What is the steepest grade you have towed? I am surprised how many big RV's are taking the Wilson Grade (33) (31) to (26) Idaho falls out of Jackson Wy. This is a 10% grade for 5 miles with no pull outs or passing areas. It goes to 8% on the other side.I am towing 12k and just don't think I want to put my truck through that when I can just drive around it by taking 189 to 26 to Idaho Falls. It's actually a few miles shorter.. I did tow the Wilson grade once years ago but at that time I was only hauling 7500lbs...

I tow 14K 5vr and use back roads....been on many, many steep roads No issues other than GF going "OH NO here we go AGAIN"Got a 'tractor motor' that was built for pulling :B

Not knowing any better we pulled our 12K FW over Teton Pass (Wilson Grade) in June of this year. Thank God for a diesel engine and enging braking! According to the Mountain Directory, it's 10% on both sides of the pass. I'll never do that one again.

Bella Coola BC "The Hill" 18% 9KM gravel road.

I did the Sonora Pass to Nevada once. Towed a pop up trailer. 2500 lbs maybe with gear. 26% grade. Yup. 26. Not a typo. Worst part was that these grades were right after hairpin right hand turns. No getting speed up before. Even with such a light load, it was very slow and difficult. Trailers are not advised past a certain point. There's about three grades over 20% at maybe 40 to 50 yards each. So they're short. But it's windy and narrow. Most of it is probably 12%. It's a brutal trip. I won't do it again towing.

What's The Steepest Grade You Have Towed... | Good Sam Community

ReneeG
Explorer
Aug 02, 2015
Utah's Hogback between Torrey and Escalante at 14% but we really couldn't tel.
AH64ID
Explorer
Aug 02, 2015
1L243 wrote:
What is the steepest grade you have towed? I am surprised how many big RV's are taking the Wilson Grade (33) (31) to (26) Idaho falls out of Jackson Wy. This is a 10% grade for 5 miles with no pull outs or passing areas. It goes to 8% on the other side.

I am towing 12k and just don't think I want to put my truck through that when I can just drive around it by taking 189 to 26 to Idaho Falls. It's actually a few miles shorter.. I did tow the Wilson grade once years ago but at that time I was only hauling 7500lbs...

I assume you are talking about Teton pass? I have never heard it called the Wilson grade, but it does go thru Wilson.

It's not a big deal and is a slow enough road that you don't notice it too much.

I think going eastbound actually gets to 12% in a few places.

I have only traveled it eastbound at a GCW as high as 18K but it isn't a big deal.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Aug 02, 2015
The steepest I remember was the road going to Astoria tower. That was years ago and it still left an impression on me to this day. Not long at all but very steep.

Other ones that I remember are: These are more of a grind than real, real steep.

The road outside of Steamboat Springs.
Solder grade in I think it was Ut.
The road east of Phoenix Az.
I70 west of Denver.
1L243
Explorer II
Aug 02, 2015
AH64ID wrote:
1L243 wrote:
What is the steepest grade you have towed? I am surprised how many big RV's are taking the Wilson Grade (33) (31) to (26) Idaho falls out of Jackson Wy. This is a 10% grade for 5 miles with no pull outs or passing areas. It goes to 8% on the other side.

I am towing 12k and just don't think I want to put my truck through that when I can just drive around it by taking 189 to 26 to Idaho Falls. It's actually a few miles shorter.. I did tow the Wilson grade once years ago but at that time I was only hauling 7500lbs...

I assume you are talking about Teton pass? I have never heard it called the Wilson grade, but it does go thru Wilson.

It's not a big deal and is a slow enough road that you don't notice it too much.

I think going east bound actually gets to 12% in a few places.

Yes teton pass wilson grade the same thing. I think most would notice towing a 10% grade going up and down . One lane no turnouts my diesel 2nd gear 35 mph for 5 miles up then hope your brakes hold for the 5 miles down .

I'll just continue to drive around it.
john_bet
Explorer II
Aug 02, 2015
We went to Yellowstone in June of '82. Pulled US-212 from Red :Lodge to the North east gate of Yellowstone. Rig at that time was a Dodge Maxi-van and a 21' TT. Tow vehicle had a 360 cid engine at 180hp and a 3.23 rearend. We enjoyed it.
MTHome
Explorer
Aug 02, 2015
I just drove from Sheridan to Cody, WY on Hwy 14. 11% grade downhill for 8 miles. Even being in a lower gear we had to stop and cool our brakes down. It wasn't a hard drive just a steep one. I think it would be easier going west to east as the curves are more gentle on the east side.
Dakzuki
Explorer
Aug 02, 2015
ReneeG wrote:
Utah's Hogback between Torrey and Escalante at 14% but we really couldn't tel.

Me too pulling the toad. It had my undivided attention when descending.
AH64ID
Explorer
Aug 02, 2015
1L243 wrote:
AH64ID wrote:
1L243 wrote:
What is the steepest grade you have towed? I am surprised how many big RV's are taking the Wilson Grade (33) (31) to (26) Idaho falls out of Jackson Wy. This is a 10% grade for 5 miles with no pull outs or passing areas. It goes to 8% on the other side.

I am towing 12k and just don't think I want to put my truck through that when I can just drive around it by taking 189 to 26 to Idaho Falls. It's actually a few miles shorter.. I did tow the Wilson grade once years ago but at that time I was only hauling 7500lbs...

I assume you are talking about Teton pass? I have never heard it called the Wilson grade, but it does go thru Wilson.

It's not a big deal and is a slow enough road that you don't notice it too much.

I think going east bound actually gets to 12% in a few places.

Yes teton pass wilson grade the same thing. I think most would notice towing a 10% grade going up and down . One lane no turnouts my diesel 2nd gear 35 mph for 5 miles up then hope your brakes hold for the 5 miles down .

I'll just continue to drive around it.

35 is all you can do not towing so I am not sure what the big deal is going up. The slow speed is determined by the corners, which is why it isn't that bad from the drivers seat.

Yes the down is generally more work than the up but that is what makes exhaust brakes so nice.

The view at the top is great.

If I were to avoid 10-12% grades I would miss some cool places.
1L243
Explorer II
Aug 02, 2015
AH64ID wrote:
1L243 wrote:
AH64ID wrote:
1L243 wrote:
What is the steepest grade you have towed? I am surprised how many big RV's are taking the Wilson Grade (33) (31) to (26) Idaho falls out of Jackson Wy. This is a 10% grade for 5 miles with no pull outs or passing areas. It goes to 8% on the other side.

I am towing 12k and just don't think I want to put my truck through that when I can just drive around it by taking 189 to 26 to Idaho Falls. It's actually a few miles shorter.. I did tow the Wilson grade once years ago but at that time I was only hauling 7500lbs...

I assume you are talking about Teton pass? I have never heard it called the Wilson grade, but it does go thru Wilson.

It's not a big deal and is a slow enough road that you don't notice it too much.

I think going east bound actually gets to 12% in a few places.

Yes teton pass wilson grade the same thing. I think most would notice towing a 10% grade going up and down . One lane no turnouts my diesel 2nd gear 35 mph for 5 miles up then hope your brakes hold for the 5 miles down .

I'll just continue to drive around it.

35 is all you can do not towing so I am not sure what the big deal is going up. The slow speed is determined by the corners, which is why it isn't that bad from the drivers seat.

Yes the down is generally more work than the up but that is what makes exhaust brakes so nice.

The view at the top is great.

If I were to avoid 10-12% grades I would miss some cool places.

I am towing 12k which is why I go around it. My truck is diesel runs a tuner and engine brake and I still go around it.
2lazy4U
Explorer
Aug 02, 2015
Colorado's Black Bear Pass, but I wasn't towing anything and if I had been, it would've gone over edge on the tight switchbacks - you have to back up a bunch just to get around some of them.

Actually, some of the passes you guys are talking about I've been over in an SUV and can't imagine towing anything over them. I would be white-knuckled, esp. over the Hill to Bella Coola. You're a much gutsier bunch than I am.