Flat route to Las Vegas

[richard5933]

Anyone have suggestions for a route between the Midwest and Las Vegas that would be safe without engine brakes? Going south first and then turning west would be acceptable if necessary. Perhaps head south to Oklahoma City and then turn west?

Is this route even possible without engine brakes? Will probably be on a 35-foot GM running a 8V71 and 4-speed manual.

Richard

[Lee Bradley]

This is the tool I use to plan routes.  I start with my starting point and going a few hundred miles and check the hills. Keep checking until you get a route to that point. Then go a few hundred miles to the next point.  Just one step at a time if you do the whole route it is harder to adjust the route.

https://www.flattestroute.com/

[luvrbus]

From OKC OK on I 40 to Kingman then on 93N heading for Vegas there is nothing you need Jakes for not even Mariarty to Albuquerque,this time of the year you may get wind in certain areas
 

[Dave5Cs]

We are going home from Michigan to California 18 states and on day 45 and there has been nothing we have needed Jakes for and we go to Vegas the way Clifford was telling you. We are in a Rest area on 40 tonight in Oklahoma. Fort smith area. HTH Dave5C

[Utahclaimjumper]

 Learn to USE that 4 speed and you don't need engine brakes in most cases.>>>Dan

[lvmci]

Hi Richard, Arizona hiways is redoing I-40 stretches between flagstaff and kingman, those are down to 1 lane in several stretches, but they are newly paved, almost all bridges are being rebuilt but the single lanes are wider, just slower to 45 or 50 mph, they have even reopened a couple of rest stops, lvmci...

[pabusnut]

The only thing that bothers me about that route is that new bridge south of Hoover Dam.  I am deathly afraid of heights, and took 95 down to Needles to avoid it.   What really bothered me was the HIGH WIND WARNING FOR TALL VEHICLES!  For me it was worth my sanity.  I was only driving my Jeep Liberty, but it felt tall enough. 

On Route 93, FLAT is what you will be when the wind blows you off the bridge that is like a mile above the gorge!

I did make it over the Seven Mile Bridge to Key West on RT 1, but I was like a horse with blinders on!

Steve

[oltrunt]

PBN, loosen the adjustment between the pitman shaft and the sector gear on your steering gear just a tad---You will be so busy chasing the steering wheel that you won't even remember having been on a high bridge!  This from a guy who, upon his first trip to the Grand Canyon, crawled to the edge of the "view spot" to steal a peak.    Jack

[lvmci]

There is a 4 1/2' wall on the side and a 5 1/2 ' wall in the middle of the Dam bridge, it's is very high, from mountain top to mountain top, lvmci...

[DoubleEagle]

Learn to USE that 4 speed and you don't need engine brakes in most cases.>>>Dan

Yes, that is true. I have crossed the rockies several times in Colorado and been through Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Texas with a non-turbo 8V71 with the Spicer 4-speed. You just have to be patient and select the right gear, but it can be done without too much white knuckling.  Use the flatest route possible, but don't be afraid of long grades (the bad ones have runaway truck ramps, I think a bus would plow more gravel and slow down quicker). 

[pabusnut]

Jack,

I didn't even get that close at the Canyon.  The kids were making fun of me until I made some comment about driving straight through to get home to PA!   

Actually, I didn't go all the way to Needles, but stayed in AZ on the road that goes through Oatman.  I think it is called Rt 66, where a "wild" donkey tried to eat my hat.  I didn't like some parts of that road either(no guard rails)

Steve

[luvrbus]

Jack,

I didn't even get that close at the Canyon.  The kids were making fun of me until I made some comment about driving straight through to get home to PA!  

Actually, I didn't go all the way to Needles, but stayed in AZ on the road that goes through Oatman.  I think it is called Rt 66, where a "wild" donkey tried to eat my hat.  I didn't like some parts of that road either(no guard rails)

Steve

That Oatman highway can get interesting here at bike season when the River Run is in full swing lol Steve the wild donkeys are just a PITA you should have bought the carrots they like those better than a hat

[BJ]

if standard learn to use the trans gears. when you reach the top stay in the same gear taking your time going down. if auto just downshift. either way don't ride your brakes, apply then release.  drove charter buses for years with no jakes all over the country. just take your time going down and the hell with the traffic behind you...........

[TomC]

I remember way back when I was in 9th grade ('70) and taking a Eagle 1 charter to Mammoth. The bus was full and really heavy with all the snow ski stuff people had. We climbed the big hill on 395 out of Bishop, Ca in 2nd and on the return trip the driver slowed down to 2nd gear before falling off the hill. At the bottom he let the bus go and we got up to 85 in a hurry-just for a little while.
I have Jake brakes on my bus and swear by them-as a matter of fact was the first thing I had installed before I even picked up the bus. On this last trip, coming back down highway 120 from Groveland, Ca is a 6-8% grade with 20-25mph turns, twisting down the hill for 5 miles. So steep, I had my wife drive the car down. I had the Jake on half most of the time and my V730 in 1st. Barely touched the brakes all the way down. Living in California and going to the mountains, a Jake brake is really needed. Good Luck, TomC