Need Route Advice

[gepaine]

My wife and I are on a 7-week trip from Seattle to Great Basin NP, Zion NP, Capitol Reef NP, Arches NP, Denver, Rocky Mountain NP, Custer State Park, and back home. We are currently in Great Basin.

We are towing a 24-foot Cougar TT (6500 to 7000 pounds loaded) with a 2007 Escalade with 57,000 miles - supposed to be roughly equivalent to a 1/2-ton truck. The Escalade has done the job no sweat for over 7000 miles of towing. For example, it can pull the trailer over Steven's Pass, WA (4000 feet) via a fairly steep eastbound approach at 55 mph and 3300 rpm in 3rd gear.

However, I am now not sure it can handle higher elevation passes. Yesterday, it struggled to get over a 7700 ft summit between Ely and Baker, NV. (Struggled = 38 mph at 4200 rpm in 2nd gear.) It appears the thin air is taking a toll on its performance. I am planning on switching to the highest available octance (91 in Baker) from 88 octane, but I doubt that will make enough difference to get over Eisenhower Tunnel at 11,000+ feet going to Denver.

We are now thinking of bypassing Denver and Rocky Mountain NP (campground at 8000 feet) and going directly to Custer SP from Arches NP.

I am looking for help finding a route from Arches NP to Custer SP that does not exceed 7000 feet nor encounter any really steep grades above 4000 feet.

I have been trying to find (on the internet) lists of mountain pass elevations by state and highway number, but so far the info is coming in bits and pieces rather than comprehensively. So if you know of any good websites, please let me know.

Also, any general thoughts on the problem I have would be welcome too.

Thanks

[hankaye]

gepaine, Howdy;

You are going to have a problem .....
Typically known as the Rocky Mtns.....

Fire up Google Earth, trace the Interstates and look at the info tray
(bottom Center), it will display the approximate altitude.

Good luck with your routing ain't much to choose from. Most of I-15 is 5500'
or higher and that's if you take Sr 21 from Garrison to Beaver ( the loneliest road in Utah),
check your cooliant levels and everything else 80 miles to Milford), and the temps have been
triple diget the past few days down in Utah's 'Dixie' area.

hankaye

[gepaine]

Thanks for the response; however, my internet research indicates the loneliest road is route 50 - not 21.

[hankaye]

gepaine, Howdy;

Originally Posted by gepaine

Thanks for the response; however, my internet research indicates the loneliest road is route 50 - not 21.

Won't argue about the National braggin' rights But 21 is the loneliest road in Utah, that's all I was sayin'. Once you pass through Garrison it's about 76 or so miles to Milford.

Weatherguessers are sayin' Southern Utah is headed for a cool spell (90's),
about Tuesday... maybe...

Stay Safe, have a good vacation.

hankaye

[Ruffus]

Gepaine
If you have confidense in your vehicle then just drive slow. I spent eight years in Colorado pulling a 18 foot fifth wheel with a Ford Ranger pickup (V6, 4.0) and never had a problem. Topped most passes between 35 and 45 MPH in 2nd gear. Even took it to Alaska and back.
Last year in California I pulled some really long grades and passes with my 38 foot 5ver and F250 Diesel and had to keep it under 2500 RPM's to keep the tranney from getting hot. Some passes we were only doing 15 to 20 MPH and I new if I stopped I probably would have a hard time getting it going again but we made those passes with no problems. If your a Good Sam member, they will help you with your routeing. There's nothing worse than traveling the country and worrying about your vehicle or where your going to dump your waste tanks next. Hoping that you have a great trip.

[Woolleylady]

Have been on 21, you're right, it is the loneliest road in America. Only thing I saw the whole way was a dead cow. We were really glad to get to the hustle and bustle of Hwy 50!