Northern California information needed.

[MarineVet32935]

I have a load going to Eureka. I'm westbound on I-80 in Wyoming and will be taking my 34 hour break tonight and making it into Reno Monday evening. My question is, what's the fastest route to Eureka from Reno? I've never driven in northern Kalifornia. My load is light, on a 48' flatbed. I can see the shortest route would be 395/44 to Redding, then 299 to Eureka. But, it looks like all two lane and a lot of twisties. I'm no stranger to mountain driving on narrow two lanes, but I have a time constraint. Would it be faster to take 80 into Sacremento, then north on 5 and west on 20 to the 101?

[Roadhog]

I would take 395/44 to Redding, then 299 to Eureka.
You won't have as much traffic congestion or small towns to go through.
...and you won't have to do Donner Pass.

[Roadhog]

That drive through the Trinity Mts. is nice.
I use to hunt mule deer up there.

[Chunker]

Hwys 20 and 101 are 2 lane roads too and 20 gets real twisty around Clear Lake. If you run the interstates to Redding, you can average better speed and fuel economy, but the distance will be much greater. As for the length restrictions, there are none for a 48ft trailer unless you're over 65ft overall. Here is a link for Caltrans truck routes. Truck Size & Routes

[CaliTrucker]

Getting to Eureka

299 may be the best route. Going to Sac and up adds quite a bit of time. Also, if by chance you are carrying hazmat, you have to take a detour around the south end of Clear Lake that will add another half an hour or more.

There really isn't a "quick" way to Eureka.

[MarineVet32935]

Thanks guys. As I said, I'm real light, grossing only about 45K and no hazmat. Trailer is only 48' and I have a KPRA of 39', but I'm 68' overall and the fifth wheel is as far forward as it can go and still be able to turn without hitting the headache rack, which makes me not California Legal on overall length. Rt. 299 is a California Legal route, judging from the link you gave, Chunker. So it looks like 299 is out and I'll have to take the longer route. Unless I'm missing something.

[Orangetxguy]

Thanks guys. As I said, I'm real light, grossing only about 45K and no hazmat. Trailer is only 48' and I have a KPRA of 39', but I'm 68' overall and the fifth wheel is as far forward as it can go and still be able to turn without hitting the headache rack, which makes me not California Legal on overall length. Rt. 299 is a California Legal route, judging from the link you gave, Chunker. So it looks like 299 is out and I'll have to take the longer route. Unless I'm missing something.

If you are 69 feet over-all, then 299 is exactly the route you want to take into Eureka. 395/44 out of Reno to get to Redding also the best route. Don't let the 2-lane road idea freak you out. It is a good road. Have crossed it in 235" Century class Freightliners pulling 48 foot flat and step, and with a 275" Pete 379 pulling 48 foot flat and step. Not bad at all.

[Chunker]

If you are 69 feet over-all, then 299 is exactly the route you want to take into Eureka. 395/44 out of Reno to get to Redding also the best route. Don't let the 2-lane road idea freak you out. It is a good road. Have crossed it in 235" Century class Freightliners pulling 48 foot flat and step, and with a 275" Pete 379 pulling 48 foot flat and step. Not bad at all.

Hwy 299 is restricted to Cal. Legal truck length of 65ft. and so his only legal route is hwy 20 to 101, but then there is a stretch on 101 around Leggett to Benbow that's restricted too.

[MarineVet32935]

Hwy 299 is restricted to Cal. Legal truck length of 65ft. and so his only legal route is hwy 20 to 101, but then there is a stretch on 101 around Leggett to Benbow that's restricted too.

If 299, parts of 36 and parts of 101 are for California Legal trucks only, how the heck do I get to Eureka? Buy a boat?

[freebirdrfd]

Why would anybody take a load going to Cali.?????????

[Orangetxguy]

If 299, parts of 36 and parts of 101 are for California Legal trucks only, how the heck do I get to Eureka? Buy a boat?

Done told ya....I HAVE run across from Reno, via 395/44 into Redding, and across 299 into Eureka. You will not have any problems with a 48 foot trailer.

Here are the CALTRANS truck route maps. Check them out.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/tr...uckmap-d02.pdf

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/tr...uckmap-d01.pdf

And the "California Legal" description from CALTRANS,

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/tr...uck-legend.pdf

Do not let the "California Legal term scare you when you are pulling a 48 foot trailer.

The easiest way to ease your fears would be to measure the truck and trailer, connected and parked straight line, from the center of the steer axle to the center of the rear axle.

[MarineVet32935]

Just because there's "Rookie" under my name, doesn't mean I'm a newbie driver, it just means I don't post on here a lot. I usually haul over sized and can take a 65' long load places most drivers wouldn't consider with a legal trailer.

Since I've never been to northern California, I wanted to find the best route. Being over 65' makes me not "California Legal". So, since there's no way to get to Eureka, except on a "Califonia Legal" route, I guess the question I should ask is what's the odds of being stopped?

[Orangetxguy]

Just because there's "Rookie" under my name, doesn't mean I'm a newbie driver, it just means I don't post on here a lot. I usually haul over sized and can take a 65' long load places most drivers wouldn't consider with a legal trailer.

Since I've never been to northern California, I wanted to find the best route. Being over 65' makes me not "California Legal". So, since there's no way to get to Eureka, except on a "Califonia Legal" route, I guess the question I should ask is what's the odds of being stopped?

Are you going into Eureka with an "Oversized" load?? If you are not hauling a "Permit-load" the chances of getting stopped are the same as for any other day. If you are hauling a "Permit-load" and are not on the permit route, your chances are still the same...right?

There are more CHP and County units that work Hiway 20, from I-5 west to US101. They especially work the road along Clear Lake, and the Truck Route around Clear Lake, hard. That is because this route sees the most traffic, not just for Eureka and north, but traffic to Ukiah and the casino's south of the 20/101 interchange as well.

Hiway 299 across from Redding see's CHP and County units working as well, but they are watching the chip-haulers, the log trucks and the dump trucks, looking for over weight and mechanical violations, more than OTR trucks.

[Chunker]

Hey Orangetxguy, please understand he already stated he is over 65' overall and he knows either route is "65' maximum overall length" only. Why must you keep trying to convince him to run illegally to Eureka?
My suggestion would be to call Caltrans or CHP and try to get more info or approval on how to deliver the load and return to a legal route, rather than take a chance on a very expensive ticket. It may only be an oversize permit he needs to travel on the California Legal Truck Routes.

[chris1]

Had to hire a daycab a few times to pull a trailer south untill it was legal after delivering in Eureka. Couple hundred dollar ticket. Just build it in your rate. Sometimes they will bother you,most times they won't unless a local complains.

[Orangetxguy]

Hey Orangetxguy, please understand he already stated he is over 65' overall and he knows either route is "65' maximum overall length" only. Why must you keep trying to convince him to run illegally to Eureka?
My suggestion would be to call Caltrans or CHP and try to get more info or approval on how to deliver the load and return to a legal route, rather than take a chance on a very expensive ticket. It may only be an oversize permit he needs to travel on the California Legal Truck Routes.

I am familiar with both routes into Eureka. I know that there are two spots on US101, where he might have issues with a unit over 65 feet. I know that on CA299, it is a good route, all the way in. He is pulling a 48 foot trailer, not a 53 foot trailer. Unless he has a 275+ inch tractor, he is not going to have "issues" on 299, west of Redding. CHP is not going to bother him, because 299 is an "acceptable" route. I have seen plenty of Gordon Trucking units pulling their 53 foot 3-axle dry vans up and down 299. The same for Interstate Distributing as well as Stidham trucks...Ward trucks....and more.

He asked for the "best route" to get into Eureka. OF the three ways for a truck to get into Eureka....CA299 is the best and safest route for him to take. Since he is arriving from the east....Taking US395 north out of Reno to CA44, then north on CA44 to CA299, then west to Redding and on to Eureka...is his shortest, less congested route. HE can look at a map and determine which way he is going. I frankly don't care. If he wants...he can drive down to Oakland and hire a barge or a ferry to take his truck up to Eureka....again....it is HIS decision. If he wants....he can drive up into Oregon, drive across US 199 to the coast from Rouge River, and then drive south from Crescent City. I would not recommend it though. There are a dozen places along that route that he will find "hairy".

But based on his original question......I agreed with RoadHog, and have voiced MY experiences on that very route. I know how bad it can be crossing CA20...and how congested 101 is.

CHP is aware that there are businesses in Eureka (and Arcata) that need trucks to survive (Saw Mills and Paper Mills specifically). Unless he drives in such a manner as to make an LEO mad, he simply will not have issues. THAT is what I am saying...now. IF he was headed to Crescent City, I would tell him that the safest route for a truck, would be into Oregon, then south on US199.

[Roadhog]

Watch out for stoned drivers up there, that forget to chain their loads.

[Orangetxguy]

Watch out for stoned drivers up there, that forget to chain their loads.

Wicked wicked wicked!!

[MarineVet32935]

The whole thing was made moot, by a winter storm that dumped 12" of snow on the pass and all around the area. Hwy 44 was buried. Dispatch said take the route through Sacramento.