10k lbs vs 3 half tons vs the Ike Gauntlet

nevadanick wrote:
To answer the ? Whether there is worse than Ike, i would say yes. There are several passes where there are lots of curves and you have to slow then back to speed several times. That to me is much more taxing to the truck than just a straight pull like Ike.

Exactly. I 'might' argue I70 is easy - straight shot, 3 lanes heading east uphill and if I recall 60 mph. Something like Wolf Creek Pass is far tougher with lots of curves and two pretty good switchbacks. As said above, need to slow and accelerate for the turns is more taxing on brakes is my experience. Last time I took Monarch Pass it was 40 mph, 3rd gear and 2,000 rpms with a 15k load for a slow drive up that included some pretty good drop offs. The curves dictate the speed not the weight of the load.

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.

Try going to the east gate of Yellowstone from Red Lodge,Mt. with a '76 Dodge Maxi-van, 5.9L @ 180hp,3.23 gears and a '75 21' Konfort tt. Done it in 'June of '82. Truck lived a long trouble free life after that too. And for those that think I was holding up traffic, There was not any. Great views.

To answer the ? Whether there is worse than Ike, i would say yes. There are several passes where there are lots of curves and you have to slow then back to speed several times. That to me is much more taxing to the truck than just a straight pull like Ike.

I have been that route several times, just because you live back east doesnt mean that there arent people that have to or want to go that way.

Where is the Tow/Haul indicator in the 2013 F-150?
If it is on the dash as my 2011 it's not engaged.

Are these guys cheating?

I don't see the big deal all of the trucks made it to the other side. As far as who would tow an
and RV over this pass. I guess anyone that needs to use the road to get to their destination

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?

Those are cool little marketing pieces... but how many people actually try to haul a RV over that pass? I have never been there and have ZERO intention to go there. I've been across country before never took that route.

People cite roads exactly like this as to why a half ton truck is inadequate for anything but buying groceries... Why would I ever want to haul over this pass??? The only reason that I can think of is to justify to myself buying WAY more truck than is necessary 99.9% of the time, just so I can use it that 0.1% of the time driving up this road.

Not much in real world driving combined with that high of a speed limit anyway. It really is a great test of what a vehicle is capable of.