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11-11-2018, 05:26 PM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member 
2020 25' Globetrotter
Los Gatos
, California
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 415
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Escaping the Malibu fire
New Sport 22 in the driveway and Highlander LTD AWD is tv. We are packed and will leave if fire gets closer but that does not look likely. If we do go it is downhill 3 min to Pacific Coast Highway. Two lanes but about 800 feet of it is 19% grade with hillside on right and deep canyon to left
Never have tried up or down this road and always come a long way around (usually this would be where fire is). My wife said she saw a pick up drive by heading down the steep road with AS. She said thought same as ours. I know the guy and they have F150
Planned getting a Grand Cherokee but now wondering about 150. Is it able to tow my AS down 800 feet of 19%?
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11-11-2018, 05:42 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master  
2007 Interstate
Normal
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18,078
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What a horrible, dreadful situation out there in that inferno.
Stay safe.
Maggie
__________________
🏡 🚐 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last.🌹🐚
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11-11-2018, 06:06 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
South East
, Michigan
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 551
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I wouldn't hesitate with my 150. But really, any vehicle should be able to handle 800 feet. Start and stay slow. Put your vehicle in a low gear before you start down.
Good luck and best wishes to avoid the fires.
__________________
Al
2017 29' SOB, 2022 Platinum F-150 SCrew, ProPride
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11-11-2018, 06:25 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1991 25' Excella
2011 19' Flying Cloud
Santa Ynez
, California
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,185
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Yep start in low or first gear and manually use trailer brakes as much as needed
We were supposed to camp at pt mugu this weekend but it was inside the mandatory evac area.
Hope you fair well
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11-11-2018, 06:27 PM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
2014 27' FB Eddie Bauer
Mobile
, Alabama
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 319
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Garfish,
Hope all is well with you and your family and your home and the Sport.
Heard on the nightly news that the city of Malibu has been evacuated.
What a horrible fire.
Wish I could send a little rain your way.
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11-11-2018, 06:28 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
1969 21' Globetrotter
Conifer
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,315
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Who in the heck built a road with a 19% grade! Isn't that a 38 degree angle down (and up). It would be like towing the trailer down a black diamond ski run.
There are road designs with "switchbacks" to avoid steep grades.
I rode my ATV down what I estimate as a 45 degree angle from a mountain top last summer. No room here for switchbacks. The surface was loose gravel and dirt. I was skidding. If I skidded off the trail, well it would be a long tumble down the mountain. White knuckles.
Maybe your Highlander has a 4wd Low setting (if ). That would help the brakes some. Newer pickups sometimes have a "hill decent" control that helps on steep downhills also.
I would be no faster than 5 mph in the lowest gear possible with 4 way flashers on.
God I hate wildfires. Stay safe.
David
__________________
WBCCI #8607 VAC Region 11
KnowledgeBase trailer renovation threads: 69 Globetrotter, 76 Sovereign, 75 Overlander, 66 Trade Wind Such fun ! 
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11-11-2018, 06:34 PM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
2020 25' Globetrotter
Los Gatos
, California
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 415
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The road was built over landslide that happened in 1984 that took out the access to PCH. Fire in 93 burned all the homes here, 250 or more because fireman would not come down through the fire to save our homes. So after 20 years we got ok to build this road (our cost, 5.5 million) so we could get out in emergencies. The only other way is up where the fires always come from. It is gated and only for homeowners and emergency vehicles. No choice but steep
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11-11-2018, 06:52 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2017 28' International
Jim Falls
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,308
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Good that you have an AS. Not sure where everyone else will go. Just put in 4 wheel low if you have it and go slow and steady. Horrible situation.
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11-11-2018, 06:59 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2013 20' Flying Cloud
Westerly
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 654
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbj216
Who in the heck built a road with a 19% grade! Isn't that a 38 degree angle down (and up).
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It's a bit less than 11 degrees. Pretty steep but 800 ft. should be no problem. Hopefully you won't need to find out! Good luck.
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11-11-2018, 07:03 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Escaping the Malibu fire
Watching all the fire coverage from Corona, CA area. Do take care. It’s looking really bad on TV news.
The grade, in dry weather should not be a problem. 4WD, low range, and crawl down as slow as possible.
Recovery from this much fire is going to take a very long time...
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it. 
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11-11-2018, 07:10 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2015 30' FB FC Bunk
Ayer
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,114
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Garfish
The road was built over landslide that happened in 1984 that took out the access to PCH. Fire in 93 burned all the homes here, 250 or more because fireman would not come down through the fire to save our homes. So after 20 years we got ok to build this road (our cost, 5.5 million) so we could get out in emergencies. The only other way is up where the fires always come from. It is gated and only for homeowners and emergency vehicles. No choice but steep
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I was a firefighter on the 1993 Malibu Fire, I was on the Bitterroot Hotshot Crew out of Darby, MT. It was on of the most horrific things I’ve ever seen. Every time I see the California fires on the news I remember those times. Will never forget. Good luck to you, stay safe.
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11-11-2018, 08:03 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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Low gear in your tow vehicle and use your brake controller. Pinch the brake controller and use your trailer brakes. UYou have four sets of brakes to stop you or ease you down the grade. 800 feet is not a mountain pass.
Low gear and use the trailer to stop you. It will keep you straight.
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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11-11-2018, 08:04 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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The dry brush around here can burn faster than a person can run. It’s super dry (10% RH or less).
Ted, thank you for coming all that way to help.
So far the woolsey fire is at 83,000 acres and 10% contained. Going to be a long, hard fight.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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11-11-2018, 08:04 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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One more thing. Do you have a gopro? I gotta see this!
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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11-11-2018, 08:31 PM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
2020 25' Globetrotter
Los Gatos
, California
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 415
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No go pro but will take video tomorrow with IPhone
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11-11-2018, 10:37 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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It’s been making the national news. The devastation is simply heartbreaking. So many houses totally gone
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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11-11-2018, 11:22 PM
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#17
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4 Rivet Member
1980 24' Caravelle
vallejo
, California
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 285
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hope you don'thave to evac. our daughter and son-inlaw live in the oraville area; they are still on standby notice to evacuate if needed. our prayers go out to all in the affected areas. kurt
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11-12-2018, 05:28 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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A proactive move ASAP may be advisable? A last-minute rush for the exit might be difficult IMO.
Best wishes.
Peter
PS — Your old thread with additional details about the road:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...pe-171817.html
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11-12-2018, 09:14 AM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member 
1996 30' Limited
1990 34.5' Airstream 345
santa rosa
, California
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 88
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Get a 150 minimum. Jeep has a very short wheel base. Might get a little squirreling going down hills 2500 or full size suburban is better. Plus you can take your 7 new best friends and their dogs
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11-12-2018, 09:59 AM
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#20
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Silver Star
1970 23' Safari
Victoria
, British Columbia
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 352
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What a scary fire .....we had the worse fire season in history here in BC this past summer.... luckily we have had a rainy fall and all is well now.
I use to live on a long 600ft very steep driveway (many friends where afraid to drive up it) and I brought a 16ft Boler up and down with 4wd.....as others have said .... Go slow ...low gear and use the brake controller and you'll be fine.
Have you considered moving the trailer out now to a safe spot... and then you could just drive to it if things get ugly?? It may be easier in evacuation traffic etc without the trailer?
Keeping our fingers crossed for you and your neighbours.
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