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I-5 Driving Advice
- Thread starter Doryman
- Start date
Lots of good advice. Just a tiny little tip....there is road construction going on just north of Vancouver. Not a big deal but the WSP has turned it into a serious speed trap near the rest stop as the speed limit drops. At pretty much any time of day, I'd take I-205 starting north of Vancouver and go around Portland. It's a few miles longer but a much more pleasant drive pulling a trailer.
Have fun.
Have fun.
I went off the road on I-80 near Laramie one time when I was pulling a brakeless U-Haul behind a CJ-5 (back in my young and stupid days -- I guess I am just not young any more! :shock: ). That experience left a distinct impression on me about winter trailer driving. Both the RV trailer and the boat trailer have electric brakes, so I am prepared to initiate braking from the trailer (which I have done before) but I would much prefer not to have to worry about it at all!
Warren
Warren
Warren,
I'm late getting into this discussion, but here is something I know.
Do NOT try to drive Hwy 299 in California from Hwy 101 to Redding!!
It is a 'sports car' road with two 3,000ft summits(with snow) and way more and tighter turns than Hwy 101!!
If you decide to drive Hwy 101 you will have to stay on it from the Calif/Oregon border until you reach the SF Bay Area.
I'm late getting into this discussion, but here is something I know.
Do NOT try to drive Hwy 299 in California from Hwy 101 to Redding!!
It is a 'sports car' road with two 3,000ft summits(with snow) and way more and tighter turns than Hwy 101!!
If you decide to drive Hwy 101 you will have to stay on it from the Calif/Oregon border until you reach the SF Bay Area.
Hi Warren,
I have run south on I-5 plenty, both winter and summer. For winter, know that if the chain sign is up, you have to chain up the motor home as well. If you are pulling a trailer, you will need to put a "drag chain" or trailer wheel chain on as well. Chaining on and off is a pain. Give yourself time to catch the weather window. Use your CB. Going south on I-5 use channel 17 in WA and OR, in California you'll find and equal number of drivers on 17 and 19. Going south, the advice to take 205 around Portland is good advice. No extra time cost, and better traffic situation usually. An option to I-5 if the Siskiyou mountains in Southern Oregon are going to be snowed in for a long time, 12 hours or more, would be east on 58 just south of Eugene, towards Oakridge, (commonly called the Oakridge-Weed cutoff) to 97 South, follow 97 south to Weed in California, and then get back onto I-5. It is a little bit farther, but less steep and generally less snow depth. It will all be 2 or 3 lane, not freeway, but in the winter, an awful lot of commercial drivers use that route to avoid chaining. Watch the weather (duh) and listen to the CB for the immediately near you traffic. You don't have to talk, but if Lorrie gets on the radio she will get answers. Listen for someone making the long haul, LA or SD and see what route they are using. Admittedly, the quality of long haul drivers on the average is not what it used to be 5-10 years ago, so don't count on them putting your chains on for you , or even being civil on the radio, but there are still some that are old school out there.
Wish you a great trip, travel safe,
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
I have run south on I-5 plenty, both winter and summer. For winter, know that if the chain sign is up, you have to chain up the motor home as well. If you are pulling a trailer, you will need to put a "drag chain" or trailer wheel chain on as well. Chaining on and off is a pain. Give yourself time to catch the weather window. Use your CB. Going south on I-5 use channel 17 in WA and OR, in California you'll find and equal number of drivers on 17 and 19. Going south, the advice to take 205 around Portland is good advice. No extra time cost, and better traffic situation usually. An option to I-5 if the Siskiyou mountains in Southern Oregon are going to be snowed in for a long time, 12 hours or more, would be east on 58 just south of Eugene, towards Oakridge, (commonly called the Oakridge-Weed cutoff) to 97 South, follow 97 south to Weed in California, and then get back onto I-5. It is a little bit farther, but less steep and generally less snow depth. It will all be 2 or 3 lane, not freeway, but in the winter, an awful lot of commercial drivers use that route to avoid chaining. Watch the weather (duh) and listen to the CB for the immediately near you traffic. You don't have to talk, but if Lorrie gets on the radio she will get answers. Listen for someone making the long haul, LA or SD and see what route they are using. Admittedly, the quality of long haul drivers on the average is not what it used to be 5-10 years ago, so don't count on them putting your chains on for you , or even being civil on the radio, but there are still some that are old school out there.
Wish you a great trip, travel safe,
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Larry H":2plkb5yg said:Warren,
I'm late getting into this discussion, but here is something I know.
Do NOT try to drive Hwy 299 in California from Hwy 101 to Redding!!
It is a 'sports car' road with two 3,000ft summits(with snow) and way more and tighter turns than Hwy 101!!
If you decide to drive Hwy 101 you will have to stay on it from the Calif/Oregon border until you reach the SF Bay Area.
Larry's right!
However, we have driven that route in our 38 foot motorhome, and frequently do the worst part, which is the tight, switchback, East side of Buckhorn Summit down to Whiskeytown Lake to get to the Trinity Mountains. Best damn sporty road course in Northern California! And the logging trucks make it very interesting! :lol:
Joe. :thup :teeth
jimandlaurie
New member
Guess I will put in my vote. I am on I-5 from between seattle and Medford every night. Tonight south , Friday north, off Saturday then back out southbound Sunday evening.
My trip down Tuesday night was a bad one snowed off and on all the way down , ODOT made us big rigs chain up at Canyonville mile post 99, and I unchained at the bottom of Sexton summit at mile 63. Our guys coming up from Cal had what ODOT calls "conditional closures" on Ashland. Last night , not as bad, but bad enough. We have had no break for a while for sure.
But that said, I would vote for I-5 for you Warren.
101 has it's own issues as everyone said before. Not sure what your tow-rig is, am sure it is just fine . The long range for next week looks like we might get a break for the good down that way.
My trip down Tuesday night was a bad one snowed off and on all the way down , ODOT made us big rigs chain up at Canyonville mile post 99, and I unchained at the bottom of Sexton summit at mile 63. Our guys coming up from Cal had what ODOT calls "conditional closures" on Ashland. Last night , not as bad, but bad enough. We have had no break for a while for sure.
But that said, I would vote for I-5 for you Warren.
101 has it's own issues as everyone said before. Not sure what your tow-rig is, am sure it is just fine . The long range for next week looks like we might get a break for the good down that way.
T.R. Bauer
New member
You guys are just lucky to have flowing water to launch you boats in this time of year....Now, you're complaining about a TINY bit of snow on the roads? Gosh, you guys are getting soft.....
Just got 2 sets of chains from from my local Les Schwab -- they have been very good to me, which was a surprise since I had not had particularly good experiences with LS in Utah. Not bad, just not outstanding. Anyhoo, LS has this program where you buy chains and then if you don't use them before April 1 you can return them for a full refund. Such a deal! So now I am ready! :amgry
Hi Warren,
It's getting late and my eyes may be mixed up a bit, but I thought I saw a post from you on another link, since your 2/3 leave date. So......how was the trip, and where did you go? Oh, BTW (By the Way) sure hope you are having a great time, travel safe>
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
It's getting late and my eyes may be mixed up a bit, but I thought I saw a post from you on another link, since your 2/3 leave date. So......how was the trip, and where did you go? Oh, BTW (By the Way) sure hope you are having a great time, travel safe>
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Harvey, we are in San Diego now, but no thanks to CalTrans. What a piece of crap I-5 is from Bakersfield to San Diego. I feel like I have been on a pogo stick for 8 hours. Bleagh! :disgust
No problems with snow. Beautiful KOA here in Chula Vista which is where the caravan assembles.
Warren
No problems with snow. Beautiful KOA here in Chula Vista which is where the caravan assembles.
Warren
Pat Anderson
New member
OK, Warren! Sandy Eggo is cool! Good luck the rest of the way! We will all be awaiting whatever reports you can post from Mexico!
Glad to hear you are in San Diego, Warren and Lori. We've done parts of I-5 in the last couple years... apparently the Governator isn't putting $$ into roads and bridges.
We've stayed in that campground when gathering for a caravan. It was nice to meet some of the other caravan folks before heading out.
If you are able to get any internet connections along the way, send some updates. As a preview, you can expect the campgrounds to not measure up to where you are right now... and you may have a new appreciation for CA roads before you're done. Keep a sense of humor. Expect to travel slow (our coach had a 6 speed transmission, and we never used the top gear our whole time in Baja), and be patient (and flexible) while everyone learns the caravan parking procedures. Enjoy the margaritas, the beaches, and the new friends you will make.
Hasta luego amigo,
Jim
We've stayed in that campground when gathering for a caravan. It was nice to meet some of the other caravan folks before heading out.
If you are able to get any internet connections along the way, send some updates. As a preview, you can expect the campgrounds to not measure up to where you are right now... and you may have a new appreciation for CA roads before you're done. Keep a sense of humor. Expect to travel slow (our coach had a 6 speed transmission, and we never used the top gear our whole time in Baja), and be patient (and flexible) while everyone learns the caravan parking procedures. Enjoy the margaritas, the beaches, and the new friends you will make.
Hasta luego amigo,
Jim
Warren,
How far south are you going? Just browsing the site and found you are in Mexico. I've spent lots of time on the Baja, mostly with an aircraft. Had a home in San Carlos, Sonora, across from Santa Rosalia, for ten years. Beautiful country. Great people.
Are you posting to another thread? I hope you do a "Great Adventure" like Wild Blue. It will keep us all glued to the site.
Have fun,
Gary
How far south are you going? Just browsing the site and found you are in Mexico. I've spent lots of time on the Baja, mostly with an aircraft. Had a home in San Carlos, Sonora, across from Santa Rosalia, for ten years. Beautiful country. Great people.
Are you posting to another thread? I hope you do a "Great Adventure" like Wild Blue. It will keep us all glued to the site.
Have fun,
Gary
garyk":1dot078a said:Warren,
How far south are you going?
Gary
Doryman wrote "Lori and I are meeting up in San Diego with our RV caravan on Sunday, leaving on Monday for Cabo."
This is from the Travel to Mexico thread on Feb. 6th.
Cheers!
Joe. :thup :teeth
garyk":1s76j35g said:How far south are you going? Just browsing the site and found you are in Mexico. I've spent lots of time on the Baja, mostly with an aircraft. Had a home in San Carlos, Sonora, across from Santa Rosalia, for ten years. Beautiful country. Great people.
Are you posting to another thread? I hope you do a "Great Adventure" like Wild Blue. It will keep us all glued to the site.
I'll do my best to emulate Jim's efforts but keep in mind he has the gift of gab and expressing myself about my own activities the way he does is a challenge. Also I am not sure what to expect in Mexico as far as being able to upload photos.
Warren