The year was 1997 and I had just tested out after 3 weeks with my trainer. My very first load as a new solo driver was out of the Pomona terminal. I scaled out at 77K pounds and the load took me north over the grapevine AT NIGHT. Nothing like getting thrown into the most intense circumstances that would test your training like nothing else would. I think I aged 20 years that night.
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Thank God it all went well, I passed through there in 2013 on atrip to LA from Chicago and it is steep going North and my partner at work use to drive his trailer through there and says he feared it at first
@@denagill781 Wait until you go over The Rockies or"Cabbage Hill" (eastern Oregon) sometime... _'Emigrant Hill, commonly called “Cabbage Hill” is one of the most hazardous stretches of road along westbound Interstate 84. This seven-mile downgrade, 35 miles west of La Grande, Oregon, has some of the most changeable and severe weather conditions in the Northwest.'_ Source: oregon.gov (PDF file)
First time I drove this was when I was 17 as a college freshman visiting home for the holidays. I had only had my license for like 5 months. It was dark, my headlights were crap, and it was so windy that my car felt like an airplane in turbulence. I had white knuckles the whole way. In the last four years I have driven it around 20-30 times. It gets shorter and shorter each time. I have an old SUV that can't go faster than 40 mph on some of the grades, so I have to sit in the right lane and hang out with the big rigs. It's just one of those things that gets easier with experience.
I kinda like sheltering with the trucks too....just try not to be behind on the decline - should they lose brake power and you're staying in a lower gear.
Make sure your car is in good condition! You don’t want to break down in that Stretch which is why the sign warns you to turn off your air conditioning to avoid overheating your engine
This was very beautiful i was driving from LA to Oakland on the 9th and driving on the Grapevine wasn't really bad. it was awesome i just threw the car in Neutral with my foot near the brakes and coasted all the way down.
Damn I had no idea the grapevine was national known as “All-Mighty” . I thought I was the only won who sweats that drive. Some crazy fuckers just fly down the hill like maniacs
I recently went over the Grapevine in both directions in my 1966 Mustang Convertible 6-cylinder. I didn't know if I would make it or not but the old 200 CI inline 6 kept on chugging. I was happy to make it over the top both times though.
Some opinions on the Grapevine area: * There should be 2 separated truck lanes on the right side in each direction, with a median barrier. That way, cars never have to contend directly with trucks, which have to go slower (35 mph) and become a safety hazard. Cars would use the left lanes separately (ideally 3 in each direction). * The Fort Tejon and Grapevine interchanges should also be reconfigured to avoid cars entering or exiting the truck lanes. The truck lanes may need to be segregated there. * The 4-lane I-5 section in the Central Valley needs to be widened to 6 lanes.
I think the #1 reason Caltrans would never segregate the 4 northbound lanes apart with a median barrier to keep trucks and passenger vehicles separate through the Grapevine, is due to the inevitable event of trucks losing brake power (it happens several times a year). Presumably, a truck losing its brakes down a maximum 6.7% descent would accelerate to the point that it would crash into another truck going down the hill at 35 or 40 MPH. That's why there's an available runaway truck ramp branching off from the left lane; a runaway truck would need to swing out left with much faster traffic. I do however think your proposal should be looked into for the southbound climb up the Grapevine. As for widening I-5 to 6 lanes through the valley...if only money were unlimited. :-)
@@cameronfisher9702 That won't happen. The population is too big through out most of the state which means there is a demand for products and supplies. As long as Motor Carriers (corporate trucking companies) and some smaller outfits are willing to satisfy their customer's request (demands really) for unreasonable/insane delivery times and schedules, then you are going to have truck drivers running outlaw - speeding & cooking the (log) books. The drivers you need to pay attention to on the down grades *during daylight* 1)are the ones in the middle lane with puffs of smoke coming from their axles and 2) the drivers who are hauling ship/cargo containers since most of those guys spent a lot of down time at the Long Beach Port and are in a hurry to make up time. *Night time?...* _ALWAYS_ check your mirrors if you see 3 amber lights above a vehicle that's in your lane, behind you.
Just drove through here towards the city on my way back from college. Was on 2 hours of sleep and my 5th consecutive hour of driving but went smoothly. Grapevine always has nice views
Glad I was able to find this--nice music to go with it. I had to Google "the grapevine" that the media always throws around. Its like they forget that not everyone knows what it is once the media reports goes national. They just need to say "the I5 between such and such" when they post
It really *is* incredible! Going down that grade, I'm fully aware of how much force is needed to stop my vehicle, given the 6.7% maximum gradient and the freeway speeds...I'll typically start leveling off the accelerator about 1/5 of a mile before descending, and increase my following distance to about 3 1/2 to 4 seconds. Just never know what can happen. But yeah, it's an epic drive...you need to go check it out yourself sometime!
If losing control of your vehicle for 5-7 minutes while essentially gaining speed and not touching the accelerator is your idea of incredible... can I interest you in a military tour in Afghanistan? I just drove this stretch a week ago. The downhill is terrifying.
I was trying hot find the spot the Central Valley exposes itself and found it thanks!!!!! From nh and loved the drive but that spot has been in my head ever since
+debra doernbach : Very cool, glad you enjoyed! If you want to check out the 20 or so miles, leading up to where this video started, feel free to check out my other video along I-5 in the Tehachapi Mountains. Here's the link to it. Thanks again! ua-cam.com/video/d71uR494Lus/v-deo.html
Thank you for the video. It's good to read these comments too. I know that I did this freeway when I was younger and it didn't bother me. But as an older guy with a balance disorder (non stop vertigo and other fun stuff) I did this drive going north twice, and this was after driving from central Texas. The first time freaked me out just going from the 210 on to the 5 and then over those dumb mountains. Last year with all the smoke it caused viability problems and made the drive even worse for me. Luckily both times I didn't go back that way. This year I'm going out west again and I am looking at avoiding the 5 till after that Grapevine part. Who knew there was a name for that portion? At least I was smart enough not to go south up the Grapevine... Ugh. Anybody want to drive? Ha!
Once again great job! It's nice when the air is clear, you really get some impressive views. This past Thanksgiving coming north down the Grapevine with the heavy holiday traffic, the long line of car lights heading north and south on 99 and I 5 veering to the left was definitely a sight to see!
+js182010 : Thank you! Yeah, this stretch of interstate is so freakin' epic. Glad I get to drive it, several times a year. Did you get a chance to watch my newest video, showcasing I-70 through Colorado's Eisenhower Tunnel and down into Straight Creek Canyon? Just released it, 6 days ago; that features a 7% grade down for 6 miles.
Excellent video! It's great the Grapevine finally got the upgraded FWB touch! Sighting the mountains could be either relief or dread depending on what you drive! The I-5/CA 99 junction seems underrated, not used to seeing left-hand exits. Definitely need to see it myself one day! Someone lost a tire at 4:20!
Excellent video, great music choice. I've driven the Grapevine a few times myself, and could never really relax and enjoy the scenery because I'd be watching the traffic like a hawk. Once with a UHaul, most other times in some little compact or other. The trucks were formidable but at least mostly predictable -- it was vehicles like that huge fishtailing RV in the vid that would give me the heebie jeebies. And yes, the odd tire or other damfool piece of road shrapnel. Roadtrip realness, gotta love it. Anyway, thanks for the smile.
We were just there last month, and the hillsides were covered in poppies. It was beautiful. The time before that, we were all stopped and sometimes creeping along. Once while we were stopped, our car shared some of our Skittles with the trucker next to us. It's bizarre to get out and walk around on the freeway when everybody is stopped.
04:20 A runaway tyre. Where did it come from? From the car on the shoulder? Its impossible, I think. But from a truck. Its impossible too. A wonderful trip. Greetings from a retired German trucker. I enjoy you movies very much, a gorgeous scene. Drive carefully ( remember the tyre )
Small correction. The 1932-1959/1960 alignment of US 99 followed BOTH sides, at various times. The southbound lanes mostly replaced the original alignment, until around Deadman's Curve, where the northbound lanes follow the alignment.The 1914-1932 alignment roughly follows the northbound lanes for the most part.
I travel to LA from Central California very often to go to Disneyland. Me and my brother always used to get so excited when we could see the “GrapeVine” because we both knew that we were close to LA...
Man, that was great! I really enjoyed your choice of music for this video. I watched your video several times just to re-listen to the song. I really wish I had gotten the chance to drive this in May, but thanks for putting together such an awesome video to make me feel like I had! Looking forward to more!
Cosmo and Brent u guy ar my favourite roadtrip people they ar both relaxing and an amazing experience it feels like ur actually in the car!!! LOL I had so much FUN!!!!! and Breht next time u do a roadtrip video can u plz do it in Palm Beach Florida its a beautiful place there to great work guys!!!!
The scariest part of driving through the grapevine is realizing there is no gas stations or rest stops anywhere for a dozen miles. So If your car gets stuck, you’re fucked
Drove this today in an 18wheeler. Was doing 35 like I was supposed to and halfway down another rig was doing 20. I had to get down to his speed and down shift because the next lane was bumper to bumper with trucks. Don’t go slower than the posted speed because it’s not easy slowing down.
Thank you very much for your beautiful work! I've seen some of your videos and I liked them very much. I added your channel to the selected channel list on my home page.
One thing one doesn't realize is that right at the edge of the pass, your elevation is NOT zero. It's actually between 1,500 and 2,000 feet above sea level already. Even more remarkable is that all this change happens in the last (from the north) or first (from the south) 15 miles in the valley. Before/after that it's only around 300 feet.
It would be cool to see all of I-5 through California and Chico, CA and surrounding MTNs (Mendocino, Lassen, etc.) This run in the footage reminds me of the Cahone pass up I-15 North from San Bernardino to Victorville Man a pretty isolated curvy and fast run you guys would love to drive is I-24 West netween South Pittsburg and Manchester (Mont Eagle ascent tons of curves) on the way from Chattanooga to Nashville on I-24. The Benz loves that road eats it for dinner.
I'm going down south this week and not looking forward to getting on it again. I've only been on the grapevine once...I literally thought my vehicle was gonna fly backwards...why in the world would they build a highway like this smh.
They always have steep highways like this in mountainous areas. They also have roads like this on I-70 west of Denver, Colorado, Black Mountain in North Carolina, Monteagle in Tennessee, Sandstone Mountain in West Virginia, Fancy Gap in Virginia, Cabbage Hill in Oregon.
@@carolynnorman3038 you can take the 58 from Bakersfield to the 395 and that'll literally take you directly to the IE. I go that way on the truck all the time! The scenery is beautiful, you don't have to deal with LA traffic, and it takes about the same time of drive time.
Hey, at 4:21 I saw a tire going across the freeway. Yikes! I like this part of I-5. What's interesting is how the Grapevine rest stop is at an elevation of 1758. The southern San Joaquin Valley tilts up at the end.
+Julianof Paignton And so does the northern Central Valley (the northernmost part is at 870', in the centre of the valley the elevation almost reaches zero)
Thanks! If you need to kill some time, feel free to check out my newest video, showcasing the ride into Auckland, New Zealand along the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Cheers!
driving a 65,000 lb. on the El Cajon pass ...there's a line, "goin' up in a blaze of glory, comin' down is a different story" from a song called "Ballad of Danger Dave and Double Trouble" . Aaron Tippin does a good cover.
Being from flat Florida originally driving the Grapevine is always astounding. Even at night when you can't really see anything, there's a point on the descent traveling south where it looks like you're perched above one of the towns up there; Lebec or Gorman maybe? It's like a bird's eye view right from your car. My mouth drops every time.
That was incredible Brent! Absolutely loved the scenery and the landscape. With regards to the arrester beds, why were they on the left hand side of the road? If road train breaks fail, they have to cross an extra 3 lanes of traffic. Seems counter intuitive to me. Furthermore, that wasn't a tyre rolling down the freeway was it! Feel sorry for the poor person who pulled over.
Hey there, glad you enjoyed watching this! Yeah, the Grapevine is one bad ass ride...in fact, the entire 40+ mile drive of I-5 over the Tehachapi Mountains is one for the ages. As for why Caltrans installed a left runaway truck ramp...a truck with failing brakes would plow into another truck, since trucks do about 20-40 MPH down the grade, so presumably, a truck that lost its brakes would be out in the left lanes, where traffic travels at a much faster pace. And haha, yeah, you did see a tire rolling out toward me...had to make my lane change "slow and steady", to keep the footage stable. Added some extra drama to the video, lol.
That's an excellent point you raise about the caltrans. I did also notice them on the right side of the road as well. Infact, now that I think about it, there were a significant number of freight vehicles using the two left lanes so it makes complete sense! Thanks Brent
3:08 I hear the downhill northbound grade is more like 10% grade, pretty common on California Freeways in the mountains to be in the 8-15% range with pretty freaking tight 35-40MPH curves!!!!!! Take it easy in Coolin' in California, the land of The Vatos Locos!!!!
I'm supposed to drive this road tomorrow from Fresno to Yuma. AZ. Just got my truck yesterday. Only been in training for a few weeks. Driving double flat beds. I'm not even sure I can drive it yet. Seems easier than it actually is. I hear horror stories about this road all the time. Wanna just take the other way, don't go, or idk.
Just take it easy up (and down) the grades, and you should be fine. It's mostly the drivers who display impatience, that get themselves into potential trouble. Have a safe journey!
FreewayBrent thanks for the response. Yeah I think I can do it. I don't wanna take the canyon route unless I feel I have to. I just went to Salinas today. Fairly steep grade up and down. I was completely fine. Someone told me the grapevine was "100x Worse".
lol, no it's not *that* bad. It's a pretty safe route, especially compared to the old version of the Grapevine, which was basically today's southbound lanes that served 2-way traffic. Now *that* was a dangerous route for truckers back in the day, with all the curves they had to navigate, combined with the steep grades.
I remember being a kid and and when this was HWY 99 going over the grapevine. Well before the 5 was even built. Also as a small child we would go up to "The Stick" to watch the Giants play. The 5 only went far south as Los Banos. Then we would take the 152 to the 99 and home to Fresno. Home of the Braided Ramps Project. =P LOL
Excellent video as always! But... THIS is considered to be "one of THE MOST dramatic grades" in America? Wow. The Mount Ousley Rd descent (which is an expressway) from Sydney down to Wollongong here in Australia is at the very least twice as steep as this, if not more. The South Eastern Freeway in Adelaide is also steeper, and both have turns tighter than what is seen here. Reading the comments, if this freeway already "scares you shitless", you have no business driving in Australia then
It's dramatic, because of the scenery...not the gradient. You go from being sandwiched inside of a canyon with impressive, in-your-face views as you go down, to...virtually a flat valley for over 700 kilometres in a span of 5 minutes. And you get 8 lanes on top of that. One of those "Only in California" driving experiences. The South Eastern Freeway is really neat and fun, but the views and scenery can't compare...but definitely worth a video!
I’m from ATL.. I must say I was terrified when my rental vehicle GPS took me through this California highway when visited California for the first time in 2018. Almost got distracted on this highway . California still a beautiful state though I have visited so far. Planning to move there when I become next Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates lol:)
ncuxap12444 : Yeah, that came as a *complete* surprise to me. That's one of the reasons I never tailgate and leave 2- 3 seconds of space....always gives me the ability to see potential road hazards like that rolling tire, well in advance...was able to gently merge over and avoid it, vs being the tire's roadkill, lol.
+FreewayBrent Remind me back years ago when driving thru Strawberry, Az going north to Winslow and the car behind me had a front wheel come off which actually passed me and then rolled into a gas station in town there. My ole pickup was running a little hot so I stopped at the stationand there was a worker changing anti-freeze in an RV so I ask him verynicely if I could use the empty gallon jugs to take some extra water with me and the ole man said nope. So went on to the next 7 11 store andthey gave me some and they mentioned none of the locals ever go to the other gas station there in town with the guy with a poor attitude.
BTW. Nice Vid Brent. Thanks again. A few years ago there was a nasty accident where they had to close 5 at the tunnel part. I can't remember what year it was.
I began listening to it around the house and after about three days of constantly listening to this song, my father comes up to me and says "You know what? This is one damn good song." And then he starts listening to it too. Thanks a bunch, man! :D
Johan Karlsson : That's freakin' awesome as heck to read. Ya know...I may as well link you to the first part of this ride, featuring the northbound direction. It basically covers the first 21 miles of the drive over the Tehachapi Mountains. You might like the song, too. ua-cam.com/video/d71uR494Lus/v-deo.html
Even discounting the road scholar aspect of this, which is hard to do, what is dramatic in this area is the way that a flatter than the top of a table agricultural area is abutted by big mountains. The only thing around here (St. Louis) within a comfortable day's drive that can approximate that is the way the Mississippi delta of southeast Missouri meets the Ozark Mountains.
Yeah, dramatic indeed! Especially after driving southbound for hours upon hours and experiencing a mostly straight-arrow and flat freeway, seeing the Tehachapi Mountains suddenly "confront" the driver before heading straight up the grade is a spectacular experience. I actually just drove the Grapevine again about 4 1/2 hours ago, lol...just got back home to the Bay Area. Anyway, thanks for dropping by and watching.
The thing I hate the most are the semis. I only use this road when coming back from Yosemite, Sequoia, or other camping destinations in NoCal. I tow a 6000lb travel trailer with a 2.7 F-150 Ecoboost up and down this road. The truck handles it perfectly, but dealing the big rigs is always a bitch!
Haha, yeah that was an unexpected surprise. I'm pretty sure the tire came from that 3-series BMW that was parked on the shoulder at the 4:20 minute mark...looked like the vehicle had a flat tire. Added a little bit of extra drama to this video, lol.
It takes me 1 hr 20 minutes to get from the Grapevine to Kettlemen City and 1 hr 30 minutes to get from Kettlemen City to Santa Nella. I drive slower than you.
You can make out the bright lights and bog city of Los Angeles and the Sunset Strip from the top of The Grapevine on the Golden State Freeway!!!!!!!!! No wonder Motley Crue became world famous with their brand of Rock and Roll!!!!! Hell, no wander Rock and Roll became the way it did in the 80's!!!!
lol...beauty is in the eye of the beholder...but I'll agree with you that the hills do look much nicer when covered in green grass. Glad you enjoyed watching!
I’m from nyc now living in sac. Planning on moving to LA , driving from sac to LA . New driver. Is there something about the grapevine I should be careful with? It doesn’t look like a difficult drive.
Nah, you should be perfectly fine. If you plan on doing this drive within the next few weeks or through the spring time, my only advice worth heeding is to check weather conditions. If it looks like a winter storm is imminent, Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol will close the entire 45 mile stretch through the Tehachapi Mountains, since it only takes a few inches of snow and ice on the 5-7% grades to render the entire mountain stretch impassable. Your alternative routes are really I-5 South to Highway 166 West to US 101 South (where you'd continue through Santa Barbara), or if the snow level is above 4,000 feet, then you can take the freeway routes of CA 58 East to CA 14 South (which are both fantastic drives in themselves) to continue down south into Los Angeles.
FreewayBrent ty so much. My daughter and I are probably going in the summer. My Lyft driver yesterday was telling me about the grapevine had no idea what that was and he scared me . Thought it was a flat drive from Sacramento to LA. I’m already scared to practice driving lol , but I got this
Got picked up up there in 'The Grapevine' w/ my 10-speed. Couldn't go on the freeway. Phx to Fresno . . . to work in the vineyards. It was kind of like the "Grateful Dead's" song: "Truckin" . . . "Ain't gonna' be treated this away". Trying someplace else not as weird as the place I just left. But they're going to test you there TOO! It just never stops being weird. L.A. was a bust! 3x in 12 hours by blacks in L.A. County 'Hilton'.
Andre R. Newcomb Got let out in Bakersfield. Corcoran was weird. Christmas never was . . . again. 1st REAL winter outside (homeless) . . . Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Been 34 of them since. It's kind of like the Jim Croce song: "If you're going my way -- I'll go with you."
Keep hearing truckers from east coast and cali saying that’s scary but I am from northwest and hit deadman’s road ass regularly at 105k with no problems, and Montana this looked like pre school
The year was 1997 and I had just tested out after 3 weeks with my trainer. My very first load as a new solo driver was out of the Pomona terminal. I scaled out at 77K pounds and the load took me north over the grapevine AT NIGHT. Nothing like getting thrown into the most intense circumstances that would test your training like nothing else would. I think I aged 20 years that night.
Thank God for Jake (engine) brakes. 😱
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Thank God it all went well, I passed through there in 2013 on atrip to LA from Chicago and it is steep going North and my partner at work use to drive his trailer through there and says he feared it at first
I don't think there's a more narly Road then. I-5 on the grapevine even in a car. Break burner 😱😱😱😱
Wow @ 4:18! Crazy how you caught that tire blowout! I was like "did he just drive passed a lone tire rolling down the freeway?"
Was looking for this comment, lol. Either it came off the truck or that sedan let it rolled down while changing it. 😂
I drove this at night and had no idea what I was crossing! Thank for this video!
Me too! I just knew it was HUGE and my load was about 40,000 lbs
@@denagill781
Wait until you go over The Rockies or"Cabbage Hill" (eastern Oregon) sometime...
_'Emigrant Hill, commonly called “Cabbage Hill” is one of the most hazardous stretches of road along westbound Interstate 84. This seven-mile downgrade, 35 miles west of La Grande, Oregon, has some of the most changeable and severe weather conditions in the Northwest.'_
Source: oregon.gov (PDF file)
@@denagill781I hope you are still out there trucking!
I hate This stressful drive after driving in rainy/Snowy night drove in the dark. Had The Cruze control on at 55. Hell of a narly road
First time I drove this was when I was 17 as a college freshman visiting home for the holidays. I had only had my license for like 5 months. It was dark, my headlights were crap, and it was so windy that my car felt like an airplane in turbulence. I had white knuckles the whole way. In the last four years I have driven it around 20-30 times. It gets shorter and shorter each time. I have an old SUV that can't go faster than 40 mph on some of the grades, so I have to sit in the right lane and hang out with the big rigs. It's just one of those things that gets easier with experience.
I kinda like sheltering with the trucks too....just try not to be behind on the decline - should they lose brake power and you're staying in a lower gear.
Make sure your car is in good condition! You don’t want to break down in that Stretch which is why the sign warns you to turn off your air conditioning to avoid overheating your engine
@@awmusichistoryno kidding! I got my license in 1976, drove my 1963 VW over this, engine caught fire. Cooled down and I continued on…
Pretty awesome really. The connector between one of America's biggest cities along with one of America's largest farmlands.
This was very beautiful i was driving from LA to Oakland on the 9th and driving on the Grapevine wasn't really bad. it was awesome i just threw the car in Neutral with my foot near the brakes and coasted all the way down.
This is one of my favorite drives.
I drove this once when I was little going to San Diego to visit some family but I now wanna go back to San Diego I love the drive it’s the best
wow, remember the parents heading down to LA taking this route, thanks for the share!
Great ride Brent. So much to see, including the runaway tyre! lol
Damn I had no idea the grapevine was national known as “All-Mighty” . I thought I was the only won who sweats that drive. Some crazy fuckers just fly down the hill like maniacs
People drive too fast
Bro it’s not lol if your not driving like a grandma you can get though the safely and efficiently
I recently went over the Grapevine in both directions in my 1966 Mustang Convertible 6-cylinder. I didn't know if I would make it or not but the old 200 CI inline 6 kept on chugging. I was happy to make it over the top both times though.
December 2019 first time driving the grapevine heading to San Francisco from Los Angeles. Really beautiful can’t wait to do it again
Some opinions on the Grapevine area:
* There should be 2 separated truck lanes on the right side in each direction, with a median barrier. That way, cars never have to contend directly with trucks, which have to go slower (35 mph) and become a safety hazard. Cars would use the left lanes separately (ideally 3 in each direction).
* The Fort Tejon and Grapevine interchanges should also be reconfigured to avoid cars entering or exiting the truck lanes. The truck lanes may need to be segregated there.
* The 4-lane I-5 section in the Central Valley needs to be widened to 6 lanes.
I think the #1 reason Caltrans would never segregate the 4 northbound lanes apart with a median barrier to keep trucks and passenger vehicles separate through the Grapevine, is due to the inevitable event of trucks losing brake power (it happens several times a year). Presumably, a truck losing its brakes down a maximum 6.7% descent would accelerate to the point that it would crash into another truck going down the hill at 35 or 40 MPH. That's why there's an available runaway truck ramp branching off from the left lane; a runaway truck would need to swing out left with much faster traffic. I do however think your proposal should be looked into for the southbound climb up the Grapevine.
As for widening I-5 to 6 lanes through the valley...if only money were unlimited. :-)
i got a better idea how bout you just fkn slow down whats your big fkn hurry
cameron fisher I like your idea I vote we go with that!!!
@@cameronfisher9702
That won't happen. The population is too big through out most of the state which means there is a demand for products and supplies.
As long as Motor Carriers (corporate trucking companies) and some smaller outfits are willing to satisfy their customer's request (demands really) for unreasonable/insane delivery times and schedules, then you are going to have truck drivers running outlaw - speeding & cooking the (log) books.
The drivers you need to pay attention to on the down grades *during daylight* 1)are the ones in the middle lane with puffs of smoke coming from their axles and 2) the drivers who are hauling ship/cargo containers since most of those guys spent a lot of down time at the Long Beach Port and are in a hurry to make up time.
*Night time?...* _ALWAYS_ check your mirrors if you see 3 amber lights above a vehicle that's in your lane, behind you.
@@maxmulsanne7054Why would 3 amber lights be behind you?
Just drove through here towards the city on my way back from college. Was on 2 hours of sleep and my 5th consecutive hour of driving but went smoothly. Grapevine always has nice views
Glad I was able to find this--nice music to go with it. I had to Google "the grapevine" that the media always throws around. Its like they forget that not everyone knows what it is once the media reports goes national. They just need to say "the I5 between such and such" when they post
Thank you! Yeah, it's definitely a very unique stretch of freeway...I can't think of anything else quite like it, certainly not with 8 lanes.
I swear, your California videos makes me jealous that I don't live out there. That descent looks incredible!
It really *is* incredible! Going down that grade, I'm fully aware of how much force is needed to stop my vehicle, given the 6.7% maximum gradient and the freeway speeds...I'll typically start leveling off the accelerator about 1/5 of a mile before descending, and increase my following distance to about 3 1/2 to 4 seconds. Just never know what can happen. But yeah, it's an epic drive...you need to go check it out yourself sometime!
If losing control of your vehicle for 5-7 minutes while essentially gaining speed and not touching the accelerator is your idea of incredible... can I interest you in a military tour in Afghanistan? I just drove this stretch a week ago. The downhill is terrifying.
Dawg did anyone else see the tire fly off the truck?! At 4:20...just for my Lowkey anxiety.
I did too the next lane to him
It must be flat
YES, omg that looked dangerous. It came off of the SUV parked on the side.
Yooo I was tripping out like dayum that was all nonchalant and while up the grape vine sheesh
I was trying hot find the spot the Central Valley exposes itself and found it thanks!!!!! From nh and loved the drive but that spot has been in my head ever since
I'm driving this on Wednesday...looking forward to it!
I love this road. I drove on it numerous times to get to and from AZ. But back then it was a two lane little venture! love the music, too!
+debra doernbach : Very cool, glad you enjoyed!
If you want to check out the 20 or so miles, leading up to where this video started, feel free to check out my other video along I-5 in the Tehachapi Mountains. Here's the link to it. Thanks again! ua-cam.com/video/d71uR494Lus/v-deo.html
Will do! Thank you.
Thank you for the video. It's good to read these comments too. I know that I did this freeway when I was younger and it didn't bother me. But as an older guy with a balance disorder (non stop vertigo and other fun stuff) I did this drive going north twice, and this was after driving from central Texas. The first time freaked me out just going from the 210 on to the 5 and then over those dumb mountains. Last year with all the smoke it caused viability problems and made the drive even worse for me. Luckily both times I didn't go back that way. This year I'm going out west again and I am looking at avoiding the 5 till after that Grapevine part. Who knew there was a name for that portion? At least I was smart enough not to go south up the Grapevine... Ugh. Anybody want to drive? Ha!
Once again great job! It's nice when the air is clear, you really get some impressive views. This past Thanksgiving coming north down the Grapevine with the heavy holiday traffic, the long line of car lights heading north and south on 99 and I 5 veering to the left was definitely a sight to see!
+js182010 : Thank you! Yeah, this stretch of interstate is so freakin' epic. Glad I get to drive it, several times a year.
Did you get a chance to watch my newest video, showcasing I-70 through Colorado's Eisenhower Tunnel and down into Straight Creek Canyon? Just released it, 6 days ago; that features a 7% grade down for 6 miles.
js182010
Excellent video! It's great the Grapevine finally got the upgraded FWB touch! Sighting the mountains could be either relief or dread depending on what you drive! The I-5/CA 99 junction seems underrated, not used to seeing left-hand exits. Definitely need to see it myself one day! Someone lost a tire at 4:20!
Those are not mountains, they are foot hills.
one of the most uncomfortable stretches of road on I5 hauling boats, however, most beautiful
The steep incline going north just past Castaic is epic too.
Very cool, great timing with everything, soundtrack worked great as well. Big thumbs up!
Excellent video, great music choice. I've driven the Grapevine a few times myself, and could never really relax and enjoy the scenery because I'd be watching the traffic like a hawk. Once with a UHaul, most other times in some little compact or other. The trucks were formidable but at least mostly predictable -- it was vehicles like that huge fishtailing RV in the vid that would give me the heebie jeebies. And yes, the odd tire or other damfool piece of road shrapnel. Roadtrip realness, gotta love it. Anyway, thanks for the smile.
We were just there last month, and the hillsides were covered in poppies. It was beautiful. The time before that, we were all stopped and sometimes creeping along. Once while we were stopped, our car shared some of our Skittles with the trucker next to us. It's bizarre to get out and walk around on the freeway when everybody is stopped.
04:20 A runaway tyre. Where did it come from? From the car on the shoulder? Its impossible, I think. But from a truck. Its impossible too.
A wonderful trip. Greetings from a retired German trucker. I enjoy you movies very much, a gorgeous scene. Drive carefully ( remember the tyre )
Small correction. The 1932-1959/1960 alignment of US 99 followed BOTH sides, at various times. The southbound lanes mostly replaced the original alignment, until around Deadman's Curve, where the northbound lanes follow the alignment.The 1914-1932 alignment roughly follows the northbound lanes for the most part.
I was snow stormed in Gorman ..Iv drove threw this grapevine for over 30 years..!
years ago I used to cringe every time a saw a VW bus going up. Even saw one a few years ago blocking up the slow lane with pissed off trucker in tow.
A frequent drive for me taking my son to his auditions and back.
I genuinely hope you never stop making videos Brent. I truly enjoy them and think everyone would miss them (and you!) terribly! :)
Great ride with stunning scenery and top notch production.
Thank you!
Awesome recording like the Tehachapi mountain range view in the back ground very nice view I like it a lot awesome recording
I travel to LA from Central California very often to go to Disneyland. Me and my brother always used to get so excited when we could see the “GrapeVine” because we both knew that we were close to LA...
I love that view at the foot of the grapevine of the valley it’s very beautiful awesome job recording it
4:19 Watch out!
Great video, BTW. I heard that a good portion of that section of highway has been repaved.
Another great video they just keep getting better and better.
Man, that was great! I really enjoyed your choice of music for this video. I watched your video several times just to re-listen to the song. I really wish I had gotten the chance to drive this in May, but thanks for putting together such an awesome video to make me feel like I had! Looking forward to more!
Cosmo and Brent u guy ar my favourite roadtrip people they ar both relaxing and an amazing experience it feels like ur actually in the car!!! LOL I had so much FUN!!!!! and Breht next time u do a roadtrip video can u plz do it in Palm Beach Florida its a beautiful place there to great work guys!!!!
*Brent*
I' ve subbed u both cuz u ar both AMAZING!!!!!!!!
I have no idea how I missed your comment until now @TheBeachKid 11. Thanks!
The scariest part of driving through the grapevine is realizing there is no gas stations or rest stops anywhere for a dozen miles. So If your car gets stuck, you’re fucked
Drive down interstate 5 into the grapevines, and it’s amazing dude. From where the video starts, your about 5 hours in.
From what I remember, when at the grapevine, even if not snowing, not only the Celsius, but also the Fahrenheit would go to negative numbers.
Drove this today in an 18wheeler. Was doing 35 like I was supposed to and halfway down another rig was doing 20. I had to get down to his speed and down shift because the next lane was bumper to bumper with trucks. Don’t go slower than the posted speed because it’s not easy slowing down.
Thank you very much for your beautiful work!
I've seen some of your videos and I liked them very much.
I added your channel to the selected channel list on my home page.
Try climbing or descending this pass in a semi weighing in excess of 120k then you can have a say
The 1st time I did this road,it was raining and foggy....pucker effect. I had the most skilled trainer.
One thing one doesn't realize is that right at the edge of the pass, your elevation is NOT zero. It's actually between 1,500 and 2,000 feet above sea level already. Even more remarkable is that all this change happens in the last (from the north) or first (from the south) 15 miles in the valley. Before/after that it's only around 300 feet.
Did Anyone Else See The Tire At 4:21
+Angel 1040 yeah lol wtf
+Angel 1040 I noticed that as well lol
I sure did.
It figures it would happen right at 4:20.
Yes really excident .
It would be cool to see all of I-5 through California and Chico, CA and surrounding MTNs (Mendocino, Lassen, etc.)
This run in the footage reminds me of the Cahone pass up I-15 North from San Bernardino to Victorville
Man a pretty isolated curvy and fast run you guys would love to drive is I-24 West netween South Pittsburg and Manchester (Mont Eagle ascent tons of curves) on the way from Chattanooga to Nashville on I-24. The Benz loves that road eats it for dinner.
I'm going down south this week and not looking forward to getting on it again. I've only been on the grapevine once...I literally thought my vehicle was gonna fly backwards...why in the world would they build a highway like this smh.
If you do not wish to be on the Grapevine, you can use US-101 instead of the I-5 as an alternative, depending on where you are going from.
Omg im coming from Sacramento to riverside i don't want to go on this
They always have steep highways like this in mountainous areas. They also have roads like this on I-70 west of Denver, Colorado, Black Mountain in North Carolina, Monteagle in Tennessee, Sandstone Mountain in West Virginia, Fancy Gap in Virginia, Cabbage Hill in Oregon.
@@carolynnorman3038 you can take the 58 from Bakersfield to the 395 and that'll literally take you directly to the IE. I go that way on the truck all the time! The scenery is beautiful, you don't have to deal with LA traffic, and it takes about the same time of drive time.
Hey, at 4:21 I saw a tire going across the freeway. Yikes! I like this part of I-5. What's interesting is how the Grapevine rest stop is at an elevation of 1758. The southern San Joaquin Valley tilts up at the end.
+Julianof Paignton And so does the northern Central Valley (the northernmost part is at 870', in the centre of the valley the elevation almost reaches zero)
+Julianof Paignton The "tilt-up" is in the last 15 miles.
Thank you for this. Been down this many times hitching. Theres nothing like the viee at night.
Freeway Brent I really enjoy
The video and the song
Great job
Thanks! If you need to kill some time, feel free to check out my newest video, showcasing the ride into Auckland, New Zealand along the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Cheers!
FreewayBrent I’ll do that
Thank you
driving a 65,000 lb. on the El Cajon pass ...there's a line, "goin' up in a blaze of glory, comin' down is a different story" from a song called "Ballad of Danger Dave and Double Trouble" . Aaron Tippin does a good cover.
Actually, even in March, the hills might still not be green in color because it can still be freezing cold at the Grapevine.
Being from flat Florida originally driving the Grapevine is always astounding.
Even at night when you can't really see anything, there's a point on the descent traveling south where it looks like you're perched above one of the towns up there; Lebec or Gorman maybe? It's like a bird's eye view right from your car. My mouth drops every time.
Excellent video Brent, as usual! Watched it several time! Nice soundtrack too.
Neat how you vary the film speed on musical cues.
That was incredible Brent! Absolutely loved the scenery and the landscape. With regards to the arrester beds, why were they on the left hand side of the road? If road train breaks fail, they have to cross an extra 3 lanes of traffic. Seems counter intuitive to me. Furthermore, that wasn't a tyre rolling down the freeway was it! Feel sorry for the poor person who pulled over.
Hey there, glad you enjoyed watching this! Yeah, the Grapevine is one bad ass ride...in fact, the entire 40+ mile drive of I-5 over the Tehachapi Mountains is one for the ages. As for why Caltrans installed a left runaway truck ramp...a truck with failing brakes would plow into another truck, since trucks do about 20-40 MPH down the grade, so presumably, a truck that lost its brakes would be out in the left lanes, where traffic travels at a much faster pace. And haha, yeah, you did see a tire rolling out toward me...had to make my lane change "slow and steady", to keep the footage stable. Added some extra drama to the video, lol.
That's an excellent point you raise about the caltrans. I did also notice them on the right side of the road as well. Infact, now that I think about it, there were a significant number of freight vehicles using the two left lanes so it makes complete sense! Thanks Brent
I left California in 1996 after living there for almost 40 years.
I always think of this while listening to 2 songs, The Fighter by Keith Urban and Baby by Justin Bieber.
3:08 I hear the downhill northbound grade is more like 10% grade, pretty common on California Freeways in the mountains to be in the 8-15% range with pretty freaking tight 35-40MPH curves!!!!!! Take it easy in Coolin' in California, the land of The Vatos Locos!!!!
Was in Lancaster last weekend and driving through the grapevine wasn't so bad, getting used to it
Didn't see your comment until now. Glad you're getting the hang of it; it's still one of my favorite freeway drives.
Jennifer Lemmon
I hope you had a safe trip
I really liked that edit at 4:38 :-)
Glad you enjoyed!
Scared the crap out of ME. lol. Almost thought he was gonna run into the damn thing for a sec lol
5:09 is the typical signage on the 5 going north in the valley; the next exit, San Francisco, and Sac-town.
I'm supposed to drive this road tomorrow from Fresno to Yuma. AZ. Just got my truck yesterday. Only been in training for a few weeks. Driving double flat beds. I'm not even sure I can drive it yet. Seems easier than it actually is. I hear horror stories about this road all the time. Wanna just take the other way, don't go, or idk.
Just take it easy up (and down) the grades, and you should be fine. It's mostly the drivers who display impatience, that get themselves into potential trouble. Have a safe journey!
FreewayBrent thanks for the response. Yeah I think I can do it. I don't wanna take the canyon route unless I feel I have to. I just went to Salinas today. Fairly steep grade up and down. I was completely fine. Someone told me the grapevine was "100x Worse".
lol, no it's not *that* bad. It's a pretty safe route, especially compared to the old version of the Grapevine, which was basically today's southbound lanes that served 2-way traffic. Now *that* was a dangerous route for truckers back in the day, with all the curves they had to navigate, combined with the steep grades.
FreewayBrent well thank you man, made me feel a ton better about tomorrow. Subscribed. Haha.
Nice! Yeah, feel free to check out my Fresno Freeway Tour video that I released in 2015. Kind of a fun video to watch. Have a good night, dude!
Reminds me a bit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the Laurel Highlands.
I remember being a kid and and when this was HWY 99 going over the grapevine. Well before the 5 was even built. Also as a small child we would go up to "The Stick" to watch the Giants play. The 5 only went far south as Los Banos. Then we would take the 152 to the 99 and home to Fresno. Home of the Braided Ramps Project. =P LOL
LOL @ the runaway tire! Awesome video =]
Excellent video as always! But... THIS is considered to be "one of THE MOST dramatic grades" in America? Wow. The Mount Ousley Rd descent (which is an expressway) from Sydney down to Wollongong here in Australia is at the very least twice as steep as this, if not more. The South Eastern Freeway in Adelaide is also steeper, and both have turns tighter than what is seen here. Reading the comments, if this freeway already "scares you shitless", you have no business driving in Australia then
Just checked the stats - the max grade here for the Grapevine is 6.7% but Mt Ousley Rd descent has a grade of around 10%.
It's dramatic, because of the scenery...not the gradient. You go from being sandwiched inside of a canyon with impressive, in-your-face views as you go down, to...virtually a flat valley for over 700 kilometres in a span of 5 minutes. And you get 8 lanes on top of that. One of those "Only in California" driving experiences. The South Eastern Freeway is really neat and fun, but the views and scenery can't compare...but definitely worth a video!
I agree :)
I’m from ATL.. I must say I was terrified when my rental vehicle GPS took me through this California highway when visited California for the first time in 2018. Almost got distracted on this highway . California still a beautiful state though I have visited so far. Planning to move there when I become next Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates lol:)
Me too lol I love California ❤❤
Always the best! Thank you.
wtf is that tire doing at 4:20 :D
ncuxap12444 : Yeah, that came as a *complete* surprise to me. That's one of the reasons I never tailgate and leave 2- 3 seconds of space....always gives me the ability to see potential road hazards like that rolling tire, well in advance...was able to gently merge over and avoid it, vs being the tire's roadkill, lol.
+FreewayBrent Remind me back years ago when driving thru Strawberry, Az going north to Winslow and the car behind me had a front wheel come off which actually passed me and then rolled into a gas station in town there. My ole pickup was running a little hot so I stopped at the stationand there was a worker changing anti-freeze in an RV so I ask him verynicely if I could use the empty gallon jugs to take some extra water with me and the ole man said nope. So went on to the next 7 11 store andthey gave me some and they mentioned none of the locals ever go to the other gas station there in town with the guy with a poor attitude.
ncuxap12444 Rolling!!!!
it got high
Probably a retread. They peel off like that sometimes.
BTW. Nice Vid Brent. Thanks again. A few years ago there was a nasty accident where they had to close 5 at the tunnel part. I can't remember what year it was.
Nicely done Brent!
Should have driven over this when it was one lane in each direction, so much fun lol. You kids have it so easy.
This music is excellent
Johan Karlsson : Glad you enjoyed! I really liked it too...enough to use it in this video, lol.
I began listening to it around the house and after about three days of constantly listening to this song, my father comes up to me and says "You know what? This is one damn good song." And then he starts listening to it too. Thanks a bunch, man! :D
Johan Karlsson : That's freakin' awesome as heck to read.
Ya know...I may as well link you to the first part of this ride, featuring the northbound direction. It basically covers the first 21 miles of the drive over the Tehachapi Mountains. You might like the song, too.
ua-cam.com/video/d71uR494Lus/v-deo.html
I love this video so much the awesome views and the music is so good USA is such a lovely diverse place I will visit one day I'll make sure .
Even discounting the road scholar aspect of this, which is hard to do, what is dramatic in this area is the way that a flatter than the top of a table agricultural area is abutted by big mountains. The only thing around here (St. Louis) within a comfortable day's drive that can approximate that is the way the Mississippi delta of southeast Missouri meets the Ozark Mountains.
Yeah, dramatic indeed! Especially after driving southbound for hours upon hours and experiencing a mostly straight-arrow and flat freeway, seeing the Tehachapi Mountains suddenly "confront" the driver before heading straight up the grade is a spectacular experience. I actually just drove the Grapevine again about 4 1/2 hours ago, lol...just got back home to the Bay Area. Anyway, thanks for dropping by and watching.
Hey!!! FreewayBrent could u plz make a vid of driving though England, Devon, Plymouth i've heard its a lovley place!!! :)
Thanks for the ride!
Thanks for dropping by and watching; glad you enjoyed the video!
Dude that is GNARLY !!! Like totally TUBULAR dude !! TOTALLY !!!
The thing I hate the most are the semis. I only use this road when coming back from Yosemite, Sequoia, or other camping destinations in NoCal. I tow a 6000lb travel trailer with a 2.7 F-150 Ecoboost up and down this road. The truck handles it perfectly, but dealing the big rigs is always a bitch!
Everyone riding their brakes down that entire downhill section so police won’t get them for speeding LOL
Trying to figure out what vehicle that tyre came from!
Haha, yeah that was an unexpected surprise. I'm pretty sure the tire came from that 3-series BMW that was parked on the shoulder at the 4:20 minute mark...looked like the vehicle had a flat tire. Added a little bit of extra drama to this video, lol.
@@FreewayBrent that is what I said it was a flat tire
THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH!!! I KNEW IT, ITS LIKE AMERICAN TRUCK SIMULATOR
I saw the sign for Pea Soup Andersons in Santa Nella 186 miles. That's weird, it feels like its much further away than that
It's a "quick" 2 hr/20 minute drive for me, only because I know the CHP won't pull me over for doing 80 MPH on I-5...lol.
It takes me 1 hr 20 minutes to get from the Grapevine to Kettlemen City and 1 hr 30 minutes to get from Kettlemen City to Santa Nella. I drive slower than you.
Trust me y’all, this highway is not that bad driving in it. Just stay in the right lanes if your really afraid of the declines
That tire that flyed off that truck must be flat
You can make out the bright lights and bog city of Los Angeles and the Sunset Strip from the top of The Grapevine on the Golden State Freeway!!!!!!!!! No wonder Motley Crue became world famous with their brand of Rock and Roll!!!!! Hell, no wander Rock and Roll became the way it did in the 80's!!!!
Nice ride Brent, now record this in March or so when the hills are green! Those golden brown hills are frankly.......ugly!
lol...beauty is in the eye of the beholder...but I'll agree with you that the hills do look much nicer when covered in green grass. Glad you enjoyed watching!
Quartz Quadrant Bad Future Zone 3 in Sonic CD
This is how I know I'm close to home. Bakersfield CA
...how about in my pacer, (AMC). how would you rate my bucket
This is nothing compares to the vail pass in colorado. That scared me shitless coming down in a semi
I’m from nyc now living in sac. Planning on moving to LA , driving from sac to LA . New driver. Is there something about the grapevine I should be careful with? It doesn’t look like a difficult drive.
Nah, you should be perfectly fine. If you plan on doing this drive within the next few weeks or through the spring time, my only advice worth heeding is to check weather conditions. If it looks like a winter storm is imminent, Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol will close the entire 45 mile stretch through the Tehachapi Mountains, since it only takes a few inches of snow and ice on the 5-7% grades to render the entire mountain stretch impassable. Your alternative routes are really I-5 South to Highway 166 West to US 101 South (where you'd continue through Santa Barbara), or if the snow level is above 4,000 feet, then you can take the freeway routes of CA 58 East to CA 14 South (which are both fantastic drives in themselves) to continue down south into Los Angeles.
FreewayBrent ty so much. My daughter and I are probably going in the summer. My Lyft driver yesterday was telling me about the grapevine had no idea what that was and he scared me . Thought it was a flat drive from Sacramento to LA. I’m already scared to practice driving lol , but I got this
Recommend turn your ac off during summer going uphill
Got picked up up there in 'The Grapevine' w/ my 10-speed. Couldn't go on the freeway. Phx to Fresno . . . to work in the vineyards. It was kind of like the "Grateful Dead's" song: "Truckin" . . . "Ain't gonna' be treated this away". Trying someplace else not as weird as the place I just left. But they're going to test you there TOO! It just never stops being weird. L.A. was a bust! 3x in 12 hours by blacks in L.A. County 'Hilton'.
Andre R. Newcomb Got let out in Bakersfield. Corcoran was weird. Christmas never was . . . again. 1st REAL winter outside (homeless) . . . Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Been 34 of them since. It's kind of like the Jim Croce song: "If you're going my way -- I'll go with you."
Who built the grapevine
Keep hearing truckers from east coast and cali saying that’s scary but I am from northwest and hit deadman’s road ass regularly at 105k with no problems, and Montana this looked like pre school