Don't worry too much, Mr. Rocky..it's not that tough a trip.
I musta done the same trip with various trailers maybe 30 times, so far.
Only once or twice have I had problems, none of which were real
"trip-enders"  I did lose a tire on my race car trailer in the middle of a
snow storm late on Friday night as I came into Klamath Falls...but I found a
guy in the phone book who'd come down to his shop and open up to get me
another tire so I could get over Shasta before the roads got too bad..

  There is a Wal-Mart in Willows, Ca...about an hour south of Redding on I-5
that makes a good rest stop..Right across the street from that Mal Wart,  at
the local airstrip, is a neat cafe...old style...great food..
I usually go N-S through the central valley via 99...more interesting
driving...kinda like a 1950s freeway...
  Don't sweat the leaf blowers in Bend...not many lawns in the high
desert..People in Bend have other things to do on weekends rather than mow
the lawn, I guess..

  Keep your eye peeled for the giant Sloth alongside highway 97 north of
Klamath Lake...The highlight of that whole stretch...
  Also, though if you're towing with your van you probably needn't concern
yourself...The CHP really love ticketing trailers who exceed 55mph...Close
to all Cali. borders on interstates, I usually see a couple of cops preying
on out of state drivers towing at a normal speed, then crossing into the 55
towed vehicle limit that California has...Must be a good money maker for
them..
  Don Hanson