Pikes Peak

[moebedick]

We are thinking of going to Pikes Peak in May or June in our 4wd Ford F-250 ,6.2 L carrying a Northstar Freedom camper. I know that both the truck and I begin breathing hard at about 10,000 feet. Has anyone done the climb (and descent) in a similar rig? I am curious to hear serious commentary. We have done quite a bit of mountain driving,but never at that altitude. I don’t mind hearing the truck revving up a storm while ascending, I don’t want to hear it’s screaming downhill while the brakes are streaming smoke. I might be getting a little timid with age, but as the days begin to dwindle, I’d rather not waste what I have left plummeting of a cliff.

[Beau_Bo]

They are constructing a new visitors center at the Peak and parking is very limited. During the summer season they may institute a mandatory shuttle for visitors to the top, best to call in advance.

[Wharfcat]

I went up Pikes Peak May of last year in a regular passenger car. Cog railroad was out of service. It was 80 degrees plus in Colorado Springs and 40 degrees on top. Arrive early as the parking fills up quick I was told.

[Iraqvet05]

I drove up Pikes Peak in June just a month after buying my F250. I had driven up before several years ago with a government van full of guys from my unit while TDY at Ft Carson. I didn't recall the drive being so nerve wracking but it was, especially in the F250 with my wife in full panic mode. Plan to go early so you can avoid the crush of traffic later in the morning. We had to wait about 15 minutes on the way down because of a rock slide. They are building a new visitors complex at the peak so parking was a bit tight. I sure do miss the cog railway.

[Ramp_Digger]

We drove pikes peak road and the Mt.Evans highway in Colorado all the way to the summits with our 2005 dodge ram 3500 4x4 with our Alaskan and all our camping supplies. The camper and flat bed setup adds about 3200 lbs.to the truck. Mt Evans at 14,126 ft. is just a little higher than pikes peak. We had no problem at all climbing or descending either mt. On descent I simply placed transfer case in 4 low with my lockout hubs in free position, then selected the lowest gear needed to allow for complete engine braking without hardly needing any use of the service brakes. On descent of Pikes Peak We arrived at the mid mountain mountain check point with completely cool service brakes.

[BarabooBob]

If you take your time, use your tranny to stay at a reasonable rpm, and make sure you use engine braking on the way down, you will not have a problem. Just remember to come down in one gear lower than what you used to go up. On the way down, you will have to stop so that the brake temperature police can use an IR thermometer to check your brakes. IF the brakes are hot, they will ask you to wait a while before continuing your descent.

[enblethen]

That is a shame but I see here it will reopen in 2021.
Cog railway

[d3500ram]

The Pikes Peak Cog railway is no longer operating.

Operation has ceased due to expense and significant maintenance and upgrade costs. It might reopen in a few years from what I recall from the announcement last year.

[enblethen]

Do you want to drive up Pike's Peak for the drive or just to go up the mountain?
As a different kind of adventure , take the cog railway up.
We have done both. Drive was more for the veiw then anything else with several pull outs to enjoy it.

[Travels_with_Yo]

I had the same concern in May of 2017 when we made the climb to just over the 12,000 foot mark with our Adventurer 80RB on our Ram 2500HD (the last bit was still closed for snow removal). A bit to our surprise, the 6.4L Hemi didn't break a sweat and simply breezed to the top effortlessly. Engine temps never broke 212 degrees and RPM was very moderate due to the posted speed limits of roughly 30 and 25 mph. It was 79 degrees at the entrance station and 39 degrees at the top with wind gusts to 45 mph. We never noticed any effect from the wind at all. I'd have to say it was "a walk in the park". Our climb and decent is available in our YouTube video. You can check dash data read outs at various points. It truly was effortless and removing the camper as some had suggested would have been a complete waste of time and effort.

I'd recommend making the trip in the early morning as the wind typically doesn't kick up until the afternoon.

Pikes Peak in our 2016 Ram 2500 and 2016 Adventurer 80RB

[TenOC]

Last year in late April or Early May when we were there they had closed the top 1/2 due to high winds. . . . :M .. . We only got to go 1/2 up.

[d3500ram]

Maybe some of the folks in the Springs can confirm, but wasn't there talk of eliminating the public drive to the top and requiring visitors to take the shuttle to The Peak similar to how Moron Belles and Hanging Lakes are doing it?

[Grit_dog]

^Agree with above. You would make it back down in 1 piece, but 12mi of switchbacks and up to 10-11% grade, it will be far more enjoyable bobtail.

[Old_Days]

I would take the camper of at a campground it would be a lot less stress on you and the truck. I own the same truck just use the paddle shifter in the mountains and you will be fine.