When you come down that hill, you will be thinking that the tent was a great idea! I also remember the drive from Fresno was on some skinny roads, with plenty of curves in it.
I have taken my 31' Bounder and tow vehicle up and down the hill with no problems, but remember to use 2nd gear on the way down, take it really easy, and don't try going over 40.
I don't know if you know the history of Shaver Lake and Huntington Lake, but they are part of a big hydroelectric system, higher than Hoover Dam. Huntington Lake has a line going to Shaver Lake with a electric generator at the outlet and can also trasfer water back up the hill to Huntington at night.
At Big Creek, you can see the pipes coming down the steep hill into the Big Creek Generation station, that was constructed there in 1912 - 1914. They used mules, oxen, picks, shovels, and manpower. Notice no trucks or cars where involved. A steam train ran several times a day from Fresno to bring in supplies and manpower.
Fred.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche or Country Coach!
168 is not a problem. I also have a 33 ft tall fifth wheel. 50 MPH going up and 50 coming down. I think the normal 55 to 60 mph speeds are possibly pushing it a little too much but that's just me. You don't show what kind of tow vehicle you have in your profile. If you the newer kind of transmissions make sure to use the tow/haul mode both up and down. 2nd or 3rd gear nearly all the way down. No vertical obstructions anywhere on the road. Over a 100 places to camp along Tamarick Ridge Road. TRR starts at the Snow play area (7300' elev at the PEAK of 168 between Shaver and Huntington Lakes)TRR goes 25 miles to Dinkey Creek area. You can camp on both sides of the road. Just pick up the campfire permit at the Ranger Station in Prather if you don't have one. Obviously no overnight camping fees as this is in the National Forest, not National Park. Oh yeah don't point your weapons at the Green Truck USFS Rangers. They are just checking for the campfires permits and making sure you're not doing the mini meth lab over the weekend thing.
2004 2500 LS Crew Cab Shortbed (LLY-Duramax with OilGuard ByPass Filtration (2 Micron) and Nicktane Cat(2 Micron)for Fuel, 2007 HitchhikerIILS 32.5LKSBG. SuperGlide 16K, Twin Honda EU2000i's
I went this past July when the temps in the valley area were 110+. That is a steep hill, somewhere around 10% for 13 miles. I drove up the night before, grabbed a few hours at the bottom of the hill at the Park N Ride before the large grade. Woke up and started up at the hill at 9, the temp 97 already, and did 50 mph all the way up and back down, no problems. Take it easy, and if you start getting warm, there is a wide shoulder to give the rig a rest and cool down.
As long as your rig is in good working condition I wouldn't worry about it. It is a long hill but there are places to pull off and cool things down if needed. We go to Camp Edison/Shaver lake every year and the campground is full of large RVs, 5ths and TTs.
2007 Four Winds Dutchmen 29R-Ford E-450 V-10 towing a 2008 Toyota Matrix XR
2007 Toyota 4Runner(V-8) towing a 2006 Reinell 220LSE, 5.0L, 280hp GXI
The narrow, curvy part of the road bothers me more than the grades. Don't be in a hurry. Try not to hit that road during work traffic time (a.m. and p.m.) Lots commuters from Shaver and the foothills to Fresno. You will surely enjoy Camp Edison (I assume), we do. Betsy.
Offline
Online
under the stars
