Considering traveling through this area, towing my 30' fifth. My edition of "The Mountain Directory" makes it sound a bit tough to navigate. While not very experienced in mountain driving, I've done a little. Most notably Hwy 14 (not 14A!) through the Bighorns, and some over the coast ranges in CA. Nothing more than 6% grades before, unless it was a very brief section of slightly more...For those familiar with the route, how "white knuckle and red hot brakes" will this be? (Yeah, I use engine braking, but with 10-15 mph hairpins....)

Go to Search on here and put in Red Mountain Pass or Million Dollar Hwy or Hwy 550 to learn about Ouray south and then over to Durango. Basically you will have 2 lane road, many times with about 12 inches of shoulder and then down a few hundred feet and quite a bit with a guard rail. And people coming the other way that take their half out of the middle.You will have some that poo poo all the concern; am just laying out the facts.I have driven it several times with the TV; never with the 5er.Lizard Head Pass is the alternate way and it is beautiful.

10,000# GVWR 5vr and a F150......limited mountain driving ?????Downshift and hold speed down BEFORE it gets too much.Stay off truck brakes as much as possible........don't ride themScrub speed off quickly (drop 10 mph) then off brakes to let them coolDownshift and hold speed down BEFORE it gets too muchPull over in 'pull outs' frequently to relax as necessary....and let truck brakes cool off if you have ridden them too much

I have towed tent trailers over the million dollar highway a few times without having to change my choners more than once. I am very comfortable and experienced with mountain driving. But I have reached the age that I won't take a large rig over that road.

Black canyon of the Gunnison is a beautiful RV park with one loop having electric. The small city of Montrose is very modern with everything you could want. We always take Rt. 550 down to Ridgeway(State park is beautiful)and cut over to Rt 149 and down to Delores than over to Durango. Durango is a very nice modern college town but can be very busy traffic.

Old-Biscuit, I get the picture you're painting, but shouldn't properly adjusted brakes on the trailer keep all that from happening? The trailer stops the trailer...the truck stops the truck.

Gunnison to Ouray to Durango CO | Good Sam Community

Flapper
Explorer
Jun 01, 2016
Thanks to all for the information! While I'm not terrified of mountain driving, I think it may be a better plan to take an alternative route to Durango, stay there a few days, and drive the Million Dollar Highway in just the tow vehicle.
BillMFl
Explorer
Jun 01, 2016
The drive on 550 is a must see trip. Driver has to pay close attention to the road. Passenger gets a wonderful view. Got to see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. When in Durango take the train ride to Silver City. Its a hoot and the Animas River canyon is beautiful. And Mesa Verde is a short trip from Durango. Ken and Sue's is my favorite eatery in Durango.
4runnerguy
Explorer
May 30, 2016
Yeah, when you say not very experienced in mountain driving, I'd take the route around through Telluride and over Lizard Head Pass. Lots of RV's and semis do the US 550 route through Silverton, but mountain driving experience is the key.
Dr_Quick
Explorer II
May 28, 2016
If you have Google Earth, you might try this. Go to Ouray and follow 550 highway to Silverton, then to Durango. You can see the layout of the road, and get some pictures too.
I have driven the road from Montrose to Silverton in my truck, and it is an extreme road.
2lazy4U
Explorer
May 28, 2016
It's easier coming from Durango to Ouray, as you're mostly on the inside. And if you don't like lots of hairpin curves at 20 mph, go over Lizard Head. Just as pretty and much easier drive. Safer, too.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
May 28, 2016
You'll have no issue from Montrose to Ridgeway. From Ouray to Durango it is steep and curvy. If that would be a concern for you or you don't feel you've had mountain driving experience then take the alternate but longer route of Hwy 145 to Telluride and down to Cortez (Mesa Verde Nat'l Park) and east to Durango. It's also a beautiful drive.

We've made the drive from Ouray to Durango often with our 40' motorhome towing. However, we're used to mountain driving. We've never seen a vehicle crossing the center line..not saying it doesn't happen, but it hasn't happened to us. There are folks driving a straight two-lane highway in Kansas or wherever who can't stay in their lane either. :) No, it doesn't have shoulders or guardrails but then you're not supposed to drive on the shoulders.

Bottom line, if this road concerns you don't drive it but there are many others out there that love the drive. To say, definitely don't drive it is ridiculous.
agesilaus
Explorer III
May 28, 2016
We drove it last summer towing our 34 ft Fver. Brakes didn't overheat, that's what engine braking is for. No drama at all. We've driven it at least three times before, always towing. I will note that it has been raining/sleeting everytime we go that way.

You can see that we live most of the year in the flatest of flatlands so we don't get to drive this sort of mountain road frequently. However I have been driving on them since the 1970's.
brirene
Explorer
May 28, 2016
I would suggest you spend a night or two at Ridgway SP or one of the parks in Ouray and drive it without towing. You'll know pretty quickly whether you want to tow over it or not. If you decide not to, you can easily go over to 145 from Ridgway, which is a bit tamer. All depends what you're comfortable with. A great area with lots to see and do.
BB_TX
Nomad
May 28, 2016
Last week's discussion about it.
rexlion
Explorer
May 27, 2016
I have towed a small trailer along that stretch a couple of times. As long as no one headed the other way crosses the center line in front of you, you should be fine. And that particular difficulty will take out a car or pickup just as quickly as an RV; ya pays yer gas money and ya takes yer chances.