Community Forums

TLGPE · 07-16-2014, 07:59 PM

Any advice on going through DV on 374 and hy 190 to reach the Yosemite area?
Tom

JacknKay · 07-16-2014, 08:04 PM

Did that once long ago in a 30' Bounder with 4 kids and a wife. The Bounder was fine, but it was a long haul up out of DV. From there that 395 North to just before Mono Lake and over then 120 to Yosemite. That's also a long haul, but doable. The roads are fine, just steep and long. I would do it again.

Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum

EZDZIT · 07-16-2014, 11:05 PM

111F forecast for tomorrow in Death Valley. 110F for the rest of the week. Just sayin'.

RV735 · 07-17-2014, 04:22 AM

TLGPE, We traveled from Yosemite to Las Vegas in Feb. and Mar. of this year in a 39 ft. Itasca Meridian. We exited DV on 190 to 373/127; very good road with no major grades. We stayed in Furnace Creek Resort (we would recommend). We entered from 395 on the west side to 190. We were surprised (we did not investigate the route) that we had to travel through a valley first, down to approx. 1000 feet elevation then over a 5000 foot pass before descending into DV! The road had 8% to 10% grades approx 10 miles, sharp hairpin turns with steep drop offs. You must take you time and go slow. Your exhaust brake is a must.

Very scenic. Many pictures taken. The picture taking distracted my DW form the steep drop offs.

Safe travels and THE JOY IS IN THE RIDE

TLGPE · 07-17-2014, 08:19 AM

Thanks for the replies. We have decided to chicken out and go around to the south via I-15. It's longer, but about as quick and probably uses less fuel.

We are going to stop along 395 and go up into Sequoia and visit DV by toad. Then we will go on up to Yosemite.

Thanks for the help.
Tom

Dennis_K · 07-17-2014, 10:15 AM

Unless you are prepared for 115+ degrees, stay out of Death Valley in the summer with your RV. Great place in the winter months.

hdossett · 07-17-2014, 01:00 PM

Just did that this spring. Actually hit a couple of the cooler days, campgrounds were already closed. DV to Lone Pine was a killer. I unhooked the towed, and transmissions temps still ran over 220* (scangaugeII). Then going down, the Transmission temp got around 240*. going up again, it barfed! Stopped at the top. TF dripping on exhaust pipe makes a lot of white "smoke". Someone said it was not bad to Lone Pine, they were right, nothing to speak of. Later, going up the grade south of Bishop, 10 miles @6%, TT leveled out at 210*.

Brought her after that, after adding 1 pt of fluid, with no problems in 100+ weather on I40 going East of Barstow. Changed the 18qts of fluid and added a second cooler. No signs of a leak, maybe came out a vent.

H.