I'd say I-5 to Hwy 138 to Hwy 14 to Hwy 58 to I-40 to get around the closure. It seems the best route and would save time vs. Hwy 50 route.

Bill - I like the idea of a more scenic drive on US 395, just getting there seems like it could be a challenge looking at our Mountain Pass Directory. Since we're not retired, we do tend to do our long relocation drives on the weekends so we're trying to figure out our best option and 395 seems like it's adding a lot to our distance to travel.

I was looking at Google Maps and it's actually routing us off Hwy 58, through the town of Mohave, several smaller side roads, etc. I'm sure that might be rather slow, but I'm wondering if it would actually take any longer than going way out of our way. However, not sure if those roads will be big rig friendly either.

IS CLOSED FROM THE JCT OF SR 202 TO THE JCT OF SR 14 (KERN CO)

MarkS wrote:

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So, I was stuck at 395 and 58. Needed to get home on Friday because...just because. At that time 58 and I 5 were both closed. I took CA178 across to Bakersfield. Now, I know you can pull that tiny little fiver across there. I did it with a 53 foot reefer. Do I recommend it? Depends on how confident you are in your skills. It's a technical pull.

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 Specific route details aside (though others already FTing or otherwise may wish to know)... the end of your comment doesn't leave me with a "warm fuzzy". Can you elaborate on the "depends on the confidence in your skills" and the term "technical pull". I'm gathering that you probably would not recommend it to a neophyte RVer.

In the interest of being a better "technical" RV rig driver, what particular things should be more appropriately weighed decision-wise etc. to make such a drive safely? Obviously using appropriate caution would be an excellent starting point. I have limited experience even driving a "Roller Skate" on winding CA roads with short sightlines and even at posted speed limits I was always a bit on edge and slowed down accordingly. Mitigating fear with skill and knowledge is always good, but I don't want false courage to replace a reasonable cautionary approach. 

Brian

-- Edited by biggaRView on Tuesday 20th of October 2015 06:20:11 AM

Well Brian, I get your question and will do my best to cobble some words together to address it.

CA178 goes through Kern Canyon. As you approach the mouth the sign reads, tractors and trailers longer than 33' king pin to rear axle not recommended. None of our RVs fit in that category. Butt, and I'm talkin about a big one here, the road is narrow and winding in spots. There are a couple of short steep spots. Not really enough to heat your brakes up. Road surface is very good.

In one spot I met a semi going the other way. I stopped to let him pass and my trailer tires were against the guard rail. Once the 58 opens you are unlikely to encounter big trucks on this road. Traffic was heavy but that was due to the closures.

Ok. This road is not one that you can steer with your knee while playing solitaire on your phone. If you are the driver, you are committed to the task until you are out of the canyon. If you get rattled easy when driving your RV, I don't recommend this road. If you are new to driving large vehicles, I don't recommend this road. However, if none of the above apply, this is a moderately challenging drive with some nice scenery. A great confidence builder.

I have never driven the 120 west of I-5. Based on conversation with a coworker who has. I'm thinking 178 might be a weebit tighter

All the more reason why I might avoid California with our fifth wheel when we finally get to really travel.  Maybe I'll park along the California borders somewhere and just do day trips in the Expedition.  While I've driven 18-wheelers before, I also like to be looking around at the scenery while I'm driving, and having to pay more attention to the rig than necessary wouldn't be my favorite way to see California.  However, from my experience when I was in the Army, I think I'd want to stick to northern California anyway.

I also wouldn't have to worry about my firearms either.

I liked that comment, MarkS.  "Confidence builder."

Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 20th of October 2015 10:31:53 AM

MarkS wrote:

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Terry, I'll second the northern cal. Brian, you sound like a focused driver...you have no place in California and most other cities. The basic requirement for drivers is to multitask while operating a motor vehicle in a semi safe fashion at best.

Confidence is the common sense quotient that checks and adjusts our ego.

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 LOL, Mark.

Let me tell you about focus.... roughly 30 years ago, I was driving the 401 near Toronto, Ontario at 11PM. At that location it's 4 lanes wide in the express lanes which I was in. Traffic was fairly heavy for that time of night (probably shift change). Thanks to my "focus" I spotted a wreck in progress about 200 feet and several cars in front of me, quickly changed lanes to avoid it. In that 2 seconds, I spotted an axle on the shoulder as I passed by it and in the headlights of the car 2 in front of me I saw the disabled vehicle and knew instantly that he was going to hit it. I passed through a multi-car pinball arcade without a scratch on the car. In the aftermath, 19 cars were involved with many serious injuries. Secondarily, there were other multicar pile-ups from rubber neckers involving an additonal 16 cars including 5 in the opposite direction. It turned out the guy driving the car that hit the disabled vehicle was DUI at nearly 4 times the limit. 

It's not a safe world out there, and being focused means know where the "escape routes" are in such situations at all times. My confidence comes from erring on the side of prudent caution but not fear.

I only hope the multi-taskers on the road have good insurance and that I'm not near them when the SHTF. I'm sure, you as a professional trucker with countless miles under your belt could relate such experiences ad nauseum.

Brian

 

-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 02:32:27 PM

  Update: All my worries for nothing, just saw a report that CA 58 is opening tonight at 8 PM, so back to our regularly scheduled route.    Arizona here we come!!  Looking forward to getting back to the desert.