Houston to Palm Springs & I 10 road grades?

Kayteg1 wrote:

lc0338 wrote:
clicky

Nice site, but I found it a bit misleading.
Put San Francisco -Las Vegas route on it and beside grades past Bakersfield it shows it easy.
Bakersfield grade is 17 miles 6% average.
Than you have Baker grade, what is about 5%, but then about 30 miles long. You will notice lot of car fire marks on side of those freeways.

The route does show sections of grade over 5% (yellow color). The green is less than 5% grade. Yellow is 5 - 10% grade. I do not see that misleading???

Take the bypass south of Phoenix by taking 8 and then cutting across. I can't remember the number but it is marked and a great road. Saves time and hassle of Phoenix. I don't recall any real grade issues.

You'll experience some traffic through El Paso, some wind, sometimes a lot, through New Mexico as you come into Lordsburg. There is a large pull just before Tucson. You'll undoubtedly will run into traffic coming through the Phoenix area even with using the bypass. Finally, you'll encounter a huge 15 mile downhill just before Indio. Since it's downhill you shouldn't have an overheating problem.

Here's my take..even though you didn't ask...I-10 is a pretty easy forgiving road coming east to west. That said, you're coming with a 'broken' coach. There are huge chunks of that road where there is nothing but tumbleweeds, lizards and the occasional buzzard. Is this someplace you want to be if your coach decides it's had enough:h:h. I'd get it fixed before I head out. I guarantee getting it fixed first will be less time consuming than if you break down in the middle of the desert and have to get towed and then get it fixed to get home. How lucky do you feel.:h:h:h......Dennis

lc0338 wrote:
clicky

Nice site, but I found it a bit misleading.
Put San Francisco -Las Vegas route on it and beside grades past Bakersfield it shows it easy.
Bakersfield grade is 17 miles 6% average.
Than you have Baker grade, what is about 5%, but then about 30 miles long. You will notice lot of car fire marks on side of those freeways.

Livingthedream.... maybe before you leave, you can give the radiator a good cleaning with Simple Green and a water hose. Is your Pace Arrow a gas or diesel?

Also, on some fans, you can pull a pin or on some, you can pull a fuse to keep the fan going all the time. Maybe a tech guy will jump in to let you know if you have that option.

We have taken the I-10 to Palm Springs many times connecting from the I-20..... just don't recall many steep grades from that point on. There are a few small climbs between Phoenix and Blythe (at the California border). Just as you get into California, there is an inspection station. Most of the time they will wave you through.

Good luck,
MM.

I did not travel this direct route, but know California, Nevada and Arizona a bit and those are not areas where you want to go with malfunctioning cooling system. Lot of 20+ miles long grades. Beside grades you can also experience strong winds.
Get the coach fixed.

.