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To boldly go where no Prevost has gone before?
Had an opportunity to go on some road yesterday and today that is definitely off the beaten path for a Prevost. When we left Pilot at exit 46 on IH 80 yesterday, our nav system wanted us to take the Pyramid Lake scenic route to our campsite by Lakeview, Oregon, rather than going through Reno and up 395. Having plenty of time, and feeling adventurous, we decided to go that route. A very scenic drive. Got plenty of stares in Gerlach, NV, and past Gerlach we hit some slow climbs forcing a max speed of 25 MPH through some sharp turns. Never had a problem, though, and it was amazing to see the coolant temps drop in the middle of a steep, slow climb–I suppose when the fan kicked into higher speed. Our last coach probably wouldn’t have been real happy on those climbs!
Our campground 10 miles west of Lakeview is on a ranch about a mile off the highway with a dirt road access. We have stayed there out of the last four years, and we love the quietness and the serenity of the place. The camp host couldn’t stop gushing about our coach, but we finally got into our spot. First Prevost ever in the camp. All good folks in camp, though.
Leaving there, we took the shortest route to I-5, going through Klamath Falls and ended up on Dead Indian Road (no kidding!). They had warnings about no trucks over 65 feet, and 20 some miles we saw why, with some tight switchbacks and slow, steep downhills. Plenty of opportunity to use the Jake, which worked fine. Got a pretty good workout on the tight turns, but no problem. The road has some corgeous scenery, with tall pines on both sides of the road–Margrit thought she was back in the black forest in Germany! Lots of nice roads in our great country that very seldom, if ever see a Prevost!
Camping out at Marathon in Oregon. Washed the dust off, which was less of a problem than some asphalt specs we picked up in one of the construction zones–at least they are improving the roads! Gotta get some asphalt remover tomorrow for the coach and car while they work on the coach.
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27 Replies
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Great to know that the Prevost Bus can handle tight turns at altitude!
We’ll be in the Rockies from Colorado to Montana the next couple months and are looking forward to the cooler temps, especially after the 100+ degree heat in Kansas.
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Per,
For those small asphalt specks, I find that regular strength Simple Green works very well.
It’s best to work on them when the sun has been on the coach for a little while to warm them up.
Mark
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Per, hats off to you. It is great to hear of folks and how they use their coaches, especially when they really put them to the test.
Of all the Prevost sites and bus sites I have been on, I think this group has the widest range of uses for their coaches and certainly the most people who are not afraid to fully enjoy what has to be the most capable coach on the planet.
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I’ve driven that road many times. It’s pretty cool, huh?
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Let me first say that I am not very proud of the expeerience i will share. But I trust that all who read may learn from a horrible and nearly catosrophic experience. A couple of weeks ago we were enroute to our campground outside of Yosemite. Reservations were made by phone the day before our arrival. As usual I planned our route that night using both a conventional up to date Rand McNally map and our GPS. Our final approach was to take Cal 120 to the campground. After turning on to Cal120/Old Priest Road, signage “No Vehicles over 7,200 pounds” appeared. With several vehicles behind me, and no place to turn around, I had no apparent choice, than to continue. After a few miles of steep uphill grades and numerous switch backs, I reached a pull out allowing me to have the increasing line of vehicles time to go by us. I took that opportunity to unhook the toad as the grade was very grave and the turns were even tighter. As those passing us by were blowing their horns, flipping us off, and yelling explectives I was happy not to be able to hear, a youngman man stopped to assist me in the disconnect. He told me that in addition to the 7,200 lb. max; RVs, or vehicles of any type pulling a trailer were prohibited. About that time the CHP arrived and echoed the same info the young man gave me and the signage which appeared prior to our turn, unfortunately unnoticed by me. After providing me a citation, he stated that he had closed off the road from above so as to provide me more turning room. My wife drove the toad up and I concluded the drive in the coach.
All this obviously could have been avoided thorugh a number of ways. First and foremost I should NOT have missed the warning signs prominetly displayed prior to our last turn (whch we verified later). Retropectivelfy, NO MATTER THE IN ONVENIENCE to those behind me, I should have immediately disconnected and backed down the 300 feet I did not have a GPS specific to RVs/Large Trucks. I mentioned my error to the RV park employee when I checked in. She told me that it is clearly noted on our confirmation NOT to take Cal 120/Old Priest Rd despite what your GPS may indicate. In that we regiseterd by phone I suggested that it could have been mentioned at that time as we had not received the confirmation. Bottom line I made what could have been a fatal error either of one or both of us or worse the cause of another’s loss of life.
Incidently, to illustrate what I dealt with the Average Grade of this road is 12.9. For those interested you can Google Old Priest Road for some interesting reading and videos.
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I normally use Google maps on my iPhone, however, I can say, don’t ever take a re-route when Google says there is a traffic jam ahead, and a red line shows the traffic is stopped for miles. I did that on the way to Michigan a few weeks ago, in Ohio, I ended up on low weight bridges (several) 15 Ton max, and 2 overpasses/bridges in which I had to dump the air, and ease through. They did not even have a height sign on the bridges. I was lucky, and did not damage anything.
On the return trip, the next morning, the same thing showed up, I paid no attention to it………..all it was, the road moved over a lane, while the other lane was being worked on. No traffic jam at all!
I learned something that trip……….don’t take a detour, unless signs tell you on the road your on!
Being an old Trucker, I should have known better, but we were pulling nothing, since we were going to pick up a trailer, So I felt kinda flexible on the route. Never again!
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I still like to use Microsoft Streets & trips for planning. I’ll also use Google Maps, but I always verify their routes with my old fashion Rand McNally Trucker’s Atlas. If the route isn’t approved for commercial trucks I don’t use it until I come up with verification that it’s passible for our coach. I’ve followed Good ol’ Google down one too many rabbit trails to ever trust it again.
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Don’t be too hard on yourself Tommy, doo doo happens and it all ended well with no damage other than your pride. We’ve all made those oh shit errors and probably more to come.
Jerry will love this… Back in the day when I was a puppy, I made a wrong turn in VA to cross the mountains with a load of steel that turned pretty bad. All was well climbing the old 2 lane road in granny gear with my H Model Mack, then it turned to dirt and things got sporty. All the way to the top in dirt and then ended what looked like a logging road. I managed to get it all turned around and here comes an old piece of crap pickup with a guy that looked like he never left the mountain. He asked what the hell was I doing and then laughed and said you’re not the first. Long way back down, hot breaks, no jake in those days.
Now do you feel better Tommy?:)
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Per we are currently in Newport till Monday morning. Will probably go up to the Willamette Valey for a couple of days then up to Seattle. Let’s stay in touch in the event we are in the same neighborhood. My mobile is (337) 288-6841. Anyone else in this neck of the woods is welcome to join us.
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Tommy,
We’re at Marathon until Saturday, then we’re heading up to Centralia, WA for a day, then over to Hood River to visit with relatives. Will head back to Marathon next week–they had to order an air actuator for the “Star Trek” door. Talked to a guy who just took delivery of a 2017 Marathon. We had looked at that coach in Texas when we were at Marathon there two months ago–gorgeous coach!
We have a Good Sam nav system, and it does pretty good. It messed up when we went to NOLA after the seminar at Jeff’s in November. Routed us to a street where branches scraped the top of the Affinity, but no damage. This coach would not have made it! Using the street address in the big book rather than the one in the nav system, got us to the French Quarter RV Park–which was nice. -
Any time I have to leave truck routes I go to Google earth and use the satellite view on a close in setting and “drive” the road.
It doesn’t tell me elevation changes, but it clearly shows the type of road. If there is any question I occasionally look at the street view. If there is no street view I will not even think about using the road.
I also do the same thing with unfamiliar RV parks. By looking at a close up satellite view I have ruled out a lot of potential over night stops because I can see small sites, tight roads, or other reasons the RV park will not work for our coach.
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We are heading to Pacific Shores for a couple of week, and was wondering if the RV park in Lakeview OR is Junipers Reservoir RV Resort?
Larry and Miriam Nelson
2002 XLII Vision
12 CRV Honda
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Yes it is. Just make sure you ask for a 50-Amp site.
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Tommy I ran a ranch on old priest road for some years nice country , I lived in Knights Ferry CA
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ThanksPer. We may cross paths as we staying in Salem next week then on to Seattle. We have been at Pacific Shores RV Resort in Newport, OR since Thursday and will be leaving Monday morning. Great park. Any spot on the ocean front row is highly reccomended if available. If it is not already on the PC map,I willpost it there. Peter you are a better man than me to do Old Priest Rd. more than once (and i only went up).
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