Normph
West Hills, Ca, USA
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Joined: 11/15/2003
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We are traveling from Los Angeles to Indiana. On a previous trip we took I-40 thru the west. For the upcommming trip, we are considering
I-15 to Salt Lake City and then east on I-70. Our coach is a 36' pusher (plus toad). My concern involves the mountain grades in Colorado. Any comments will be greatly appreciated.
Norm FNorm F
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Doug and Cassi Glass
Clifton Forge, VA
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I-70 cuts off north of Beaver and is a gorgeous drive. Watch your fuel as it is pretty remote. The grades, though long and high are certainly doable. Just watch your downhill speed.
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Mandalay Parr
Phoenix, AZ
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Piece of cake. No problems. I have done it a number of times.
Jerry Parr
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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There is one stretch of I-70 that exceeds the 6% grade standard for ALL interstate highways. Other than that stretch, near the tunnel, the Interstate grades in Colorado are no steeper than found in most other states. They may SEEM steeper for normally aspirated engines though, due to the altitude. The scenery along I-70 makes it all worth the slightly steeper climb for just a few miles.
Good luck / Skip
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SKIPCAROL
COSBY,TN
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We made it no problems even with a gasser. We did however disconnect the toad for that long stretch before the tunnel, to be on the safe side. At the highest altitude we were all gasping for air!
Carol, Skip & Buddy the Mutt
2005 Four Winds Hurricane 32R
2008 Chevy HHR Toad
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wagonmaster2
northcentral oklahoma
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Also depends on how well you handle big city traffic. Denver traffic was bad enough 30 years ago when we were driving from Oklahoma to go skiing and had to travel through the Denver mousetrap ( I-70 & I-25 intersection) but now it is really horrific. We used to visit Rocky Mountain National Park at Estes Park a couple times a year but Denver and I-25 north traffic got so bad we stopped going. We always saw at least one accident going north/south on I-25 between Denver & Loveland.
If you handle big city traffic well, go for it. As has been stated the scenery can't be beat going by Vail and through the Eisenhower Tunnel.
Wagonmaster2
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Sluggo54
Madison, SD/Livermore, CO
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The only time 70 in CO has been a problem has been a couple of times when it snowed on us. Once in July, once in August...
Wagonmaster, as you are coming from Oklahoma, just take CO 71 N out of Limon to Ft Morgan, W on I-76 & US 36 to Loveland. Piece of cake, little traffic, no tolls.
Sluggo
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Sluggo54 wrote:The only time 70 in CO has been a problem has been a couple of times when it snowed on us. Once in July, once in August...
Wagonmaster, as you are coming from Oklahoma, just take CO 71 N out of Limon to Ft Morgan, W on I-76 & US 36 to Loveland. Piece of cake, little traffic, no tolls.
Sluggo
X2. That has always been our route of choice to reach ANY destination in Northern Colorado. If you've heading for the Southern part of the state take 24 out of Limon and go through colorado Springs also. I like Denver but don't like driving in it.
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txdutt
Parker CO
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Joined: 11/13/2005
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Normph wrote:We are traveling from Los Angeles to Indiana. On a previous trip we took I-40 thru the west. For the upcommming trip, we are considering
I-15 to Salt Lake City and then east on I-70. Our coach is a 36' pusher (plus toad). My concern involves the mountain grades in Colorado. Any comments will be greatly appreciated.
watch your temp guage on the grades, use your grade brake if your rig has it..suggest avoiding it on the weekend unless you're coming thru real early or real late..
2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT 4x4
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RCMAN46
NorthWest
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If you are going to Salt Lake city and do not need to go to Denver I would recommend taking I80 east from Salt Lake city through Wyoming.
We need more information of cities that you need to go to on your way East.
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