Death Valley

The third week of December my wife and I headed to Death Valley, in southern California. When we left on Sunday it was raining and we had a 20-30 mph head wind all the way south on Highway 99 to Bakersfield where we spent the night. At times I was driving 45 MPH. My MPG when towing averages 12 MPG but with the head wind I was getting 8 MPG. I had to make an extra stop to fill up, I usually can make Bakersfield with one stop. We stayed at the Orange Grove RV Park with electricity and water for $30 a night. You can pick all the oranges you want. Before heading out the next morning we were watching the morning news and the weatherperson said that school had been canceled in Tehachapi Ca. because of snow. We had to drive thru their on Highway 58 so I checked with Caltrans to see if the pass was opened and their web site said that there were no restrictions, so we took off. Once we got to the other side heading toward the town of Mojave we had sun. From there we headed to Barstow to take Highway 15 to Baker, Ca and then north on Highway 127 (Death Valley Rd). I wanted to try this way into Death Valley even though its 75 miles longer than taking Highway 14 north from Mojave. (We took 14 back). The winds finely died down and at least we had a tail wind. We arrived just as the sun was going down. The Furnace Creek campground is very nice, with my senior discount card you get in to the park for free and full hook ups were only $21 a night (They have 18 full hook up sites). We stayed 6 nights and did a bunch of hikes. It was cold in the morning, usually 35-40F. There are 2 Furnace Creek campgrounds in Death Valley, one is private and it is called Furnace Creek Ranch. The private one is more expensive. Gas at Costco on the way down was $2.48 for premium and in the park it was $4.06 per gallon. We had planned to spend one night at Red Rocks State Park, Ca. off of Highway 14 but decided to drive one more hour to Bakersfield to spend the night. We headed back on Monday with a 10 MPH tail wind for the drive home. On Tuesday my sister sent me this head line from an L.A. news station, LANCASTER, Calif. (KABC) At least half a dozen big rigs were knocked over by high winds on Highway 14 Freeway in the Mojave Desert Tuesday morning. (They had gust to 60 MPH).

Orange Grove RV Park, Bakersfield, Ca.


Tehachapi Pass Monday morning Highway 58


Baker Ca., world tallest thermometer off highway 15


Heading north from Baker, Ca on Highway 127 (Death Valley Rd)


Death Valley


Dante's View


Natural Bridge Canyon hike


Harmony Borax Works


Furnace Creek Campground

I had a similar experience when I realized my prior TV (minivan) wasn't going to cut it for long trips across the US. We were driving from MD to FL and encountered many hours of a strong head wind. Could barely do 50 with it floored, and mpg dropped from 12 to 8.

Great pictures!!

Oops, I tow a 2014 179 pod.

I do not have a sway bar or a load lifter. I have a StowAway Hitch Tightener that prevents hitch wobble on the trailer ball mount and I drive slower when I am getting a lot of wind on the side of the trailer. I just posted this evening under Topics - “Reviews and General Information” - “Dynamics of Towing” web sites that had some technical articles on Sway (yaw), center of gravity and the distribution of weight in a trailer. They explain why you don’t want to travel with your fresh water tank full in the rear mounted tank in the 177