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Road comments

Yahoo Message Number: 81153
I want any one that has driven on route 49 between Mariposa, Ca and Yosemite Jct, Ca to comment on whether its adviseable for a 40 footer.
Thank you

Fritz 1998 Allure 30223

Re: Road comments

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81159
I have driven Hwy 49 but it does not go to Yosemite.
You will need to take Hwy 41 or Hwy 120 or Hwy 140.
I have driven each of them in my 38 ft pusher towing a minivan. Take your time and enjoy the scenery.

Bob Wexler
SOB

Re: Road comments

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81172
Bob

I am interested in the stretch of road northwest of Mariposa on route 49 till the road meets route 120 going into Yosemite.
Fritz

From: Bob Wexler

1To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2012 11:29 AM Subject: Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Road comments

I have driven Hwy 49 but it does not go to Yosemite.
You will need to take Hwy 41 or Hwy 120 or Hwy 140.
I have driven each of them in my 38 ft pusher towing a minivan. Take your time and enjoy the scenery.

Bob Wexler
SOB

Re: Road comments

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81174
I would advise against using Highway 120, as the descent into Yosemite Valley is fairly steep and there are probably some tight clearances for a 40' coach. There are also few area to pull off, and California law does require that any vehicle with five or more vehicles trailing pull off at the first opportunity to let following vehicles pass. (Of course, as courteous motorhome drivers, we would all do that as a matter of course).;-)

From Mariposa, Highways 49 and 140 are one and the same. Just take 140 as it diverges from 49 just north of Mariposa and enjoy the scenery, as Bob says. El Portal is the most interesting stop along this route.
An alternative route would be to head south from Mariposa, to Oakhurst, whereupon you take Highway 41 into the park. That would give you a chance to stop at the Yosemite Mountain & Sugar Pine Railroad (narrow gauge steam tourist line) and also at the historic Wawona Lodge. This is a good deal longer route than via 140, but puts you proximate to Badger Pass.

Be advised: The last time we were in Yosemite Valley (some months, but not a year, ago) there was a great deal of road construction going on, so be patient; also remember there is no fuel in the Valley. Have enough to get in AND out. And in the summertime, finding parking for a motorhome is not easy. Best to find a place to park (unless you are in a campground) and ride the free shuttle; it covers all of the valley...get a map at the visitor center. It would make no sense to try to "commute" in a large motorhome in the Summer. Use the free, hybrid, low emission park shuttle. You and everybody else will be happier.:-)

Ken

'04 Allure #31035

Re: Road comments

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81184
I don't specifically remember that stretch of road but I have driven 49 from Colima to Auburn. Many times as well as hwy 1 fro San Simian to Big Sir and I doubt 49 is any worse.
Just be prepared to take your time. Some stretches may only be 15 MPH.
Bob WEXLER
SOB

Re: Road comments

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81186
I am not going to the Yalley floor but staying at a RV park near Groveland.I totally understand your comments on parking.its hard enough finding a spot for a car if you do not have campsite.I am coming up from the south and trying to find another way to Groveland because it was recommended that I use route 120 from Manteca which would add about 70 miles to the trip. The quality of road indicated on a AAA State map,I feel, would not present any problems. I have found myself, by mistake, on some roads that I probably would not try again and by being cautious I was able to pass without incident Thanks everyone for the comments Fritz 1998 Allure 30223

From: Ken Harrison

To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2012 10:14 PM Subject: Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Road comments

I would advise against using Highway 120, as the descent into Yosemite Valley is fairly steep and there are probably some tight clearances for a 40' coach. There are also few area to pull off, and California law does require that any vehicle with five or more vehicles trailing pull off at the first opportunity to let following vehicles pass. (Of course, as courteous motorhome drivers, we would all do that as a matter of course).;-)

From Mariposa, Highways 49 and 140 are one and the same. Just take 140 as it diverges from 49 just north of Mariposa and enjoy the scenery, as Bob says. El Portal is the most interesting stop along this route.
An alternative route would be to head south from Mariposa, to Oakhurst, whereupon you take Highway 41 into the park. That would give you a chance to stop at the Yosemite Mountain & Sugar Pine Railroad (narrow gauge steam tourist line) and also at the historic Wawona Lodge. This is a good deal longer route than via 140, but puts you proximate to Badger Pass.

Be advised: The last time we were in Yosemite Valley (some months, but not a year, ago) there was a great deal of road construction going on, so be patient; also remember there is no fuel in the Valley. Have enough to get in AND out. And in the summertime, finding parking for a motorhome is not easy. Best to find a place to park (unless you are in a campground) and ride the free shuttle; it covers all of the valley...get a map at the visitor center. It would make no sense to try to "commute" in a large motorhome in the Summer. Use the free, hybrid, low emission park shuttle. You and everybody else will be happier.:-)

Ken

'04 Allure #31035

Re: Road comments

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81192
Fritz,

Last year we did route 120 (also call New Priest Grade Road) from route 49 (Moccasin Reservoir) up to Groveland with our 40' and toad, its a newer road, VERY CURVY, just barely enough for passing a truck with your MC. There are no guard rails, nothing but a steep dropoff... Very nervous ride up, and the transmission went HOT about 3/4 way up with no place to stop, just had to keep the pedal to the floor in 1st or 2nd. My wife basically laid on the couch with her hands over her eyes the whole way. We returned to route-49 few days later with the toad disconnected, in 1st gear (there is no other way out of Groveland except into Yosemete and that is also not a fun ride either). No interest in doing that route again.. Also note there is a parallel route to Groveland going up what they call Old Priest Grade with signs saying only cars with good cooling systems and brakes allowed, cant imagine what a ride that would be. On the map the road is harmless looking, but take notice its not.....(try bing maps in birds eye view).
Have a great time.

Jerry Moore
10 Scenic Way

Middletown, NJ 07748
jmoorepb@...
732-233-4797

2005 Aspire 40' #51241
2012 Jeep GC
FMCA F29186

Re: Road comments

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81193
Years ago we went up 120. No problems. But coming down I was looking for a ditch to lay it in!!!!!! Lock it in 1st. Don't exceed 10mph and don't worry about the traffic behind you.

Never again in a motorhome for me.

Bruce 2001 Intrigue #11278

Re: Road comments - Yosemite

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81203
I visited Yosemite in September of '04 in my 40 foot Beaver Monterey. I entered and departed Yosemite from the east, via Lee Vining. As you depart Lee Vining on route 120, the road is very steep for a very long distance. As I recall there is an altitude gain of around 5000 feet in about 10 miles. While the coach was able to climb this hill, I had concern from rising transmission temperatures. I saw transmission temperatures approaching 235 degrees which I have never seen either before or after this in 24,000 miles of driving the coach, much of it in the Rockies and other mountains of the west. I pulled over to let the transmission cool and successfully completed the climb, but it made me a bit uneasy as I wondered whether the temp would have continued to rise, and how far.
After passing the high section, you begin to descend in the western portion of route 120. This descent is narrow, steep and very twisty. You will be turning the wheel constantly back and forth for at least a half hour as you descend toward the valley. After you leave highway 120 and take highway 41 toward Yosemite valley there are two tunnels that you pass through. I had no problem with the first tunnel, but as you round a bend and see the second tunnel appear, there is a sign that says "clearance 10.5 feet". Because the tunnel appears quickly after rounding a blind corner, by the time I saw this sign it was impossible to stop. Even had I been able to stop, it would have been impossible to turn around or even back up on the at narrow twisty road. You are very much committed to transiting this tunnel. The tunnel has a rounded top so that the center is higher than the sides. I crowded the centerline of the narrow road to get as far from the curb as I could, and I made it through unscathed. But let me tell you it was a scare. When I later saw the sign again, it said that the 10.5 feet clearance was at the curb. But there was no sign to indicate the clearance at the center, and since I could not ride down the centerline, even that information would not have told me what I needed to know.
We set up camp with difficulty at the North Pines campground where we had a reservation. It was very difficult to fit between the trees as the campground is really not set up for big rigs. With great care we got and a lot of back and forth we got in and out with no tree damage despite some branches rubbing the top and sides of our coach.
We were prepared for the Valley to be crowded but what we did not expect was the smoke. Every night nearly all the campers light campfires. Since the valley is a dead end, the smoke just sits there and cannot escape. The air pollution makes LA smog look good by comparison. Despite the heat which was over 90 degrees in the daytime, we were forced to keep all our windows closed in order to be able to breathe, especially at night. We could not open the windows to cool the coach at night because of the smoke, and could only run the generator and air conditioning a few hours a day because of rules on generator use. This really spoiled Yosemite for us.
The whole time we were there, I was in fear of transiting that tunnel on the way out. It caused me to lay awake at night. I wanted to be able to drive right down the centerline, straddling both lanes of the tunnel in order to have maximum clearance. But this would be disaster if there were oncoming traffic. The tunnel is only about ΒΌ mile long but it is curved so you can't see the far end as you enter it. I decided that the best course of action was to leave at first light so the traffic would be light, and I had my wife precede me through the tunnel in the car. We were in radio contact, and she rode down the center line with her flashing lights on. I waited outside the tunnel until she got to the other side, and so blocked the oncoming lane with her lights flashing. I then drove through the tunnel, right down the center so as to avoid the 10.5 foot clearance at the sides. The strategy worked and I was very relieved to get out with the coach unharmed.
Descending the long steep grade back into Lee Vining was another worry. My Acura has a US Gear Unified Two brake, so it would not be pushing us down the hill. But it still took careful attention to speed and a lot of skill not to overheat the coach brakes. I pumped them judiciously as we descended the hill in 2nd gear with the exhaust brake. Oh, how I would love a Jake brake!
I don't know if the approach from the west has the same tunnel problems, but we needed to come and go from the east. So despite the beauty of Yosemite, I would not think of going there again in this coach. In fact, I would not go there in any Class A because of the tunnel. And the campground is very unfriendly to any coach over 34 feet. As for the smoke problem, this would stop me from camping there overnight in any type of camping rig, even a tent.

Marc

2003 Beaver Monterey

Re: Road comments

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81204
OMG! I was on the couch with your wife, just reading your email of that trip!!!! My hubby won't be going that way soon!!!!! Kay of Kay and Allan in our 99 Affinity

Re: Road comments

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81263
Hello all.

We are looking at going from Merced, CA, on route 140, to route 120 and over to Tonopah, NV, the end of September. Is that a doable (read safe) route for a 45 ft, towing a jeep? Reading all these comments, I'm thinking I need to skip Yosemite or find a place to park and take the jeep into the park. Still would need a place to park the beast. Albuquerque is the eastern destination. Thanks for your advice!

George, wb5ldn
08 Affinity 6877

Re: Road comments

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81265
George,

NO...

You are better off going north to I-80 East at Sacramento, I-80 E > Reno >Ferney, Alt US 95 South, >Yerrington >Hawthorne >Tonopah.

It's farther but a lot easier and safer. (My opinion).

Michael

05 Inspire 51381

**************************************** Michael Title

Halfmoon Bay, BC, Canada
CDN Cell: 604.741.3328

San Miguel De Allende, GTO Mexico MEX Cell: [52] 415.100.1543

Re: Road comments

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81269
I have done that route many times in both directions but you will want to check the weather before you go. There could be snow on Tioga Pass that time of year. I have even seen snow there in July.
My son was just in Yosemite and he says Yosemite Falls were almost dry. People were actually standing under the falls.
Bob WEXLER
97 TRADITION

Re: Road comments

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81287
To do that, you have to use Tioga Pass (highway 120). Once past Crane Flat (the junction of the Big Oak Flat Road and highway 120), the road becomes increasingly narrow and in some places there are close clearances. After topping out at around 9400' elevation, you would then encounter a very long downgrade of maybe 8-9% all the way to Lee Vining. In short, I would strongly advise against this route with your setup.

You really need to go up to US50 and over the Sierra that way.
By the way, in California I think that RVs over 40' are restricted to Interstates and access roads to and from Interstates (unless the driver has a commercial license). If that is true, you'd need to go up to I-80.

Ken

2004 Allure #31035

P.S. I'm not certain the Trucker's Atlas would give you any help here. Commercial trucking is prohibited through Yosemite National Park.

Re: Road comments - Yosemite

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81324
Reading your post reminded me of our visit last year with very similar expeiences. Seeing the first tunnel almost stopped my heart but I was fortunate that there was no oncoming traffic and transited it right down the middle. New York State Parkways are for cars only and for good reason as their crowned underpasses are 10'5" in the middle. I was lucky to be able to exit before I tore off my A/C units.
The second curved tunnel as you pointed out was more exciting then the first and again I went down the middle only moving over slightly to allow oncoming traffic to pass with much horn blowing, flashing lights and finger waving. The State could use better signs to indicate what the clearance is down the middle rather than the sides and maybe earlier warnings. The other unnerving part was the low rock wall to keep you from going over the side. I understand its purpose however it is very intimidating and I hate to imagine the damage it would cause to the side if one was to rub up against it, hence I probably crowded the center line even more. While not as good looking a steel guard rail might be more practical. I've driven over 100K in my coach and California by far has the most exciting roads. Colorado would be second. And I love my Jake brake!

Ed McManus....'02 Intrigue....11361

Re: Road comments - Yosemite

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 81346
Ed, NY State Thruways are pretty well marked. BUT many drivers do not care or can't read or can't comprehend or just don't know how tall their rig is. We travel on the Merrit Pky which starts in NY. I can't remember how many times we've seen trucks (not tractor trailer) and motorhomes start out passing signs that warn about overheight and exit now. But they keep going. There used to be a radar-type sensor which flashed bright lights stating EXIT NOW you're overheight and they kept going past them. DUH! I was always hoping to see a roof air come off so I could stop and laugh. But never happened.

bill 'n barb, poconos of pa, 1998 prevost cc 40' xl #30365

PS: We were in our cars, not our motorhome when on the Merritt.