Slumgullion Pass Colorado

[cwboyscooby]

Just looking for advice.

Was planning to haul the kids up to Colorado and would like to go into Creede and Lake City. I haven't been this route since I was kid, but remember the steep grades.

I am in a 1996 SW F-350 7.3l with a toy hauler running about 10k loaded. the problem is, I have no Jake brake and cannot downshift from 3rd to 2nd (can sometimes get it in by double clutching). I know I need to fix the tranny (2nd gear synch is out), but don't have time before we leave.

Should I avoid the pass and skip Lake City, or is it not as bad as I recall?

[Allworth]

I don't think I would try it.

You can get to Lake City from Gunnison on an easy, beautiful paved road.

[Busskipper]

Hopefully you have gotten the message -- without an engine brake and even more without 2nd gear, you might want to stay in the flatlands. I cannot remember any of the passes I have driven in Colorado that I did not enjoy have the Engine break -- just be SMART and SAFE.

BOL,

[Thunder_Mountai]

I've driven most of Colorado's passes in the last 40 years in everything from our MH to a Mazda Miata to a '78 Toyota Land Cruiser to ATVs and more. That said I would not take your rig as described with its problems on Slumgullion.

[bradnailer]

If I remember correctly, heading down from Slumgullion to Creed isn't a bad haul. There's a NFS campground at the pass. You could camp there then day trip to Lake City. I'd never pull my trailer from the pass into Lake City.

[2gypsies1]

With your mechanical problems I would strongly suggest not to drive that route!

[BB_TX]

We drove that road again last month, not towing, from South Fork to Lake City and back. Reminded me why I would not want to tow over it. North side is expecially steep and winding. Tight turns, narrow road, and steep grade would be hard on an even a newer truck with good tranny, good brakes, and engine and/or exhaust brakes.
Even though the drive is beautiful, and Lake City area is also, I would stay at an RV park on one side or the other and take a day trip to the other side.
They were repaving the highway on the south side with some one lane traffic. Not too much of a holdup but we did have to wait about 15 minutes for the guide car to return. Most of the highway was pretty good but some of the old pavement was a little bumpy.

[skipnchar]

Not sure when you were a kid but when I was a kid we towed over Slumgulian when it was a gravel road not wide enough to pass at many places. We twice had to back up to find a way another vehicle from the other direction could get past us. It's MUCH tamer than that now but still rather steep (around 8% I believe) It should be doable but it will test your driving/braking skills without the ability to use the tranny.

[IDman]

Going into a questionable situation KNOWING that you have braking and downshifting limitations is not something I would do. If you do go, and if you should have an accident, you have now declared that you were aware of the extra risks. Good luck!

[SnoBear]

When we told the owner of the RV park in Lake City that we had come down Slumgullion Pass to get there, he was quite impressed that our brakes didn't smell bad on the coach. At that point, I mentioned that we had unhooked our Toad at the top of the pass for the trip down.

Long, steep with very sharp curves. Start slow at the top and keep it that way the whole way down (9 miles I believe). Some of the curves are 15 mph speed limits.

If you get down OK, Lake City is well worth the trip.

[paulj]

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26891221/gotomsg/26922648.cfm
thread on this pass from last April.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26295154/gotomsg/26296892.cfm
and last year - the north side of the pass is steeper than most Colorado paved passes.