STEEP grade passes. Sonora pass California

[Grizzly]

Wolf Creek Pass is certainly a good challenge, but even a bigger challenge is Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colorado. Especially when it's snowing.



Click Here for Red Mountain.



Pictured below is top of Wolf Creek Pass.

 

[Tractorat]

Wow, I didnt think we had highways like that in this country anymore. When I was very young, my family made a lot of trips from Seattle back to Minnesota. I can remember going over passes just like that. I can remember having nightmares about some of those passes into my early teens. It didnt help me out at all when we went on those passes when my little sister (sitting in the front seat) would say "lets drive over the cliff so we can see Jesus". \

 

[Grizzly]

Finally, not a mountain pass per se, but definately one of the most technically challenging roads I taken the 36' 5er on is HWY199 from Grants Pass, OR to Cresent City, CA. You must pay attention 100% of the time due to constant narrow curves and carved canyon just a few "inches" away from your trailer... [/B]California @ AARoads - U. S. Highway 199

That's the Redwood Highway. Been on it some 20, 30 time. My brother lives in Grants Pass. I love the Rogue River through Grants Pass in Southern Oregon.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

We were in our 04 Dodge 6 speed Cummins. I was in 2nd gear on the way up at 30psi manifold pressure at 12-14mph. On the way down I was in 2nd-3rd gear on the exhaust brake for lots of miles. This was a once in a lifetime experence (I hope)!!

 

[Harley600]

The wife and I went over the Sonora Pass with our 23' TT pulled by our 2014 Toyota Tundra after being told by the receptionist at the AAA in Sonora that it wouldn't be a problem pulling a TT over the pass. The woman is now on my hit list!!! And to make it more fun, we were total newbies to towing a TT and it was our maiden run with the TT from San Diego. One word for those RVing and thinking about taking the Sonora Pass, "DON'T!!!!!"

 

[SnoKing]

Dragging a 15k 5er south on Hwy 60 between Bell, AZ and Globe AZ through the Salt River Canyon was bad enough for me. Those grades probably were not worse than 11 or 12%. Really scenic though.

I have been through Salt River Canyon a couple times with the trailer. Climbing out the South side is a good test of your power levels, cooling system and ability to control EGTs. I kind of like it. Very scenic as you say. I see not reason to avoid it.

Of course I have been up and down Dexter Dam, over Woof Creek Southbound, 64 East bound in NM(10,500 at top of the hill), North Cascades/20, Stevens Pass/2 and White Pass/12 in Washington both directions, Lookout/90 in Idaho, Siskiyou's and Cabbage Patch in Oregon. Come on out West!!! I will bet you will want a sway control on a bumper pull going down. SNOKING

 

[GAmes]

Oh, I've been through there a few times since that post. The first time I just didn't know what to expect, plus the trailers were lighter after that. The route sure beats the long way through Flagstaff.

I just checked my map and found I have also pulled a trailer through Wolf Creek Pass. I didn't know at the time that it is famous. I don't remember it as being all that challenging.

 

[SnoKing]

Oh, I've been through there a few times since that post. The first time I just didn't know what to expect, plus the trailers were lighter after that. The route sure beats the long way through Flagstaff.

260/87 through Payson is the chicken route most take! SNOKING

 

[TJJEEPER]

Toughest climb for me was/is 9 mile Canyon off of 395 in the Ridgecrest area. This is from a cycling website...
"Miles 2-4 are 8.1%, mile 5 averages 8.9% while miles 8.2-9.2 spike to 10% average (very tough in 100 degree weather). During the summer months, and even in cooler weather, this is a very challenging climb."

Total weight was around 22K with the 36' toy hauler and a weeks worth of supplies, water, and beer. Zero problems up or down and I've done the trip 3 times.

 

[moparguy]

I'll vote the drive from 'Durango to Montrose on Hwy 550 (Ouray and Silverton and Red Mountain Pass) along with Wolf Mountain on Hwy 160 just east of Pagosa Springs, Co as being a challange. We drove those in August in the Wife's new 2500 6.4 Hemi pulling a three horse steel TrailsWest trailer (living quaters) with two horses. Man did that little truck get a tough intoduction to the world. It had about 1,000 miles on the odometer when we left. Was at about 4,000 when we made it back home.

 

[MMeier]

I'll vote the drive from 'Durango to Montrose on Hwy 550 (Ouray and Silverton and Red Mountain Pass) along with Wolf Mountain on Hwy 160 just east of Pagosa Springs, Co as being a challange. We drove those in August in the Wife's new 2500 6.4 Hemi pulling a three horse steel TrailsWest trailer (living quaters) with two horses. Man did that little truck get a tough intoduction to the world. It had about 1,000 miles on the odometer when we left. Was at about 4,000 when we made it back home.

Hemi ?? !!

 

[moparguy]

Hemi ?? !!

Yep, the wife's truck. Sold her 98 12v dually and bought her a gas burner. I had a 2014 2500 Laramie with 6.7 and it was great except for the DEF. I put 26,000 miles on it in 6 months. Had issues that were a pain while in North Dakota. Decided to simplify things and go gasoline. No regrets so far.

Still drive my 95 12 valve and will keep it till one of us is done. At 250k, it's looking like the truck will win