Planning trip west thru Colorado @ 11,000' & 7+% grade

[Outlaw Bill]

Planning a trip to attend a wedding near Grand Junction, CO originating in Ohio. Using RV Trip Wizard elevations show we'd be peaking at 11,000' and travelling a good distance at over a 7+% grade. We have a 2023 Outlaw 38MB toyhauler. Has anyone travelled out that way? We've travelled south on I-75 to FL and struggled on some of the grades in TN and that wasn't over a long distance. Not sure if our toyhauler could make it. The other concern is if we could make it, would the brakes hold up on the 7+% grade on the way back down.

 

[16ACE27]

Use your gears and go the same speed down as you went up. When you use the brakes (4 wheel disc BTW) use them hard like you're coming to a complete stop, do not ride them or barely use them.

There lotsa discussion here on V10 MHs going through the passes.

 

[Outlaw Bill]

Thanks I will check that out. New to the forums. BTW we have V8.

 

[ducksface]

Six speed in tow haul mode will hold any speed you like going downhill without using the brakes.

I did that trip a few months ago.
It wasn't a thing.

 

[16ACE27]

Thanks I will check that out. New to the forums. BTW we have V8.

Yeah, I shoulda known that with a 2023. But that makes you better off and the downhill principles remain the same.

 

[dkoldman]

It may not be right, but I drive with my Tow Haul on all the time.

Been to Colorado and I think highest I climbed was about 8200 feet. Not an issue at all, except maybe looking over at the side worry about what if I run off the road.

I will say that I was once in Arkansas and GPS navigation had me make a turn on a city street that may have had a 20% grade. Not a high elevation but the grade was very steep, the F-53 struggled to pull and by the time I reach the crest; I was only doing 5 mph and had the pedal to the floor, I thought I was going to start rolling backwards. My RV890 Garmin gave me no warning, said nothing. Still waiting on it to at least one time give me some advice because I am driving a 18,000# RV.

For FWIW, I returned the same way and it was easy downhill. I did not have to ride the brakes, it was braking by itself, but I had my foot ready as extra insurance.

 

[lwmcguire]

Improper braking downhill is the most common mistake. Going up stay with the trucks if you can. We have gone over the passes long before they were 4 lane and with many different rigs. On our 460's years ago you could watch the gas gauge drop as you climbed. Modern transmissions make it so much easier.

 

[Outlaw Bill]

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Dave Randolph]

My sister used to live in GJ. We'll be passing through along I70 to Boise in late April in my 2015 Axis 24.1

 

[The Gritz Carlton]

We did two 6,000+mile trips out west in 2023 and again in 2024. I used cruise control most of the time. If it's engaged and your coach tries to runaway downhill, the engine will break it back and hold it on the set speed. I saw every make and model RV ten time over all throughout our trip on every grade possible.

 

[MLP-THOR]

Did that in a Class C before my wife had problems with her lungs. Small Class C with a tow dolly. With the added weight I did have to press hard on the brakes several times, but it wasn't anything to worry about. Just slowed down 5mph less then usual and repeated when the speed exceeded 5mph over. Without that car on the dolly, I don't think I would ever had needed to touch the breaks.

 

[ArmstrongRV]

Planning a trip to attend a wedding near Grand Junction, CO originating in Ohio. Using RV Trip Wizard elevations show we'd be peaking at 11,000' and travelling a good distance at over a 7+% grade. We have a 2023 Outlaw 38MB toyhauler. Has anyone travelled out that way? We've travelled south on I-75 to FL and struggled on some of the grades in TN and that wasn't over a long distance. Not sure if our toyhauler could make it. The other concern is if we could make it, would the brakes hold up on the 7+% grade on the way back down.

We made a trip over the 11,000-foot Rockies in September. We have a Chateau 27R on the Ford E450 chassis towing a Ford Fusion. We had no problem on the uphill and the combination of brakes and downshifting on the down grade was no problem.

 

[PreCambrian]

Between Colorado Springs and Breckenridge on Route 9, we went over 10,500' with our Ford E350 V8 chassis and never had a problem. You can use the tow/haul button (I rarely use mine because I don't tow/haul but it does slow you down). I use the manual shift feature going downhill (and sometimes uphill if I don't want the transmission to upshift) by putting the transmission in "M" and then using the shift (+/-) to choose the correct gear to brake to the speed that I want. Just don't be going down a steep grade at 70 and shift into 3, brake to the speed that you want and then manually shift to the gear that holds you to your desired speed. You can also use the cruise control as others have suggested. I have done that but I prefer to manually shift the gears.

 

[Peter J 5]

Planning a trip to attend a wedding near Grand Junction, CO originating in Ohio. Using RV Trip Wizard elevations show we'd be peaking at 11,000' and travelling a good distance at over a 7+% grade. We have a 2023 Outlaw 38MB toyhauler. Has anyone travelled out that way? We've travelled south on I-75 to FL and struggled on some of the grades in TN and that wasn't over a long distance. Not sure if our toyhauler could make it. The other concern is if we could make it, would the brakes hold up on the 7+% grade on the way back down.

Did a couple of step grade trips traveling from Denver to messa verde, then on the way from Arches to Denver.
Yikes driving routes.
We have a 2022 24’ Thor magnitude ga22, hauling a jeep grand Cherokee. ~15-16,000 lbs.
The first route to messa verde I tried a few things, but with 2 miles to go on the steep grades my front brakes started heating up. We pulled off for ~45 min and let them cool off before proceeding.
Over the next days out through Utah I found a combination that worked for our rig. Heading down steep grades I set cruise control for 45 mph, as the speed increased to about 58 I’d pump the brakes and resumed cruise control to 45 and repeat until we were through the steep grades.
Upon returning to Denver I did the same thing and although some drivers gave us a few honks, we got through it with out the brakes heating up.
Lesson learned for me was getting to know my rig and how to help it through these tricky routes.

 

[Lt Keefer]

Just use the tow/haul feature and all will be fine. Tow/haul improves transmission operation when towing a trailer or a heavy load. In a motor home we are always carrying a heavy load. I have driven from Central Texas to Missoula, Montana and back and my Hurricane had no problems with any interstate grade. Between the tow/haul and cruise control it was easy for this flat lander.

 

[2022 Windsport 34J 30263]

I’ve found that in Tow/Haul when going down a good long grade if you use the brakes the transmission will downshift to help slow the rig and the engine screaming at us at 4600 RPM was a bit unnerving. So I don’t use Tow/Haul now and just apply steady brakes to slow then release. Seems to work fine. However, I’ve not yet been out west - just the Smokies in NC/VA/GA…. I also installed noise insulation under the doghouse to help with the engine noise. Going to put more noise insulation on the floor under the front seats….

 

[16ACE27]

I’ve found that in Tow/Haul when going down a good long grade if you use the brakes the transmission will downshift to help slow the rig and the engine screaming at us at 4600 RPM was a bit unnerving. So I don’t use Tow/Haul now and just apply steady brakes to slow then release. Seems to work fine. However, I’ve not yet been out west - just the Smokies in NC/VA/GA…. I also installed noise insulation under the doghouse to help with the engine noise. Going to put more noise insulation on the floor under the front seats….

That's a recipe for a trip off the runaway ramp.

4600 RPM is fine. If too much, hit the brakes HARD to slow below your requited speed.

 

[rudyhehn]

We did this trip, but we have a diesel class A. Yes, it takes longer to climb and descend but we had no trouble. As others have said, when descending use engine compression to brake and use the brakes only when needed. We descend no faster than the speed to climb, and if in doubt we keep it slow. If the route flattens, look ahead for more grade before you accelerate.

 

[469]

Six speed in tow haul mode will hold any speed you like going downhill without using the brakes.

I did that trip a few months ago.
It wasn't a thing.

I found out the hard way when towing a tri-axle trailer with surge brakes down a steep grade in WV, using the tow haul mode was definitely a thing.

 

[flbill]

Did that trip in our 2018 ACE F53 just over a year ago. Tow/Haul and hit the brakes (don't pump like a car).
Hitting (jabbing) the brakes will slow you down AND downshift the transmission if needed. As others have said - make it to the top and then go the same speed going down. Nice and easy. We went all the way thru Colorado, and later RT 80 thru Reno and down to Napa (doing reverse in a month). No issues at all. You'll get used to it.
We would start at 65 and as we got up the hill we'd be about 35, and stayed that speed going down. Then when able, pick up speed again.

The one thing I learned to do - and maybe not correctly - is when getting to the bottom of the hill, the transmission would sometimes not release. If I felt it was safe (the speed, curves, etc) I'd hit the tow/haul button and turn it off. The trans would change gear and become "normal". Then I'd turn tow/haul back on.

In my F53, the computer learns how you drive and will (I am told) not let the engine go outside its specs.

I made the mistake one early trip to Pigeon Forge of riding and pumping the brakes "like a car". We made it safely to the KOA, but as we stopped - we and the people there - all smelled how bad the brakes had smoked. Never want to repeat that.