The Most Dangerous Places to RV
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ค. 2024
- Caution is required when RVing (or road-tripping) to THESE locations! Get free life insurance quotes from America’s top insurers and start saving today with Policygenius: policygenius.com/GratefulGlamper. Thanks to Policygenius for sponsoring this video! Learn more in this video plus what you need to know and do to prepare if you plan on making the trip to some of these areas.
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Get yourself a truckers Rand McNally atlas and stay off roads marked hazardous to big trucks to avoid any surprises while exploring in an RV, especially large rvs with a trailer. Roads in the trucker atlas are clearly color marked as safe or unsafe for big rigs. Also, garmin makes truck friendly gps units labeled as their DEZL models. These will keep you away from most big truck road hazards including low bridges and bridge weight capacities.
💯
Or just use one of the RV apps that provide navigation for RVs.
We have had a Class A, and tow behind and been to every state and camped in 49, mostly after a couple of retirements. There are places where it is best to plan ahead and unhook either the car in tow, or the camper and drive the tow vehicle. I have had some really close calls negotiating hairpin turns towing a long fifth wheel. My tow vehicle, a Ram 3500 passed getting to go on Going to the Sun Road by 1", and it was an interesting trip... Now in our 70s, we downsized to a Ram 1500 Limited and a 22' Micro Minnie camper and travel is much easier now.
We wrecked our brake system in Death Valley. When they say stay off certain routes they aren't kidding.
Death Valley is horrible! I live in Ca. and can attest! The 58 due to the grades and curves is not fun either! If on the 58 take your time!! Be patient on the grades!!
I plan to stay east of the Mississippi Rvr. There is plenty to see on this side of the States.
You need to learn how to properly use your transmission rather than just ride your brakes.
@@andresmith9212 Yeah sure. You were there and you know the road, what I was pulling and how I drive eh?
Just reading a couple of comments, i was impressed with the rudeness of some people making comments. Thank you for doing these videos, and i think you look fine and as young as ever. Keep up the good work! You are appreciated.
I appreciate that!
People make terrible comments because they’re anonymous i drove otr for many years you should hear how they talk on the cb radio!
I drove over the road, too,for many years and I still have and use a CB. Just got back from a 7000 mile trip with our RV. Not much traffic on CB anymore!
😳
People are far more rude nowadays (thank to today's lying, corrupt GOP). However some podcasters are full of bs.
If you're going to drive the Million Dollar Highway section of the 550, put down your cell phone. 😂
😂
I've been through the Smokey Mountains several times in a car/truck and those roads scare the you-know-what out of me. I would NEVER go on those roads with an RV or towing one. I totally agree about the traffic in Atlanta. I live about 40 miles south/west of Atlanta and hate, hate, hate anytime I have to go into or around or near Atlanta.
I am two hours west of Atlanta, and I use the bypass ALWAYS.
On the other hand, I love the Smoky Mountains. We stopped our car and went on a trail with snow on the ground. We lost the trail and got lost. Fortunately, we found the road and walked back up to our car. It was not a fun experience once we realized we were lost with no supplies and no food/water.
@@bookbakery I use 285 by-pass the majority of the time, but OMG 285 has gotten almost worse than 75/85 through downtown. Traffic is just...ugh.
Come on, I drive the I 15 between Las Vegas and Orange County, California frequently and, yes, if you are foolish enough to travel north on a Friday or south on a Sunday, you deserve the traffic that you will face. However, if you are smart enough to make the drive south on Thursday or Saturday or for that matter, any day of the week but Sunday, it's a comparatively easy drive, and likewise, if you make the northbound trip on generally any day but Friday, it also is an easy trip. The only possible exception is on the north side of the Cajon Pass as there is currently highway construction going on which can affect both north and southbound to a minor degree.
I completely agree; any freeway in any state can be classified as not rv friendly on a particular day and time of the week. Most interstates in the country as perfectly fine for rvs as they are for semi truck commercial applications.
This is an easy drive on a Sunday if you leave early in the morning and not wait till noon
I built a small travel trailer (12' by 7') for my family of 4 and we can zip right through most of the places you mentioned.
Years ago I remember driving I10 and it was like driving over ocean waves (up and down). Luckily it was my brother's turn to sleep (he didn't get any.
If your camper/rv is big enough to worry about accessibility get a truckers road atlas . Also, if you have a GPS that can be adjusted for commercial vehicles, set it that way. Be aware of "bridge law". That means the distance between your king pin and rear axle, the further it is the wider you need to turn to clear your rear end going around curves or objects. I'm a trucker. Safe travels 🤗
Thanks for the info and for watching
I travel through the Mojave and between LA and Las Vegas, also over the Tehachapi Pass without issue, as long as I’ve checked the prevailing winds. LA traffic is surprisingly kind to RVers, at least to camper vans. I get myself in the slow lane with the Amazon delivery vans and the taco trucks. Anyone who wants to can pass me easily. Many people wave. Because who doesn’t like Amazon and tacos?
😂🤣😂 I’m at 2:07 into the video and laughing already. Highway 58 is an easy road from Bakersfield to Barstow. The mud on the road at Sand Canyon off-ramp was a once in a hundred years experience.
Twisty corners?? I think you people are a danger to others on the road if Highway 58 is difficult for you.
That’s a problem… people buying rv’s that don’t know how to drive. 💥💣😂🤣😂😎
That’s actually pretty sickening that you would be rolling on the floor laughing about this. Aside from mudslides which are happening more often nowadays and not just every 100 years, this highway has accidents all the time with big rigs driving off the road and vehicles excessively speeding around all the curves. Lots of people have died on this road and there are potholes everywhere. Not funny for people who have to commute this everyday, which includes my brother.
I'm a trucker and I feel the same way. I've taken 58 from Bakersfield to Barstow 100's of times in a loaded semi. 80,000 lbs. If you can't navigate that road in some RV you shouldn't be driving an RV.
Some very good tips and information. We started RVing in 1988 and made the typical progression from popup trailers (3 of 'em) to travel trailers (28" and 26.5') to a MH (34') and last summer, downsized to a Winnebago Via (Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis). When it comes to comparing travel trailers, full sized motorhomes and narrower motorhomes, I found the 8 1/2' wide MH a source of a lot of white knuckle driving, primarily in construction zones or narrower 2 lane roads with little or no shoulder. We loved our MH for the space, but with advancing age, I decided it was time to downsize to something narrower. Driving a rig that is only 7 1/2 feet wide makes a HUGE difference and is very relative to many of the locations you mention. When planning routes, there is an advantage to having a narrower rig as well as one that is 11' tall or less. To the point....plan trips carefully and with consideration what type of rig you are driving. Failure to do so can have some very tragic or costly consequences.
Great video!
Thanks for watching and sharing your experiences
Great insight to not-so-nice highways/roads for rv’rs!! Certainly will take note of them!!
Thanks!!
Back in the 60s, my family drove up Independence Pass with a Buick Wildcat hauling a 30ft. Boles Aero camper. There were signs forbidding those with camper trailers to go across the pass. My dad took it anyway. Literally, we could see the crumbling edges as we drove. We must have had a guardian angel watching over us. I was petrified. We did lose our brakes coming down but my dad was able to get us stopped. My mother was so mad at my dad.
Independence can be a beast under the best conditions and you never know what the weather will be on the other side of the pass. I have seen snow squalls there in August. You really want to get to Aspen from South Park you need to go up and around, not over the pass.
I did a 6200 mile trip from Florida to Yellowstone back in 2022. We worked our way up to I-90 going through Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and eventually picking up I-90 in Murdo South Dakota. We stayed outside Rapid City in a nice KOA and took the time to see Mt Rushmore. We then stopped at Devil's Tower for a day before proceeding to Yellowstone.
During our trip West, Yellowstone had flooding unlike anything in history and they had to close the Northern half of the park. We camped at Madison resort outside of West Yellowstone. A system of odd/even tag numbers was used to allow entry into Yellowstone and we were turned away on the 1st day we tried to enter the park. We took that opportunity to travel to the Tetons to scope out potential routes as Coulter Bay was our next Campground. The shortest route, due to the closure, was traversing Idaho South and then Highway 22 through Wilson Pass.
My tow vehicle was a 2017 Ram 1500 with 185,000 miles on it and after negotiating that stretch of highway, we scoped out an alternative route for our return in 3 days with the 2018 Keystone Outback in tow. We ended up working our way to Alpine Idaho and then North on US 26 North into Jackson Hole and eventually the Tetons. It's a 6 degree grade and very scenic.
Next we went to Zion and the North rim of the Grand Canyon before heading back.
Thanks for the videos, they really help.
Sounds like an epic trip! Thanks for sharing and for watching
Great info. Thanks. Happy trails.
When I was a boy, over 60 years ago, Death Valley in an RV was wonderful - at Christmas! Otherwise, I appreciate the heads up given here!
I travel from Beaumont tx to New Orleans a lot... as long as you take it easy and don't rush no matter what... you will be fine
I am so glad you posted this video! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I never would have thought about the down grades. I’ve driven 3 different Jeeps, an SUV and rice burner back and forth across the country. Yesterday, I literally just bought my first RV!
Glad it was helpful!
All the more reason to have a small rig. Have done several you mentioned without issue or being scared. That being said I was a bit nervous crossing the Mojave Desert. Didn't over heat , but was close. Just slowed down, watched the temp and turned off the A/C going up hill to keep from overheating,
My rig is real small. 2008 Tacoma 4x4 with a slide in utility body. I have a microwave/refrigerator behind the driver/passenger seats, 2k watt Honda generator, portable 110v A/C unit and a memory foam mattress in the back with a 2.5' "basement" below the bed platform. Additionally, I have a power bank that can recharged by a 12v socket, 110v mains if truck is on shore power or a 100watt solar panel.. Definitely not a family suitable rig, but great for 1 or 2 very friendly people that can go anywhere.
So when planning a trip it’s best if you use a paper map. I found that just using a IPad made things harder for me. Next time I’m going to remember my McNally Road Atlas/Map.
@user-jl8yy5ir7s As a retired trucker my Rand McNally T.A. was always on the seat next to me, same today when travelling!
This is especially important in national parks like Death Valley were there is no signal, not even GPS, half the time. (I don't trust the "downloaded" maps feature either of most mapping systems, plus you need GPs anyway to make much sense of where you are and is no better than a paper map in those cases).
Did the Teatons , Yellowstone in a snow storm , Smokey mnts ,and The Great Salt Lake desert. In a GMC Mitus motor home . I must have been young and fearless and my copilot was a big rig driver . I can literally say YES on the Moose in the Teatons . When the Rangers asked us were we were from during the snow storms ,we said Pennsylvania at lake Erie . They all said go right on ahead be careful. It was a great 2 weeks on the road 1st of May .
Hwy 58 from Bakersfield to I15 is the extremely safe for RV travel. It does have a steep grade but easy peasy! We lived in high desert for 30 years. I15 from Vegas isn’t bad either! Road conditions on I40 from Barstow through AZ is just as bad as I20 through LA and MS.
We ended up stuck on the 58 overnight when weather turned bad at the intersection on the 58 & 14. Lots of truckers at times can make the 58 a pain to travel. 15 to Las Vegas was mentioned due to the congestion at times. It can take hours at times to go 20 miles. Bothe highways just depend on the timing. I lived in the area for 60 years.
Totally agree. Going south out of CA, 58 is the only way we take with our fifth wheel. We found out it’s better then going up the grapevine. Also, we’ve found 58 quicker route.
@@larry-katebrenner8014 The timing can also be attributed to most roads and freeways through the entire country. CA58 is a very easy road to travel. For someone who lived there for 6o years I would have expected a more accurate opinion of the area.
@@jh748 Not sure what more you want. There on times when high winds or snow or heat (depending on your timing) can impact travel. We traveled in late March and experienced high wind closure. I’ve traveled the highway in summer (without the trailer) and experienced excessive heat. The road itself is very well maintained. So if you avoid the winds, heat and snow closures the road can be easy to travel. The other thing which can impact travel there are the number of trucks. Especially when going uphill pulling a 44Ft 5th wheel and the truckers are taking both lanes going 35-40 miles an hour.
I just went through there with my Class B. It was fine
I grew up in Silverton smack dab in the middle of 550. I learned to drive on it in snow storms. It's not a bad drive at all, semis go over it all the time. That said it is not a joke, you need to be on your game. Most deaths and accidents are in the winter. Keys are take it easy, pay attention, stay in your lane, and pull over when you have more than 5 cars behind you (you will have angry locals passing you, Winnebago is a derogatory term applied to all RV's.) Never go down hills in a higher gear than it took to climb it, use your engine to help keep your speed under control. Do not ride your brakes! Other than that it's exactly like a freeway, stay between the white and yellow lines and you have nothing to worry about.
Another very scary highway is Route 66 between Oatman and kingman. It's called The Sidewinder there are 191 curves it's very narrow and very scary
We left the travel trailer at the campground and took that in our pickup and it was difficult.
Interstate 10 in Louisiana does have areas of rough road surface as the summer time heat is hard on the roads. It is very flat though.
Accidents on the elevated portions over the Atchafalaya basin and headed eastward into New Orleans can result in long delays.
Do not cross the Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge anytime near rush hour. Better to cross the river further south in Donaldsonville or Lutcher. If you cross in Lutcher you can stop at Oak Alley plantation on the way (well worth it). If you do cross in Baton Rouge do it on the weekends, but not on Saturdays when there is an LSU home football game.
New Orleans traffic is a bear. If you can use interstate 12 between Baton Rouge and Slidell.
Safe travels!
Last year we almost got blown off the Francis Scott Key bridge and swore I'd never use it again. Well now I can't :(
I hitch hiked and rode trains all over the US, never once did I go to sleep feeling unsafe, all while outside on the ground. You have 4 walls and doors that lock. Don't park in dangerous areas or get a dog and a gun. Had both in my tow truck, always slept like a baby no matter where I parked.
this was extremely helpful.. im so glad i watched this
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching
We had a 32' and didn't bother with the tunnel into Zion. Coming from Bryce and not staying in the park, we drove Rte 14 W instead, to I-15. That was a great drive...
and I-40 near Kingman, AZ. Potholes so big, they will blow out your front end. If you're on a motorcycle, you'd be killed.
Done all of them in our travels except I-10 and I-15. Didn't even sweat a single one. But a small, well sorted setup, and not being afraid makes a big difference. Now the real most dangerous places are off road. Even simple fire roads. Like coming down from the mountain pass between Moab into Gateway Colorado. Usually an easy type of road for us, but at about 6k feet of elevation it had previously rained, making the top layer of dirt slick muck. Not realizing it was saturated and going downhill at a decent grade, the camper started to float/wiggle side to side and wanted to jackknife. Our truck, even with excellent A/T tires would just skid every time I pumped the brakes...Mountain side on the left, 50-60 ft. angled drop on the right(not instant death, but would have rolled us 5-6 times). Luckily, I was able to keep it straight long enough to skid to a stop at a less elevated wider area. I'll tell you....I was Shit'n-Kittens. I thought we were done for. Girlfriend and 2 kids in the Sequoia along with me. So, I suppose even roads that you are used to travelling can become dangerous if some variable changes. Safe travels from @free2frolic1966
I’ve traveled both of those hwys in CA with and without the rv. The winds are what get me every time. Think I’d be used to it since I now live in NM. But nope. Used to drive the grapevine and would hit close to 100 before starting the trip up. Be safe out there. Weather has been a bit crazy these days. Another good video!!
Thanks for the comment and for watching
For us driving the million dollar hwy is a monthly summer drive for camping. We have pulled doubles over this pass many times. Just pay attention to your driving and not the scenery.
Don't forget I-80 between Salt Lake City, UT and Wendover at the Bonneville Salt Flats on a windy day! Wind blows so hard that it has wind alert road signs. We were towing a GD 313RLTS 37' travel trailer across and were white knuckle the whole way. Saw trailers blown over and every other tractor trailer leaning and twisting to the broadside wind. No where to pull over or turn around. Just went slow and prayed!
I-10 in Louisiana is always a bear !!
Glad you showed me this because I have a feeling I won’t be going west or north very much!
It's rather ignorant to take one person's opinion on what you do or don't do. The west has incredible natural sceneries that you will never find anywhere else.
I love how she said if I had to do it again. Hate to break it to her but her hubby was white knuckled not her. Thanks for the video there's no where to take a RV out west. or in the smokies so why have one?
You have so many useful videos
I’m a retired truck driver and yes I-10 Louisiana is terrible, had to travel the t a lot. Now we avoid that section as much as possible, and prefer alternate routes even if they are longer.
Love you guys. This video has valuable content but I do wish you added the alternate routes for the dangerous roads… that have alternatives. ✌️
The million dollar highway in Colorado is called that because it cost 1 Million dollars to build it! Like anything else, pay attention to what you are doing when you drive over the Million Dollar Highway. It is a fabulous experience to drive this route! Like doing anything, common sense is anything BUT common!
Wow, I was going to buy a $500,000 RV and start our RV and until I saw this video now I think I’m just gonna stick with a tent
Disregard her if you know how to drive.💥💣🤣
Like your channel and information...
However, not sure I can get on board with many of your choices here on this list. If your title and/or thumbnail had been "roads to be careful on" or "roads to be prepared for", then yeah, sure. However, your thumbnail said "Avoid at all costs" and your title said "The Most Dangerous Places to RV". I get the hyperbole needed to get clicks, but many of these roads do not even come close to "avoid at all costs" level of danger.
Maybe Arizona State Highway 89 from Interstate 40 south to Sedona. That road actually SAYS no trucks or RVs.
...but the 58 near Tehachipi? I've driven this road dozens of times (east and west) in our full-profile fifth wheel with NO issues at all. The 15 between Barstow and Las Vegas? It may have a lot of traffic depending upon when you go, but "avoid at all costs"? No. Even the 550 "Million Dollar Highway" isn't really that bad. Semi-trucks are on it all the time. Unless you are prone to wandering outside the lanes, it isn't an issue. Death Valley? Maybe an issue in the heat of summer, but the rest of the year? Nah....
Interstate 10 in Lousiana? If we're just listing bad roads, then why not Interstate 40 from Flagstaff, AZ into New Mexico?
Now, maybe something like "reconsider if you are not confident in your driving/towing skills", but doesn't have the impact of "Avoid at All Costs". I'm sorry to be over-critical, but I think this just lends to people being scared of certain roads and plays into people's fears.
The information about Zion and Yellowstone, and maybe even the Tetons? Good stuff. Anyway, thanks for the video and what you bring to the RV community.
Agree, using hyperbole isn't helpful. The Oatman road (old US66) is the only one I'd recommend avoiding if your combination is longer than average. Even then it's doable if you're not squeamish about running on the outside shoulder on some of the hairpin turns.
Thank you for this wonderful video. God Bless and l love yall💕💕💕💕
Thanks for watching! 💙💙
Highway 14 in Colorado is one of my favorite roads in all of Colorado to camp along. The most scenic and now that Starlink is a thing I can get internet for my remote job. Lot's of small campgrounds along that route are big rig friendly. Dutch George has sites right up to some great trout fishing. I pull a 41ft 5th wheel and have no issues navigating this route. My 2018 Ram 3500 with 370HP and 800ft/lbs torque has no issues pulling these grades.
Especially avoid I-15 Vegas to LA on Sunday's when traffic is returning to Cali. Avoid I-15 LA to Vegas on Fridays when traffic is going to Vegas.
Hwy 14A Lovell to Burgess Junction is 11% grade. It's steep but there are lots of moose. Hwy 14 Greybull to Burgess Junction isn't as steep and also has lots of wildlife such as moose, elk etc. Hwy 14 is not as steep and a very doable road so don't let it deter you. If you want to have less switchbacks then take Hwy 16 but you'll miss out on all the moose & possibly elk (Burgess Junction area probably has the densest population of moose than anywhere else in the lower 48). In fact, it's very boondocking friendly and not uncommon to have a cow and calf moose wonder through your camp. We've experienced several that were literally the length of your RV away. At night towards the fall season you can hear the elk bugling.
Black Hills / Rushmore - Needles Highway Hwy 87. You won't fit and turning around is always a pain.
Hwy 212 - Red Lodge, MT to Cook City, Mt (another route to YNP). Breathtaking scenery but lots of switchbacks.
Hwy 18 - To Big Bear Lake California. Unlike other mountain roads with switch backs this road is not very wide. There is not much of a shoulder and if your towing a 40' RV behind you and you meet oncoming traffic you need to pay attention to the tail of your RV as it could hit the side of the mountain trying to stay in your lane.
This might not be dangerous depending how you look at it but it was adventurous and sometimes humurous and I'm not even sure they allow RVs through Bear Country USA in the Black Hills but we towed our 40' toyhauler through there. Forgot to clean the Weber Q and had some other food in the basement. Made for some good entertainment as we had what seemed like every bear following us. I was actually concerned I was going to run over them with the toyhauler. Fortunately, they didn't break the basement door.
Thanks for the info on the tunnel for Zion! Did not know that.l
I will agree to disagree regarding Highway 58 between Bakersfield and Barstow. We run that all the time and have never a problem. We have a 26 foot Class A motorhome. Continuing the drive Barstow to Las Vegas on I-15 is also very easy. Just take your time and enjoy.
Third video i've watched of them so far and seems like its a lot of complaining and negativity.
Thank you for the heads up.
My old uncle bob used to rv all over us mainly east kentuckt minnesota and arizona. He wheeled his big box winny all over east tucky and the roads are shitty no shoulders deep ditches or cliffs right off side of road. Lol back in the day he rolled up the flint branch.salyersville ky before the road was a rocky creek bed he drove right up there. The bend by the cliffs he barely made around corner but never scraped once.
We drove down into Death Valley in a mini school bus over 40 years ago with windows open and heater on high to get rid of the heat. We did not overheat the van bus. Enjoyed your video!
Glad you enjoyed, thanks for the comment and for watching.
You might want to add some comments about RVing in Alaska. We have done it three times and are very careful about choosing our routes. There are a few excellent highways, but anything off those roads can be perilous and you should get RV books on Alaska and it's roads before even considering driving to there or doing extensive travel while you are there. Remember, you are not an Ice Road Trucker!
You are so correct about I-10 in LA. It's been under construction since the 80's. I hate driving it in a car.
I've lived in my Toyota Dolphin for years (probably 7 years total). Back and forth across the country. Even lived 2 years with my adult son - working together. For me, a 20' rv, set up right, is much more enjoyable than the monsters many seem to want. I've driven most of your routes and had no problem going slowly.
Hwy 550 in CO, from Durango to Silverton is steep but passable with an RV. We did so a couple years ago in a 36ft Class A gasser pulling a toad. But I would not recommend the portion from Silverton to Ouray, as it's even dangerous in a car, IMHO. Another place not recommended is the Moki Dugway on Hwy 261 Near Valley of the Gods in UT. It is scary in a car. One place we did take our motorhome, but I do not recommend, is the Lefthand Canyon DR. from Boulder to Ward, CO. It's full of steep blind hairpin turns making it virtually unpassable in a couple places unless you use both lanes - which is extremely dangerous around blind curves unless you send your toad ahead to block oncoming traffic.
You should only go to Death Valley when the temperatures are moderate, winter! It isn't recommended to drive through Death Valley in the summer because of the heat, the lack of other people traveling, no cell phone coverage, etc. If you have a break down in the summer you could be stranded for many hours in 110+ heat! It isn't called death valley for no reason.
We drove I10 and the vent in the Hot Water Heater door came off! Very rough Road!!
Yeah, Atlanta is no joke. We just drove through there last week on the Interstate and narrowly avoiding hitting an "unhoused" person as he was getting back into his tent on the side of the highway. Other than that, the driving wasn't so bad, but on our way back we planned to be going through in the early afternoon to avoid as much congestion as possible. For us, the route to avoid at all costs is I90/94 through Chicago (or any route through Sh!tcago).
Awwww you gave our Jumping Flea Market a cameo in the beginning. I don't live in Cocoa anymore but like I said before, I wouldn't camp behind the Jumping Flea Market. This was an informative video. I should do one like this for where I live now.... Lima, Peru.
I lived in New Orleans for 50 years and I dread the thought of ever having to drive any type of vehicle on I-10 ever again. The road rage is also another factor.
O yeah, I 15! I am a Californian, and that stretch scares ME!
really good info
Thank you 👍
I've driven 58 in California many times in an 18wheeler and never had any problems.
Not for ten million dollars would I ever want to drive from Montrose to Durango on 550 again! We went to Durango to take the train up to Silverton and back. We had the worst restaurant meal ever in Ouray. However, all in all, the trip was great and the train ride was the best ever. I've also driven on the other roads you mentioned and the "Going to the Sun" road was second to 550. I don't remember I-10 being in bad shape but that is because I traveled it over 40 years ago.
Thanks for watching and for the comment!
As to Teton Pass.... The local R.V ers use Hoback Junction and you can clearly miss going over the pass.... It is driveable in an R.V. but it is steep and you will have to use your lowest gearing or face possible overheating.... It is also hard on your brakes as you have to hold your rig back on the way down.... even with low gears you have to ride your brakes.... The locals and truckers just use hoback junction route...
Good to know, thanks for sharing
Hwy 1 between Big Sue and San Simeon in California. Frequent switchbacks and oversized vehicles are just plain scary. You can see the beautiful scenery only if you are a passenger.
I’m sure you meant Big Sir😂 but besides the typo it’s good to note that quite often (currently 2024) the route has a closure preventing a thru drive. Winter is very rough on this highway with numerous slides and road washouts that take part or all of the following year to repair and then winter hits again…..
What a view though!!
One of the most beautiful drives in the western US. I’m a big scaredy cat but I’d drive it anytime in an SUV, Northbound ONLY. And yes I’ve driven it myself and it was foggy that day.
Enjoyed the video.
Glad you enjoyed it
Yeah, we did at 40 foot motorhome on I 10, to Louisiana scary. From Florida.
We inadvertently took the Teton Pass road thinking we were avoiding rough roads in Yellowstone. We have an F150 and it struggled more than it has on any other route. 10%grade for 5-6 miles up and then 10% grade down.
I regularly drove a 53 foot RV/tag along Jeep combo on the Cross Bronx Expressway and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in NYC. You don't know what dangerous is until you've experienced this. Every other place was a piece of cake compared to that nightmare.
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I drove our 36' Renegade RV while towing an 18' car trailer with our Toyota pickup on it on Wy. Hwy14 from I-90 to Cody, Wy, then through Yellowstone to the KOA outside West Yellowstone, Mont. It is a challenging drive, but doable if you're careful.
We drove HWy 120 and Hwy 49 in California. From Yosemite to Sequoia. Wow 7% to 9% downgrades and plenty of tight turns
I am guessing that you may like CA-108, Sonora Pass, even less. All 3 roads have beautiful views.
TOTALLY AGREE with I 10
We've been driving I10 through LA and TX during our winter tour for several years now. And while I agree with the frequently poor condition I have to add that maintenance and repair of I10 in LA and TX is poor primarily due to poor infrastructure management and getting repairs done in a timely fashion. Often we see very few people actually working on these road constructions sites, may be one person working, one supervising, and others watching the two pretending to work. It is pitiful.
A good cajun friend once told me if you're going down I-10 in Louisiana you better not have a bad back, big boobs or false teeth! 😂 We've traveled it many times but only a few in an RV. It's not fun.
I always by pass I10 and take 12. Much less stress and the road is in relatively better shape
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When I was college age and CDLs were easy to get I co-drove with my truck driver father during summers and semester breaks. We were hauling oranges from California to New Orleans and he came out of the sleeper and chewed me out for driving too fast, not over the speed limit fast, but fast enough that the bumps could damage the oranges. That was early 80s. lol
Highway 101 along the coast of OR. is something I'll never drive again, and I'm in a large van.
Thanks for your video
I10 was very dangerous in my passenger vehicle last January with all the road construction and angry drivers!
great info
AND you're absolutely right about Louisiana route I-10. It's a nightmare. Go across Lousiana further north. Prettier safe and nicer.
I like my Subaru Forester for travel….pretty versatile especially when combined with Airbnb…RV parked permanently on a 400 acre resort.
These are good tips to know
Thank you!
Yes I -10 in LA is rough. I drove semi for 35 years and so have covered it many times.
Good info.
Thank you!
And just recently Teton Pass fell off the mountain. I have driven over that pass a bunch of times when I lived at Old Faithful, but never in a motorhome. I did do it ONE time in a VW WQEstfalia, up and down shifting between 1st and 2nd. Never did that again.
I10 is also a “speedway” for reckless and aggressive drivers!
Try any freeway in South Florida.
Add all of northern NJ to that list.
South Louisiana roads are challenged by poor soil conditions.
So....been at all of those Western places in a 33' class C flat towing a Jeep that aren'tclosed to that size. All were enjoyable drives.
Agreed some of your areas are tough, Atlanta and Chicago are a pita U=I've had no problem with most ateas out west. If you want nast try the Alkan. Top of the World and the Dempster Highway are really tough also.
From what I can tell nobody with an RV is avoiding US 550 in the San Juans.
The RV's add an hour to the Montrose to Durango leg in the summer.
Most notably is an RV with thirty cars behind it going 15 in a 50. Especially after passing dozens of pull outs.
We just went to New Orleans in with our camper. I can totally attest that I-10 is not an easy route. In fact most of the roads down there are not great, but especially not with a travel trailer in tow! I thought my poor mother in law was going to have a heart attack with the traffic thru New Orleans!
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A 21' OAL limit? Wow, I'm glad that before I thought about "just" 24. Thank you!
You're welcome!
Former full-timer -40ft pusher and a toad - Buy a Truckers' map from Hagstrom and use it. You'll be glad you did! If the 18 wheelers can then so can you. If they avoid it? Take the Toad and leave the big-rig at the r.v. park.
Don't forget about Custer state park. Needles highway US-87 South Dakota. I Saw larger vehicles backing down the hills. Some of the tunnels 1 car at a time.
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I personally haven't done much of I-10 in Louisiana because the day my better half and I came through with our 29' TT was the day part of it was jammed and closed through Baton Rouge because of a major accident. We had to go through Baton Rouge and its vicinity (not easy since the area is quite iffy) to then reach I-12 on Lake Ponchartrain's North Shore (which, BTW, was a much easier ride) to then get back on I-10 just north of Slidell. That said, we missed a lot because had we stayed on I-10 we'd have had to traverse dozens of miles of bayou on a narrow viaduct only to then get caught in the middle of rush hour in NOLA (and I-10 through NOLA is a patchwork quilt posing as a highway, capped off with a big grade over the Inner Harbor Nav Canal.)
Not sure if you've ever driven on I-80 or I-25 in Wyoming, but if you do so in a high-profile vehicle like an RV or TT, beware of both of the grades on Elk Mountain (amongst others on both roads) and especially beware of the Chinook winds that have been known to blow over 18-wheelers.
Thanks, Guys. Very helpful! Ranger Phil - Wekiwa
Thanks for watching Ranger Phil!!
Hello from Hart, Michigan.
After having just returned from our annual trip to Loreto in Baja California on Mex 1, your report has me laughing out loud! American roads and highways are unbelievably safe and wide and flat compared with Mexican roads and highways. I think you're protesting too much.
I 35 through Oklahoma city is terrible.
Saw many RV's pulled over with blow outs stranded in very heavy traffic.
Was in a Toyota tundra and many time i thought my wheels would fall off due to huge pot holes going on for miles and miles.
I can't imagine what Silver Cliff , North Shore, Minnesota, was like in either the Semi's coming at us on the inside of the hairpin bend on the cliff, or being in the motorhome or towing a travel trailer on the outside edge before they dynamited a tunnel through it.
There are 2 tunnels where the road went around the cliffs.