Crossing the Hoover Dam to get to Vegas

[Bob Lawrence]

Hi Trudy,
Nice to see you at Ernie's a few months ago.
Yes, you can drive over the dam, no problem.
When we were staying in Boulder City in 07, drove the car down to the inspection
point and asked the guards.
They said only for the first 6 months after 9/11 did they restrict the traffic,
not now.
We came across, no problem. They stopped us on the Nevada side and walked thru
the bus and looked in the below compartments. Asked about going up to the roof
pod, he looked up and said "Forget it".
In and out in 10 minutes.
Lots of tourists crossing the dam on foot and crossing the road in front of you.
Go slow. No problem.
Bob Lawrence
84 PT36
Mathis, Texas

> Does anyone know if my PT40 with a toad will make it across the Hoover Dam?
And how is Rt 93 from Kingman to Vegas? Or would it be better to go through
Laughlin and take Rt 95?
>
> Trudy Lundgren
> 1985 PT 40 -- The Catbird Seat
> Traveling from Benson, AZ to Las Vegas
>

[mbulriss]

We did that run two years ago with our WB40 towing a Grand Cherokee. Went out
from Texas via the Laughlin route and came back over the Hoover dam route.
Roads are good either way, but I would definitely recommend the Hoover dam route
personally. The road down the hills outside of Laughlin was real steep, twisty,
lots of switchbacks and long. You will be in second gear, on the jake brake and
the air brakes most of the way down the (12 mile?) grade, and then there is a
stop sign at the very bottom!

When we cam back from Vegas via the Hoover dam, the Vegas side rent-a-cops
representing Homeland Security before the dam were very nice. All they did was
one looked in the bays, and one stood in the doorway and looked back into the
bus commenting on how nice it was and chatted with my wife. No one else was
around when we went through so I think they were looking for someone to talk to,
but it took only as long as it takes to walk around the Bird and open each bay
door.

I don't know how the new construction has progressed since then, but the road
down to the dam from the Vegas side at that time had one *very* tight switchback
in it just above the dam. There was room in one of the parking areas on the
Arizona side that we pulled into and walked down to the dam area.

Enjoy the trip.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "trudylundgren" wrote:
>
> Does anyone know if my PT40 with a toad will make it across the Hoover Dam?
And how is Rt 93 from Kingman to Vegas? Or would it be better to go through
Laughlin and take Rt 95?
>
> Trudy Lundgren
> 1985 PT 40 -- The Catbird Seat
> Traveling from Benson, AZ to Las Vegas
>

[Fred Bellows]

"trudylundgren" wrote:

> Does anyone know if my PT40 with a toad will make it across the Hoover Dam? And how is Rt 93 from Kingman to Vegas? Or would it be better to go through Laughlin and take Rt 95?


Trudy, you can cross and the road to there from Kingman thru to Vegas is good. I went that way last summer in our SP36. I don't have a toad, as I have a motorcycle lift, but I know it's ok towing too (see link). They "pretent" to check the whole coach, but it's such a joke they ask you to open each bay door, and before you even get it open they say "ok, close it"

the road thru Laughlin takes you down a steep mountain road and then it's mostly flat and too long to go that way if you're already in Kingman. We used to go that way from Phx thru Blythe and around to avoid climbing years ago in my buddy's 63 Blue Bird conversion, back when it was a gasser. It took forever, but avoided the hills!

http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/crossingguide.pdf

'Good Luck,

\/\/\...Fred


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Fred & Wendy Bellows

90SP Queen Creek, AZ (basically Phx)

"Maunder Maximum"

http://picasaweb.google.com/bluebirdzoom/MaunderMaximum#

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http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user1.cfm?user=125

[RTJ49@...]

Hi Trudy,

Great choice. You'll never regret this trip. Take your time, be safe, and enjoy!

Raymond Jordan

1997 U 320 Foretravel

Maryland

In a message dated 4/23/2009 10:52:03 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, tllw@... writes:

Thanks for all the replies. I think we're going to go for it. I always wanted to drive across the dam anyway.
>
> Trudy Lundgren
> 1985 PT 40 -- The Catbird Seat
> Currently in Tucson, on our way to Vegas, Baby!
>

---

Big savings on Dell XPS Laptops and Desktops!

[trudylundgren]

Thanks for all the replies. I think we're going to go for it. I always wanted to
drive across the dam anyway.
>
> Trudy Lundgren
> 1985 PT 40 -- The Catbird Seat
> Currently in Tucson, on our way to Vegas, Baby!
>

[mbulriss]

Good choice! Where are you staying? I'll be there late 28, 29, 30.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX




--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "trudylundgren" wrote:
>
> Thanks for all the replies. I think we're going to go for it. I always wanted
to drive across the dam anyway.
> >
> > Trudy Lundgren
> > 1985 PT 40 -- The Catbird Seat
> > Currently in Tucson, on our way to Vegas, Baby!
> >
>

[Rose Mary]

good luck, no busses, rv's or trucks allowed when we were by a couple months
ago.

Rose Mary
82 FC 35
JP'S White Bird
in Reno for a short time

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "trudylundgren" wrote:
>
> Thanks for all the replies. I think we're going to go for it. I always wanted
to drive across the dam anyway.
> >
> > Trudy Lundgren
> > 1985 PT 40 -- The Catbird Seat
> > Currently in Tucson, on our way to Vegas, Baby!
> >
>

[Rose Mary]

good luck, we were by a couple months ago and they were allowing no trucks,
busses or rv's across. Was told by someone it was a homeland security deal.
Don't know.
Rose Mary
82 FC 35


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, RTJ49@... wrote:
>
> Hi Trudy,
> Great choice. You'll never regret this trip. Take your time, be safe,
> and enjoy!
> Raymond Jordan
> 1997 U 320 Foretravel
> Maryland
>
>
> In a message dated 4/23/2009 10:52:03 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> tllw@... writes:
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks for all the replies. I think we're going to go for it. I always
> wanted to drive across the dam anyway.
> >
> > Trudy Lundgren
> > 1985 PT 40 -- The Catbird Seat
> > Currently in Tucson, on our way to Vegas, Baby!
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> **************Big savings on Dell XPS Laptops and Desktops!
>
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x...tp:%2\
F%2Fad.doubl
> eclick.net%2Fclk%3B214133440%3B36002254%3Bj)
>

[timvasqz]

That is the plight of commercial trucking. no rules apply all the time and the
only opinion that matters to a 'rule written' is the opinion of the guy in
mirrored sunglasses standing roadside handing you the document. Most judges
will side with the cops on a matter of ambigious violation because they realize
the face of the ticket is only a small part of the reason you were pulled over.
I think telling a cop "other rv's have crossed the bridge why me" would have
the same impact as "I never stop at that intersection"
Greg
94ptca

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rose Mary" wrote:
>
> good luck, no busses, rv's or trucks allowed when we were by a couple months
ago.
>
> Rose Mary
> 82 FC 35
> JP'S White Bird
> in Reno for a short time
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "trudylundgren" wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for all the replies. I think we're going to go for it. I always
wanted to drive across the dam anyway.
> > >
> > > Trudy Lundgren
> > > 1985 PT 40 -- The Catbird Seat
> > > Currently in Tucson, on our way to Vegas, Baby!
> > >
> >
>

[Don Bradner]

I understand what you are saying, but the question is this: Can anyone cite a
case where a motorhome has been refused crossing anytime after the first 6
months following 9/11?

Rose Mary's statement "when we were by" is hard to interpret. My guess would be
a quote of the signs seen on I-40 as you pass through Kingman. I looked for a
Google pic of one of the signs that might include RVs but didn't find it; lots
of pictures saying no Bus/Truck and giving a toll-free number to call for
current info (888 248-1259). The "no" is a generality, easier for them than
putting all of the rules on a roadside sign. In practice there are prohibitions
and allowances in all three categories (RV, Bus, Truck).

Under the full rules, Prohibited include 5th wheels (RVs) but Allowed include
motorhomes (RVs). Passenger busses with luggage, e.g. Greyhounds, are
prohibited. Passenger busses with no luggage, e.g. day tours, are allowed. Semi
truck/trailers prohibited, bobtails allowed.

Yes, the guards have the authority to turn away an otherwise allowed vehicle,
but what I would have to hear is that they've actually done this with a
motorhome, and just exactly what the driver or passenger(s) did or said prior to
being turned away.

I have crossed the dam in a motorhome, towing, with cursory examination of
exterior compartments, although it didn't happen to be a Blue Bird.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

On 4/24/2009 at 1:04 PM timvasqz wrote:

>That is the plight of commercial trucking. no rules apply all the time
>and the only opinion that matters to a 'rule written' is the opinion of
>the guy in mirrored sunglasses standing roadside handing you the document.
> Most judges will side with the cops on a matter of ambigious violation
>because they realize the face of the ticket is only a small part of the
>reason you were pulled over. I think telling a cop "other rv's have
>crossed the bridge why me" would have the same impact as "I never stop at
>that intersection"
>Greg
>94ptca
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rose Mary"
>wrote:
>>
>> good luck, no busses, rv's or trucks allowed when we were by a couple
>months ago.
>>
>> Rose Mary

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1