Rt. 58 from Bakersfield to Barstow CA

It has one very steep grade getting in to Tehachapi but you can trail one of the semi's with their doubles. We like to stop overnight in Tehachapi at the RV park next to the glider airport. Nice place with nice people running it.

Caltrans is dong construction (widening) so it is a bit slow through Bakersfield but only about a ten mile stretch and still two lanes open. Starting October 13th they are doing some over night shut downs so may want to check if traveling at night. As far as the pull its not too bad just long. When I was pulling my FW I would just tuck in with the trucks and follow along.

Should be no problem. The 58 has 2 lanes on either side of the road. The big rigs tend to pull out on the climb and slow down all traffic.

We went through there last winter and there was some very rough sections especially coming out of Bakersfield.

The highest road point on 58 over Tehachapi is just a little over 4000'; Tejon Pass summit on I-5 over the Grapevine is about 150' higher. Either or both can have snow from winter storms (if we get any!), so it's a good idea to check road conditions if one is traveling in months with snow potential.

SAR Tracker wrote:
Watch speed entering Mojave. It must be a training center for CHP, because they'll get 'ya for any little thing.

Highway 58 now bypasses Mohave. If you want to end up in Mohave, you need to take highway 14 south to get into town. There is a 4 lane (2 each way) bypass about 2 miles north of the airport, north of Mohave. This allows you to take a 4 lane road most of the way from Bakersfield to about 10 miles east of Mohave.

You can see it on Google.map.com You can also check elevations on Google.map and then click on "Terrain" and it will change to a topographical map.

There is a short 2 lane section of highway. But between Mohave and Barstow there is no hills at all. The climb from Bakersfield to the top of the mountain is not bad. Much less steep than the Grapevine, and to a lower elevation as it crosses the hill, I think it is max 5% grade and max 3,500' elevation. I think that the grapevine is around 4,500' elevation. .

Fred.

Better have a good tow vehicle as the road up Tehachipi pass is pretty steep and for quite a long ways. However, I have pulled a 36" fifth wheel with a GMC duramax and didn't lose speed. Tehachipi (sp?) grade is famous with railroad buffs; the track twists, circles, etc. to handle the steep grade. They travel from far away to see it.

I moved from Bakersfield back home to Texas when I retired about 18 years ago. Drove a rental moving truck pulling my spare auto on a trailer and almost did not make it up the grade. I had to shift into the lowest gear the thing had and crawled up at about 10 miles per hour. Bet everyone hated me. I was scared crapless! Thought it would go backwards. Didn't seem like the brakes would hold it still if it stalled out. Whew!!

Watch speed entering Mojave. It must be a training center for CHP, because they'll get 'ya for any little thing.

Thanks, I think we will try it.

We go this way every year pulling a 29' 5'ver. No problems. Fuel up in Barstow and carry on to 29 Palms.