Scribble
Atlanta GA
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Joined: 10/23/2009
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We plan on traveling from Denver Co to Moab UT in mid-November on I 70 West.
We have a Ford - 250 Diesel and will be pulling a 30 Ft 5 Wheel.
We have an exhaust brake. Will there be problems?
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bldrbuck
Boulder, Colorado
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Joined: 02/11/2001
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Good Sam RV Club
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Not unless you hit a snow or ice storm on one of the passes. In general I 70 is kept open year round.November weather is umpridictable.
93 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel, DRW, Crew Cab. PullRite Hitch. 90 Nomad 28' 5er, 375 Watts Solar, 2800 Watt Yamaha Generator, 1750 Watt Inverter, 4 Trogan T105 Batteries, Spare tire and wheel and folding ladder. Me, wife and 2 spoiled Maltise furkids.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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ALL INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS are limited to 6% grades so it should be a breeze. I-70 is a major truck route through the mountains and there are only a FEW curves that are rated lower than 55 MPH and even THOSE are not MUCH below that speed. Weather is ALWAYS something that you should keep an eye on during winter months but you'll just need to get local information at the time you'll be traveling.
Good luck / skip
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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4runnerguy
Glenwood Springs, CO
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skipnchar wrote:ALL INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS are limited to 6% grades so it should be a breeze. I've corrected Skip before on this before. The grades on both the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel and Vail Pass are 7%. But to the OP, there are thousands of units much bigger than yours that make the drive every year. Weather is the main issue, although try to avoid heading west on Friday evenings, or Saturday or Sunday mornings, as ski season has started and even a little snow will get those in the front range itchy to hit the slopes. (I don't understand, everyone wants to get up before there's much coverage, but come spring, there can be nice bases and the slopes are empty  )
Ken & Allison
2 Camping Cats (1 diabetic)
1996 4Runner, TRD Supercharger, Edelbrock headers
2007 Fleetwood Arcadia, Honda EU2000i
4 mountain bikes, 1 canoe, 4 tents, 8 sleeping bags, 2 backpacks
(You get the idea!)
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cm
Dillon, CO USA
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Joined: 08/01/2002
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4runnerguy wrote:skipnchar wrote:ALL INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS are limited to 6% grades so it should be a breeze. I've corrected Skip before on this before. The grades on both the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel and Vail Pass are 7%. But to the OP, there are thousands of units much bigger than yours that make the drive every year. Weather is the main issue, although try to avoid heading west on Friday evenings, or Saturday or Sunday mornings, as ski season has started and even a little snow will get those in the front range itchy to hit the slopes. (I don't understand, everyone wants to get up before there's much coverage, but come spring, there can be nice bases and the slopes are empty )
Besides 4runnerguy I have also posted several times that Skip is mistaken about the limit being 6%. Someone else even posted the actual government guidelines that mentions exemptions. But I guess Skip never reads the information posted after he posts his only partially correct information. CDOT has signs marking the 7% sections.
4runnerguy's information accurate. Use your exhaust brake. Keep your speed under control and you will be fine.
As you exit the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnels and at the top of Vail pass keep your speed down. What happens is there is a flat area for a half mile or so then the road grade gets steeper. Many people see the flat area and speed up then have to try and slow down even more when the road starts going down hill.
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arctodus
Kansas
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Joined: 10/13/2009
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4runnerguy wrote:skipnchar wrote:ALL INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS are limited to 6% grades so it should be a breeze. I've corrected Skip before on this before. The grades on both the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel and Vail Pass are 7%. But to the OP, there are thousands of units much bigger than yours that make the drive every year. Weather is the main issue, although try to avoid heading west on Friday evenings, or Saturday or Sunday mornings, as ski season has started and even a little snow will get those in the front range itchy to hit the slopes. (I don't understand, everyone wants to get up before there's much coverage, but come spring, there can be nice bases and the slopes are empty )
Does the Eisenhower Tunnel allow large semi trucks and large RVs to pass through? I and my wife are planning a trip in the spring to Mohab Utah pulling a 30ft 5er with a F350 diesel 6-speed manual shift. Will this truck have problems pulling up over and down the pass?
2001 F350 single wheel
7.3 Power stroke diesel
6 Speed manual tramission
Club cab
2000 Sprinter 300 by Keystone
30 ft
16 in 10 ply uniroal tires
Heavy duty axle
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cm
Dillon, CO USA
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The only restrictions for the Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnels is for Hasmat trucks. They have to use Loveland Pass. The only exemption is in the winter, usually if there is a major storm, and the Pass has a temporary closure. The Hasmat loads are escorted through the tunnels at the beginning of the hour while the regular traffic is stopped.
On average dozens of semi trucks and RVs use the tunnels every day.
Also the Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnels are not a pass. They go under the Continental Divide. Loveland Pass goes over the Continental Divide. The elevation at the west postals of the tunnels is 11,158 ft. Loveland Pass is 11,990 ft at the top of the pass.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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I was unaware that is was in question in the past but having received a PM questioning the stats, I decided I'd post the source of my information. I didn't WRITE the specs or the web page so I can only ASSUME that is is accurate but it IS from a reliable source.
Here's a link to the Interstate STANDARDS list where my information comes from. the following is a QUOTE from that list
"Maximum grade. Maximum grade is determined by a table, with up to 6% allowed in mountainous areas and hilly urban areas."
Here's the link if anyone is interested in seeing ALL of the standards that apply. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY STANDARDS
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cm
Dillon, CO USA
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skipnchar wrote:I was unaware that is was in question in the past but having received a PM questioning the stats, I decided I'd post the source of my information. I didn't WRITE the specs or the web page so I can only ASSUME that is is accurate but it IS from a reliable source.
Here's a link to the Interstate STANDARDS list where my information comes from. the following is a QUOTE from that list
"Maximum grade. Maximum grade is determined by a table, with up to 6% allowed in mountainous areas and hilly urban areas."
Here's the link if anyone is interested in seeing ALL of the standards that apply. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY STANDARDS
Well Skip then I guess you need to contact CDOT and tell them that I-70 and their signs along the highway and in the tunnel about a 7% grade don't match these standards.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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cm wrote:skipnchar wrote:I was unaware that is was in question in the past but having received a PM questioning the stats, I decided I'd post the source of my information. I didn't WRITE the specs or the web page so I can only ASSUME that is is accurate but it IS from a reliable source.
Here's a link to the Interstate STANDARDS list where my information comes from. the following is a QUOTE from that list
"Maximum grade. Maximum grade is determined by a table, with up to 6% allowed in mountainous areas and hilly urban areas."
Here's the link if anyone is interested in seeing ALL of the standards that apply. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY STANDARDS
Well Skip then I guess you need to contact CDOT and tell them that I-70 and their signs along the highway and in the tunnel about a 7% grade don't match these standards.
Not my job. Signs don't depict the entire picture. If there is ANY length of a given grade the entire grade is often labeled at that gradient. I have no idea about that grade as I haven't measured it and don't really care since there isn't a lot of difference between 6% and 7%. I was just reporting the information as I read it and have NO personal stake in the issue. Maybe someone in the area might want to inquire about it (for some reason that I can't even imagine) but not me 
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