JimK-NY wrote:
Tomorrow I will be driving up the Moki Dugway. For those not familiar, it is an old ore carrying road that is carved into a 2000 foot cliff face. The grades are pretty much 8 to 10 plus degrees all the way. I sure am glad I have a diesel to haul my 13000 pounds up the road. I would feel the same way going down. Going down with a gasser would mean heavy near constant use of the brakes. With a diesel I would just need to touch the brakes occasionally to keep the diesel brake in the correct gear.
I drove the Moki Dugway in my old 6.0 l diesel. I disconnected my flat towed Jeep (since sold) to drive up, hitched a ride with some local native Americans back down and drove the Jeep up. In retrospect that was unnecessary. While the road is steep, it is wide and not "scary".
Recently, with my new 6.2 l gasser, I went up a back road in Colorado to visit a ghost town/summer home community called Fulford. It was around 1500' vertical in just over 3 miles. 5 switchbacks. Not as steep as Moki Dugway but close. My truck climbed it effortlessly but more importantly, it descended perfectly in engine braking mode (Tow Haul on the shift lever) with a tap of the brake. Never had to touch the brake again.
Knowing Moki Dugway and my new truck, I would not hesitate to drive it again, confidant my truck would perform perfectly. Gassers can use engine braking effectively.
Rick
