Steepest/longest roads in US & going down safely
08-21-2007 | 12:38 PM
#31
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
From: Choctaw, OK
In Arizona, Highway 60 thru the Salt River Canyon. Several switchbacks that you have to take at 25mph going down and up.
With an automatic, you do shift down to use engine breaking and you use your brakes sparingly. The rule of one gear lower going down then going up is proven on this road! Depending on truck traffic, you can get stuck in 1st gear going up and down.
With an automatic, you do shift down to use engine breaking and you use your brakes sparingly. The rule of one gear lower going down then going up is proven on this road! Depending on truck traffic, you can get stuck in 1st gear going up and down.
08-21-2007 | 01:17 PM
#32
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 0
From: Battle Creek Michigan
The two best I've seen, for major hwys are the Grapevine and the El Cajon (Interstate from LA to Barstow). Both excellent test beds (going up) for CTD mods. If your truck can run those with no EGT or coolant overheating, you have a great hp setup!
For non public roads.... Been up Mt Washington and up top half of Pikes Peak. Both severe, IMO. Came down both in second (locked up) and.... needed brakes only because of traffic!
RJ
For non public roads.... Been up Mt Washington and up top half of Pikes Peak. Both severe, IMO. Came down both in second (locked up) and.... needed brakes only because of traffic!
RJ
try leaving Barstow and going up to Big Bear
08-21-2007 | 07:18 PM
#33
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,269
Likes: 0
From: Killeen, Tx
I was about to mention this road... i never had the chance to get pushed down this mountain with my trailer behind my duramax but it sure lugged going up!!! and its SCARY to go down in the snow.. when i did that i must have passed by 6-7 cars that had slid just off the road.. good thing for the gaurdrail!!!!!
By the way, all my children were born in Hampton, wife is currently in NN with her mom. Langley's fam camp sucks.
08-21-2007 | 07:26 PM
#34
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,269
Likes: 0
From: Killeen, Tx
In Arizona, Highway 60 thru the Salt River Canyon. Several switchbacks that you have to take at 25mph going down and up.
With an automatic, you do shift down to use engine breaking and you use your brakes sparingly. The rule of one gear lower going down then going up is proven on this road! Depending on truck traffic, you can get stuck in 1st gear going up and down.
With an automatic, you do shift down to use engine breaking and you use your brakes sparingly. The rule of one gear lower going down then going up is proven on this road! Depending on truck traffic, you can get stuck in 1st gear going up and down.
I'd forgotton about that one. I pulled a loaded 36 ft, triple slide Cedar Creek through there on the way to Globe. 3rd gear, EB on, and still used the brakes going down. Never got past 2nd gear going up. I got a big chuckle when I passed a cop who was shooting his radar at the traffic going up-hill. It is a heck of a canyon, kind of like the Grand Canyon with a road to the bottom. I'll go back there someday with the wife so she can see it.
08-21-2007 | 08:38 PM
#36
DTR Founder
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 14
From: Raleigh, NC
I nearly forgot US82 going into Alamogordo, NM. West bound there is a sign that prohibits trucks without Jake brakes from proceeding.
I do not know what the grade percentage is, but I was sure glad I had an exhaust brake that day. The next day my throttle rod broke leaving town on US70.
I do not know what the grade percentage is, but I was sure glad I had an exhaust brake that day. The next day my throttle rod broke leaving town on US70.Another good pass is Independence Pass going into Aspen from the Leadville area. Nasty little road during the Summer, closed during the winter. Beautiful drive though.
08-21-2007 | 08:55 PM
#38
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA currently
thats cool, i wouldn't know about the fam camp... don't even think i know where its at
but i believe ya.. theres a lot of things here that suck.
08-21-2007 | 10:04 PM
#39
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
From: Foothills, NC
On the east coast, Black Mountain on I-40 is steep and long I think 6% 8-10 miles. Another one HY 18 between Wilkes and Spruce Pine 6-8%. 321 north from Lenoir to Boone is a long pull, but it does have a few flat strecthes.
West coast definely has the biggest and baddest hills to travel.
West coast definely has the biggest and baddest hills to travel.
08-22-2007 | 08:15 AM
#40
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 8,234
Likes: 1
From: Texas/Oklahoma Border
However far it is...for a flatlander from east of the Rockies, it impressed me!
Members that have not hauled heavy or towed in the western mountains just can't imagine the added concerns those beautys present to a CTD.... at least I didn't understand many of the comments made in towing threads till I actually faced western climbs and descents !
RJ
08-22-2007 | 01:31 PM
#41
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 251
Likes: 1
From: Louisville, KY
Did anyone mention the "going to the sun road" on the MT. Can. border in Glaciar park?
I thought it was steep and all I had was an in bed camper. I thought the mini van in front of me was going to buy the farm. He had smoke billowing from all 4 corners for the last few miles and actually had to swing out and pass a couple of people on the way down.
Joe
I thought it was steep and all I had was an in bed camper. I thought the mini van in front of me was going to buy the farm. He had smoke billowing from all 4 corners for the last few miles and actually had to swing out and pass a couple of people on the way down.
Joe
08-22-2007 | 06:53 PM
#43
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: Az
I've never seen that kind of calculation done for a grade percentage. I have only seen the one where they take how many feet of elevation drop a road has over 100 linear feet of road distance (e.g., if a road drops 15 feet in elevation over 100 feet, then it is a 15% grade).
As far as Salt River Canyon goes on US60, Take 260 from Pine Top thru Heber to Payson then 87 down to Mesa, Scottsdale, Phx etc.
08-22-2007 | 10:00 PM
#44
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,269
Likes: 0
From: Killeen, Tx
I've never seen that kind of calculation done for a grade percentage. I have only seen the one where they take how many feet of elevation drop a road has over 100 linear feet of road distance (e.g., if a road drops 15 feet in elevation over 100 feet, then it is a 15% grade).
08-23-2007 | 01:26 AM
#45
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: So. Cal. USA
There is a short section of 26% on a section of 108 which is at the Sonora pass. Definitely a road I wouldn't take with my trailer probably not my truck either very narrow with Sharpe and steep turns!
The Sherwin Grade out of Bishop (395) is a pretty good one too, plus you hit Deadman's Summit, Conway Summit, and then Devils Gate Summit if your headed for Reno....
By the way this is from about from 4100+ feet at Bishop to about 8100+ feet which is the Conway Summit..
very narrow with Sharpe and steep turns!The Sherwin Grade out of Bishop (395) is a pretty good one too, plus you hit Deadman's Summit, Conway Summit, and then Devils Gate Summit if your headed for Reno....
By the way this is from about from 4100+ feet at Bishop to about 8100+ feet which is the Conway Summit..