Towed heavy up Vantage Pass...twice!

[EdGarcia]

So my family and I did some boat camping with some friends on Lk. Roosevelt and I towed our family toy, a 2000 Bayliner Ciera Command Bridge that weighs in with the tri-axled trailer at 13K. I towed it with my new 2012 Ram 3500 for a round trip total of 625 miles. The trips route is I-90 through some farming country that is always very warm weather 90 degrees +, but the toughest part of the trip when towing is the Vantage Pass which is very steep... . for ten long and at times, stressfull miles.



My new Ram handled the tow with absolutely no problems at all! I wanted to fully "test" the capability of my Ram during this trip and I can tell you that she passed with flying colors! Going up Vantage Pass, I was travelling at a steady 65 mph... . blowing by most other rigs that were towing as well... . I am trully a pleased, happy camper and Ram owner... . my friends that were towing their own equally large and heavy boats could not keep up with me. One of my friends towed with a 2010 Ford F250 Super Duty, the other with a 2008 GMC Sierra HD... . I left them in my rear view mirrow twice and when they caught up... I just smiled:-laf

 

[LRutigliano]

Very Nice !!

 

[HBarlow]

A beautiful boat!

Congratulations and my personal thanks for proving to the Furd and Government Motors owners what many of us have long known.

Furd and GM V8 diesels are often fast accelerating from a stoplight but are always losers when climbing steep grades with heavy loads where an inline turbodiesel shines!

 

[Cummins12V98]

I know the pass, it is steep and long. I have not pulled it with the new truck and trailer but would guess 55 mph with my 27K combined load. This combo weighs 6,500 pounds more than my 98 12V and 32. 5' Avion but has out pulled it on every pass. The 98 has 300rwhp the 11 has 304 rwhp. Yep, pullin machines!

 

[EdGarcia]

Harvey... yes, my inline turbo truly shined. Again, my buddies each towed equally heavy boats and they have very nice rigs... but their trucks just could not keep up with my Ram... . it was awesome hearing my Cummins growl for the long ten mile pass pull... . and watching my buddies far behind in my mirror:-laf

 

[EdGarcia]

Yes... truly pulling machines, and my truck for life!

I know the pass, it is steep and long. I have not pulled it with the new truck and trailer but would guess 55 mph with my 27K combined load. This combo weighs 6,500 pounds more than my 98 12V and 32. 5' Avion but has out pulled it on every pass. The 98 has 300rwhp the 11 has 304 rwhp. Yep, pullin machines!

 

[HBarlow]

Yep, and your Cummins was pulling at a lower engine rpm and never overheating. The Furd and Govt. Motors owners have to buzz their engines close to 3000 rpm to pull the steep grades.

 

[labarn]

Where is the vantage pass?
labarn

 

[Bill Stockard]

Where is the vantage pass?

labarn

It's on I-90 east of Ellensburg, WA. The grade is 11 miles. The top half is 3-4% grade and there are about 2 miles of 5% grade. From the Trucker's Mountain Directory (West).



Love that Cummins growl when it's working.



Bill

 

[cerberusiam]

Where is the vantage pass?
labarn

Just another molehill on I-90. Nothing much to get exited about.

 

[EdGarcia]

Where is the vantage pass?
labarn

"labarn",

The Vantage Pass is in Washington State. It sort've divides the state between west & east, (Western Washington, Eastern Washington). Heading east from the Seattle area, you take I-90 eastbound... the pass is about 10 miles long, just over the Columbia River and is a "trailer killer". You often see boaters, RV'ers, and trucks off to the side of the road with blown out tires, burnt up trailer bearings, or blown turbo's (like my buddy with a Ford, 3 times!). It's a tough pass if your trailer is not prepared, or your truck just not tough enough :-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

This is a grade


The eastbound descent from the summit of Teton Pass starts with a truck warning sign--"Steep grade--10% next 5 1/2 miles--use lower gear. " There are 20 mph curves near the top. About 1/3 mile down from the summit is a sign--"Runaway truck ramp--2½ miles LEFT side. " This warning is repeated several times as you approach the ramp. To use the ramp you must cross the oncoming lane of traffic. The ramp slopes uphill.

If its got 3 and 4% for more than half well I wont go there stay away from this then.

QUOTE

Just another molehill on I-90. Nothing much to get exited about didn't want to get it started but EXACTLEY!!!!!!

 

[BIGNASTY]

If 3&4% bothers ya stay away from the Million Dollar Hwy CO.

 

[cerberusiam]

LOL! Thats what happens to the west enders when they get too far away from the water, their vehicles just give up. :-laf



Cabbage hill on I-84 is much more of a challege, and Whitebird on 95 makes an excellent test area. 'Course there is not enough water around either to float a big boat so no reason to go there.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I really dont want to get in a pissin match with you guys but, has anyone towed up Sonora pass in California?? I have, Gross wt at about 24,000# the steepest part is 26% That my friends is a test of your nerve and the rig. . Imagine 2nd gear with the 6 speed and almost 40# manifold pressure. .

Not to take anything away from Vantage, she is a tough relentless pull.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonora_Pass81949[/ATTACH]

 

[BIGNASTY]

Gonzo

You WENT UP that 26% grade with 24K???? with a CTD? Ive been there I didnt go UP or DOWN it jsut asking? That CTD was in a DODGE right??

 

[BIGNASTY]

To be honest that Vantage Grade sounds like my FRIGGIN DRIVEWAY so That's not much of a pull my two mule pull my A** and the wives and a small snow plow up that all winter long ours is a two seat- er and we DONT HAVE AN EXHAUST BRAKE UNLESS THE MULES FARTING COUNTS!!!!!!

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Gonzo



You WENT UP that 26% grade with 24K???? with a CTD? Ive been there I didnt go UP or DOWN it jsut asking? That CTD was in a DODGE right??

Yes we did go up that pass. . Our 2004. 5 3500 6 speed truck. NOT stock at all. . Like I said 2nd gear and near 40#manifold. . Coming down on the West side was also a 2nd gear thing, on the pacbrake all the way. As you can imagine we did not go fast up or down, lucky for us there was not much traffic. I did have a CHIP officer follow me for a couple of miles, he was in a cloud of black soot more than once or twice. I do know that I will NEVER trailer that Pass again. .

 

[Gonzo 1066]

To be honest that Vantage Grade sounds like my FRIGGIN DRIVEWAY so That's not much of a pull my two mule pull my A** and the wives and a small snow plow up that all winter long ours is a two seat- er and we DONT HAVE AN EXHAUST BRAKE UNLESS THE MULES FARTING COUNTS!!!!!!

I know that Vantage is not as steep as some, however it is LONG, and it will seperate the real trucks from the also rans. . It does depend on the load. For a bone stock truck to maintain 65mph with that load is really quite a big deal IMHO.

 

[BIGNASTY]

My attempt at Sonora Pass



http://www.altaalpina.com/rides/dsp_selroute.php?area=15&type=Road



So tired my nuts almost got caught in the chain :-laf (not really but one hell of a bike ride) I can find our pic's but would take some time. Going down hill was clocked at 60 MPH WAY TO FAST!!!!!!!!