Hot choices

[lvmci]

Hi All, going for a week to So Cal, to see pagent of the masters, SD Zoo and the apple orchards of Julian, coming back to LV, the question is, I-15 up Cajon Pass and Baker grade, or I-10 and that long grade past Palm Springs, then up US95 thru Searchlight, obviously morning or night. What's easiest on my 8v92?  lvmci...

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

If you back up the hills they will never overheat.  Problem solved. 

[Utahclaimjumper]

The "elevation to climb" is the elevation difference between the two points,,sooner or later you will have to climb it like it or not,, I like to make it short and sweet as possible,, the long climbs are brutal (and are also the ones with a headwind).>>>Dan

[Geoff]

You need radiator SPRAYERS (not misters) drawing out of your fresh water after the pump with a toggle switch.  Watch the temp gauge and start hitting the SPAYERS At 190f for 10 second blasts.  Guaranteed to work.

--Geoff

[Utahclaimjumper]

Don't be afraid to drop a gear when needed to keep the fan speed up and  engine labor down. Speed is not a consideration when climbing.>>>D

[Dave5Cs]

Question If Buses did these routes for years did they always overheat or what was different?
Tom We are so Jealous, have fun at the POM. 

[Iceni John]

On this year's trip to the high desert I set off at 4.00 AM.   So much better  -  far fewer cars, and they seemed to be driven more intelligently (less dumbly?) than during the day, and of course it was much cooler for the climbs.   I'm definitely doing that again in the future.

Just bear in mind that quite a few shops in Julian are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays  -  it's their weekend on those days.   Weekends in Julian are crazy, so try to go mid-week.   Parking there for a bus could be a challenge, but there's a large parking area on the east side of town where 79 heads south to I-8.   If you take 79 south from Temecula, it's fun to stop at Warner Springs and take the sailplane rides there, and the little old chapel there dedicated to St.Francis of Assisi is beautiful.
 
John

[Geoff]

Question If Buses did these routes for years did they always overheat or what was different?
Tom We are so Jealous, have fun at the POM. 

From what I've heard they used water sprayers on the radiators just like we have to.  I added a radiator and don't need the sprayers like I used to.

--Geoff

[lvmci]

Hi guys, just about ready to takeoff from LV with the Fiat, my Lady, 2 Italian Greyhounds, a new batteryforthe generator on the bus plus an overstuffed bag for her. Right Now I'm worried about the Fiat climbing over the mountains! The bus is in the Lancaster area, where I have kept it all lthese years to take it to SoCal to live in while working in LA. Now I have a large enough parking area for her. Thanks Geoff, I have a sprayer system,with the holes drilled out to 1/16th", when Clifford and TomC talked about it, and plumbed from the main tank with a remote switch. Radiators area a bit worn, next thing to replace. Have memories of the bus shutting down from heat. Thanks John or the info,will do, but Nicky won't let me outta bed at 4am, staying at ponderosazilla for a night. Thanks Dave and even Gary, tom, lvmci...

[TomC]

I-15 is still the best way. In Baker there is a tow company that I've used. I would highly recommend you pull the Baker grade early in the morning. You can park in Baker overnight at the Mad Greek restaurant, then have an early start. Will still be close to 100 in the morning, but that's better then 115 or more later on. Good Luck, TomC

[buswarrior]

Question If Buses did these routes for years did they always overheat or what was different?
Tom We are so Jealous, have fun at the POM. 

Cooling system and all related hardware, seals, cores, flushed, coolant, pump, etc was up to snuff.

Drivers were on orders how to climb, which gear, at what speed.

It is the rare busnut coach that has a fine cooling system when it gets into our hands, so we popularly have to cope with less than sufficient conditions, and it becomes the norm due to our collective experience coping.

Coping is cheaper than new radiators?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Lin]

There is an alternate route through the Mojave Preserve if you would like to go scenic.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/33.9615456,-116.5903629/Las+Vegas,+NV/@35.0633062,-116.9861964,8z/am=t/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-115.7505318!2d34.5571679!3s0x80c556c9fc5e4669:0xa8d45e5dd5b7689a!1m5!1m1!1s0x80beb782a4f57dd1:0x3accd5e6d5b379a3!2m2!1d-115.1398296!2d36.1699412!3e0?hl=en

P.S.: If you happen to do this, let me know since it passes our neighborhood.

[Dave5Cs]

Thanks BW you made a good point and explained it well. Something to be said about having the slowest Bus on the block too. Even over the hill from Las Vegas to Pahrumph we ran 190 at the most but 180 most of the way.

Tom don't mind Bakers grade going to LV but coming back from Pahrumph we went the back way through Baker and it was much flatter.
Dave5Cs

[TomC]

Yes going through the Mojave reserve is a scenic route-but there is hardly anything out there. If you break down, you're really deep in the soup. Stick with I-15. Good Luck, TomC

[Lin]

Break down?  I thought these buses were supposed to go a million miles trouble free! Damn!