Difficulty of some CO routes?
I tow a 6000 lb trailer (loaded) with a half ton gas pickup running at about 80-85% of its spec values in terms of payload. Being from Texas where things are flat or at best some rolling hills, my wif...
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As to the diesel justification, we bought a Tundra with the 9,500 tow package to pull a 7,600 lb trailer in early 2013. I've had a diesel before, and very much did not want a diesel again. I'm a relative newbie, and I also have everything set up around 80-85% of limits.
16 months after we bought this we did a 4,500 mile trip from Ala to Utah, and just got back late June from a 3,600 mile trip to Montrose and Colorado Springs, CO.
The gas Tundra has done everything we have asked it to do, including pulling the trailer over Monarch Pass (11,300 feet) 4 weeks ago (also North Pass and Raton Pass). We never get below 50 MPH or over 4,500 RPM going up anything we've been across so far. It was actually more of a challenge going down those mountains than up --- you have to set a strategy to use the brakes as little as possible. It probably took us twice as long to go down Monarch Pass as going up, but we did not create a traffic jam -- every other RV and big truck was doing the same thing. Low gear is your friend on the other side of the hill.
We get passed by a lot of diesels going up the hills, but that's ok. Our gas truck is quiet and smooth and gets about 9 MPG here in the SE where there aren't headwinds and tailwinds. Solo it will push 20 MPG on a trip.
We found the Mountain Directory for Truckers to be very informative. I bought both the east and west directories. I planned our route around the west version, and used the east version as a reference point for grades we have traveled here in the South.
Take your time and don't push the truck and you will be fine. You can always justify the diesel to the boss on extended range, bigger trailer, or faster trips if that is what you want.
16 months after we bought this we did a 4,500 mile trip from Ala to Utah, and just got back late June from a 3,600 mile trip to Montrose and Colorado Springs, CO.
The gas Tundra has done everything we have asked it to do, including pulling the trailer over Monarch Pass (11,300 feet) 4 weeks ago (also North Pass and Raton Pass). We never get below 50 MPH or over 4,500 RPM going up anything we've been across so far. It was actually more of a challenge going down those mountains than up --- you have to set a strategy to use the brakes as little as possible. It probably took us twice as long to go down Monarch Pass as going up, but we did not create a traffic jam -- every other RV and big truck was doing the same thing. Low gear is your friend on the other side of the hill.
We get passed by a lot of diesels going up the hills, but that's ok. Our gas truck is quiet and smooth and gets about 9 MPG here in the SE where there aren't headwinds and tailwinds. Solo it will push 20 MPG on a trip.
We found the Mountain Directory for Truckers to be very informative. I bought both the east and west directories. I planned our route around the west version, and used the east version as a reference point for grades we have traveled here in the South.
Take your time and don't push the truck and you will be fine. You can always justify the diesel to the boss on extended range, bigger trailer, or faster trips if that is what you want.
