A friend of mine was telling me that driving East on I-40 into Flagstaff is a long and steep drive. That I will be down to 35 mph at times. I was also told the same about Grants Pass in I-5 going into Oregon. I pulled Grants Pass pulling a 22 foot sail boat at 55 mph. Is this true? Would it be as going south on I-5 from Bakersfield. Is there a place where you can read about some of the grades of the freeways of the US? What passes should I avoid in a 30 foot gas powered class A pulling a small car? I have driven I-80 and I-50 to Reno, and have found them not to be all that bad. Just to many idiots on the road thinking they are on a race track.

Because it's an interstate it's limited to 6%. I have driven that stretch many times. You should have no problems.

sch911 wrote:Because it's an interstate it's limited to 6%. I have driven that stretch many times. You should have no problems.Speed really isn't all that important so sit back and enjoy the ride. You will still get to the top, just a couple of minutes behind others.

bluwtr49 wrote:sch911 wrote:Because it's an interstate it's limited to 6%. I have driven that stretch many times. You should have no problems.Speed really isn't all that important so sit back and enjoy the ride. You will still get to the top, just a couple of minutes behind others.I agree with bluwtr49, and being an interstate, there are plenty of lanes to pull over and enjoy the ride/views, even if it slows these big rigs down.I pull a loaded 40ft 5th wheel ToyBox, and just last month traveled I-5 thru the Siskiyou mountain range past Grants Pass into Roseburg Oregon. Even with some construction going on, it was no sweat. Have also pulled 1-40 into Flagstaff. No problem. The long pull is I-40 heading west of Needles Calif. Now that is one long pull. But plenty of lanes to accommodate all.You wont have any problem.

Grants Pass I found the winding road more of an issue than the grade! We just ran the 40 from Barstow to OKC a couple years back no problem with 36' gasser in signature.

As others indicated....no problem. I would not call it steep. It's a long slow incline. The difference between Flagstaff and Grants Pass area is that you're at a higher elevation. Flagstaff is nearly 7000 feet.

Pulling I-40 | Good Sam Community

Executive45
Explorer III
Oct 03, 2014
Since you're coming from California....:W....if you really want a treat, stop at the top of the hill at Supai and HIKE to the Supai village or take the mules down. Beautiful trip, but strenuous if you're hiking. The village has three waterfalls. The middle one allows you to hike right behind the falls about half way up. Water is clear and beautiful. They have small cabins for rent now, which they didn't have years ago when I did the hike. We left the coach up top and slept in tents, under the stars.....Dennis
Executive45
Explorer III
Oct 03, 2014
Janss wrote:
Dennis, the OP is coming the opposite direction...from California.

DUH....:S:S:S:S...reading comprehension.....:B...my bad...Dennis
nazpaz
Explorer
Oct 03, 2014
Just so happens that I drove that the other day. F350 and 34' 5ver. If you drive across 58 from Bakersfield to Barstow you'll be on all good 4 lane highway. The pull up from Bakersfield to Tehechapi is pretty steep but definitely doable. Our clutch fan was wound up all the way from about half way up to the top. It's a 15 mile pull.

Once you get into AZ there are a couple of fairly good tows on I40, but at 6% or less none are major league.

Be sure to fill up at Barstow and not around Needles - then, once you get into AZ prices drop considerably.
Two_Hands
Explorer
Oct 03, 2014
Get the Mountain Directory West and you can find out about all the passes and grades on your route. There is also a Mountain Directory East.
Janss
Explorer II
Oct 03, 2014
Dennis, the OP is coming the opposite direction...from California.
Executive45
Explorer III
Oct 03, 2014
Stop worrying about it and get r dun !....you'll wonder why you were fussin'... it's an easy drive. Stop in Holbrook, (KOA) then toad it over to the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert. Go into the Petrified Forest SOUTH end and you'll traverse the Park and come out on the NORTH end which is the south end of the Painted Desert. If you have the time, a day trip to Four Corners is interesting. You can be in four states at the same time. While in Holbrook, see the Wigwam Motel in downtown Holbrook, (CARS fame). Ask to see inside one of the TeePees. Stop at Meteor Crater for an interesting stop. Stand on the corner in Winslow AZ, (Eagles song) then into Flagstaff......Dennis
Not_a_Yurt_
Explorer
Oct 03, 2014
We've pulled our 2005 Honda Element from pillar to post behind our 32' Winnebago Adventurer with a gasoline Chevy 454 without any problems. Your speed up and down long grades is more a matter of your attitude and patience than your coach's horsepower or torque.

Let the cruise control take care of things on the uphill stretches and don't fret the high engine rpm's (as the engine is designed for that). Downshift to the lowest gear on the steep downward slopes and appreciate that you are driving safely. Take it slow. This is not a race.

And don't ride the brakes downhill. Let the engine do the braking and apply brakes intermittently only as needed. My DW says, "Don't worry about the people behind you. You're doing them a favor by slowing them down!"

Good luck in your travels!
DSDP_Don
Explorer
Oct 02, 2014
It's no worse than Grants Pass in Oregon, maybe even easier.
rvten
Explorer
Oct 02, 2014
You will not be the only one at a lower speed. Maybe your friend did not know how to handle the grade.
Janss
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2014
As others indicated....no problem. I would not call it steep. It's a long slow incline. The difference between Flagstaff and Grants Pass area is that you're at a higher elevation. Flagstaff is nearly 7000 feet.