Community Forums

rgvtexan · 09-02-2016, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stripe34

Awesome road! ...on a motorcycle :-)

Fun in the MGB

We enjoyed the "Million Dollar Highway" in a 40' DP with Toad. Late Sept 14, the trees were in their glory!

Espinazo del Diablo Although we didn't drive it we did get to cross, in a BIG Dana Bus!

http://www.dangerousroads.org/north-...lo-mexico.html

The Devil's Backbone in Mexico. We were on our Copper Canyon trip.

BrianGlenn · 09-02-2016, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

You asked about a book.... although this is not for scary roads, it's an excellent resource for mountain roads - some you shouldn't be on and many that are perfectly o.k. We love mountain driving and haven't encountered any scary roads, including Colorado's 550 from Durango to Ouray. Of course, we love roller coasters, too!

Mountain Directory for Truckers, RV, and Motorhome Drivers

I bought this book years ago and use it religiously. I see they now have an iPhone/ipad app. Highly recommended as it provides info on grades, pass elevations, etc. Knowledge is helpful for planning routes...

Brian

jimmy braden · 09-02-2016, 07:21 PM

The FIRST time I drove a DP was on a section of a tex highway21 - ( just about the only way to get the state of tx railroad between palestine and rusk) with a saturn station wagon behind. The owner wanted to have some scotch I brought so he handed off the driving about halfway in. Road had no shoulders. That was when I was younger. Even with no DP and toad experience, I think my vision was better and reactions and I could deal with it better than I might now. No desire to toad very soon.. certainly better planning involved if so.

Oh, and I think theres a thing called tail of the dragons (AKA deals gap ten) in the blueridge parkway you might want to not just try to zip through.

georgelesley · 09-03-2016, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pickelhead

Deals Gap, NC US 129 on the TN/NC border 11 miles/318 curves

That road called "the tail of the dragon" is posted for 30' max length now. I have done it twice this year in my 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider. Lots of fun in it, not so much with a bigger vehicle.

Crabb E · 09-03-2016, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvadventure

I just made the mistake last week with not verifying a road with an Atlas and took the route that my Garmin RV-760 recommended, and it was 27 miles of hell! It was Mountain View rd out of Booneville Calif. going to Manchester Calif. It had 16% grades and hairpin turns all through it. Most of the time it was only wide enough for the motor home. Most of the coast range roads are slow and curvy, and we have been down all of them, including up and down highway -1, but I will pass on this one next time. We spend about 90% of our travels in the Siera's or the coast, so we pretty use to challenging roads, and actually kind of like them.Regards

Amen Brother!
Gramin lies!!!
We live in Philo, just north of Booneville and don't take the Mountain View Rd, Greenwood Rd, Fish Rock Rd in our motorhome and it's a short one. Beautiful country but these roads were never made for motorhomes. Come visit our neck of the woods but don't take these roads unless you want to be scared.

Smitty77 · 09-03-2016, 11:34 AM

We do have mentioned Mountain Book Directories Western book, and we do consult it when planning routes. It has dated some, but will check out the phone App's to see if they've made any updates.

I still do most of our major route planing via MS Street & Trip. We then check the recommended routes, and adjust based upon points of interests or side points we wish to see. Check the Mountain Book. And then finally, check the Truckers Atlas.

If I only had one to take with us for planning routes, it would be the printed Truckers Atlas. We have a smaller overall rig, 40' with CRV toad, and basically check our route to ensure the roads we travel are OK for trucks.

And yes, our DEZL 560 has suggested some really unusual routes. Even in Truck mode, with our length loaded, it will attempt to send us on some roads that are not appropriate. We for now, travel with it set to Auto mode. And also it will sometimes take us 50 miles, to go 10 miles

! That is where the printed Trucker Atlas really helps

!

Travel safe, have fun, take the time to do your own 'sanity' test of suggested routes

!
Smitty

dix39 · 09-03-2016, 12:23 PM

Scary to me is Denver, Atlanta, I-15 from Provo to SLC, and just about any other major city at around 8:00 AM or 5:00PM.

After growing up on a farm in rural NE WV other roads don't scare me, but they do have my respect.

Just my 2c.

Steve

slickest1 · 09-03-2016, 12:41 PM

Having driven Log trucks in BC for 35 years I have seen some pretty hairy steep narrow unforgiving roads and it becomes second nature as other jobs to in other fields.

That said my DW will have near panic attacks on a road where you can see over the edge, or there is no shoulder or steep up and down.

I do have to pick the better routes but have had a few surprises on different roads. It either gets very quiet in the co-pilot seat or very noisy!!

We took the 299 out of Redding Ca. to the coast a couple years back and while it is not the ideal road, it did not bother me that much. By time we got to the coast she was frazzled. We both have to enjoy the trip so planning is key to a happy trip.

Wayne MD · 09-04-2016, 12:09 AM

Isn't that 299 route a trip? IF anyone has seasick problems,better stay away from this route. Endless curves everywhere.

slickest1 · 09-04-2016, 11:49 AM

It is not a relaxing drive in a 40 ft. with a toad. There was also alot of construction when we crossed.

jerboy · 09-04-2016, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

You asked about a book.... although this is not for scary roads, it's an excellent resource for mountain roads - some you shouldn't be on and many that are perfectly o.k. We love mountain driving and haven't encountered any scary roads, including Colorado's 550 from Durango to Ouray. Of course, we love roller coasters, too!

Mountain Directory for Truckers, RV, and Motorhome Drivers

Silverton to Ouray is known locally as RED MT. Summer OK but Winter??????

As Dirty Harry said," A man has to know his limitations."

Stealth01 · 09-04-2016, 05:02 PM

Google Maps, Satellite View is your friend... Garmin wanted us to take Highway 14 over the Big Horn Mountains... After "flying" the road using Google Maps we took Highway 16 over the mountains... I always take 5 minutes and "pre-fly" the roads before we take off!!

Det3033 · 09-04-2016, 05:04 PM

Go to Order the Mountain Directory East & West Printed Books These two books that have saved me many times and have prepared me for the upcoming grades. Both books were recently update (2015) and Cost $31.90. These books should be on every coach.

Stealth01 · 09-05-2016, 10:04 AM

IF you have an iPad or iPhone, there is an App called In-Route. Using In-Route. You can "lay in" a route or trip to include start date and duration of of each stop and the App will provide elevation, by mileage, curviness by mileage, Weather to include Temperature, Humidity, Precipitation and Windspeed. It's my go to App when traveling!!