My husband and I are new to RV Ownership, quite by accident. We love it so far. After a few trips in our used 35 foot motor home, we finally ventured outside of our home county. Google maps took us on the fastest route to Pinecrest Lake, which included the Sonora Pass. As the navigator, I took the blame for choosing the route. But honestly, as a newbie, how would I know about the 15% to 26% grade? The signs only said 15% grade and big trucks use low gears. That's not exactly a blinking red flag. In any case, there was no traffic, we took it very slowly, 1st gear, 14 miles per hour. My husband was pissed, I thought it was beautiful and felt less anxious. We made it, but we could smell the breaks overworking for 40 minutes. The road is newly paved. Of course, neither of us will ever repeat it. It was scary. Are there any other roads we should avoid? I didn't even know about this forum before now. Thanks!

Wow, Sonora Pass...good initiation to the RV World. The rest will Easy Peasy.We all learn as we go, this a good forum to ask questions before, during and after travel.Welcome Aboard,Travelon

Been there and done that and never will again.My problem was I was towing my Jeep and was alone, if I had my wife I could have unhooked Jeep and her drive it and helped out the motorhome, yes my front brakes to were hot and at times I was down to 15 to 20 mph in 1st gear gas pedal to the floor..Never again, took 5 years off my life..But at least I can say I did it... :W

TomTom taking me down a 13% grade in the Catskills taught me that lesson early on. Get a trucker's atlas and use it to check any route the GPS gives you.Also, Google Earth has a profile feature. Set a route and right click on the blue line. It brings up the route profile. Looks like this.

suggest you pick up a copy of the Trucker’s Mountain Directory. it comes in two volumes, east and west. there are print and digital versions. welcome to RVing! Mountain Directory

Beginner RV Owners and the Sonora Pass | Good Sam Community

cruzbill
Explorer
Aug 23, 2019
Priest grade (new) is on hwy 120 to Yosemite. It's not the grade, but the turns, you'll have to slow down to make the turns. At the top is the little town of Groveland, nice rest area for the rig (city park), next door is a pizza/sandwich shop (better than most) and a grocery store (good sandwiches at the deli). Last stop befor Yosemite.
FireGuard
Explorer II
Aug 22, 2019
Those are all great roads. On a motorcycle. Lol
Don’t think it would be much fun with a big MH.
Priest grade is steep but not very long. It’s in the gold country near Yosemite.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Aug 22, 2019
If you are ever in UT or CO and hear the words "Million Dollar Highway" be sure to turn left or right to avoid that route!
cruzbill
Explorer
Aug 22, 2019
LaurenBrianRV, Try it from the west (Sonora) next time!
Groover
Explorer II
Aug 22, 2019
A little off topic but do you know how tall your RV is? You might find that to be a very handy bit of information from time to time.
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Aug 20, 2019
Hello Lauren, welcome to the Forums and it sounds like you two have jumped into it with both feet. Congratulations.

Here is a little post that I found regarding grades on the I?S Hwy system.

Enjoy
smarty
Explorer II
Aug 20, 2019
Wolf Creek Pass, CO
maddog348
Explorer
Aug 20, 2019
Bravo you are on your way

#2 don't trust GPS
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Aug 20, 2019
rk911 wrote:
suggest you pick up a copy of the Trucker’s Mountain Directory. it comes in two volumes, east and west. there are print and digital versions.

welcome to RVing!

Mountain Directory

X2^^. I use it all the time!

Rob
time2roll
Nomad
Aug 20, 2019
There is Ebbitts pass on CA4 to avoid 24%
Whitney Portal road 9%
Nine Mile Canyon Road 10%
Death Valley 8%

Most interstates are 6% or less. Some 7% in CO.

But dang if you made Sonora the rest is pretty easy.