I've heard horror stories about the Baker Grade, any thoughts, advise? I don't think there is any chance for me to be there until noon or so.
I have a f-250 with a v-10, 430 gears pulling a 32 foot fifth wheel @ 12,000 lbs.
Castaic Lion wrote: I've heard horror stories about the Baker Grade, any thoughts, advise? I don't think there is any chance for me to be there until noon or so.
I have a f-250 with a v-10, 430 gears pulling a 32 foot fifth wheel @ 12,000 lbs.
I have never had any problems or any of my friends either, going up that hill, I think the Cajone is a harder hill than the Baker grade,
if you can do 35 mph so be it, you will make it up but just a little slower. drop it into 2nd and watch the EGT gage.
Don & Georgia
AKA: Trailer Trash 2
Real trucks don't have spark plugs.
1996 Ford F-350,Clydesdale, 7.3 Turbo W/Banks
Pulling a Super Fine Montana 2980RL
If your truck is in good shape, your within your tow limits, and you take it easy you'll be fine. All of the OEM's use Baker Grade as a test site for max trailer tow testing..... It will heat up a bit, don't get nervous, just go over and it'll cool right off on the way down the other side. Have fun in Vegas.....
The Cajon grade IS the real test...maybe that is what was meant? If you can get up that grade without a priblem I woudln't be too concerned about any otehr grade (except maybe the Grapevine but that's a different freeway). Just keep an eye on the temps andgo slow. Also the earlier in the day the better.
2006 CC Allure 40' Quad Slides Tag Axle Cummins 400
2004 Honda Element EX/AWD Toad; Blue Ox Aventa II/USGear
MS S&P/EVDO
FMCA
Castaic Lion wrote: I've heard horror stories about the Baker Grade, any thoughts, advise? I don't think there is any chance for me to be there until noon or so.
I have a f-250 with a v-10, 430 gears pulling a 32 foot fifth wheel @ 12,000 lbs.
When you get to the top you will look in the mirror and say mmmmmm oh there was a hill there.
hpk
2000 Ford F-350 SRW 4X4 PSD Jayco Super Lite 29.5RKS 5th wheel 50 gal X-ferflow in the bed tank. Banks big exhaust and Stinger kit.
Only real problem you'll encounter is all the thoughtless idiot car drivers running loose out there. These jerks will pull in front of you, slow down causing you to loose the speed you've built up then they race off and you're screwed. You'll see plenty of that. Don't hesitate to use your horn too. Just pull over to the truck slow lane until you build up speed again. Forget trying to be nice or polite to those idiots, just pull out in front of them and let them go around you. That's the only way to drive several of those hills out there. Other then that you're truck will handle it just fine. If you really get in a jam near the top turn off the A/C till you crest the hill. Piece of cake!
Baker grade is steep, but not nearly as trying as the Grapevine. If you take the Cajon Pass from Riverside it is a longer harder pull than Baker. Baker has a slow truck lane if need to crawl over the hill, but I have no trouble maintaining 55 with a 38ft gas MH and a toad. My previous MH with a 454 stayed above 35. In the summer the ground temp is well over 110 during the day, so if you have an older rig turn off the engine air and open the windows. If your in good shape there will be no challenge.
Castaic Lion wrote: I've heard horror stories about the Baker Grade, any thoughts, advise? I don't think there is any chance for me to be there until noon or so.
I have a f-250 with a v-10, 430 gears pulling a 32 foot fifth wheel @ 12,000 lbs.
Arrange your travel so you run the grade just after dawn.
2003 Lance 1071 maxed out plus 200 watts PV, accumulator and bottle opener
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 167", Hellwig, Reese Titan, Reese Front, LineX, AirLift, bed mat, Rancho9000, Rickson 19.5" Eliminators with Mich 225/70 XDE M/S
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