Travel in mountains question.

Thanks for all the replies. This will be a fun trip to plan. I can't wait.

m_2_ak wrote:
I am looking at planning a 20 day trip next summer and wanted to get some info from people who have taken their TT throught the mountains. I am looking to go from Mt. Rushmore to Glacier National Park back to Old Faithful. I have a 29' 8k loaded Keystone Sprinter, how tough would it be to make that trip. I'd be pulling with an F-250 6.7 PSD. Thanks for any info you can give.

We do part of that trip quit often with our rig and my 5er is 4k# heavier than your tt and do not struggle in the least. If fact we just did it 2 weeks ago in opposite direction, Great Falls to Rapid City.

Did that trip back in 05 with a 97 Dodge conv. van and a 28 ft 6500lb TT. No issues for us. No real hills to speak of either, between the Black Hills and Glacier. can`t speak for going into Yellowstone from Glacier. either way, you`ll be fine!

Since we live in the mountain ranges we also need to take this in consideration. Regardless what TV you have mountain ranges can be
a issue. But if you take your time and remember you are not in a race
to get there and you have X-1000's pounds behind you will be fine.

We also look at routes and get mountain passes incline rates before we
leave. Often it faster/easier to take a longer route than trying to traveling a direct route.

Good Luck and have Fun.

dahkota wrote:

m_2_ak wrote:
I am looking at planning a 20 day trip next summer and wanted to get some info from people who have taken their TT throught the mountains. I am looking to go from Mt. Rushmore to Glacier National Park back to Old Faithful. I have a 29' 8k loaded Keystone Sprinter, how tough would it be to make that trip. I'd be pulling with an F-250 6.7 PSD. Thanks for any info you can give.

We have an f250 and a 9K sprinter. Had absolutely no problems. Let the tranny handle the downhills instead of the brakes.

X3 on using the transmissin and engine breaking to keep the speed down on the decent.

Drop your speed well before you start down the grade and you will be able to make it down the majority of the roads you will be travelling with little or no braking needed.
If you need to apply the brakes more than a couple of seconds at a time to scrub off a little speed, you need to drop down another gear.

You really need to take your time and enjoy the Rockies, I still get awed by them everytime we go to or through them and we always stop at the outlooks.

You will want to make a slight detour to Devils Tower, if you haven't already planned on it. Another of Mother Natures wonders.

m_2_ak wrote:
I am looking at planning a 20 day trip next summer and wanted to get some info from people who have taken their TT throught the mountains. I am looking to go from Mt. Rushmore to Glacier National Park back to Old Faithful. I have a 29' 8k loaded Keystone Sprinter, how tough would it be to make that trip. I'd be pulling with an F-250 6.7 PSD. Thanks for any info you can give.

We have an f250 and a 9K sprinter. Had absolutely no problems. Let the tranny handle the downhills instead of the brakes.

Pulled a 18-foot TT from Detroit to Missoula, up to Glacier, back down to Yellowstone, back through Chicago to Detroit, behind a 1960 Country Squire with 5.8 V8, carrying 10 people. No problems. This was before there were any Interstate highways between Chicago and the Rockies.

You don't go over the mountains at 60-70 mph.

Be sure to read up on how to use the transmission to slow you down on long hills. No way to practice that in Houston!!

We are going to do the same trip with a F-150 4x4 E-boost with tow haul, we figure our trailer weight at 6000 lbs. We had no issues in the Smokey Mountains but the Rockies different. So…

I have a scheduled a brake and bearing inspection before the trip. I do not want any surprises in the mountains.

Take your time and watch your brakes; other than that, no problem.

x2.

For Going to the Sun Road, try to book one of the "red bus" tours ahead of time. That way you can leave the driving to others and enjoy the scenery. They offer them roundtrip from either west or east of the park.