We are getting ready for an August trip to Colorado from Seattle. The truck is an F-250 crewcab shortbox 4x4, year 2000. The transmission is an Auto and everything is stock. It just rolled over 75K miles. It tows a 22' camp trailer that has a dry weight of @ 6K lbs. I have towed regionally with no problems. But, since we will be skirting the Continentle Divide several times, I suspect that the truck might need some preperations and considerations that are apart from the usual(check oil, fill tank). I would appreciate any advice or cautions that the group cann offer. After reading the recent posts, it sounds like I shound get the transmission checked and soon. Thanks BAV
COLORADO TOWING
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Well were to start. 2000 If you havent done the batterys I would have them checked and the altinator. Kind of hard to do on side of road. And get one of the jump start batterys it will let you run to the next town if your light comes on.Oil change even if it is close. trany flush and check all fluids. Have ac. checked It does get hot. A great map. You will be going over a few of the highest mountain passes in the Us. Have fun and take your time. Oh and your trailer tires check for cracks. and presure.
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There shouldn't be to may complications for you. Just check your brakes on both the truck and trailer. When over here <font color="red"> BELIEVE</font> the signs on curves and speed limits and if you are driveing on the secondary roads take it slow. These trucks will pull that trailer up them like it wasn't there but on the way down is where you will get into trouble just take it slow.
Jim
Jim
You shouldn't have any trouble if your truck is in good shape, I've pulled over the Divide a lot of times and like Bugman posts, gear down on the downgrades. If your truck has a tendency to overheat I'd resolve that first because some of the grades are 10-22 miles long and the engine temp will definitely want to climb if you have a cooling problem since it's summer months. There's some pretty good grades in various parts of Nv. too, if you're coming through there.
I could not tell which route you will take. This is my experience....
I towed from Denver to Utah on I-70...over Eisenhower Tunnel and Vail pass. Both are over 11,000 high. See my sig for the rig I towed. The only hairy part was coming down. It pulled uphill fine, albeit in 3rd gear. I just took it out of ovedrive and kept it out.
When it comes time to come down from the pass, I would slow to 25 MPH or so, put it in 2nd and creep down the other side. One and off the brakes to keep them from heating up. I passed a semi flatbed on the donwside of Eisenhower with smoke billowing from the rear brakes. He was carrying a pre-cast concrete beam for a bridge and rode the brakes a bit too much.
Now...a few things.
1. Stay the hell away from Monarch pass towing your rig. I towed a pop-up with a Ford E-150 up there and was just glad to get off that mountain. Just my feelings, but good counsel, I believe.
2. Don't tow on the road north from Durango. Drive up there if you want, but stay off with a trailer. If you must tow over it, leave you name, address, and next of kin with the Sheriff's office in Durango....they will have a good chance of needing the info.
3. If you're really going to run all over Colorado, buy a book that lists all the passes and describes the grade, length, and special problems of each pass. (For Example, 6-8% downhill for 3 miles with a STOP sign at the bottom.) It's worth it if you want to nose around the state.
4. You can't know how the road will be from the map. The road from I-25 to Great Sand Dunes NP looks, on the map, like it would be a bugger. But it's so gradual, no sweat.
If you'd like to ask about other roads, I'd be happy to tell you what I know.
Florida ED
(now in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory)
I towed from Denver to Utah on I-70...over Eisenhower Tunnel and Vail pass. Both are over 11,000 high. See my sig for the rig I towed. The only hairy part was coming down. It pulled uphill fine, albeit in 3rd gear. I just took it out of ovedrive and kept it out.
When it comes time to come down from the pass, I would slow to 25 MPH or so, put it in 2nd and creep down the other side. One and off the brakes to keep them from heating up. I passed a semi flatbed on the donwside of Eisenhower with smoke billowing from the rear brakes. He was carrying a pre-cast concrete beam for a bridge and rode the brakes a bit too much.
Now...a few things.
1. Stay the hell away from Monarch pass towing your rig. I towed a pop-up with a Ford E-150 up there and was just glad to get off that mountain. Just my feelings, but good counsel, I believe.
2. Don't tow on the road north from Durango. Drive up there if you want, but stay off with a trailer. If you must tow over it, leave you name, address, and next of kin with the Sheriff's office in Durango....they will have a good chance of needing the info.
3. If you're really going to run all over Colorado, buy a book that lists all the passes and describes the grade, length, and special problems of each pass. (For Example, 6-8% downhill for 3 miles with a STOP sign at the bottom.) It's worth it if you want to nose around the state.
4. You can't know how the road will be from the map. The road from I-25 to Great Sand Dunes NP looks, on the map, like it would be a bugger. But it's so gradual, no sweat.
If you'd like to ask about other roads, I'd be happy to tell you what I know.
Florida ED
(now in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory)
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FloridaEd next time you go go north out of denver and 287 to laramy and west I80 and then into salt lake. You will find it is closer and not as many mountains.
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When leaaveing Seatle try going south to Portland east I 84, 86,15 south, 30 I80 287 25 into Denver. You will be running river bottoms with one mountain called Cabbage.and a few other smaller grades but very sinic. The reason that cabage is called cabbage is because back in the days of oregon trail the setlers were just about out of food when they crossed the blue mountain range and came across this mountain side with little plants that looked like cabbage. and were etable.
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When leaaveing Seatle try going south to Portland east I 84, 86,15 south, 30 I80 287 25 into Denver.
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Close but not quite....Unless you want/need to visit Pocatello ID don't take I-86. Just adds useless miles. stay on I-84 all the way into northern UT. it joins with I-15 in Tremonton UT, (about 5 miles from where I'm sitting) and runs down to Ogden. In Ogden I-84 splits off again and runs up the canyon to where it joins with I-80. Then I-80 to 287 in Laramie (exit 313). US 287 drops you into Fort Collins CO, and from there it's about 50 miles south to Denver on I-25.
The 86 to 30 to 80 route is probably a bit shorter, but it runs through a lot of back country with reduced speeds and curvy roads. Stay on the freeway it's faster and smoother.
When leaaveing Seatle try going south to Portland east I 84, 86,15 south, 30 I80 287 25 into Denver.
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Close but not quite....Unless you want/need to visit Pocatello ID don't take I-86. Just adds useless miles. stay on I-84 all the way into northern UT. it joins with I-15 in Tremonton UT, (about 5 miles from where I'm sitting) and runs down to Ogden. In Ogden I-84 splits off again and runs up the canyon to where it joins with I-80. Then I-80 to 287 in Laramie (exit 313). US 287 drops you into Fort Collins CO, and from there it's about 50 miles south to Denver on I-25.
The 86 to 30 to 80 route is probably a bit shorter, but it runs through a lot of back country with reduced speeds and curvy roads. Stay on the freeway it's faster and smoother.
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2. Don't tow on the road north from Durango. Drive up there if you want, but stay off with a trailer. If you must tow over it, leave you name, address, and next of kin with the Sheriff's office in Durango....they will have a good chance of needing the info.
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Gee that sounds like Lizard Head Pass...Not for the faint of heart.
Douglas Pass on CO 139 north of Grand Junction is a similar type of road...
2. Don't tow on the road north from Durango. Drive up there if you want, but stay off with a trailer. If you must tow over it, leave you name, address, and next of kin with the Sheriff's office in Durango....they will have a good chance of needing the info.
[/ QUOTE ]
Gee that sounds like Lizard Head Pass...Not for the faint of heart.
Douglas Pass on CO 139 north of Grand Junction is a similar type of road...
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372 Posts
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
2. Don't tow on the road north from Durango. Drive up there if you want, but stay off with a trailer. If you must tow over it, leave you name, address, and next of kin with the Sheriff's office in Durango....they will have a good chance of needing the info.
[/ QUOTE ]
Gee that sounds like Lizard Head Pass...Not for the faint of heart.
Douglas Pass on CO 139 north of Grand Junction is a similar type of road...
[/ QUOTE ]
Sounds like Lion's Back in Utah. You know the one that everyone makes home movies of driving up, making a 20pt turn at the top, and then coming down smoking their brakes and go free-wheeling down!
...danny
[ QUOTE ]
2. Don't tow on the road north from Durango. Drive up there if you want, but stay off with a trailer. If you must tow over it, leave you name, address, and next of kin with the Sheriff's office in Durango....they will have a good chance of needing the info.
[/ QUOTE ]
Gee that sounds like Lizard Head Pass...Not for the faint of heart.
Douglas Pass on CO 139 north of Grand Junction is a similar type of road...
[/ QUOTE ]
Sounds like Lion's Back in Utah. You know the one that everyone makes home movies of driving up, making a 20pt turn at the top, and then coming down smoking their brakes and go free-wheeling down!
...danny
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North of Darango that would be red mountain. and no trailers are aloud after they built the bypass.
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[ QUOTE ]
Now...a few things.
1. Stay the hell away from Monarch pass towing your rig. I towed a pop-up with a Ford E-150 up there and was just glad to get off that mountain. Just my feelings, but good counsel, I believe.
2. Don't tow on the road north from Durango. Drive up there if you want, but stay off with a trailer. If you must tow over it, leave you name, address, and next of kin with the Sheriff's office in Durango....they will have a good chance of needing the info.
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Both of these roads deserve respect but are no problem if you have any experience driving in the mountains.
Monarch Pass (hwy 50 E of Gunnison) is long and steep, so what! My 01 F350 topped the pass in 6th gear hauling my 4000 lb slide-in camper.
Hwy 550 N of Durango (Million Dollar Highway) is not to be missed under any circumstances! I have driven it both directions several times in all seasons with no problems. It is a major N-S route in that part of CO and is well maintained and sees a lot of truck traffic. It is steep and very twisty but I wouldn't hesitate to take my current rig over it.
Now...a few things.
1. Stay the hell away from Monarch pass towing your rig. I towed a pop-up with a Ford E-150 up there and was just glad to get off that mountain. Just my feelings, but good counsel, I believe.
2. Don't tow on the road north from Durango. Drive up there if you want, but stay off with a trailer. If you must tow over it, leave you name, address, and next of kin with the Sheriff's office in Durango....they will have a good chance of needing the info.
[/ QUOTE ]
Both of these roads deserve respect but are no problem if you have any experience driving in the mountains.
Monarch Pass (hwy 50 E of Gunnison) is long and steep, so what! My 01 F350 topped the pass in 6th gear hauling my 4000 lb slide-in camper.
Hwy 550 N of Durango (Million Dollar Highway) is not to be missed under any circumstances! I have driven it both directions several times in all seasons with no problems. It is a major N-S route in that part of CO and is well maintained and sees a lot of truck traffic. It is steep and very twisty but I wouldn't hesitate to take my current rig over it.
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