Howdy,We are going to be moving to Denver and have never pulled over the Rockies before and wanted to get some insight. My truck is a 2002 F250 SD with a 7.3 Powerstroke. Installed is a custom PUP tuner, 4" exhaust, PacBrake Exhaust brake system with Torque Converter lockup and 5000 lb rear springs. Have traveled all over Southern Idaho and Northern Nevada but never over any really long steep grades. My rig loaded is about 15500 lbs when we have water (100 gal, and 30 gal of fuel) plus our RZR in the garage. However this tome no water or fuel. What's the best route and what can expect when it comes to hill climbs and descents? Thanks

Regardless of the 'upgrades' to truck you are overweight.....periodStick to Interstates...........I80(E) to Cheyenne then I25(S) to Denver

The big pull is I80 just east of SLC. The rest is easy.

The easier, and shorter by about 5 miles, route is via I80, especially if your destination is north of Denver. But, it is MUCH MORE scenic over I70. If you're moving to Denver, you'll have plenty of time to hit the I70 corridor up to the high country and out to Moab so maybe 1st impressions into CO won't matter as much.BTW, you will want to know about Taylor Park,

Old-Biscuit wrote:Stick to Interstates...........I80(E) to Cheyenne then I25(S) to DenverActually, a preferred route is E on I80 to Laramie. S on 287 into Fort Collins then E over to I25 and S from there.NO ONE should have to go through Cheyenne ;)

RedRocket204 wrote:Actually, a preferred route is E on I80 to Laramie. S on 287 into Fort Collins then E over to I25 and S from there.Traveled this route a lot and it is the easiest route IMO.As for I70, with Vail Pass and the Eisenhower tunnel you have 2 long hard pulls which the OP has concerns about. Add in the time of day and day of the week and it can be a mess.

Best Route Pulling 39' TH Salt Lake to Denver | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

JimFromJersey
Explorer
May 22, 2016
GaryUT wrote:
If you are coming from the north and don't need to go to Salt Lake City, take I84 in Ogden to I80 at Echo.

No point doing the climb over Parleys summit if you don't have to.

Gary
I agree - the I-84 leg from Ogden to Echo Park is much less of a strain. Then you hook back up to I-80 and except for a little downhill'er east of Laramie, it's almost flat all the way to...well, Allentown, PA. :)

Here's typical I-84, summer 2012
greg121
Explorer
May 22, 2016
sealevel ram wrote:
RedRocket204 wrote:
Old-Biscuit wrote:

. There is a Flying J just south on 25 also which is a good stop if you need it.

I've foudn that FJ to be incredibly busy with traffic from 2 interstates - I'd go for the one at Laramie.
GaryUT
Explorer II
May 22, 2016
If you are coming from the north and don't need to go to Salt Lake City, take I84 in Ogden to I80 at Echo.

No point doing the climb over Parleys summit if you don't have to.

Gary
padredw
Nomad
May 22, 2016
Actually, the 80 to 25 interchange is super easy.
You never see the city of Cheyenne. There is a Flying J just south on 25 also which is a good stop if you need it.

This is exactly what I found. Better than the US highway through all the towns and traffic lights. I didn't even have to slow down.
sealevel_ram
Explorer
May 21, 2016
RedRocket204 wrote:
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Stick to Interstates...........I80(E) to Cheyenne then I25(S) to Denver

Actually, a preferred route is E on I80 to Laramie. S on 287 into Fort Collins then E over to I25 and S from there.

NO ONE should have to go through Cheyenne ;)

Actually, the 80 to 25 interchange is super easy.
You never see the city of Cheyenne. There is a Flying J just south on 25 also which is a good stop if you need it.
scooterdog
Explorer
May 21, 2016
Great help guys! Thanks much for the feedback
Thom02099
Explorer II
May 21, 2016
Tyler0215 wrote:
The big pull is I80 just east of SLC. The rest is easy.

^^^^ This. Plus you're likely to also have a goodly tail wind heading eastbound through Wyoming.

If you take US 287 from Laramie to Fort Collins, there's a slight climb to get over the Laramie Ridge near the CO/WY line, then some ups/downs with one in particular near Virginia Dale that is somewhat steep going down and up. But there's also a lot of climb/passing lanes on way to Fort Collins; be aware of a lot of semi-truck traffic on this stretch, in both directions.
RAS43
Explorer III
May 21, 2016
RedRocket204 wrote:

Actually, a preferred route is E on I80 to Laramie. S on 287 into Fort Collins then E over to I25 and S from there.

Traveled this route a lot and it is the easiest route IMO.
As for I70, with Vail Pass and the Eisenhower tunnel you have 2 long hard pulls which the OP has concerns about. Add in the time of day and day of the week and it can be a mess.
RedRocket204
Explorer
May 21, 2016
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Stick to Interstates...........I80(E) to Cheyenne then I25(S) to Denver

Actually, a preferred route is E on I80 to Laramie. S on 287 into Fort Collins then E over to I25 and S from there.

NO ONE should have to go through Cheyenne ;)
RedRocket204
Explorer
May 21, 2016
The easier, and shorter by about 5 miles, route is via I80, especially if your destination is north of Denver. But, it is MUCH MORE scenic over I70. If you're moving to Denver, you'll have plenty of time to hit the I70 corridor up to the high country and out to Moab so maybe 1st impressions into CO won't matter as much.

BTW, you will want to know about Taylor Park,