395 North Barstow to Tahoe under 460 V8 power

Yes, I was referring to the "tow rating" of your mh....not your GCVWR. The tow rating is based upon several things including the amount of overhang from axle to bumper, rear end ratio, and most importantly, the hitch itself. If your coach is rated for 5000 lbs (max, I think for ANY gasser), you should be ok. Engine and trans may get hot going up Swerwin, Conway, and Hwy 50....but I'm sure very doable if you take precautions.

Have a great trip.

Ron

Geocritter wrote:

lanerd wrote:
Actually 395 doesn't go through Barstow. You will have to take 58 west out of Barstow over to Cramer Jct. (4-corners) and then north on 395.

There are two pretty steep grades you'll have to climb. One right out of Bishop (Sherwin's Grade) and the other just north of Mono Lake (can't remember the name). Sherwin's is about 5-6 miles long and probably at least 6%. Other is also about 6%, but not as long. Other than those two, should be fairly easy sailing for you.

However, not to be argumentative, but I've never know any gasser motorhome that has a larger than 5000 towing capacity and most only have a 3500 capacity. A Caravan and tow dolly has to be real close to or over 5000 lbs. Going up those long grades you might expect overheating problems as in September, the daytime temps will probably still be in the high 80's to low 90's. Sherwin's grade does have radiator water available in a couple of turn outs...just in case.

I agree tho, that this drive is one of the best in California; we go up/down it at least twice a year and each time marvel at its beauty. There is a fairly decent rv park in Lone Pine (Boulder Creek), two in Bishop, one (plus campgrounds) in Mammoth, Lee Vining and Gardnerville, so you shouldn't have any problems finding places to stay overnight if you want.

Good Luck

Ron

Hi Ron,
Thank you for expressing your concerns regarding vehicle weight (or overweight). To lay that matter to rest here are my rigs specs.:
Dodge Caravan, base model, curb weight is 4154 lbs (I have the base model).
Specs.= http://www.allpar.com/model/m/specs-2005.html
Tow Master tow dolly, Model 77T weighs 450 lbs + weight of optional electric brakes @ 200 lbs = approx. 470 lbs
Specs. = http://www.mastertow.com/tow_dollies.html
So the entire Toad package has a total weight of 4,624 lbs.
According to the nearly useless owners manual:
UVW = 13,898
GVWR =17,000
GCWR = 25,000
Assuming I’m prudent with the gear and water etc that I haul and keep it under the GVWR of 17,000 lbs (like I should anyhow) I have 8,000 lbs maximum load I can tow.
Like I said, I’ve been researching this matter for a while.

Steve

PS If I'm missing something or overlooking or misunderstanding anything I'd be delighted to learn what it might be, after all I'm not an engineer but rather simply a humble geologist.

Steve, two things...I would weigh the van and trailer myself...sometimes printed documents aren't exactly correct. Second, I think Ron was alerting you to check the weight restrictions on your rig. It should either be in your documentation or on the hitch itself. Remember the adage is that your weight rating is only as high as the weakest link....everything else has been mentioned....we had an 84 Pace Arrow gasser/454 Chev and it struggled up the grades but made it anyway.

Sorry to hear of the loss of your wife.....Dennis

IIRC Sherwin is signed at 7%. Might slow you a bit so watch the temp gauge and enjoy the ride.

My friend has a gas coach 34 foot and tows a Saturn car. He has a V-10 Ford engine. He disconnects the toad to make the climb. He likes to camp at Convict Lake.

We travel 395 from I-15 regularly with a DP with a 330 CAT towing a Nissan XTerra (weighs 4,000lbs+). From Bishop you will start to climb over the Sierras from 5,000 feet at Bishop to over 8,200 feet at Conway Pass. It is a gradual climb out of Bishop but the climb out of Mono Lake to the top of Conway Pass is steep and is 4 lane but you will not have a problem. As you start the climb out of Mono Lake there is a long approach which will allow you to gain some speed and you should take advantage of that. Fill up your rig in Bishop as there isn't any fuel stop until you get past the climb and the first town will be Bridgeport, CA. Fuel in Bridgeport is the highest on 395. Enjoy your trip.

96Bounder30E, "America is my home!" That's how I feel too. Because of my Dad's drinking and subsequent employment problems, I grew up living all over the place. As a result there is no place in the country I view as "home". However, whenever I travel overseas I'm always so happy to be back home in America!

Your advice about disconnecting the toad is a good one, however my dear wife of nearly 38 years passed away from cancer two years ago, so on this trip it'll just be me. There is a chance my daughter may accompany me up 395, if so I'll probably follow your advice.

Steve

As mountain driving goes the route you have chosen would be one of the easiest. I think the steepest grade you'll encounter is on Highway 50 going up to Tahoe, but it's doable and is four-lane freeway most of the way. You'll see a shortcut on the map called Kingsbury Grade. Don't take it, it is very steep and two lanes. Go on down and take 50. Or you could take 89 too, but it's two lanes with steeper grades. If I was doing that trip in the motorhome I'd stick with Highway 50.

I have a 30" bounder powered by the 460 and tow a Saturn Vue......We did the trip to Tahoe in 2012 from Southern California......knowing what I know now.......there are 2 things I would do different driving the 395 route....


Between Bishop and Mammoth I would unhook my tow vehicle and let my wife drive the Vue......

We took the 395 to Carson City and then took the 50 to Lake Tahoe......I would also have my wife drive the tow car along this stretch......


Other than those to changes........the trip from So-Cal to Tahoe is fantastic compared tot he 99 or the 5........

Golden_HVAC wrote:

My suggestion is that if you have not changed the transmission fluid in the past 10,000 miles, change it sometime before the trip, then it will be fresh.

Also consider changing out the brake fluid. It should be replaced every 6-7 years, because it absorbs moisture, and if the brakes get hot, that moisture can change to steam, - non-compressable, and you can loose the braking ability.

Fred.

Fred,
Thank you for your input. When it finally cools off down here in October I’m going to replace all the fluids. I intend to use Mobil 1 Synthetic in the engine and a synthetic lubricant in the transmission. I plan to change out the DOT 3 brake fluid for DOT 5.1 since it has a much higher boil point, even wet (my brother had RV brake problems due to old wet brake fluid). I’m going to do a bunch of other preventive maintenance (tune-up, hoses, shocks, brakes) with the ultimate goal being that I get relatively trouble free use out of the motorhome for the next 5 years or 25,000 miles.

The more I read about the Banks system the more interesting it becomes. However, I may put off my decision to install one until next year, after I complete a 5,000 mile loop encompassing TX, OR, WA, ID, MT, WY SD (for pheasant hunting) and then back to either TX NM or AZ for the winter. That way I can determine if what I have is adequate for my needs or should I install the Banks system.

However, after saying that I may attempt to search out a second-hand Banks exhaust system, after all they are stainless steel and should last a long long time.

Steve

lanerd wrote:
Actually 395 doesn't go through Barstow. You will have to take 58 west out of Barstow over to Cramer Jct. (4-corners) and then north on 395.

There are two pretty steep grades you'll have to climb. One right out of Bishop (Sherwin's Grade) and the other just north of Mono Lake (can't remember the name). Sherwin's is about 5-6 miles long and probably at least 6%. Other is also about 6%, but not as long. Other than those two, should be fairly easy sailing for you.

However, not to be argumentative, but I've never know any gasser motorhome that has a larger than 5000 towing capacity and most only have a 3500 capacity. A Caravan and tow dolly has to be real close to or over 5000 lbs. Going up those long grades you might expect overheating problems as in September, the daytime temps will probably still be in the high 80's to low 90's. Sherwin's grade does have radiator water available in a couple of turn outs...just in case.

I agree tho, that this drive is one of the best in California; we go up/down it at least twice a year and each time marvel at its beauty. There is a fairly decent rv park in Lone Pine (Boulder Creek), two in Bishop, one (plus campgrounds) in Mammoth, Lee Vining and Gardnerville, so you shouldn't have any problems finding places to stay overnight if you want.

Good Luck

Ron

Hi Ron,
Thank you for expressing your concerns regarding vehicle weight (or overweight). To lay that matter to rest here are my rigs specs.:
Dodge Caravan, base model, curb weight is 4154 lbs (I have the base model).
Specs.= http://www.allpar.com/model/m/specs-2005.html
Tow Master tow dolly, Model 77T weighs 450 lbs + weight of optional electric brakes @ 200 lbs = approx. 470 lbs
Specs. = http://www.mastertow.com/tow_dollies.html
So the entire Toad package has a total weight of 4,624 lbs.
According to the nearly useless owners manual:
UVW = 13,898
GVWR =17,000
GCWR = 25,000
Assuming I’m prudent with the gear and water etc that I haul and keep it under the GVWR of 17,000 lbs (like I should anyhow) I have 8,000 lbs maximum load I can tow.
Like I said, I’ve been researching this matter for a while.

Steve

PS If I'm missing something or overlooking or misunderstanding anything I'd be delighted to learn what it might be, after all I'm not an engineer but rather simply a humble geologist.