Need some route info

[Cary and Don]

We are finally ready for our trip.

Has anybody made the trip to Fort Bragg,CA from Clear Lake?  We were planning on going vie Hwy20.  Our mountain pass book made that road look real iffy.  We are used to making the trip to Reno all the time.  We survived Virginia City.  Just wondering if it was bad or if the book was a little timid.

Don and Cary
GMC4107
Neoplan AN340

[Ed Hackenbruch]

  " A little iffy" ??.......i took a look at my mountain pass book and i would say it is more than a "little iffy"! Looks like it might have a high pucker factor.   How long is your bus? i have a 35 ft. bus and have been in a few tight places before and i wouldn't try this one. Hopefully someone who has at least done it in a car will respond. A route like this i would check out myself in a car before i would risk taking the bus. If you do try it i am pretty sure you won't be able to tow anything ........have had to disconnect before, a couple of times to get thru places myself.  Give us a report if you try it.   

[TomC]

I have a truck buying customer in Fort Bragg (furniture mover) that says he doesn't like 20 and prefers to take 128 to 101.  Taking 175 from Clear Lake to 101 is still a bit of a mountainy road, it is a lot less miles of mountain driving then 20.  20 between Willits and Ft Bragg looks like a lot of work-it is a truck route though.  Good Luck, TomC

[TomC]

I was just on http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/bus-mh/45-bus-map.htm to check out over length bus routes, and 175 has an over 39ft restriction near Clear Lake-so maybe 20 would still be the better way.  Just take it easy and go slow.
I was just on highway 4 from 89 over Ebitts pass down to Angles Camp-was the most pucker power road I've ever been on in my over 32 years of truck driving experience.  Just a lane and a half with no center line-yet the above link rates it OK for 40ft and less.  Good Luck, TomC

[Ed Hackenbruch]

If in doubt, i would rather err on the side of caution until i can do a recon in person, or get a reliable report from somebody with firsthand experience.