Spun motor home on I5

fulltimedaniel wrote:


I grew up nearly at the foot of the Grapevine in San Bernardino where I accompanied my father over the original road in 1960's era tractor trailers. I have driven it many times in my life. The freeway version is nothing compared to what it used to be. And none of that changes the correct procedure for dealing with an emergency like described by the OP.

You mean Ventura County. San Bernardino is a good 80 miles to the east while Ventura County to the west borders the Angeles National Forest which makes it at the foothills of the natural preserve.

To get to San Bernardino you have to traverse the Mojave Desert from where Grapevine is. . . past the former space shuttle landing pad.

Paul Clancy wrote:
The truck traffic on that pass is like nothing I've seen elsewhere.

Just one more follow up and elaborate and I'll stop.

This interstate highway is the the prime access to north and central CA.

Millions of dollars worth of farm produce coming from America's salad bowl in the Central Valley go through this highway every day.

Whenever there is highway closure in this part of town grocery prices go up almost instantly. Looks like grocers are just waiting for this opportunity. lol

Of course we can get farm products from Mexico and Central America but sometimes they run short and quality is not as good.

Yes, freight trucks is like an endless convoy no matter what time of day you drive...and it gets worse when these trucks are on their their way to America's largest harbor in the west coast... in Long Beach CA.

So, if you intend to drive to the South Bay area, it is best to avoid 605 Freeway.

Stay off of the brakes people!

I appreciate the advice on handling blowouts.

After my last trip through the Grapevine, I decided never again. Maybe with a native Angeleno friend who drives for a living, but otherwise, no, I will take the long way around.

I grew up driving mountain freeway passes, but the truck drivers in that one are a new shade of crazy.

On my last trip, coming downhill into town, I had trucks on 3 sides of me. The one in front and to the left were going slow, and the one barrelling up behind me at 70mph got within 6 feet of my tail before the side one passed my rear bumper and it could pull into the passing lane. Scared the cr*p out of me.

Rbertalotto wrote:
Traffic was moving at approx 60 mph in the fog and rain.

There's Part A to the problem right there.

Part B to the problem is tailgating.

Both parts together are an insanely deadly mix - especially if one is towing .... and the last time I checked a big rig's tractor is towing.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Stay off of the brakes people!

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AND, steer,STEER, steer OPPOSITE the force that tries to pull you off your road lane!!!!

I promised to stop but I got steered into this interesting comment.

I think this is another BUM STEER.

Most of these maneuvers were invented in Hollywood by stunt men.

I think you've been watching too many Arnold Swartzenneger movies.

Perfect in front of cameras but not in the Grapevine.

happycamper002 wrote:

fulltimedaniel wrote:


I grew up nearly at the foot of the Grapevine in San Bernardino where I accompanied my father over the original road in 1960's era tractor trailers. I have driven it many times in my life. The freeway version is nothing compared to what it used to be. And none of that changes the correct procedure for dealing with an emergency like described by the OP.

You mean Ventura County. San Bernardino is a good 80 miles to the east while Ventura County to the west borders the Angeles National Forest which makes it at the foothills of the natural preserve.

To get to San Bernardino you have to traverse the Mojave Desert from where Grapevine is. . . past the former space shuttle landing pad.

Actually I meant what I wrote. There are many folks here who have no idea of the geography of that area there is no reason to bore them with the details. It's close enough to say "nearly" at the foot....

It would be interesting to know what a lot of these posters will do when it happens to them. It is easy to armchair dissect other peoples accidents.
That said a lot of people are not qualified to drive these big rigs.

fulltimedaniel wrote:


Actually I meant what I wrote. There are many folks here who have no idea of the geography of that area there is no reason to bore them with the details. It's close enough to say "nearly" at the foot....

Actually many RVers would get lost if they followed your directions.

So,it won't be boring for them.