Climbing the Million Dollar Highway With a Travel Trailer
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- čas přidán 9. 08. 2016
- Climbing the steep 8% grade out of Ouray, Colorado up the famed "Million Dollar Highway." Tow vehicle is a 2009 Silverado 1500 4.3 V6 with 3.73 rear end. Travel trailer is a 2009 Rockwood Mini Lite 1809 weighing in just a little over 4,200 pounds loaded, including gear in the bed of the truck. Please excuse some of the ridiculous commentary in the background.
- Auta a dopravní prostředky
This drive in the fall is breath taking! The wife and I have been doing for 20 years now. And it never gets old!
Incredible scenery... thanks for posting, safe travels.
I have pulled that with my Dodge 5.9 pulling 12,000 lbs. Pulling uphill is not the scary part, the scary part is coming downhill.
Great video, as I watched this I was waiting for my ears to pop. That 4.3 V-6 is a strong motor. I had one in a 1993 Chevy S-10.
Some beautiful scenery there.
Did this trip in reverse in June of 2019. Tow vehicle is F250 6.7 PowerStroke pulling a 7500lb 31ft travel trailler. My issue was not the climb but the bicycle rally they allowed to happen that day. I must of passed 40 or 50 bikes that morning. No law enforcement, no signage, just bikes strung out from Silverton to Ouray. Water stations set up in most turn outs so this was some kind of a planned event. Why they would issue a permit on a road like this is crazy. Couldn't pull over to wait it out because all the turn outs were filled up with bikes and spectators.
We have some interesting beautiful scary roads in California, this one however is just gorgeous.
I have been to California, but it's been a few years! There is definitely some beautiful country out there! Have to admit that, as a Midwesterner, Colorado always holds a special place in my heart. There's something about the Rockies...
OMG I'm leaning back in my chair just looking at this. Don't think I could drive it! You are brave!
So you drive only in straight line
That honestly could be the case... you ever been to Kansas or Indiana?!
Most beautiful drive in the country.
I got stuck on this highway near silverton in the middle of a winter storm in my Honda civic lol it wasn't funny at the time though still had a blast so beautiful
It definitely isn't a place you want to be in the winter or in bad weather! Glad you made it safely, and the scenery is certainly beautiful, especially in July when we visited!
I have pulled near the weight limits with my Suburbans. Never any fun. Gut wrenching, mentally fatigue to the max. I never enjoyed it and wondered to myself "this is supposed to be a vacation". Now I have a diesel and it is a world of difference. My suggestion; always have more muscle than you will ever need and you can call it a vacation.
Traveling with my girlfriend in chevy van I converted - June 1973 - stopped in Ouray for lunch than headed over the $1M highway 1/3 way up started snowing - pulled over to put on chains - no other traffic on hwy - chains didn't work to well so turned around and headed by to Ouray it was still snowing and we found a hotel room by morning 2 feet of snow on the ground. -this happened to me in July driving out of Lake Tahoe and then in Tulomme Medows in Yosemite in Aug . At the high elevations you have to be prepared for weather conditions.
Indeed! Underestimating the weather in the Rockies is a mistake I have unfortunately seen many people make. Even though it was July, and there was hardly any snow to be seen, I STILL had chains, extra food/water, and other things with me, just in case! You can never be over-prepared when at higher elevations in often remote locations.
We just did that road in late August 2017. Had no idea what this road was about. My GPS took us this way from Cripple Creek, CO to Silverton. We were in a 41' Class A Motor Home towing a 25' enclosed trailer with 3 motorcycles and and a side by side UTV. 66' total length. Although my rig had no problems doing the steep grade I used every inch of the road on some corners to get around them. There was some construction going on as well and it appeared the road fell off in a few spots. This was very scary. Much of this road seemed to slope to the drop off with no barrier at all. This road is not for people with fear of heights.
I have to admit that you are braver than I am! But it goes to show that this road is not as tight or terrifying as it seems. With a little care, and taking it nice and slow, it can be done! I agree that it is not for those with a fear of heights! Congratulations on a safe trip, and safe riding with the bikes!
I pulled a 7500 lb with a 1/2 97 f150 4.6 v8 has the same gut feeling like,” like please baby just a little more.”
Thats a beautiful drive. Done it a couple of times but would NOT recommend anything longer than what you're towing. We leave our 5th at a campground in Durango and then do day trips. Next time, take the Durango/Silverton Train. Cool ride.
I agree that longer trailers could be a serious hazard on the Million Dollar Highway! As seen in the video, there were some other brave souls that took larger and longer rigs up the road, but I'm not sure if I would. We actually did ride the Durango and Silverton while we were out there! Thanks for the suggestion! Be careful out there, and happy camping!
I've lived Durango Pagosa 35 years pulled everything up and down including double towing.. 2 weeks ago 5th wheel toy hauler, truck, 10' trailer w/ 2d sxs to Silverton, then from Silverton to Ouray for the 2d week.... then home. New trucks are amazing with descent control etc. Hardly touch brakes other than traffic back ups and steepest/long descents. Plus they were doing major construction. You get used to it.. semis do it all the time. Its an adventure.
Been on that .
Around those dangerous corners I went 5 miles per hour
Colorado miss be really hard up if they cant put guard rail along million dollar highway I was use to over when I was six years old I'm seventy now!!
I can't believe I did that shit in a blizzard
Having vertigo just watching lol
It amazes me that this road still don't have outside guardrail!!😵
I remember driving the Million Dollar Highway with my family years and years ago, and thinking the same thing. All these years and it hasn't changed a bit! In good weather, it was not a difficult or challenging drive with a little caution, but I certainly wouldn't want to try it in bad weather!
We prefer to vacation in Wyoming because of Roads like this. Wyoming has more tunnels through the Mountains (not all of them ) than Colorado. Been here in Colorado once. That was enough
Check to revolutions , rpm ?
Got through all the hard part's
Thanks, theroamincatholic. May I follow your lead?
I drove that highway with a car, two kids and white knuckles.
What gear were you in most of the time? And what kind of RPMs? Thanks! Good video!
At first I just tried to leave the gear selector in 3, disabling overdrive. The problem was that the truck would shift up to 2nd on the straights, and then back to 1st when I had to slow down for a curve. This can be heard a little bit right at the beginning of the video. To minimize shifting, I locked the truck in first gear for this particular climb, and it did just great. Most other passes, where I could at least do 30-35MPH, the truck would pull 2nd no problem.
@@theroamincatholic Excellent! Thank ou for our help and experience! I have a Tundra with the O.D. disabled and in 1st gear I am actually in a 2nd gear which should do good. Plus I'm going to add anther trans cooler besides the one from the factory. Thanks again!
Sending my support here
Do they have a bark beetle issue there as well like in the california forests?
Yes the bark beetles have killed alot of our trees. As well as another pass called Wolf creek pass alot of dead trees.
try it with an 80000 pound big truck takes forever to get across
I can only imagine what it takes to get across in a big rig! Makes my little travel trailer look like a piece of cake! Thanks for keeping 'em rollin out there!
I followed a local grocery store chain 18 wheeler up Red Mountain pass from Ouray once, the trailer outside tire of the rear dual was actually in space a couple times on an switchbacks. It was unbelievable!
4.3 V6? How the hell did you not blow that engine?
That 4.3 V6, despite its lack of power, is one heck of a strong little engine. It had about 130,000 miles on it when I did this trip, and it performed very well throughout. The 4.3 V6 is essentially a 350 V8 with two cylinders chopped off, so it's durable for what it is, but it's certainly no speed demon. I towed this trailer over 12,000 miles over two years with it, and it never failed me once. The fuel economy was quite poor at around 9-9.5 MPG average for the whole trip, but it performed admirably. I did trade up to a larger trailer this year, a Rockwood Mini Lite 2304, and bought a new 2016 Silverado 1500 with the new Ecotec 4.3 to tow the heavier 2304. I'm very happy with the performance of this combination as well.
You should have just went with the 5.3 then if you upgrraded to a 2016 Silverado 1500. I would have.
victor urbina Well if you would have, it must be the best idea possible.
Commando602 Why would it?
Just curious...what was your tach looking like when the engine was pulling hard? 4-5 k?
I never exceeded 4,000 RPM. Most of the time I was pulling in first or second gear. First gear at 20MPH was right around 4,000 RPM and it pulled very well at that range. Much faster, and the engine got pretty "wheezy" and much below that, I didn't have the horsepower I needed at elevation.
Done it with a 53' trailer
I can only imagine what it's like to drive a semi through this road! I admire the heck out of you guys out there keeping America rolling! Stay safe sir!
@@theroamincatholic 👍👍👍
Took a load of lumber from Montrose to Tucson on a 53' flatbed. Never been so scared and amazed in my life. I'd love to to it again. Just not in a semi.
How many have gone over the side ?
I'm not sure exactly how many have gone over the side, but the local Telluride newspaper said that they reported 412 total accidents occurred on this stretch of road between 2005 and 2015. Not that bad, considering the road conditions!
Two notes to self:
1. Don't buy used truck in Colorado
2. Don't drive that road...
Put up GUARD RAILS!!!
Lisa Sampson it’s a Colorado thing lol, mt Evans is the same terrifying way!!!
I hear them say they can't because they couldn't plow the snow over the cliff in the winter? why not just use a snowblower? they have very large commercial ones. blow the snow OVER the guardrail. I am from utah, and I don't think there is anyway they would have a main highway like this without guard rails most if not all the way.
Extremely scary .😰😳
How long is your trailer?
Trailer was a 2009 Rockwood Mini Lite 1809 that measures 20 feet four inches tongue to bumper. I added dual GC2 batteries to the tongue and had the water tank completely full during this stretch. The trailer was scaled before leaving for the trip at 4160 pounds loaded, and I had around 600 pounds of gear in the truck.
theroamincatholic Thanks for your reply. I have a 19 foot trailer that I pull with a Ford Exposition extra long with twin turbo. Those curves and inclines looked kind of scary. Not thinking I want to try that road when I get out west. It is gorgeous scenery, though.
It's really not bad if you have some experience pulling a trailer. Just take it slow. The speed limit is only 25 on most of the road, so you generally don't have others trying to push you up the hill. It is a once in a lifetime drive, so if you can make it out there, I certainly would. Even if you have to leave the trailer at a home base somewhere and drive the road with just the tow vehicle.
Engine screaming, exhaust manifolds red hot and transmission fluid boiling !!!
I used a Scangauge II to monitor my temperatures. I was using a large auxiliary transmission cooler that I installed myself, in front of the radiator and electric fans. My transmission temperature peaked at 219 degrees fahrenheit at the top of the grade, much lower than the recommended Chevrolet maximum. Though it certainly wasn't going to win any races, the 4.3 V6 is a very durable little engine, and when properly cared for, it can take lots of abuse and keep on running beautifully. A tip for mountain driving: Once you get to the top of a long grade such as this, don't shut the engine off immediately. That gives the exhaust manifold, exhaust, and catalytic converters time to cool, so that they don't crack as easily. Any other questions for me, please let me know! Thanks for watching!
120 rain You know all that for sure from watching a CZcams video, huh?
Your engine is screaming very bad.. maybe your trailer is too heavy.
It sounds worse than it was on the video. The truck was definitely working hard, and was very close to its rated towing capacity. It handled the weight fine, and I had no major mechanical maladies as as a result of the trip. I definitely wasn't winning any races, however! Thanks for watching!!
poor truck lol
It handled it very well, all things considered. I had a few inches of pedal travel left, but if I tried going faster, my engine oil temp would shoot up quickly.
You need horsepower to climb the hill
Ok.