El Paso, TX bypass

Cougar Jim · 03-05-2021, 06:18 AM

There is a up hill bypass that goes around El Paso. Is the road okay for RVs?

Ibdagriz · 03-05-2021, 07:05 AM

If you're talking about Hwy375, it's ok for rv use, but lots of truck on it.

Griz

Cougar Jim · 03-05-2021, 07:26 AM

Griz....thanks for the info but I’ll bet it’s a lot safer than going thru the city. I’ll give it a try in April.

**sourdough** · 03-05-2021, 09:20 AM

Jim what route are you planning thru the city (going from/to)? You don't want to go "through" the city as in getting off the Interstates or main highways.

Ibdagriz · 03-05-2021, 09:27 AM

Truly never had any issues going through El Paso and I have done it lots of times as I lived in LA for a dozen years and came though there 2 or 3 times a year.

Funny as I would always hit it around 4-5 PM as it was halfway between LA and Houston. Leaving at 4AMish either way, always put me there 12 hours later.

Stay in the middle lane when towing and just keep right on trucking.

Griz

**sourdough** · 03-05-2021, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibdagriz

Truly never had any issues going through El Paso and I have done it lots of times as I lived in LA for a dozen years and came though there 2 or 3 times a year.

Funny as I would always hit it around 4-5 PM as it was halfway between LA and Houston. Leaving at 4AMish either way, always put me there 12 hours later.

Stay in the middle lane when towing and just keep right on trucking.

Griz

There is a difference between staying on major, multilaned highways vs going "through" the city which I have many, many times since I lived about 1 1/4 hrs. away. Not at all conducive to pulling a large RV which is why I asked.

Ibdagriz · 03-05-2021, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

There is a difference between staying on major, multilaned highways vs going "through" the city which I have many, many times since I lived about 1 1/4 hrs. away. Not at all conducive to pulling a large RV which is why I asked.

Sorry for the confusion as I was still talking to Jim about going through El Paso or using the bypass to go around the city. Never thought he was talking about going street level versus I-10.

Griz

**sourdough** · 03-05-2021, 10:17 AM

I'm probably the one confused but many folks go to El Paso, and into El Paso, for lots of reasons; just wanted to make sure that the plan was to just "keep on going" vs trying to "check out stuff" in some places you might not want to be in.

If just passing through any of the interstates/major highways will work without much issue. At times I10 will back up during the rush hours but nothing at all like some of the larger metro areas around the country.

roadglide · 03-05-2021, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cougar Jim

There is a up hill bypass that goes around El Paso. Is the road okay for RVs?

Guess you’re going east to west on I 10. The Bypass is called transmountain 375. The Mountain is steep and winding not many big rigs go over it. I would prefer going through El Paso any day on I 10 east or west over most large city’s . Trans mountain from 1 to 5 would be 4 Brutal for 15 miles of of good 2 lane road .

**JRTJH** · 03-05-2021, 10:53 AM

Every time we've gone through El Paso we've just stayed on I-10 and "kept on bookin"... We've never had an issue with anything other than a bit of traffic congestion. Certainly nothing that would make me want to "stop and wait out this craziness"...

I'd prefer rush hour in El Paso on the interstate to 4AM on I-75 through Atlanta... By comparison, El Paso is literally "leisurely driving"...

travelin texans · 03-05-2021, 11:02 AM

Lost count how many times I've towed a 40' 5th wheel with a CC dually straight through El Paso on I-10 since retirement, the only issue is the never ending road construction, but never paused more than a few minutes.
As already mentioned pick one of the center lanes & go, just be sure to fuel up before going in or have plenty to get through.

CedarCreekWoody · 03-05-2021, 11:07 AM

I always take the bypass around El Paso, due to heavy traffic. I then bypass towing over the mountain. This bypass is explained in a thread I started on another forum. Read it here:

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...in-156542.html

Cougar Jim · 03-05-2021, 01:31 PM

Gee guys it looks like I received a lot of opinions 😳

Over the years I have traveled through El Paso on I 10 with my 42’ Moho and towing a Jeep many times. Now that we have a Ram and small trailer I just thought maybe the upcountry road would be different.

I’ll still consider it in April on our trip to FL.

CedarCreekWoody · 03-05-2021, 02:04 PM

Just to be clear we had no problems towing over the mountain with my Ram but my wife is not comfortable with the mountains is the reason we use the bypass. For us either is preferable to driving through town.

bobz89013 · 03-05-2021, 02:29 PM

Well I usually take the Anthony cut off from I10 then left on Trans Mountain until it hits I1o again. Heck I remember when Anthony was 2 lane blacktop and Trans Mountain ended at McCombs. Grew up there

LewisB · 03-05-2021, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobz89013

Well I usually take the Anthony cut off from I10 then left on Trans Mountain until it hits I1o again. Heck I remember when Anthony was 2 lane blacktop and Trans Mountain ended at McCombs. Grew up there

I concur with the above. El Paso was in my operating area as a pipeline employee for over 30 years - retired now (yay)! Spent massive amounts of time in/around El Paso. I also worked in Phoenix, San Diego, and LA, so I was accustomed to large cities and freeways. The thing that always bothered me about El Paso over the other areas was the number of El Paso cars on the freeway that had significant sheet metal damage - and drove like they didn't care. In El Paso, it seemed like finding a car that had NOT been in a fender bender was next to impossible.

I realize this is all very subjective and others might disagree. But I would definitely take the Transmountain by-pass when we pull our trailer (which doesn't have a bunch of dents) through El Paso. It's a steep but fairly short pull and downgrade; as long as that doesn't bother you, I think it is MUCH better than the old I-10 route through the middle of town.

JMHO.

Zenitrame · 03-11-2021, 08:40 PM

I think you’re talking about highway (loop) 375, aka Transmountain Road. If so, I have taken my Cougar 26RKS through there BUT, currently there is major construction on it on the west side of the mountain. Traffic is down to one lane. Tight at times. Also, be aware that it is a bit steep. Nothing major but be ready to downshift as needed.

Traffic on I-10 does get heavy starting around 3pm until around 6/7pm. It’s especially heavy going east at this time.

Hope this helps.

Milo

jjlaroch · 03-12-2021, 12:58 PM

Yes, there is Loop 375. However, when you get to the northeast side of town, you have a couple of choices to make. 1. continue on Loop 375 until you hook up again with Interstate Highway 10 (I 10) on the other side of Transmountain Road. When you get to Transmountain Road, traffic goes down to one lane going over the mountain. Some people like to sight see when they drive over it. Lookie Loos. There is only a very short section at the top that's two lanes. I have a fiver and live in El Paso. I won't go over Transmountain with it. 2. Go south on US 54 before you go over the mountain and take it to I 10. That defeats the purpose of going around and you have just stayed on I 10. The last choice would be too confusing if you are not familiar with the area.

There you have it.

Cougar Jim · 03-12-2021, 02:02 PM

Thanks, next week I’ll be driving a 41ft Moho east to west so I’ll just stay on I-10.

CedarCreekWoody · 03-12-2021, 02:41 PM

I posted a link to the route around the mountain in post 12. I've found it easy to navigate.

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