Tioga Pass - This little baby can...

Do not take a long trailer on Sonora Pass. It is just barely ok with a little trailer.

To me, Tioga Road is not a serious problem. Take it easy, use the turnouts to let the faster folks go by. Use engine compression on the way down. Stop and spend some time in the high country, if at all possible -- world class scenery and hiking.

Ebbetts Pass is also really difficult with a big trailer.

Going up the west side of the Bighorn Mountains on 14A is steep with tight turns also. We made it over Tioga with a Toyota MH (120 hp) and didn't notice the grade. We were busy enjoying the view.

time2roll wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
How about old priest grade in California, that ought to be a challenge.

Don't know the grade but trailers and RVs and anything over 7,500 pounds is prohibited.
Apple navigation tried to put me up that one just a week ago.

Looked very steep from the view of the newer road. I was amazed how many vehicles were actually taking the route. Must be a locals shortcut or that pesky navigation....

From wiki:

Priest grades
West of Priest is a section of highway with over one hundred curves and hairpin turns, known as the "New Priest Grade." With a 4% grade, it opened in 1915 and was built by a group of local volunteers who desired an alternative to the very steep (17%) Old Priest Grade.[17] Today, both grades are paved, but trailers and RVs are prohibited from Old Priest Grade.[18] There is a 7,500-pound weight limit on the old grade.

I know It made my butt checks pucker just going down in a new Lincoln Continental. No way would you want to pull anything on that trail.

Try the graded road from the entrance to Island in the Sky to the bottom of Canyonlands NP. Not a highway but somewhere it mentioned four wheel drive only. Darn the Suzi Sidekick didn't read that part of the sign and went up and down in 2 wheel drive. And personally I like Tioga, great views. Sonora is a bugger on a bicycle, worse driving a Scout stick with no PS. Shift, Shift, Shift.

time2roll wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
How about old priest grade in California, that ought to be a challenge.

Don't know the grade but trailers and RVs and anything over 7,500 pounds is prohibited.
Apple navigation tried to put me up that one just a week ago.

Looked very steep from the view of the newer road. I was amazed how many vehicles were actually taking the route. Must be a locals shortcut or that pesky navigation....

From wiki:

Priest grades
West of Priest is a section of highway with over one hundred curves and hairpin turns, known as the "New Priest Grade." With a 4% grade, it opened in 1915 and was built by a group of local volunteers who desired an alternative to the very steep (17%) Old Priest Grade.[17] Today, both grades are paved, but trailers and RVs are prohibited from Old Priest Grade.[18] There is a 7,500-pound weight limit on the old grade.

Saw the Priest Grade out of the Yosemite. RVs are not allowed.

Took the 120 instead and it was winter. I kept on sliding on the ice-snow when I brake. Funny, there are no traffic control to mandate I put in my chains.

But somehow, I find the Tioga Pass, right in the middle of summer, to be more challenging than that twisty, 100+ hairpin turns, than the straight downhill into oblivion Tioga Pass.

colliehauler wrote:
How about old priest grade in California, that ought to be a challenge.

Don't know the grade but trailers and RVs and anything over 7,500 pounds is prohibited.
Apple navigation tried to put me up that one just a week ago.

Looked very steep from the view of the newer road. I was amazed how many vehicles were actually taking the route. Must be a locals shortcut or that pesky navigation....

From wiki:

Priest grades
West of Priest is a section of highway with over one hundred curves and hairpin turns, known as the "New Priest Grade." With a 4% grade, it opened in 1915 and was built by a group of local volunteers who desired an alternative to the very steep (17%) Old Priest Grade.[17] Today, both grades are paved, but trailers and RVs are prohibited from Old Priest Grade.[18] There is a 7,500-pound weight limit on the old grade.

How about old priest grade in California, that ought to be a challenge.

Not 395... Just north of Pearsonville is a road called nine mile canyon that takes you up to Kennedy Meadows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OL7f2b15ks

time2roll wrote:
Ebbett's pass on CA-4 is similar to Sonora. Parts are so narrow there is no center line.
Or try Nine Mile Canyon Road off CA-395 at Pearsonville. Nine miles of steady 10% and the heat can be 110+ so it can test your cooling also.
Death Valley also has some long 8%/9% grades and of course the Summer heat can really give the cooling a test.

Funny, I've travelled that Pearsonville section of CA-395 and did not even notice the steepness of the ascent. I must have been lucky with the tailwind, lol.

Ebbett's pass on CA-4 is similar to Sonora. Parts are so narrow there is no center line.
Or try Nine Mile Canyon Road off CA-395 at Pearsonville. Nine miles of steady 10% and the heat can be 110+ so it can test your cooling also.
Death Valley also has some long 8%/9% grades and of course the Summer heat can really give the cooling a test.