California Grapevine

[Retiredsorta]

I'm planning a trip to the Redwoods in Northern CA. My trip there will take me over the Grapevine on I5. I've crossed it a few times but never pulling a TT. Should I plan on just getting in the right trucker lane and stay there. Grapevine is a long straight steep climb and descent. I appreciate any response from anyone that has crossed it pulling a TT/FW.

[halfprice]

I'll be taking the same route the end of August. I plan on being at the Grapevine around 5 am so the traffic should be light.

Which lane will depend on your speed. I always start out in the right lane but if someones in my way I'll pass to the left. If I'm not slowing anyone down I'll stay in the #3 lane.

SO I guess I'm saying pick a lane that is going your speed and have fun. Watch the down hill speeds and your brakes.

Jerry

[jsmith948]

The extreme r/h lane is designated as trucks only - you should stay out of the truck lane. Be alert for semi's making sudden lane changes. If they are experiencing hot brakes they will have no choice but to change lanes even though they are limited to 35mph. It is a serious hill. 5 plus miles of 6+ %.
Start off the hill at 45 to 50 mph and let the engine do as much of the braking as possible and you should be fine.
If, by chance, you encounter a semi riding your bumper - don't be "dead right" - get out of his way.:)

[christopherglenn]

Tow/haul, and keep the rpm's up - don't let the tranny keep shifting between gears. I pull it at 50-55 - with a duramax, you may be spending some time in the 30's. On the way down put it in third, maybe second and use the engine to keep speeds down. The slower you start the top of the hill, the farther you get before needing the breaks.

[Courtland]

Going up is not a problem, 55+ with the new Ford, going down I usually stick it in third gear and roll down the hill in that gear tapping the breaks if needed. I will be pulling the new 42 foot trailer over the grapevine tomorrow and plan to go down the hill in third gear (I can switch the truck to manual and select the gear I am in), between third gear and being in tow/haul mode I will probably be doing around 45 down the hill with minimal use of the brakes. Just be careful and dont burn up your brakes, thats the last thing you want to do.

[f6bits]

I’ve not tried this with a trailer, but lots of new cars and trucks have cruise control that’ll downshift to keep your speed *down* to what you set it to when going down a steep hill.

[JRTJH]

I’ve not tried this with a trailer, but lots of new cars and trucks have cruise control that’ll downshift to keep your speed *down* to what you set it to when going down a steep hill.

On your F150, put the transmission in Tow/Haul and it will downshift to keep the transmission in a gear to help reduce your downhill speed.

[f6bits]

Ah, so that only works in Tow/Haul? I think on my Grand Cherokee, it worked that way all the time when in cruise control, and thought all makes would do the same, whether in Tow/Haul or not.

[JRTJH]

On the F150, Cruise control "controls speed" to maintain a setting only by using the accellerator. That is to say it only goes "up" but doesn't control any "slowing down" other than removing tension on the accellerator. It doesn't downshift the transmission in coast, but will downshift to maintain or increase a speed setting during the accelleration phase when using the speed control.. ie: if you activate the "resume" feature (say setting is for 65MPH) when the vehicle speed is 35MPH, the cruise may cause the transmission to downshift to a lower gear during accelleration. But it won't downshift a vehicle going 70MPH to maintain the 65MPH setting unless the transmission is in Tow/Haul.

Most all manufacturers now program the torque converter to lock up early and maintain lock status until a shift is programmed to occur. That gives some engine braking capability in the current gear, but on the F150, that will not cause the transmission to downshift to a lower gear to maintain a "cruise control setting" unless the gear selector is set in Tow/Haul.

[eds451]

Living in Bakersfield, just north of LA and over the infamous grapevine (I-5), we have travelled it many times. Cal-Trans is doing a lot of work right now, so traffic is reduced from 4 to 2 or 1 lane over the ridge in many places. This makes driving more tenuous, especially towing. The hardest will be right out of Santa Clarita. That is longest and hardest pull going north. Keep it in tow/haul and watch your trans temps. You'll do fine.

[halfprice]

Living in Bakersfield, just north of LA and over the infamous grapevine (I-5), we have travelled it many times. Cal-Trans is doing a lot of work right now, so traffic is reduced from 4 to 2 or 1 lane over the ridge in many places. This makes driving more tenuous, especially towing. The hardest will be right out of Santa Clarita. That is longest and hardest pull going north. Keep it in tow/haul and watch your trans temps. You'll do fine.

Great. I'm heading out on Tuesday and should be at the Grape vine around noon. I was hoping to miss traffic but the shut down of lanes may hurt me.

Are the lanes shut down on both side of the pass.

Jerry

[jsmith948]

Great. I'm heading out on Tuesday and should be at the Grape vine around noon. I was hoping to miss traffic but the shut down of lanes may hurt me.

Are the lanes shut down on both side of the pass.

Jerry

It's about 45 miles further, but, you could always take Hwy 14 up through Antelope Valley, Palmdale, Rosemond, Mojave - then SR 58 over Tehachapi to Bakersfield. Much easier grades. Can't speak to traffic - with the construction on I-5, you probably won't be alone over on SR 58 - FWIW:)

[Lundy]

I avoid the Grapevine at all costs, not only for the grade and traffic, but also for the condition of the road. From Santa Clarita all the way to Hwy 99 it is the roughest stretch of road I have every been down. It beats the living crap out of trailers. I live in San Diego and whenever I need to go North my chossen route is I15 to 138 to 14 to 58. I would rather spend an extra hour or so then to subject my trailer to such punishment. Plus I find the traffic issues much less on this route which can make up for some of the extra time. Nothing I can do to save the gas, but I feel as thought I will make it up is less repairs to the trailer from too much I5.

[jsmith948]

I avoid the Grapevine at all costs, not only for the grade and traffic, but also for the condition of the road. From Santa Clarita all the way to Hwy 99 it is the roughest stretch of road I have every been down. It beats the living crap out of trailers. I live in San Diego and whenever I need to go North my chossen route is I15 to 138 to 14 to 58. I would rather spend an extra hour or so then to subject my trailer to such punishment. Plus I find the traffic issues much less on this route which can make up for some of the extra time. Nothing I can do to save the gas, but I feel as thought I will make it up is less repairs to the trailer from too much I5.

X2 on your route - haven't been across the Pear Blossom Hwy in a number of years - used to be O.K. in a semi - sure beats all of the lights in the ever growing Adalanto area!

[TimothyJ]

You've probably done your traveling by now, but for future reference...
I gotta go with the suggestions about bypassing I-5 N from the LA basin. Specifically to the construction, all's it takes is one stalled vehicle or other incident, and there you are...sitting. Until it clears. Then you get into the lane merge thing when lanes are closed. Take your time and go 'round.

[howdy]

I avoid the Grapevine at all costs, not only for the grade and traffic, but also for the condition of the road. From Santa Clarita all the way to Hwy 99 it is the roughest stretch of road I have every been down. It beats the living crap out of trailers.

This is about the only reason to avoid the Grapevine besides snow and construction. The incline and decline are pretty easy and nothing to worry about.The condition of the roads are horrible from Grapevine into LA. When we go back down south this summer we will be going around.

[roy 24689]

I avoid the Grapevine at all costs, not only for the grade and traffic, but also for the condition of the road. From Santa Clarita all the way to Hwy 99 it is the roughest stretch of road I have every been down. It beats the living crap out of trailers. I live in San Diego and whenever I need to go North my chossen route is I15 to 138 to 14 to 58. I would rather spend an extra hour or so then to subject my trailer to such punishment. Plus I find the traffic issues much less on this route which can make up for some of the extra time. Nothing I can do to save the gas, but I feel as thought I will make it up is less repairs to the trailer from too much I5.

would like to know if there are steep hills going up on 58.i dont like the idea going up the grapevine at all. thanks roy

[halfprice]

THis post is a little old, but I can say I took the 5 from Whittier over the grape vine up norht with no problems at all. There was a small strech of one lane due to the construction but it moved just fine.

My truck handled the climb no problem at all. I'll be doing it again the end of August for my annual trip to Bodega Bay.

Jerry

[Paul Fuller]

I know this is an older thread but I will give it a shot. In 2012 my wife and I relocated from SW Florida to Santa Cruz, Ca. We towed an older 30' TT with an F150 FX4 through the grapevine heading north. The uphill was fine, the downhill grade was a different story with hot brakes at the bottom of the hill. Now here we are in Sept 2013 with a new 2013 F150 EcoBoost and a 2014 Cougar High Country 315RES and we may be relocating back to SW Florida. I have heard the downhill decent heading south on I-5 is a much less grade compared to the northbound. Can anyone confirm or give me some information. The truck tows the new 5'er beautifully and has done well in the Santa Cruz mountain range.

Appreciate any feedback.

[filmtex]

I lived in Southern California most of my life, currently make San Antonio, TX our home. I have travelled the Grapevine literally hundreds of times but only once since we left in 1997. Last Christmas we drove from San Diego to Monterey to visit our kids and I was amazed at how much they had civilized the road. It is true as far as I remember, that the southbound transit is much easier than northbound. There was, however, a lot of construction through the pass, mainly on the south side of Lebec. Click here (http://www.localconditions.com/weather-grapevine-california/93243/traffic.php) for traffic updates and use the little blue camera icons to check the current conditions. One of them will show you the area of the truck escape ramps-on the northbound side just before Bakersfield cut-off.

[halfprice]

THe 5, Grape Vine isn't a problem at all. Yes they are doing some construction but traffic moved fast. I drive this two times a year and never had a problem. Yes if there is an accident it will get backed up but in SO Cal an accident on any highway-freeway will back it up.

I drive a 2011 Chevy 2500. Up hill or down hill wasn't a problem. The truck automatically downshifts when going down hill so I don't need to apply the brakes very often.

I think more people fear the Grade Vine because of stories they heard not be their actual experience with it.

When south bound after getting off the Grape Vine I would suggest taking the 210 east then catch whatever freeway you need from there. THe 5 through downtown LA sucks.

Jerry

[filmtex]

Absolutely. Great tip. Love the 210. It goes all the way through the San Gabriel Valley and ends up hitting the I-10 out in Redlands. Great shortcut around downtown LA.

[vwags]

Yes if memory serves the southern side is longer and less steep than the northern side. The south side has some flat spots that level out for a bit.