gepaine
06-02-2012, 12:48 PM
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
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