Recently we Google searched for "Motorhome CA 108" to see if this road was okay for our 44 foot (no car) motorhome. The results were mixed as to whether it was advisable or not. We did take the road and thought others might be interested in our experience.We drove East to West from Hwy 395 to Modesto. We had a wonderful time but it could be a wild ride. Consider the following.This road is in very good condition (2013) and I believe it had a center divider line all the way.We have a Suzuki 650 scooter on a rack, no toad. So if need be we could negotiate hairpins with a multi-point turn. This was NOT necessary but a a couple of the turns you will hog the whole road. We also could back down if the 26% grade was not possible to climb (it was easy).We drove on Sunday afternoon and traffic was light; about a dozen cars going each way. We had no problem pulling over pretty quickly when cars were behind. This would MUCH tougher pulling a car as we fit in a 50 foot turnout.We have driven dozens of "one time" roads and they don't freak us out. We drove East to West. Driving West to East would put your passenger on the cliff side going up to the Sonora Pass; a little bit scarier.You need a jake or exhaust brake and will use low gear for a lot of miles going down the east side of the pass.The twisty part of this road is only 24 miles but took us 2 and 1/2 hours. The 26% grade was not a problem for our 400hp Cummins (no car).White-knuckle drivers MUST avoid this road.For more information and photos see http://bigrigbible.com/WeeklyTravelogues/week367.phpHappy Trails

If you would have asked me before you did this I would have been one that said don't do it. And I always tell people that Highway 1 along the coast is doable. I took a 28 foot Class C rental over the Sonora pass years ago and although I made it, I had a number of issues with traffic as there was a lot of it up there when I went over. The road has been improved and widened since I made that trip, but I still wouldn't take my motorhome over it. Not that the motorhome won't do it, but as you pointed out you have to take both lanes on some curves and there can be a lot of traffic up there. Sounds like you lucked out and got a low traffic day.

And just a note for you, you mentioned your motorhome is 44' long so it's actually prohibited on that section of Highway 108. You lucked out by not running into a CHP Officer up there.

It's a good thing the CHP wasn't around. CA Highway Restrictions for coaches >40'

Seen the map for many years but never an actual road sign that says "over 40' prohibited"Plenty of "not recommended"Have I just missed it?

California Hwy CA 108 | Good Sam Community

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Apr 07, 2014
joeymack wrote:
would highway 89 or highway 108 be an easier drive with a 24 foot travel trailer? being pulled with a 2004 GMC Sierra 3500 Duramax Alison combo. heading out in may - from Sonoma county (northern bay area to Bridgeport ca and back.

I am actually considering taking hwy 50 all the way to 395 and back down. the hour more drive almost seems worth it.

may to june time frame. thanks
In that case you could take 20 to 80 to Reno and avoid Sac.
soren
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
supercub wrote:
Like I said in an earlier post I was raised in Twain Harte which is on 108 so spent a lot of time up in the country. One time a pickup pulling a trailer going east to west, was very near the summit......and couldn't make it.........wasn't power.......he was spinning his rear tires.couldn't get enough traction. we were able to latch on to him and get him over the pass. I would not recommend it.....but to each their own. Again, if you've never been over Sonora Pass, do so, it's a beautiful drive........just do it in the correct vehicle
Brian

We have friends who retired to the Twain-Harte area. In 2010 we were in Reno and headed south on 395 to drop in on them. At that point I didn't have a clue as to what I was getting it to. We headed west on 108, with our older Tahoe and 26' travel trailer. Talk about making memories. It was a weekday afternoon, so traffic was nearly nonexistent in either direction. The climb was insane, and I really doubted that I was going to make it. Obviously, it was necessary to take the hairpins at a virtual walking pace. By the time I got straightened out for the next stretch of road, and mashed the throttle, there was literally nothing left to give. Nearly undetectable forward momentum, and no available torque from the old gas engine. There were a few times when the wife asked if we were going to make it, or have to turn around. I answered that I didn't know if we would have enough power to make it to the top, and I don't think turning around is going to be a walk in the park either. Once we cleared the hairpins and extreme grades things improved greatly and we slowly trudged to the summit. The ride was awesome, and our friends and their neighbors found it almost impossible to believe that we had made the trip with that rig.
OmegaMan
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
Definitely 99,70,20 to 49. The 80 is boring. We've been on the 99, 70, 20 many times. The trip from on the 49 to Downieville is really nice. See http://bigrigbible.com/WeeklyTravelogues/week313-314.php
joeymack
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
looks like i'll take the long way 80 to 395 works too.`better safe than sorry.
here's another route I need to take to downieville, from Sonoma county east on 80 during a weekday would you take 99 to 70 , 20 then 49 or just take 80 to 49?
supercub
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
Like I said in an earlier post I was raised in Twain Harte which is on 108 so spent a lot of time up in the country. One time a pickup pulling a trailer going east to west, was very near the summit......and couldn't make it.........wasn't power.......he was spinning his rear tires.couldn't get enough traction. we were able to latch on to him and get him over the pass. I would not recommend it.....but to each their own. Again, if you've never been over Sonora Pass, do so, it's a beautiful drive........just do it in the correct vehicle
Brian
OmegaMan
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
I can't tell you. I took 89 from Lake Alamnor in 2006 at night. All I can remember is that I never wanted to drive at night again!
joeymack
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
would highway 89 or highway 108 be an easier drive with a 24 foot travel trailer? being pulled with a 2004 GMC Sierra 3500 Duramax Alison combo. heading out in may - from Sonoma county (northern bay area to Bridgeport ca and back.

I am actually considering taking hwy 50 all the way to 395 and back down. the hour more drive almost seems worth it.

may to june time frame. thanks
nevadanick
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
There are a couple turns wherea 40 footer will be taking up the majority of the road but there is normally very little traffic to contend with. I can be at the top of Ebbbetts in about 45 min from where i now live and as i said go there often. For me the bicycles are more of a problem than a guy in a 40 ft mh.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Sep 06, 2013
nevadanick wrote:
Ebbetts isnt really one lane, its just not striped. Two vehicles can easily pass by each other on hwy 4. I go up there frequently.

Even if one is a 40 foot motorhome? That is what we're talking about here. I think the reason the center is not striped is because the road needs to be 20' wide to make two lanes. The parts I looked at on Google street view matches my memory and I don't think it's 20' wide.
BigRabbitMan
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
Dolph wrote:
I traded in my 40 foot Monaco Camelot recently. I was concerned about 40' restrictions so I measured the rig, the actual length is 39'6". Short enough to be legal, but long to to have white knuckles.
Length of a coach has both pluses and minuses. A long coach has more room for living, but does have a negative effect on manuverability and ease of traveling roads like 108 and many others. This type of road is one of the reasons that I have the coach I have. At 29' sharp turns are a nonissue and at 8' wide narrow roads aren't either.

I like to go to places that often have these kinds of access roads. It is not for many, many people but some of us like these roads and the places they lead to. And, yes, I have done a five point turn around on a 2 lane mountain road (at a place that I could be seen)!

To OP, good report.

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