In June, DW and I are planning on travelling to Colorado via I-70 to Rocky Mountain NP, to Colorado NM, to Black Canyon and down to Durango via US550, then back through Pagosa Spings and Wolf Creek pass to Kansas via US160. I have noticed several passes with 6.5-7% grades both on I-70 and especially on US550 and US160. I am not afraid of mountain driving but have concern about how long the grades are. We will be in our Class A 36 ft. 2004 Holiday Rambler Vacationer 8.1L gasser (22000#) towing a '98 Jeep Cherokee (3800#). Although 7% is steep it would not be of concern if it is not too long of a distance climb or decline. I am also thinking about possible brake issues, too. I am willing to stop as needed for cooling of both. We are expecting to stop in Glenwood Springs and Ouray along the way for R&R.I have seen a video on YouTube going across US160 and the road looks to be decent but that doesn't answer my grade issue questions. Has anybody else done it in a gasser that can give experienced advice not just an opinion?

The main thing on the passes is to use your transmission for braking and your brake as little as possible. (Feel free to use your exhaust/engine brake all the way down!) Most passes are about 8-10 miles in the climb and about the same for the descent. We always used third out of six forward gears on the ascent and descent. Keeping the RPMs on the high side on the climbs will help keep the engine cooler. Rule of thumb is you go down at the same speed (and gear) as the climb, assuming you are not flying up the hill!On US 550 south from Grand Junction you will experience the ride of a lifetime! The road is fine as long as you stay between the lines! There are no guard rails on the tricky spot just south of Ouray, but that beautiful section is the worst part of the whole drive and is less than 5 miles of thrills. The speed limits are very accurate for your needs in your coach. Good luck and enjoy our part of Colorado!

Warm weather helps a lot. Those roads have few guard rails and plenty of turns. There are lots of over the road trucks. For flatlanders not used to them they can be traumatic. I used to live in CO and WY and never liked those roads with snow and ice on them which is a lot of the time.

US 160 is the only one I can help with. Wolf Creek Pass is much steeper traveling west to east. You will have about 10 miles of steep climb. But you will have two lanes going up so you can take your time without holding anyone up. And there are several pullouts if you need to pull off to cool down. Going down the east side is much less steep. But watch your speed as you approach the snow shed 2-3 miles down from the top. There is a curve going thru it and the speed limit needs to be observed. After crossing the San Luis valley going toward Walsenberg you will cross North La Veta Pass. It is much steeper on the east side than the west. So going up shouldn’t be much problem, but you need to watch your speed, and brakes, going down.Check the videos on US 550 between Ouray and Silverton to see what you will encounter there.

Google Million Dollar Highway. I believe your plans are to take at least some part of this road. Please, don't take this route unless you have nerves of steel and a great deal of experience with driving narrow winding roads and some up and down grades. It's a great drive in a Jeep but not so much for a casual days drive.

You CAN go over Red Mountain Pass from Ouray to Silverton and then Coal Bank and Molas between Silverton and Durango, however I would advise against it in any RV. Yes it can be done but it is not advised and most large trucks turn off at Ridgeway and use 62 to go via Telluride instead of Silverton. I lived in Durango and worked in Grand Junction and have pulled trailers and driven large trucks, over 550 but only because I had to get them to Silverton. AS mentioned there are narrow spots with no guard rail, switchbacks, and long steep grades.BTW: I have driven through snow and ice on Red Mountain pass in August, so regardless of the weather in the valley look at the peaks to see what you will be driving into.The rest of your route on I-70 and 160 is a easy and will not be a problem.

colorado mountain passes | Good Sam Community

Mile_High
Explorer
Jan 27, 2018
It can have it's scary moments :) rain
tragusa3
Explorer
Jan 26, 2018
The first year we were on 550 it didn't bother me. Second visit...something changed in me. I would not look forward to driving it in a large motorhome.
Mile_High
Explorer
Jan 26, 2018
We do 160 a lot, at one time even triple towing. Both Wolf Creek and LeVita passes have been tamed a lot, but Wolk Creek can still whiten your knuckles a bit. I do know this large displacement diesel with exhaust brake does better than our diesel pickups, but I don't have any experience with a gasser, at least not any since our 1984 HR.
NMDriver
Explorer
Jan 26, 2018
You CAN go over Red Mountain Pass from Ouray to Silverton and then Coal Bank and Molas between Silverton and Durango, however I would advise against it in any RV. Yes it can be done but it is not advised and most large trucks turn off at Ridgeway and use 62 to go via Telluride instead of Silverton. I lived in Durango and worked in Grand Junction and have pulled trailers and driven large trucks, over 550 but only because I had to get them to Silverton. AS mentioned there are narrow spots with no guard rail, switchbacks, and long steep grades.

BTW: I have driven through snow and ice on Red Mountain pass in August, so regardless of the weather in the valley look at the peaks to see what you will be driving into.

The rest of your route on I-70 and 160 is a easy and will not be a problem.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jan 26, 2018
Google Million Dollar Highway. I believe your plans are to take at least some part of this road. Please, don't take this route unless you have nerves of steel and a great deal of experience with driving narrow winding roads and some up and down grades. It's a great drive in a Jeep but not so much for a casual days drive.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jan 26, 2018
US 160 is the only one I can help with. Wolf Creek Pass is much steeper traveling west to east. You will have about 10 miles of steep climb. But you will have two lanes going up so you can take your time without holding anyone up. And there are several pullouts if you need to pull off to cool down. Going down the east side is much less steep. But watch your speed as you approach the snow shed 2-3 miles down from the top. There is a curve going thru it and the speed limit needs to be observed.

After crossing the San Luis valley going toward Walsenberg you will cross North La Veta Pass. It is much steeper on the east side than the west. So going up shouldn’t be much problem, but you need to watch your speed, and brakes, going down.

Check the videos on US 550 between Ouray and Silverton to see what you will encounter there.
ppine
Explorer II
Jan 26, 2018
Warm weather helps a lot. Those roads have few guard rails and plenty of turns. There are lots of over the road trucks. For flatlanders not used to them they can be traumatic. I used to live in CO and WY and never liked those roads with snow and ice on them which is a lot of the time.
polly_sue
Explorer
Jan 26, 2018
The main thing on the passes is to use your transmission for braking and your brake as little as possible. (Feel free to use your exhaust/engine brake all the way down!) Most passes are about 8-10 miles in the climb and about the same for the descent. We always used third out of six forward gears on the ascent and descent. Keeping the RPMs on the high side on the climbs will help keep the engine cooler. Rule of thumb is you go down at the same speed (and gear) as the climb, assuming you are not flying up the hill!

On US 550 south from Grand Junction you will experience the ride of a lifetime! The road is fine as long as you stay between the lines! There are no guard rails on the tricky spot just south of Ouray, but that beautiful section is the worst part of the whole drive and is less than 5 miles of thrills. The speed limits are very accurate for your needs in your coach. Good luck and enjoy our part of Colorado!

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