NC Hauler
Asheville NC
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Alright, I know this is purely subjective, but I found it interesting none the less. In the December 09' issue of "Diesel Power"
they had an article entitled, "The 10 toughest tows in America". I read the list and agreed with two of them being tough, but possibly like some of you, after reading the magazines top 10 picks, I could think of several that were tougher than the ones "I" could relate to.
I'm listing them in order from #10 to #1..Thought you might enjoy it.
Mr. Mod, if this topic doesn't belong here, put it wherever you like.
#10. Black Mountain, NC...I agree with this, I've towed it more times than I care to count, BUT, I think Saluta Grade on I26 is just as tough, maybe tougher. I also think the section of I26 from the bottom of the mountain from TN into NC is worse and to add just one more, the I64 grade from Sandstone Falls WV to where I64 merges with I77 outside of Beckley can be a killer on some TV's.
#9. Monteagle Grade,Southeast TN, I26, yep, been there done this one also many a time, it's a steep one, but again, the several I mentioned above that didn't make the list, "in my opinon" are worse.
#8.The Grapevine, I5 in Southern Cal.
#7.Emigrant Hill, ( Cabbage Hill or Deadman Pass), I84, Oregoon
#6. Union Pass, Arizona
#5. Vail Pass, Colorado
#4. Siskiyou Summit, I5, Oregon
#3.Wolf Creek Pass, Southeastern Colorado
#2.Loveland Pass, US6 , Colorado
and, for Diesel Powers #1 selection for Americas worse tow, it..
#1. Antigun Pass, Northern Alaska,
There you have it, again, strickly subjective from the viewpoint of "Diesel Power" Magazine..again, the area's that I've towed and am familiar with, I can think of a half dozen, maybe more places in WV, TN, NC, SC and VA that are worse, so I would imagine that those of you who are familiar with some of the others can agree with some of the above and may think of other sections of roadway that are "just as bad", if not "worse" to tow here in these United States..Anyway, thought it was an intersting article and thought I'd share it with you..
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wild bill
Mira Loma, Ca. USA
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I would think that Needles grade westbound on I40 would be pretty tough in the Summer when it is 100 plus outside.
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PUCampin
Castaic, California, USA
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Very subjective of course, but fun 
I agree with the I5 grapevine. Not just an up and over, but up down up down meandering through the hills.
Sticking to major highway/interstate grades, I also suggest the following,
The Baker grade on I15 leaving Baker CA on the way to Vegas. In the summer Baker can easily be 115F, this grade has claimed many ill prepared cars.
The Sherwin grade out of Bishop CA on CA 395 on the way to Mammoth. It is fairly long and steep, and for gassers the high elevation robs power.
CA 120 From Lee Vining to Tioga summit. Long 8% at elevation, uuggghh!!
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targaboat
sulphur springs, tx, usa
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What makes the grades in the east so tough?
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NC Hauler
Asheville NC
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In the mountains that I've towed in, the grades are long, and curvy. Hard to build up speed going up them, hard to slow down, going down them. Grades, for some reason can be 7-8% and sometimes steeper, some of those, like I 26 coming from TN into NC, are very long, steep and cuvey. What I described are the interstates. There are some secondary roads that some will not even tow a longer 5er on. TOO curvy and steep, Cliffs jutting out so close to the edge of the road that if you make a wrong move,you feel you'll cut your TT or 5er open on them. I know that the mountains in the east can't compare to the mountains in the midwest to points on out, it's just that you don't have a lot of straight streaches and it can get hot here also, upper 90's and with the humidity at times matching the temp, it's hard to cool down an engine when pulling some of these mountains. Hoped that helped you understand to some extent.
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glazier
Kentucky
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NC Hauler wrote:In the mountains that I've towed in, the grades are long, and curvy. Hard to build up speed going up them, hard to slow down, going down them. Grades, for some reason can be 7-8% and sometimes steeper, some of those, like I 26 coming from TN into NC, are very long, steep and cuvey. What I described are the interstates. There are some secondary roads that some will not even tow a longer 5er on. TOO curvy and steep, Cliffs jutting out so close to the edge of the road that if you make a wrong move,you feel you'll cut your TT or 5er open on them. I know that the mountains in the east can't compare to the mountains in the midwest to points on out, it's just that you don't have a lot of straight streaches and it can get hot here also, upper 90's and with the humidity at times matching the temp, it's hard to cool down an engine when pulling some of these mountains. Hoped that helped you understand to some extent.
I think you answered that question very good
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Dave H M
IL
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Wow, I always thought the big grades would be in the rockies. Guess I done a few crossing the smokies and that Saluda grade many times.
I kinda judge the grades by the number of burned spots on the shoulder and the long trails of oil leading to the big puddles on the side of the road.
Knock on wood , I let the motor howl, keep the foot off the floor, and let the big boys blow by me. The ole 99 psd is just chomping at the bit to hit the smokeis again this winter.
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Lobo2
Georgia
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Joined: 06/15/2009
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Maybe they should list Pike's Peak if they want to test their diesels out. No camping sites up there if they make it but they could brag a little about their engine if it made it and then brag a lot about their brakes if they made it back down. Very scenic ride too.
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Bionic Man
Colorado
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Interesting. IMO, Vail Pass is one of the easier ones in Colorado.
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blt2ski
Kirkland, Wa
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I would think, and hope that in that article, there was a base requirement as to how they went about choosing the grade. IE length, twists and curves, steepness, bottom and top and down again elevation to name a few issues that could come up.
Having been up a couple of those routes, some not too bad, sometimes not bad. I find the Vantage grade west bound from vantage to ellensburg to be worst than cabbage pass, and Vantage to be worst than when I went over the Siskou's, altho combine the siskou's with the three little sttep short things north of there, not fun!
Again, nice list, but I am sure some of us would put other pass's ahead of some, some behind.........
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