Houston to Palm Springs & I 10 road grades?

[Livingthedream1]

Traveling from Houston west on I 10 to Palm Springs in a 2006 Pace Arrow with toad. Thinking I may have a fan clutch issue and dont have the luxury of time to wait to have it checked out. Seems that as long as we are on the highway, the engine temp is normal, but when we get into stand still traffic the engine runs hot. Thinking we can make it all the way to Palm Springs if the road grades aren't bad and we can avoid heavy traffic. Can anyone tell us what kind of grades to expect.

[Kayteg1]

lc0338 wrote:

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???

You have to trust me that 30 miles of 4.9% grade is real vehicle killer.
Especially in areas where 110F is not that rare.

[LVJ58]

If your coach is powered by the Ford V10 you will find it will go into a "limp" mode (firing on alternate cylinders) should an overheating condition occur and eventually will shut down to prevent engine damage.

Personally I wouldn't embark on any trip knowing of a possible fan clutch malfunction.

However it's your call.

Best of luck and safe travels....

[Livingthedream1]

Thanks for all the helpful info. We don't know for sure if we have an issue. We were stuck in a traffic jam for about 45 min bumper to bumper coming into New Orleans and then again going through New Orleans. No choice but to keep driving until we got out of the city. Engine temp was hot, no smoke or steam. Sat for an hour and it was fine. We've made it past Houston with no other issue. Have to be in Palm Springs next Monday for a new job, that's why we're under a bit of pressure on time. Will have to see if we can looked at. Any suggestions for some where in San Antonio close to I 10?

[Tom_Barb]

Livingthedream11 wrote:
Traveling from Houston west on I 10 to Palm Springs in a 2006 Pace Arrow with toad. Thinking I may have a fan clutch issue and dont have the luxury of time to wait to have it checked out. Seems that as long as we are on the highway, the engine temp is normal, but when we get into stand still traffic the engine runs hot. Thinking we can make it all the way to Palm Springs if the road grades aren't bad and we can avoid heavy traffic. Can anyone tell us what kind of grades to expect.

I'd be more into getting it fixed before you go..

[Antony]

There are a few fair grades in Texas Hill Country. They aren't bad but they go on for a while. The only other significant grades are near Chiriaco Summit in CA. As stated, there are stretches of this route that are REMOTE. If your questioning a change in the rigs behavior, you'd be well advised to stop when services are available. If you are not making any looky loo stops this is an easy three leg trip, or a tough two leg one.
Anthony

[Kennyg]

Executive wrote:
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

This is best advise !!!!!

[lc0338]

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???

[Goldencrazy]

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.

[Executive45]

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

[Kayteg1]

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.

[Mr_Mark1]

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.

[Kayteg1]

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.

[lc0338]

clicky

[Lawdawg21]

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