Towing with View Profile

Wayne Dohnal wrote:
We've towed a Honda Fit (~2500 lbs) behind the class C Sprinter for about 20,000 miles. Been over the Continental Divide including Monarch Pass a few times, and more recently Utah's "notorious" highway 12 through the Escalante Monument, which reportedly has a few 12% grades. With proper mountain driving it's no problem. The worst of the upgrades are taken in 2nd or 3rd gear at about 45 mph. I consider the downgrades more stressful, because even at 40 mph in 2nd gear, some occasional braking is required. If you drift past the redline going downhill the transmission will do you the "favor" of upshifting to make the situation worse. We haven't pulled the big grades when it was really hot outside so I don't know what would happen to the engine or tranny temp in that case. Your trailer hopefully has its own brakes.

I made the same run from Torrey to Escalante on Utah 12. On the descent there was some 14% which was the hairy part. Got to second gear both climbing and descending fully laden with a toad that is just under 3000 lbs. I also didn't do it when really hot out. Highest point is 9600 feet and I bet a V-10 feels that altitude....the Sprinter engine, not so much (loves me a turbo). The hogback ridge on that run you drive one will really get your attention...You can look down (steeply) on both sides of the road. It will have your undivided attention.