What is I-70 like?

[WyoJim]

Thanks fkovalski... . Your information lends some substance to this thread.

7% without extreme switchbacks is not much of a hill to our Cummins.

Thanks again

 

[HDaniel]

You lost me. I have run both of those routes and don't remember I-70 being in AZ at all. And I-15 only crosses about 30 miles of AZ. What am I missing?

I was referring to the grades in AZ, on the stretch of the 15, being the longest up and down. At least from what I remember.

 

[vegasredneck]

Wyojim,



You'll have no problems with the trip do it every summer but I'm not pulling anything. Before heading over the Loveland pass make sure you fill up. I like Flying J in Auroa. Just because all the ski towns are outrageous on fuel. I made the mistake the first time never again. Your next big fuel stop is in Richfield UT. If you do it any time soon remember the pass can get snow on it and it could be heavy at times. I come over the pass on Memorial day and had six inches of snow to contend with. All the bends are long and sweeping nothing tight for heavy braking. The section in AZ is very short but narrow run the slow lane and you'll be fine. Now for the pleasure stuff, coming off the pass, stop in Brickenridge to look back on the sights it is awesome especially if there is snow. wife and kids will love it. Then stop in Glenwood Springs and go in the hot pools (U see it off the road)to relax. It is a little expensive but it takes a lot of the edge off coming down the mountain. And last but not least when in Utah stop at Zion National park. It blows the Grand canyon away and don't spend all your money in Vegas

 

[klenger]

Just a note that Breckenridge is not on I-70. It's about 12 miles south of the Frisco exit. Silverthorne, Frisco, Copper Mtn, and Vail are all on I-70. It's all beautiful and I really miss the area.

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

Also, Loveland Pass is very scenic, but is actually off the interstate. Vegasred is right about fuel being expensive in the mountains, I would make sure to fill up in Denver or Grand Junction, depending on which way you are headed. There are many truck stops in both towns that will accomodate an RV.

 

[fkovalski]

... I would make sure to fill up in Denver or Grand Junction, ...

I am not goint to say that we have the cheapest fuel and don't want to hijack this thread into a fuel price discussion, but generally it is less up here when compared to Grand Junction. Denver is probably the better choice for fuel. $2. 67 at several places on Santa Fe as of 10 Apr 02.

 

[jkalchik]

On the way know I just put it in neutral and let it coast, it coasted about 90 all the way down the mountain.

Wait a sec... . Did you really just say you coasted down with the transmission in neutral?????? :--) I'm sure glad I was nowhere around.



I've made trip 3 times with a modified Jeep Cherokee towing a pop-up, and once with my CTD towing a trailered Jeep Cherokee. Going up isn't the problem, IMHO, it's going down. I really wish I had an exhaust brake to keep my speed down.



IIRC, most of the grades run about 7-8%, there's one stretch west of Vail Pass around 10% (uphill eastbound. )

 

[WyoJim]

IIRC, most of the grades run about 7-8%, there's one stretch west of Vail Pass around 10% (uphill eastbound. )

jkalchic... . Go back up this thread until you find the post by fkovalski That has a link called truck parking. That link lists the percent grade for I-70 and none are over 7%. The west side of Vail Pass is listed at 7%.

 

[jkalchik]

jkalchic... . Go back up this thread until you find the post by fkovalski That has a link called truck parking. That link lists the percent grade for I-70 and none are over 7%. The west side of Vail Pass is listed at 7%.

Then why is it posted at 10%?

 

[vegasredneck]

Thanks Klenger on the correction. I always thought that was Breckenridge on the west side of the tunnel and the pass was know as Loveland.



Fkovalski, That is why I said Richfield UT, I never found a good price on fuel through the mountains or Grand Junction. If I could push it out to Lima, Co it was even cheaper. But that is one long haul from Richfield -Lima



Wyojim,

I was just thinking that they were doing work at the 70-15 junction in UT last summer. I don't know if they finished or not but that was a narrow two lane with road grooves making a trailer sway and nasty at night.

 

[WyoJim]

Then why is it posted at 10%?

You make a good point... . and there is a helluva difference between a 7% grade and a 10% grade... . makes a guy wonder. But if you saw the posting I would assume you equated the steepness with the sign and thus the Truck Parking Link could be incorrect.

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

I am not goint to say that we have the cheapest fuel and don't want to hijack this thread into a fuel price discussion, but generally it is less up here when compared to Grand Junction. Denver is probably the better choice for fuel. $2. 67 at several places on Santa Fe as of 10 Apr 02.

Where are there stations near I 70 in Summit county that have diesel and are also set up to accomodate larger rigs? I am 70' in tandem, and about 45' w/o the boat.

 

[jkalchik]

You make a good point... . and there is a helluva difference between a 7% grade and a 10% grade... . makes a guy wonder. But if you saw the posting I would assume you equated the steepness with the sign and thus the Truck Parking Link could be incorrect.

I can understand how someone would come up with a lower figure. Elevation change is pretty easy to find, and if you go with a longer baseline (to get more of an overall average,) I'd expect the grade to calculate as a lower number. I suspect that the highway markers are for pretty short stretches, while the referenced pages are figured over longer chunks of road.

 

[MABurns]

Thanks to all who posted, just completed the trip and it was exactly as described.



BEAUTIFUL!!!!!



I would recommend it to anyone who has not seen that part of the country.



WOW!

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Any of you guys ever been on OH MY GOD road between Idaho Springs and Central City? If not and you're ever in that area, you should definately check it out. It's been a few years, but I belive it's somewhere around an 18% grade.

 

[Radshooter]

Does the Eisenhower tunnel have any restrictions on propane tanks? Can I pull the RV through the tunnel with the tanks, or do I have to go over Loveland Pass with the tanks?


Thanks... ...
Steve

 

[klenger]

No restrictions on LP tanks. Tanker trucks must go over the top, unless the pass is closed.