Another route question, Hwy 58 Oregon

[Geocritter]

Hi again all y’all,

Tomorrow I’m taking Hwy 58 across a N-S trending mountainous area over to I-5 in Eugene. I’ve spent the last month in Chiloquin OR, so a few weeks ago I drove my car up Hwy 58 to Willamette Pass, the one mountain pass I could find mapped. The pass is just west of the Odell Lake area. I was pretty satisfied I’d have no problems and then a person told me that the road had much more topography further west. Now I’m a little spooked.

Sorry I’m being so needy, however like I’ve said in past questions, this is a 5,000 mile shake-down journey and so I’m trying to be as careful as possible choosing routes that won’t unduly burden my 20 year old rig and its 66 year old driver too much.

Sometimes my journey reminds me of the guy who jumped from the top of a tall building. Half-ways down someone shouts from a window. “HOW'RE YOU DOING?”
The man gives the thumbs up and shouts back. "SO FAR SO GOOD!"

Thanks
Steve

[Geocritter]

D.E.Bishop wrote:
Steve,

I think you have learned that slow and steady down just like up is the best way. Gear down or coast a little brake a little but don't go fast down. We did Wolf Creek Pass in CO this spring in our rig. On our first try it was snowing too hard so we went back to the campground and waited for the next day which was bright and sunny. Oh yeah, over 10,800 feet. Our rig is a Chevy powered 25 year old with a 74 yo driver. It has about 70K miles on it and is doing okay. We have done Bear Tooth Pass and thought that was fun, not at all scary. Here is a link with some pic of that pass, it is over 10900 feet.

The only time I have hot brakes was coming down off the BRP on a detour. Hindsight being 20-20, I should have disconnected the towed first. Slow down to the point that you can smell the roses, or at least look for them. It'll become second nature to you.

I remember Bear Tooth Pass very well. I'm a geologist and did my summer field studies out of Red Lodge, Montana. The schools facility in Red Lodge was right off the road leading to Bear Tooth Pass. I can still remember looking down on old wrecked cars among the trees off the side of the road.

[D_E_Bishop]

Steve,

I think you have learned that slow and steady down just like up is the best way. Gear down or coast a little brake a little but don't go fast down. We did Wolf Creek Pass in CO this spring in our rig. On our first try it was snowing too hard so we went back to the campground and waited for the next day which was bright and sunny. Oh yeah, over 10,800 feet. Our rig is a Chevy powered 25 year old with a 74 yo driver. It has about 70K miles on it and is doing okay. We have done Bear Tooth Pass and thought that was fun, not at all scary. Here is a link with some pic of that pass, it is over 10900 feet.

The only time I have hot brakes was coming down off the BRP on a detour. Hindsight being 20-20, I should have disconnected the towed first. Slow down to the point that you can smell the roses, or at least look for them. It'll become second nature to you.

[paulj]

The good downhill gear is the one that lets me drive with the least use of either the brakes or the gas. In other words, it should be low enough that I don't have to use the brakes much at all, but not so low that I have to give it gas all the time.

[J_herb]

Geocritter wrote:

J herb wrote:

Geocritter wrote:
Hi all y'all, well I drove Hwy 58 today. No trouble going uphill but I did get my brakes pretty hot going downhill between the summit and Oakridge. I finally pulled over for a little while to let things cool down. I became aware of it when my tire monitors started beeping telling me the tires were too hot. Sure enough, when I stopped there was smoke coming out of one of my brake assembly's. This Grand Western North America Tour and shake-down journey sure has been a learning experience!

Steve

Steve, use the lower gears to keep the speed down and save the brakes.

Yes, I'm learning. Yesterday I thought just taking it out of overdrive would do the trick, but I was wrong. Fortunately, by the time I realized the problem, I was nearly at the end of the steepest parts. Next time I'll know, I also purchased an e-book (unfortunately, after the fact) titled Mountain Directory West which gives a run-down of the different grades to expect on the different routes. I've since looked it over and expect it to be very helpful in the future.

Steve

Steve, glad that you got it figured out, a little slower is better for you and your RV. Lower gears and some braking to keep the speed down is good, have a good trip. Jay

[Geocritter]

J herb wrote:

Geocritter wrote:
Hi all y'all, well I drove Hwy 58 today. No trouble going uphill but I did get my brakes pretty hot going downhill between the summit and Oakridge. I finally pulled over for a little while to let things cool down. I became aware of it when my tire monitors started beeping telling me the tires were too hot. Sure enough, when I stopped there was smoke coming out of one of my brake assembly's. This Grand Western North America Tour and shake-down journey sure has been a learning experience!

Steve

Steve, use the lower gears to keep the speed down and save the brakes.

Yes, I'm learning. Yesterday I thought just taking it out of overdrive would do the trick, but I was wrong. Fortunately, by the time I realized the problem, I was nearly at the end of the steepest parts. Next time I'll know, I also purchased an e-book (unfortunately, after the fact) titled Mountain Directory West which gives a run-down of the different grades to expect on the different routes. I've since looked it over and expect it to be very helpful in the future.

Steve

[J_herb]

Geocritter wrote:
Hi all y'all, well I drove Hwy 58 today. No trouble going uphill but I did get my brakes pretty hot going downhill between the summit and Oakridge. I finally pulled over for a little while to let things cool down. I became aware of it when my tire monitors started beeping telling me the tires were too hot. Sure enough, when I stopped there was smoke coming out of one of my brake assembly's. This Grand Western North America Tour and shake-down journey sure has been a learning experience!

Steve

Steve, use the lower gears to keep the speed down and save the brakes.

[punomatic]

Been over that route in my 1988 Hawkins Motor Coach with carbureted 454. No problems. It is a beautiful drive. If you don't have to do the whole thing in one day, stop at Casey's RV Park in Westfir. It is absolutely beautiful. The park sits on the bank of the middle fork of the Willamette river where the north fork joins it.

[Geocritter]

Hi all y'all, well I drove Hwy 58 today. No trouble going uphill but I did get my brakes pretty hot going downhill between the summit and Oakridge. I finally pulled over for a little while to let things cool down. I became aware of it when my tire monitors started beeping telling me the tires were too hot. Sure enough, when I stopped there was smoke coming out of one of my brake assembly's. This Grand Western North America Tour and shake-down journey sure has been a learning experience!

Steve

[Dick_A]

Moved from General RV'ing forum.

[ICamel]

Headed west you will only find three climbs. Two short sections between Hwy 97 and Odell Lake and the longest climb of about 1.2 miles up to Willamette Pass. After that you are mostly downhill all the way to I5. I find the slow nervous Nellies to be more problem going down the west side, so just take your time and hold your distance from the vehicle in front.

[Geocritter]

Thanks once again all y’all for sharing your knowledge and insight. FWIW about the only issue I have with my rig is the fuel pump and thanks to the members of the forum here, I have an easy work-around to use until I return to TX this fall. Overall the rig handles well and I did some preemptive repairs such as replacing the ancient DOT 3 brake fluid with DOT 3 compatible DOT 5.1 severe duty hi-temp brake fluid, I gave it a complete grease job and drive train/chassis inspection, as well as changing out most of the other automotive fluids with the latest and greatest (an ounce of prevention…) before I left TX. So yes, over the course of my journey I’ve learned that my rig needs work but overall it’s roadworthy. Had I been aware of the FMC fuel pump design flaws inherent in my vintage Ford product, I certainly would have changed out the fuel pump before I began my journey (which is why I’m so royally PO at FMC). FMC engineers knew about the problem but let it go uncorrected for years before they finally fixed it and that cavalier attitude of theirs is appalling.

Steve

[goducks10]

If your brakes are I good working order then you'll have no problems. The west side is the stepper curvier side. But it's only for a short time.

[amandasgramma]

We take that route all the time.....in a pickup, in our old MH, etc etc. I've seen so many rigs that I wonder if they're road-worthy go that route. There are plenty of pull-overs. If you have a line behind you, pull over. That route has lots of passing lanes, too. 🙂 We were thru there last Saturday......they're working on the road in places and we had to make a stop (5 minutes). Friend came over it yesterday and had no stops. 🙂

[SteveAE]

Hwy 58 is steeper, and has more curves, on the West side of the pass than on the East side. But it is suitable for any road worthy vehicle. Take your time and enjoy the drive.

Steve