Traveling in CA

[THE BAILEY BEARS]

New to RVing and having a ball. Want to go to CA this fall and wondered about pulling the Montana there. Is it possible to do Hwy 101? Read someplace the curves were to tight and 5th wheels were banned. Any truth to this?

[McIver]

My experience driving in Southern CA: The entire population wants to get thru their life 3 seconds faster and the space you have to leave in front of you when towing allows them to do that. I have debated having a truck air horn installed on my F250 for this purpose. The cost (over $1K) is the only reason I have not done it.

[Loneoak]

We have heard the same thing about 101. We went from Bakersfield north on I 5 in June. We detoured to Yosemite on the way up. Our only issuewas that when I planned the trip, I did not take into consideration how far inland I 5 is from the coast. As a result, we did not get to explore the coast.

[waynemoore]

Ok I lived in Ca for 40 years. 101 is ok for large 5th wheels it’s US1 that is a problem for any size rigs. The drivers are crazy there and there is no best time to drive though any of the big city. Also remember the CA speed limit for trailers is 55 but you can be ok at 60 to 65 if not doing silly things. Then towing you are required to stay in the right two lanes. I have seen people pulling trailers in the car pool lanes DONT do it as that ticket is very costly.

[prndl]

I'm sure the OP has made the trip already since the post is from 2003.
101 is fine North to south. I5 is fine and like 99 is tedious. Stay with the trucks speed as they know where the rozzers are.
Just came down 1 from Santa Cruz to LA one month ago towing and all was fine. Have driven the old 35FT Diesel pusher towing a Wrangler thru downtown San Fran and across the GG bridge several times. No problems.
Maybe it's because I'm a native Californian but just take it easy and don't get upset at the crazies. It has become competitive for some drivers between every stoplight, sad. Remember, you're on vacation and they have to get somewhere.

[cwalker]

I learned to drive in California and it's not just there that people think they can cut in front of you and would expect you to stop on a dime. It's the whole country. I think every person should have to drive a big rig at least once before they get their license just so they know you can't stop fast. Grrr...

[mlh]

Since this is an old thread someone might get a little chuckle out of this. We sell a few products to Sinclair International. We got an email saying we must be in complaince with California’s prop 65. They sent a list of hundreds of items that California has determined causes cancer. Most I have no idea what they are but three I did understand. One was Diesel exhaust. I guess people caught in a traffic jam on LA wouldn’t ever be near a Diesel truck. Another was aspirin. Darn things almost killed me one time, honest. The other I knew was leather dust. Yes the dreaded leather dust. What would happen if you got leather dust on you. I sure don’t wont to find out.
Lynwood

[richfaa]

We have been up and down the State of California.It is a beautiful State.We never did it with a RV.

[mlh]

I would love to see California especially the northern part. LA not so much you can add New York and Chicago and all the other large cities. I have nothing against those places. I’m a country boy.
Lynwood

[Kyle and Lisa]

California is a beautiful state and has a lot to see, we went all the way up the coast on 101 as much as possible and into Washington and then back down on the inland side to see all the national parks. We just pulled into The Palms rv resort the other day for 2 months in Yuma Az. and then to Tucson for 2 months. That being said we are sooo glad to be out of beautiful Ca.