polly_sue
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Re: Almost destroyed my 37’ RV, on an 8’8” Low height bridge
The parkways in NY near the city and Connecticut forbid trucks of any kind, period. You should have been pulled over and made to exit. The signs are everywhere and on all printed maps. You can’t even drive a car towing a u-haul trailer. The key word is parkway.369Views0likes0CommentsRe: Anyone install a weboost on their class A
I’m not answering your question, but want to add that we installed a WeBoost at our home and the length of the run of cord to the inside antenna was too much for the standard cord. They replaced it with one that is a much larger gauge. WeBoost could not have been nicer in helping us. I highly recommend them!309Views0likes0CommentsRe: Rte 160 in Colorado
edm3rd wrote: If you want more practice, try US Hwy 50 between Salida and Gunnison (Monarch Pass). Monarch is harder than Wolf Creek, because it's narrower and a long climb. Wolf Creek is a shorter climb than La Veta from the east. About 8 miles total, most of which are four lanes. I find I-70 in either direction west of Denver to be a real slog. A very long climb, although with a climbing lane in addition to the travel lanes. In my experience, the descent from the high country back to Denver is grueling. You really need to check your speed and NOT with your brakes as much as possible. Many curves. More daunting than Wolf Creek.581Views0likes0CommentsRe: Rte 160 in Colorado
US 160 is a fine road with one major and a couple of minor passes between Ft. Garland and Cortez. The road is a US highway and is the major east west road between I-40 and I-70. On Wolf Creek Pass, the roadway is four or three lanes, depending on your direction. (The other passes are not a big deal, mainly a couple of miles long with climbing lanes in each direction.) The main thing us locals know is that you pay absolute attention to the speed limits, especially in a motorhome, and you use your gearing and exhaust/engine brake on the descents. I usually count the number of times I need to tap my brake on the descent of Wolf Creek (and by that I mean just for a second to get the speed back down under 45 mph). I try to keep it under ten times for the whole descent. A trucker went over the cliff at the next to last westbound switchback the other day because his brakes had overheated. He passed on two runaway truck ramps. It cost him his life.183Views0likes0CommentsRe: Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame campground suggestion
The only rv park within a reasonable drive of downtown is the KOA in Twinsburg. Otherwise you will have an hour commute. We raised our family in the CLE and now live out west, but we return every summer. The KOA is right off I-480 E, so it’s not inconvenient.435Views0likes0CommentsRe: colorado mountain passes
Most of us who live in SW Colorado have to use 550 and 160 all the time. We try not to sweat it, but we DO use caution and intelligence. And trucks, big semis, use these roads all the time, too. The Lizard Head route around via Dolores and Telluride is long and tedious and most people, except during winter weather (when that route can be just as demanding) don't choose to add the extra time and mileage to their trips. There was a terrible truck wreck on the west side of Wolf Creek Pass on Wednesday (we were among the first folks through after the highway was closed) and the newspaper article afterwards pointed out that almost ALL of the accidents on the pass are caused by first timers. Almost never by veteran pass drivers. And almost always because of using brakes that overheat instead of the gearing systems. The guy's brakes were still smoking when the state trooper arrived on scene half an hour after the crash. The driver, by the way, miraculously escaped with minor injuries. His tractor was upside down and crushed (and his 45,000 pounds of lumber were scattered everywhere). It made me cry when I saw it, so finding out the guy was okay was a huge relief. We've never gone over Red Mountain Pass without seeing numerous semis. It's how we get our groceries here in Durango!!609Views0likes0CommentsRe: colorado mountain passes
The main thing on the passes is to use your transmission for braking and your brake as little as possible. (Feel free to use your exhaust/engine brake all the way down!) Most passes are about 8-10 miles in the climb and about the same for the descent. We always used third out of six forward gears on the ascent and descent. Keeping the RPMs on the high side on the climbs will help keep the engine cooler. Rule of thumb is you go down at the same speed (and gear) as the climb, assuming you are not flying up the hill! On US 550 south from Grand Junction you will experience the ride of a lifetime! The road is fine as long as you stay between the lines! There are no guard rails on the tricky spot just south of Ouray, but that beautiful section is the worst part of the whole drive and is less than 5 miles of thrills. The speed limits are very accurate for your needs in your coach. Good luck and enjoy our part of Colorado!185Views0likes0Comments
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