RV tow on Hwy 50 across Co.

[CUMMINZ]

Is Hwy 50 across Colorado a decent road to take an RV?

 

[JohnsonJim]

It's "paved" if that is what you mean?

 

[BarryG]

Its not bad. It has a few areas that are more narrow than one might like or steeper than one might like but it is not dangerous or rough by any stretch. All in all it is a fine road. In fact you only have a couple options to go across the state. South of US 50 you have US 160 which is pretty good as well, then you have US 50 then north of US 50 you have I-70. I-70 is certainly the best as far as road but it depends on where you are going.

 

[JohnsonJim]

Next time I haul across the state I plan on 50. 70 is awful... The hills are not bad... trucks got the power... it is the S L O W cars and the lookie loos that you have to watch out for. Plus every small town seems like u have to slow down to 45. It was a mess moving my stuff out here from Idaho.



I'd almost rather take 80 thru Wyoming... heading east that is... the wind is at your back! Grandted, nothing to look at like 70.

 

[CUMMINZ]

We will be in Penrose area in a couple of weeks and then to Moab. 50 seems the shortest route.

 

[JCasper]

We will be in Penrose area in a couple of weeks and then to Moab. 50 seems the shortest route.

It's going to be damn HOT in Moab.



I was there 3 weeks ago and it was to hot for me. But I'm from the PNW, it's raining here :-laf

 

[ToddK]

Grizz,



From Penrose HWY 50 is the best route for where you are going. I am from S Denver and go that way for camping at Texas Creek. Out of Canon City you will have an 8 mile climb that is not bad, I pull 12k on it, levels out for a couple then back down. Keep it in low gear on the way down, it is less than half the distance than coming up the other side(I use 4th on my g56). If you come back this way it is fine still, just keep it low. After that it levels off and runs along the Arkansas River. Very scenic, keep your eyes on the road, it is a bit twisty. I think the next issue is Monarch Pass. Very twisty and steep. Take your time. The only time I have been on monarch I was towing only about 4k. It worked the PSD auto quite a bit. After Monarch Pass I think it is mostly gradual grades, but I am not sure. Good luck.

 

[Radshooter]

We did it about 6 years ago with a 17K fiver, V-10, auto trannie. Moving from Kansas to Montrose, CO. Did fine except I chickened out over Monarch Pass. We stopped in Salinas and hired a semi to pull our trailer over Monarch. It wasn't the going up that scared me, it was coming down the back side. I didn't trust the auto trannie with that heavy trailer on that steep of a grade.
Now, with the 6 speed CTD and exhaust brake, I wouldn't hesitate to do it myself. Other than Monarch, we had no problems at all.

 

[JesseGray]

Those US routes 50, 60, 70, 80, and 89 were ALL truck routes before the interstates. They are just narrower, more curves and sometimes more grades. Even Greyhound and Trailways used them for their passenger routes--so trailers should be fine. Just a slower route--and more seinic.

 

[Bill Stockard]

If you want to avoid Monarch Pass on US 50, you can turn south on US 285 at Poncha Springs to Saguache and turn north on CO 114 to Gunnison. You'll travel over Poncha Pass, which is just a glorified hill, and North Pass which is higher, but there's relatively no traffic on the road. Once over North Pass, it's an easy down hill grade to US 50 near Gunnison. I've traveled over this route many times with my CTDs towing 5th wheels without an exhaust brake and didn't need it.



Bill

 

[BimmerAgent]

Avoid a pass?

I can't imagine wanting to avoid a pass. The grin I get pasted on my face pulling my passes with toys in tow is something that only a Cummins can deliver. To me, passes are the reason to own a Dodge Cummins ( with a Jake, of course . ) Bruce

 

[MMeier]

Can't believe what a POS 70 has turned into!! Lots of areas that have no lane markings, impossible to see where you are supposed to be when wet or dark..... or both!! Then like a few nights ago, it was closed just west of GJ because the damn river was flooding over!#@$%! What a day Thursday was... tornadoes not far way, blizzard up by Vail, 5" of hail and crap in Utah... long 24 hour day!!

 

[RVTRKN]

I can't imagine wanting to avoid a pass. The grin I get pasted on my face pulling my passes with toys in tow is something that only a Cummins can deliver. To me, passes are the reason to own a Dodge Cummins ( with a Jake, of course . ) Bruce

I feel the same, I love the long steep grades. The one I would love to climb or descend with 23K GCW, is on 70 at the green river pass (I think that is what it is called) in Utah. When I went through there last year I was not towing anything and when I returned I was only at #9500 GVW. Now that would be the pass to test all brands and classes of trucks in the heat of summer, BTW, the C&C didn't even break a sweat climbing on the west bound side.

 

[CUMMINZ]

You guys are the best. Thanks for the info.



CumminZ

 

[Bill Stockard]

I can't imagine wanting to avoid a pass. The grin I get pasted on my face pulling my passes with toys in tow is something that only a Cummins can deliver. To me, passes are the reason to own a Dodge Cummins ( with a Jake, of course . ) Bruce

Hey, I like to "work" the Cummins too. I've been over Monarch several times, east to west and west to east... without a Jake and no problem. The route over North Pass I outlined is one that I take when traveling from South Fork, CO area to the Gunnison area.

I've been over Spring Creek and Slumgullion on CO 149 many times too and even back when CO 149 was a gravel road.



Bill

 

[TAbbott]

Monarch is a pass I'd want to be sure I had an EGT guage. At 11,300 ft +, egt's can go pretty high if you have any fuel.....

 

[Radshooter]

Well me and Earl were haulin chickens on a flatbed out of Wiggins, and spent all night on the uphill side of 37 miles of heck called Wolfcreek Pass. I said Earl... ... . wait, where am I? Sorry..... flashbacks.

 

[Ajwalls]

Hey, glad I checked out this site. Thanks Bill, for giving me a new route to Gunnison. I too found Monarch a bit unnerving, watching my transmission temp. climb higher than I wanted. Traveling you recommended route. sounds great, and easier on the nerves.



____________________

2001,2500, Blue,SB,Quad,Leer Topper, 4" Pipe, BD Exhaust, lots of gauges pulling '99 Holiday Rambler 29' (1000 lbs)

 

[Gene Arnold]

I've been over Monarch many times. I even pulled it a couple of times with a 31' Airstream behind a 6. 2 Chevy diesel. That required patience, but it made it OK. I really enjoyed it when I pulled my 34' Airstream with my Cummins! Wow--what a difference. I don't have an exhaust brake, but I gear down and keep my speed down on the descent.



By the way, you probably already know this, but don't ride your brakes down the pass!! Put it in a lower gear, and when you need to slow down, hit the brakes hard, slowing down a few mph less than your optimum speed, and repeat as necessary.



Gene