Community Forums

RussOnTheRoad · 11-09-2019, 04:40 PM

I'm wondering about the feasibility of traveling west from Lee Vining, CA on CA 120 through Yosemite to Manteca pulling a 34' 5th wheel (37' if you count the bike rack on back) with my 6.7 liter diesel dually.

I've driven this route many times in passenger vehicles but it has been some time and I've not ever thought about what it would be like to tow a trailer. Nor do I remember if I'd seen rigs like mine making the journey.

My fifth wheel is about 15K, and the truck has made every ascent and descent I've asked of it before including several crossings of the Rockies.

The truck has an engine brake and typically I don't need to use the brake pedal until downhill grades exceed 8% or so.

I'm less concerned about the uphills than I am about the downhill west of Groveland and any of the curves I'd encounter along the way.

Has anyone traveled this route in this direction with a truck and trailer similar to mine, and if so, would I be OK or would it be best to plan another route?

Agesilaus · 11-10-2019, 08:01 AM

We hauled our 34 ft fiver from Lee Vining down to the Valley--North Pines cg. With our 6.7L. And then back. No problem at all assuming Tioga Pass is open, which it is not right now.

twogypsies · 11-10-2019, 01:12 PM

According to this site, Tioga is open as of today.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Agesilaus · 11-11-2019, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

According to this site, Tioga is open as of today.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

OK someone posted two or three weeks ago that the park service announced that the pass was closing the next day. They must have cleared it since then.

RussOnTheRoad · 11-11-2019, 12:37 PM

Still wondering mostly Bout CA - 120 west of Yosemite and down the hill west of Groveland.

KCFDCapt · 11-12-2019, 07:53 AM

West of Groveland is doable. Stay on Hiway 120 as you come out of Priest. The cutoff is steep. I have set up a fire camp many time for fires around Yosemite. We bring in large trucks and equipment on 120. Drive like you know the road can be steep and traffic is around every bend. You will do fine.

RussOnTheRoad · 11-12-2019, 11:45 AM

I am wondering if there is an alternative route to 120 out on west side using CA 140 or CA 49 or some combination of the two. Our destination is Concord California Once we get to route 99 we should be fine.

RussOnTheRoad · 11-13-2019, 01:47 PM

UPDATE: Thanks everybody. We decided to travel California 58 to 99 N rather than 395 in part because many campgrounds along 395 are closed for the season. We also couldn't nail down boondocking locations in areas that matched the daily driving distances we needed.