10k lbs vs 3 half tons vs the Ike Gauntlet

We're attending a rally in Colorado Springs next July. Between my truck, camper and trailer, I will be at 22-23k lbs GCW. We plan to take in the scenery and will be prepared for these types of primary and secondary roads. If there are length or weight limits, we will have more nimble transportation in tow.

Why would you NOT want to see Colorado. We spent 4 weeks there followed by 6 weeks in Utah last year and it was a spectacular trip. We even went back this spring on our way from AZ to ME to see Great Sand Dunes NP. That made seeing all the National Parks in CO and UT. Hopefully we will see them all again someday, but first Yellowstone, Glacier and the California Parks.

What makes Jackson Pass tough in my opinion is you never are able to gain momentum. With the switchbacks steep grade, and of course altitude it is a tough climb. It is not a mistake that anything over 60k GVW is not allowed on the hill.

I found the pass just outside Jackson Hole pretty tough. IIRC, it was 5 miles @ 10% grade, twisty and slow.

I pull over that pass several times per year. What everyone said plus the elevation (11,000') is what makes it tough.

Beautiful drive. All modern trucks are likely to make it over the top even when pulling well over their manufacture weight rating.

Who said torque doesn't matter? One quote please. Just one. Without torque you have no horsepower. Without horsepower you're not moving. So who said that?:B

RCMAN46 wrote:

06Fargo wrote:
Who would take this route? Me... I would haul an RV over that pass to get to the other side and plan to one of these trips... it looks like a perfectly good road and beautiful scenery - just uphill for a bit...

Spoiler alert: The turbocharged engine "wins" at 10,000 - 12,000 ft elevation.


check the 14 minute or so mark of this Ike test - diesel pickup towing for all it's worth and a class 8 most likely running empty at about 30,000 lbs comes along -

Same HP more torque?

If you look at the video close you may have to agree the pickup got caught in traffic and had to let the class 8 go by before he could move over. Also look close and you will see the pickup does move over to pass what ever was in front of him as soon as the class 8 is clear.

If we could see all of the footage uncut we may even see the pickup pass the class 8 later on.

Same horsepower? not likely.

Yes that could be - usually these presenters will make a big to-do about getting caught in any kind of traffic that affects their time up the grade - and I expect even do-over a run - because they say the intention of these runs is a timed "race" up the hill at max vehicle speed or held at the speed limit, whichever the truck will do. The class 8 could be 500+ hp - 450hp is the most common engine in this type of 5 axle service.

The class 8's engine will have 2x the torque of the Duramax but suggesting that has anything to do with the speed it is pulling this grade will just start a uproar here on the rv.network :) cause hp is hp and torque don't matter in a tow mobile...

I drive both types of vehicles and one pulls a lot better than the other at the same weight, no traffic, same hill... but I can't say :)

Anyway back to the OP...

I-70 through the Ike is a good road, and it was one of those that convinced me I needed more power than the 5.3 Chevy before I returned pulling a trailer. I haven't been back to it with the Eco, but it has done very well on some other passes in southern CO and NM.

Interesting videos. I'd like to haul our 8500~lb 5th wheel up the grade with our trusty 5.4L F250 just to see how it would do. Admittedly, I'm sure it wouldn't hold a candle to those three but, I have no doubt it would make it unscathed.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

Well:

#1. It's one of 2 major interstates that go east to west or west to east.

What is the other one? ;)