Highway Question?

[noleakman]

If I came south from Pueblo Colorado to Walsenburg on interstate 25 I was wondering how highway 160 to Cortez going thru Dorango with a class A with a toad if it is a good road to travel it looks like about 200 miles and I didn't want to over load the MH in the mountains or wear out the brakes !

[zman-az]

This road is doable in a RV, but plan extra time as the two mountain passes will limit your speed. I would plan on an extra hour of drive time to make it over the passes compared to a passenger car.

[RayChez]

Sandia Man wrote:
We have traveled that route a few times and it isn't too bad, but we have plenty of reserve power with our 55'+ towing combo.

LOL! What is a 55'?

[Palladun]

I live in new Mexico about 50 miles from wolf creek pass, going west from south fork the climb
To the top is easy, gental curves. Going down the west side is steep with two real sharp corners .
Gear down and keep speed down to thirty or less all the way down. Don't get in a hurry. Don't worry
About people behind you they can go around. There is three run-a- ramps going down.
Remember you will only go down one hill to fast. NUFF SAID

[Jackha1949]

I-160 is a pretty good road but there are some real high climbs and steep descents especially Wolf Creek Pass. The pass is an 8 mile climb with switchbacks, a slow lane, and lots of places to pull off to cool your engine or brakes. We went thru there two years ago in a 34' Journey with a 350 hp Cat and engine brake which we used all the way down the back side going east. Our engine did start to over heat climbing but that was our fault as we forgot to turn off the AC which was on high, however, as soon as we turned off the AC the engine temperature came right down. Watch your engine RPMs climbing and be in the right gear. I'm not sure how a gas rig would do on Wolf Creek Pass but I'm sure plenty have done it. Good Luck and Happy Travels!

[2gypsies1]

We've also done it and it's a beautiful drive. Be sure to stop in Pagosa Springs for a long relaxing soak at the springs. They are very clean concrete pools of varying temperatures. We spent two full mornings just moving between the pools. It also overlooks the river. A very pleasant setting and right in town. Enjoy!!

[Executive45]

We've done it twice and had no problems.....Dennis

[noleakman]

I have a gas rig WorkHorse 8.1 and it has what is called a grade brake with an allison trans! 06 National Sea Breeze!

[dsteinman]

Search for "Wolf Creek Pass". That will give you a lot of peoples experiences with it. For me, it is fairly easy since it is not too steep and the curves going downhill are not too sharp. But, I am used to driving in the mountains. And it might depend on how comfortable you are using the lower gears and exhaust brake (if you have one) and how much power you have.

And since there are climbing lanes, you don't have to worry about going to slow.

David

[polly_sue]

PS/ You shouldn't wear out your brakes. In fact, if you gear down and use an exhaust/engine brake, you should not use your brakes much at all. Just make sure that at the top of the hill, you are going the speed at which you want to descend (remember there are lots of turns) and set your exhaust brake. You should only have to use your brakes occasionally to bring the coach back to the desired speed if it picks up. Don't worry about slowing other people down. You do not want to overheat your brakes! The speed limit on Hwy 160 on Wolf Creek pass is 35 and for heavy trucks, it's even lower.

[Sandia_Man]

We have traveled that route a few times and it isn't too bad, but we have plenty of reserve power with our 55'+ towing combo.

[polly_sue]

It is fine. (It's our backyard...) US 160 is a major east-west highway. There are two passes between Walsenburg and Durango plus a couple of good-sized hill climbs. In every case, there is a climbing lane. (Be forewarned that the downhill traffic is allowed to use the uphill's passing lane where there is visibility -- they will have a broken line on their side, so make sure you can see if you need to pass and don't cruise in the passing lane.) The longest uphill is only about 8 miles long in its steepest section. If we are roaming around here, we don't connect our toad, but that's just us. You should be fine towing.