Las Vegas/Bullhead City, AZ Need local info..

[CumminsPuller]

Allright guys, I need some help/advice. I am going to Las Vegas to pick up some valves. 3 valves at 11,500lbs total. If I am over width I can not cross Hover Dam. I will probably have to go down 95 out of Las Vegas and catch Hwy 163 and cross into Bullhead City, AZ right there at Davis Dam. Behind my truck total weight I am going to have 19,000lbs. I have never driven this route and I had a friend tell me that if I have to go across 163 that there is a steep mountain about a 6-9% grade and about 40 miles to the top. Is this true? I am worried I am not going to be able to stay in 3rd, TC locked up all the way to the top thus fight with high transmission temps.



Any Local Information Would Be Greatly Appreciated.



Jason



The Place I am picking the valves up at is Kern River Gas. I believe it is Off of I-15 North of Vegas. The told me exit 64 off of I-15. It looks like that is Hwy 93 at exit 64.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I haven't taken the hill, but many others have told me it is long and steep, a real hassle with slow trucks, etc. You might fit right in

OTOH, you might be happier going a bit farther south on 95 and pick up I-40 there.

 

[CumminsPuller]

Thanks Joe... ... ... I might have to, part of me wants to try it. But I am just worried if I get stuck behind someone, I will have to drop to second and watch the transmission temps climb. Hell, I may have to drop to second even with out anyone in front of me. Just not sure if the old auto transmission can do it. I guess I shouldn't say old transmission, DTT went in about 3 weeks ago.



Jason

 

[RBachant]

I drive those roads alot. If you are delivering the valves to Bullhead I would take the 95 to 163 into Bullhead.

If you are going past Bullhead into Kingman, Joe is right, the 95 to the I-40 should be the best way. It should only add 35-45 minutes to the trip.

The 163 is about 10 miles of 6% down hill grade to Bullhead. If you have any other questions please let me know and I will give you any info I can to help your trip.

 

[CumminsPuller]

RBachant

Thanks for the help. I am actually picking the valves up just north of Vegas. And bringing them back to Louisiana. If they are over width I will need a permit and can not cross Hoover dam and have to go cross to Arizona via 163. I was trying to avoid going through California I have just heard nightmares about commercial vehicles and permit loads. My trailer is 40' long and sticks out like a sore thumb. Are there any scales in California on 95 to 40 then 40 into Arizona? If the load is not over width then I can cross the Hoover Dam from my understanding. Is the grade going up 163 also 6%? Havve you pulled anything up this stretch of road?



Jason

 

[Matt42]

Hoover Dam Closed to Most Trailers

Regular weight & width or not, you may be unable to cross Hoover Dam. Since late 2001, it's been considered to be a terrorist target, so most trailers are prohibited. The few exceptions that I know of are for local and regional transport companies with an agreement with the Feds. There are checkpoints at on both sides of the river, with room to turn around if you are turned away.



Disclaimer: The above information may be obsolete.



There are two sets of grades if you want to go south on US 95 and still avoid California (and I would want to avoid California). Both are four-lane, and mostly divided. Traffic will be able to get around you. The worst of it, from a braking standpoint, will be the downgrade into Laughlin. It's steep and there are two or three traffic lights at the bottom.



The upgrades are mostly a 30 minute nosepick. If it's warm outside, your cooling system needs to be good. Expect roughly 100F daytime temperatures for the next few weeks. I haul up and down those grades pulling a 6K lb equipment trailer behind a Chevy 6. 5, when it runs. Slow, but manageable.

 

[FDziurda]

Grades

Cumminspuller,



About a week ago, I travelled the opposite direction that you are thinking about. I came in from Kingman on Hwy 68, to Bullhead City/Laughlin, and took 163, North to 95 and into Vegas.



It is almost all 4-lane now, except a short 2-lane section, just before getting to 95.



The climb out of Bullhead City/Laughlin is pretty steep and long. Towing an 8000# travel trailer, I was able to maintain 55 mpg, in 5th gear (I have a 6-speed). I was right at redline with my EGTs but managed to get over in 5th gear. The grade is LONG... You go from 500 feet amsl to over 3000 feet amsl, in something like 25 miles.



With the load you are going to have, I don't think I'd try that route (southbound) without a manual transmission and an exhaust brake, and I think even then, it might be pretty scary. The I-40 route, as others have suggested, would probably be the best and safest way.





Good Luck,



Frank Dz

 

[CumminsPuller]

Thanks guys... ... .....

 

[RBachant]

Cumminspuller,



When you come into Vegas I would cross Hoover Dam, I see people pulling flat deck trailers across it all the time. I would ask the security gaurds there what the "rules" are for taking loads across the dam. Be sure to stop at both check points and ask to make 100% sure it wont be a problem.

End dump trucks are crossing the dam on a regular basis. If I cross the dam today I'll be sure to ask if what you are hauling will be a problem to cross.

 

[Utah Willie]

Las Vegas/Bullhead City, AZ

Highway 95 south to I-40 is a two-lane from the Laughlin turn-off with no weigh station. It is 40 miles further than going through Laughlin but avoids the long, hot hill. I-40 is easy cruising all the way east with some long up and down grades of 6% and less. There is an AZ weigh station a couple of miles east of the Colorado River bridge (AZ/CA border). There are great fuel prices through AZ..... don't buy in Nevada or California if you can avoid it!!The posted prices in AZ are commercial rates, private rates are eight cents less.

 

[RBachant]

The gaurds at the dam said as long as the valves you are moving are uncovered so they can be inspected there is no problem with you crossing the dam loaded. I asked them how wide of a load can cross the dam and they didn't know. They did give me the number of the chief of police for the dam. His name is Richard Melim, his number is (702) 293 8312. You are able to cross the dam empty.

Get fuel at the Flying J in Kingman AZ. , I-40 at the Andy Devine exit. Here in Vegas it is $1. 55-$1. 75.

 

[Matt42]

Yup. My dam information is out of date!

 

[RBachant]

They allow tt and enclosed cargo trailers to cross. They do an inspection, inside and out. There are time when I pass through the checkpoint and they don't even check inside my shell.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

Dam crossing

I crossed the dam in early April with a 5th. whl RV. Had to stop for inspection but it was time to air out he pants anyway.

I would not want to carry a wide load through that area with all the tourists running amuck there.

Have a safe trip

 

[CumminsPuller]

This is Jason's wife. Oo.



Jason is in Albequerque, New Mexico right now. He just wanted to thank everybody for your help.



RBachant: Thanks for all the information. Jason will let you know how it went when he gets back.

 

[WatsonJ]

Bullhead/Kingman

I went thru about a month ago and the "LOVES" truck stop east

of Kingman had diesel @ $1. 29/gal. The big sign on the freeway

listed 1. 37!!! This was the case all summer... . the pump price

was always lower than the posted price. I'll bet that the price

is even lower now. I stopped going both ways

 

[Matt42]

Re: Bullhead/Kingman

Originally posted by WatsonJ

I went thru about a month ago and the "LOVES" truck stop east

of Kingman had diesel @ $1. 29/gal. The big sign on the freeway

listed 1. 37!!! This was the case all summer... . the pump price

was always lower than the posted price. I'll bet that the price

is even lower now. I stopped going both ways

Arizona exempts light diesel vehicles, like ours, from 8 cents per gallon use tax. Had you gone to the islands for big trucks, you'd have seen the higher price. A good retailer will deduct the 8 cents from your final total. Some diesel retailers seem to pocket the 8 cents.

 

[CumminsPuller]

I just stopped there on my way back from Vegas and they asked If I weighed in under 26,000... ... ... My answer was no. I weighed 29,000. I payed it all. Should I have said No? Are they talkeing loaded or empty? Just for future reference.



Jason

 

[RBachant]

The question "should" be asked what your GVW is not what it actually weighs, at least that is what the sticker on the fuel pump says. I always fill up at the auto pump and leave the trailer sticking out in the way with all the snow birds.

 

[richardcoxid]

I would not go through Laughlin, like most others say, Downhill going into Laughlin and stoplights and traffic @ the bottom then uphill into Kingman.



However DO NOT GET FUEL IN NEEDLES! That has to be the most expensive fuel in the U. S. !