Sc8122rodys Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 Hello all, I have not posted here for a few years but am doing so given the fact that I know many of you possess the knowledge pertaining to my specific situational anxieties. I am going to be driving my 1981 22r 20ft 4-speed (L45) with 15X,XXX (odo stopped working years ago) Odyessy on not enough leaves but Rite-ride Airbags no compressor, upgraded 4-runner master cylinder, factory (too small) calipers/rotors, from Long Beach to Humboldt where my friend has some land. My rv runs greats, I've had her for almost 10 years and she got me through University up in Santa Cruz. I have driven her up to Santa Cruz probably 25 times up and back from Long Beach and never had a failure besides a mechanic not reattaching my brake line (I rather do my own work if possible) and losing hydraulic brake pressure. This being said....... I know all the different passes, ranges etc, that are necessary to traverse to get to SC or back. I once, in hopes of an initial attempt to get to true Norcal had to traverse Mt. Tamalpais because PCH was closed due to a landslide. Upon the descent of about 25 hairpins and extreme engine braking, I noticed and significant loss of brake power and the smell of burning gear oil. Turns out my rear drums got so hot they melted my axle seal (outer if I remember correctly) and the secondary seal also failed resulting in my brake shoes being coated in oil and the drums not functioning. Year and years later, about a year ago, I noticed they failed once more, where I was parked and it looked as if the seals burst with force (maybe I should check the breather on the axle housing for blockage). So after this, I have only driven a few 40-mile trips at a time up and down the SoCal coast. ...Anyway this was to try to elaborate my anxiety and concern for this trip. My friend who lives up in Humboldt and has a bunch of old 22re 4x4s and a few chinooks, advised me to take the 5 the whole way from Santa Cruz. I like this idea but we are in an extreme heat wave here where inland towns that the 5 passes through are hitting 115 and are 93 degrees at 3 am. Maybe this was more of an anxiety vent but any advice from those who have climbing/descending, mountain pass or experience traveling this route would be greatly appreciated. Thank you friends, -Zach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extech Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 better check your map. 5 is a ways from santa cruz, also doesn't go to humbolt. you can take 41 at paso robles to kettlman city then up 5. still will have to go back to 1 or 101 to get to humbolt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 I'm in humboldt. Head towards Marin County and take 101 all the way up. Some windy parts but good road. Very scenic too Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extech Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 even on 101 questa grade in slo will be 2nd gear and over 100 degrees this time of year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 This where we apply a rarely used driving technique. You stop and let your brakes cool down. 14A in Wyoming. If I hadn't been careful and stopped every chance I got I would not have made it down. 10% grade for more than 15 miles. Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoDoug Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 You ended your brake story with coming out to find the rear brakes coated with oil from second failed rear axle seals. So, was this repaired and the rear brake system's function restored? Or was only taking short 40 mi trips from then on the reaction to those failed seals? That will affect my advice. Also, when is the last time the cooling system was serviced and pressure checked? How about belts, and tire age/condition? Will the vehicle be loaded normally, or is this an "I'm permanently moving up to this friends land and plan to stuff the aisle with furniture, books and every single thing I own and can jam in it" trip? Finally, do you have working A/C in the truck cab, and will you be using it? All these affect my advice. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sc8122rodys Posted July 17, 2023 Author Share Posted July 17, 2023 Linda, yes letting the brakes cool is truly the right move given the astronomical heat, I will follow your advice. Since the seals blew a few years ago they have been changed, bearing repacked, diff fluid swapped. I am "good to go" or as good as I will get.. My motor stays impressively cool, the cooling system keeps coolant filled to the top for a very long time and never overheats into the overflow( I use to lose a little, turns out it was a crack in the seal of the radiator cap gasket) No, I am unloading as much as I can in the next hour in my brother's garage in Huntington Beach to try to (feebly or not) reduce weight and reduce brake temperature. I get terrible heat fade from the front rotors that ought to be resurfaced (or rather, go thru with the fully toyorv brake upgrade of 4 runner master cyclinder[one thing I've done] 2 runner/tacoma calipers and rotors). I have no ac (well shore AC powered oem wall mount ac works great!) but the truck ac needs a recharge, Fan works, heater/heater core works, I typically use the windows, at least on the 5 I will keep moving. Also, I plan on driving thru the night, I hate the psycho suicidal car drivers and rather drive with the trucks, and rather drive one simple route than one mountain pass (ugh) then the squiggly routes, although yes you are all right, the 101 will be much much cooler, even down in Seal Beach it's not even that hot probably 78. May I ask why the consensus among you longtime toyota rv owners is to take the 101 over the 5? Is it purely heat related? Or is it 299 related, the pass I have to traverse? Thanks again for the guidance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 (edited) Hills, bumps and a route...https://www.flattestroute.com/Long-Beach-CA-to-humboldt--ca Scroll across the route elevation chart and it will show where it is on the route map. Edited July 18, 2023 by WME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 5 is hot and ugly. Cuesta grade on 101 going north is the up side. No big down after. I happen to be near Redding now and had to drive 299. HATE 299 but love Shasta lake. No other option. Come 101 for a happy life. Through bay area at night or weekend. Through Oakland north to San Raphel bridge. I have been on all these roads like a thousand times. First 2 years in Eureka I commuted to bay area 1 week a month. Always drove north Sunday. It's a breeze. Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sc8122rodys Posted July 18, 2023 Author Share Posted July 18, 2023 Oh man, thank you for that website. My heart says to take the 101, but the 5 is typically not ideal, my only dilemma is that the grade from 101 to willow creek seems pretty intense, on the flip side, the 299 hell highway is about 100 miles of negative and positive gradients, at worse 9%. Why must my friend live in the middle of the woods. Alas, flattestroute says the 299 via the 5 is the flattest (relative to all the gradients). Have you ever driven up the 299 to Willow Creek from the 101 Linda? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Yup just did it and have to go back Wednesday. Quite a grade from either side Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extech Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 could you use going through clear lake to 101? not too bad as far as grades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sc8122rodys Posted July 18, 2023 Author Share Posted July 18, 2023 So Linda you would reckon it would be better to suffer 45 miles of the slightly steeper grade of the 101-299 to get to Willow Creek than the not-as-bad but 100ish miles of still hairy 5-299 to get to Willow Creek? Sorry for typing in circles, I've just had this RV for 10 years and try my best to not put it in positions it ought not to be in, but I understand for where I am trying to go, the stress will be unavoidable to an extent. I am picking my friend up from San Jose so I could have a more clear shot to the 101 from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Going Redding way means you miss some of the most beautiful scenery in California. Beautiful drive wins every time for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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