drive shaft hill in Utah

Drive shaft hill was nothing at all. Needless fretting.

I have been over that route many times pulling a 7000# trailer, Never had a problem.

Sounds like every locality in SE Utah has a hill that eats drive shafts. The OP found his reference in the Bible of mountain grades, Mountain Directory West, and clearly identifies it as 14 miles south of Blanding on 191. There is indeed a grade at the point.

I'm familiar with the grade at Mexican hat. I bought 'dry bread' at the shop in 'town'. But who calls that Drive Shaft Hill? The state DOT? truckers? locals?

This makes me suspect that MDW isn't quite as reliable a source on grades as its fans claim

Drive Shaft Hill is a short, steep drop with a dogleg turn at the bottom. Just put it in low and down you go or up you go. It's at Mexican Hat, UT on highway 163.

It's about a 200 ft climb in a mile, with substantial cut and fill to ease the grade.

Drive shaft hill is indeed on the way from Bluff to Blanding. It is only a 7 percent grade though, not 11.

I know about the Moki, and wouldn't attempt that unhooked in my Trailblazer. I like excitement, but not driving excitement. We get on 191 at US160 and go north. I went up and down that squirrely part of the road south of Flaming Gorge in the SUV, and could not imagine how hot your brakes must've got going down that thing. Not being able to turn around is a BIG problem when towing a trailer of any sort. I got into a situation where I thought I could turn around, safely, ha ha, and succeeded in smashing out my rear window when I jackknifed. Lesson learned. thanks for the link - I'll save that.

The highway you're questioning is not 191. We've traveled that many times in Utah and it's a great way to go.

What I believe you're talking about is Moki Dugway Hwy 261 from around Mexican Hat to Hwy 95 at Natural Bridges Nat'l Monument. Here's a picture of it and correct, RVers should not be on it.

http://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/783-mokee-dugway-usa.html

However, to give your wife something else to worry about.....you stated you're taking 191 from Arizona. You didn't mention where you will start it in Arizona but do not take your RV on it between Clifton and Alpine, AZ. Heading north you will have a steep climb with a steady 8-9% and hairpin turns.

In our earlier RVing days we got on it from the north end going downhill. We had our 40' motorhome towing the Jeep and when we saw the sign "prohibited over 40' " it was too late. There was absolutely no place for us to turn around. Luckily this was in mid-October and we didn't meet another vehicle all the way down for many miles. After this drive we purchased the "Mountain Directory" and faithfully checked out our routes before driving in the mountains. We've come to love mountain highways but there are some that we'd never get on.

Also, if you plan on 191 north of Vernal, Utah that's another steep one. That is very doable with RVs but it is steep.

Have fun planning your route!

Half mile? Put it in low gear and enjoy the ride.
There are far longer and steeper climbs if you want a challenge.

:B I hear you brother. If my wife can't see something to worry about she goes looking for it.