Why don't you go try the pass? Try it first from east (US 395) to west and then you will know whether you like it. I live about 100 miles north of the pass and have been over it. East to west is the easier direction avoiding significant downhills. This is a paved road and it has many curves so getting going too fast is not really an issue. Take your time and follow the advice already presented. The scenery is tremendous!
'05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed airbags overload springs bumpers
'00 Elkhorn 10V w/basement
Yes, the scenery is tremendous. The advice presented is great, especially the not going downhill any faster than you go up. And folks, we really do not have to understand all of the technical engineering stuff about our trucks in order to drive them successfully and safely.
If you have 4WD and the option of manual hubs, just leave the hubs unlocked, shift into Low gear, and crawl down as slow as you like, and probably never need to touch the brakes.
INSAYN wrote: If you have 4WD and the option of manual hubs, just leave the hubs unlocked, shift into Low gear, and crawl down as slow as you like, and probably never need to touch the brakes.
That's an interesting idea. No manual hubs though. This will be a fun weekend up there any way.
I am going to rent a small compact car and camp around the area. I hope to get in some good backcountry skiing as well.
INSAYN wrote: If you have 4WD and the option of manual hubs, just leave the hubs unlocked, shift into Low gear, and crawl down as slow as you like, and probably never need to touch the brakes.
That's the best suggestion yet. I have been a fan of autohubs/push button on the dash (I am lazy at heart) but now that I have the manual hubs, that is a great option for steep downhills (and boat ramps I guess) and I have used it out of curiosity already when I was carrying the 1191 and pulling a heavy trailer and loaded up at a total of about 25,000 GCVW on a really grade near my house. Makes a big difference and is feasible for the speeds that are probably being talked about on this pass. Of course, I also have the 5.13 gear ratio....
We've been over a few times. It is absolutely beautiful. East to west every time. Did it with our f250/bigfoot w/5spd manual.....1st gear I didn't have to touch the brakes, 2nd I would have to a little. Naturally where it was not so steep I'd get into 3-5th. Just to let you know there are areas to camp for free (boondocking) up there....Just pull off in the designated areas.
Late in the evening at the top of Sonora Pass
Out my back door
Still snow on the mountains and some on the ground, check the date!!
Beautiful Mountains
Jim
* This post was
edited 05/15/08 03:50pm by bigfootford *
94 F-250 ex cab,460, E40D tranny,airbags w/pump,bilstein shocks, 2000 Bigfoot 9.6 2500 camper, Progressive Dynamics 9260, Trimetric monitor and an eu2000i honda genny.
Wife and Molly- Ausie,Queensland healer
I think that decending in 2 wheel lo, which I assume INSAYN is talking about, would be way too slow and you would be operating at redline most of the time.
Raften wrote: I think that decending in 2 wheel lo, which I assume INSAYN is talking about, would be way too slow and you would be operating at redline most of the time.
Isn't it generally a 2 to 1 ratio? I think mine is lower than that...but if it is 2:1 and you have a normal top speed of 70 you'd still be able to go the same RPM and be driving 35. That'd be OK....
I was able to go 25mph at 2000RPM with the transfer case in Low and the auto in overdrive. We were in a snowstorm, going down hill, on a narrow road due to the fact the plows could not get the snow up over the 10'-20' wall of snow. It was basically a one lane highway and we had to share the same space with oncoming vehicles. SLOW was required.
Never touched the brakes for 15-20 miles, nor wound out the motor. Actually had to press the "Go" pedal just to keep the RPM's up, and we were towing 4000 lbs!
Offline
