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Originally Posted by JacknKay
How would it be to drive up CA Hiway 49 from Oakhurst to Sonora? I know there are a lot of curves and hills. We have a 29 ft A with a toad. Is it doable?
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The Oakhurst to Sonora section of Highway 49 is probably the least friendly section to long vehicle configurations like you are driving. While it is doable, it won't be fun and it's generally not recommended. This route has some nice wide, gentle grades but has it also some fairly tight curves on narrow roadway. In addition some of these tight twist sections are on long grades up and long grades down. If you aren't already experienced driving in these conditions, this road isn't the place to learn. It would be a lot more comfortable to the RV driver if the toad were driven separately.
There are numerous sections that are hacked out of the side of a mountain. One side straight down, without guard rails, the other side straight up. These are the narrow twisty bits with grades. Traveling from Oakhurst to Sonora you will be on the straight up side. You will be crossing over the center dividing line on some of those curves without much sight line (i.e., blind). Almost the entire road section between Coulterville and Moccasin is narrow and on a cliff side, going up grade from Coulterville and then down grade to Moccasin.
There are some grades that are fairly steep and you'll need to be judicious with your brake use. Use engine braking as much as possible. Cars will back up behind you and in some cases there won't be a safe pull out for several miles.
If you must do it then don't travel on a weekend or holiday. There is much more traffic then. Also weekends bring out ten times the motorcycle traffic.
I live off highway 49 between Placerville and Auburn and the conditions I describe occur here too.
There are roads to most of the bigger towns from the Central Valley that are driveable with your RV and toad--providing you don't mind retracing your route (bigger is relative, Sonora is the biggest of all these small towns).
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