Towing up the mountains
I'm in the middle of purchasing a new truck and came across this website and watched a few of videos testing trucks on the IKE Gauntlet (A long steep Mtn grade): TFL Truck I have only been in the ...
Forum Discussion
RedRocket204 wrote:
The only reality of those TFL videos is the armchair racing and brand loyalty comments that follow. I live about 45 minutes from Eisenhower Pass (the real name, not IKE Gauntlet nonsense... OP, not criticizing you :)) and those videos are about as valuable as Toyota's Space Shuttle advertising stunt.
It is amazing how many, who watch those videos, take to heart that because one truck made it up to the pass 30 seconds quicker, the other slower truck(s) are complete junk. Are people really that stupid?
Those who drive that stretch of highway also know that it is not often you can wide open throttle it all the way to the pass because of traffic. Also not shown, adverse weather, wild life dodging, blinding sun rises/sets etc.
The most important thing you should be looking for in a truck is can your choice of truck tow your intended weight safely at an adequate speed to get you to your destination.
Well sorry I dont mean to be picky here but the REAL name of the pass is the LOVELAND Pass as it always was before and since the interstate. Only when the Eisenhower TUNNEL was built did folks started to call it the Eisenhower pass. (I think this EP name started with traffic reports) Note: it is possible that it has been officially renamed but I find nothing to support that.
But I agree with you this "IKE gauntlet" stuff is pure Webipoop from those who feel it necessary to make everything sound "cool".
I traveled this pass this past April and maintained a steady 60-65 with my 5.7L Dodge Ram pulling my 31 foot TT. My truck was not laboring in the least. My fuel mileage for that leg (I fueled in Golden CO in the western foothills and then in Parachute, CO (near Gr Junc)) was 7.7 MPG so that tank took me over the vast majority of the mountainous part of the Rockies.
