Least favorite Interstate grades
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 6
From: Garden Valley, Idaho
The one out of Bullhead City in the summer at 120 is about as much as I want to do again towing my Airstream. I saw alot of pickups on the side of the road, mostly Chebby's, the last time I did that run. No more in the summer, although my '08 pulls the I-25 stuff down Utah with no problem as the Deadman's Pass on I-84 from Oregon to Idaho. Horseshoebend Hill going south to Boise ain't no slouch either.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
The one out of Bullhead City in the summer at 120 is about as much as I want to do again towing my Airstream. I saw alot of pickups on the side of the road, mostly Chebby's, the last time I did that run. No more in the summer, although my '08 pulls the I-25 stuff down Utah with no problem as the Deadman's Pass on I-84 from Oregon to Idaho. Horseshoebend Hill going south to Boise ain't no slouch either.
finally got the chance to wade through the SAE spec.
Grade Launch Requirements
The tow vehicle must be capable of repeatedly moving from rest for a distance of 16 feet on a 12-percent grade in both forward and reverse directions. Five such launches must be accomplished within five minutes in each direction.
this essentially means that any 4x4 will always have a higher tow rating than any 4x2, as the spec does not reference the use or non-use thereof.
maybe that's fair, maybe that isn't ... i guess in the real world a 4x4 always has a potential for more traction and thus will always have an advantage on a grade of that nature.
Highway Gradeability
To merit a particular TWR, a vehicle must be capable of maintaining a minimum cruising speed while climbing the grade at Davis Dam on state roads 68 and 163 in Arizona and Nevada. This 12-mile-long run originating in Bullhead City, Arizona, involves grades that vary between 3- and 7-percent with an average over 5-percent. During this test, the minimum acceptable ambient temperature is 100-degrees F. and AC systems must be operating on the maximum cold setting with no recirculation and the blower at the highest possible setting.
Single rear wheel vehicles must be able to maintain an average of at least 40 mph on this grade. Dual rear wheel vehicles are required to maintain 35 mph or more here. Dual rear wheel vehicles with a GVWR over 13,000 pounds must maintain at least 30 mph.
To pass these hot-ambient-temperature, steep-grade challenges, there can be no vehicle component failures, no warning lamps, and no diagnostic codes alerting the driver. In addition, the tow vehicle cannot lose any engine coolant. The vehicle under test must be equipped with the lowest numerical axle ratio available from the manufacturer.....
Read more: Tow Ratings Finally Pass the Sniff Test - The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) - Automobile Magazine
Grade Launch Requirements
The tow vehicle must be capable of repeatedly moving from rest for a distance of 16 feet on a 12-percent grade in both forward and reverse directions. Five such launches must be accomplished within five minutes in each direction.
this essentially means that any 4x4 will always have a higher tow rating than any 4x2, as the spec does not reference the use or non-use thereof.
maybe that's fair, maybe that isn't ... i guess in the real world a 4x4 always has a potential for more traction and thus will always have an advantage on a grade of that nature.
Highway Gradeability
To merit a particular TWR, a vehicle must be capable of maintaining a minimum cruising speed while climbing the grade at Davis Dam on state roads 68 and 163 in Arizona and Nevada. This 12-mile-long run originating in Bullhead City, Arizona, involves grades that vary between 3- and 7-percent with an average over 5-percent. During this test, the minimum acceptable ambient temperature is 100-degrees F. and AC systems must be operating on the maximum cold setting with no recirculation and the blower at the highest possible setting.
Single rear wheel vehicles must be able to maintain an average of at least 40 mph on this grade. Dual rear wheel vehicles are required to maintain 35 mph or more here. Dual rear wheel vehicles with a GVWR over 13,000 pounds must maintain at least 30 mph.
To pass these hot-ambient-temperature, steep-grade challenges, there can be no vehicle component failures, no warning lamps, and no diagnostic codes alerting the driver. In addition, the tow vehicle cannot lose any engine coolant. The vehicle under test must be equipped with the lowest numerical axle ratio available from the manufacturer.....
Read more: Tow Ratings Finally Pass the Sniff Test - The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) - Automobile Magazine
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 6
From: Garden Valley, Idaho
Yeah, in all my travels, if you haven't done the grade from Bullhead City to Kingman, especially in the summer, then you ain't done the worst. My V-10 passed Cummins and Duramax's and they all thought I had a diesel, but it was just my little old V-10 and Mike's 5 Star.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Prescott, AZ
Oh yeah! I completely forgot about that monster hill from Bullhead, and doing it in the 110 degree heat makes it even a more special experience!!! Last time I pulled it was with a GMC Suburban a 9,000 pound boat, and it was seriously ugly. That one now goes to to top of my lis as the worst one for sure.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 6
From: Garden Valley, Idaho
I probaly went up that hil maybe 20 times, but only towing maybe 6, but no matter if it was in the summer or winter, there were more vehicles on the side of the road than any other hill I've ever driven in 50 years of driving.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 209
I've pulled my toy hauler across just about every grade mentioned in this thread, and have to agree with pappy. Steep, twists, turns, and HOT. We go ATV riding in Golden Valley, and running that road almost makes the trip not worth it.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 656
Likes: 0
From: Binghamton, New York
As a long haul trucker of nearly 20 years I enjoyed reading these posts..
I've been over all those mountain pass'z out west you guy's have listed in an 18 wheeler but never in a pickup (I live out east)...I remember the first time I dropped off the Grapevine back in the mid 90's I thought wow this is a big one !!
I've been over all those mountain pass'z out west you guy's have listed in an 18 wheeler but never in a pickup (I live out east)...I remember the first time I dropped off the Grapevine back in the mid 90's I thought wow this is a big one !!
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 125
Likes: 1
As a long hauler you can appreciate this; late 90's, my first time doing the Grapevine, while north bound and mostly down on the backside in the slow lane 2 UPS doubles went by in the fast lane doing what seemed like the 60s with smoke rolling off their rears. And as I found out later there are or were no jake brakes on them.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 656
Likes: 0
From: Binghamton, New York
As a long hauler you can appreciate this; late 90's, my first time doing the Grapevine, while north bound and mostly down on the backside in the slow lane 2 UPS doubles went by in the fast lane doing what seemed like the 60s with smoke rolling off their rears. And as I found out later there are or were no jake brakes on them.
I had heard if you roll into the scale at the bottom w/smoke showing CHP will ticket you, don't know if its true or not but knowing CHP the way I do I'd dare say yes..
That first trip down the grade I posted about had a similar situation...I was in the slow lane when I heard on the CB "just ride it out your almost to the bottom"..Turns out one of KLLM's finest was way hot on the trailer brakes, he was moving pretty good when he went by me..
As a rule anymore I just stay off the "left coast" I run dedicated LTL to FL and TX out of Scranton, PA....This week is my FL trip, they don't drive well down there either..
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,863
From: Frederick, MD
I saw a tanker coming down I68 in June outside just little old Cumberland Maryland pull over at the bottom of the hill.
All the tires, truck and trailer were all smoking enough I moved over a lane. I though they were going to catch on fire...as I passed by smiling. That would have been ugly if you have ever driven on that elevated interstate through town.
All the tires, truck and trailer were all smoking enough I moved over a lane. I though they were going to catch on fire...as I passed by smiling. That would have been ugly if you have ever driven on that elevated interstate through town.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 656
Likes: 0
From: Binghamton, New York
I saw a tanker coming down I68 in June outside just little old Cumberland Maryland pull over at the bottom of the hill.
All the tires, truck and trailer were all smoking enough I moved over a lane. I though they were going to catch on fire...as I passed by smiling. That would have been ugly if you have ever driven on that elevated interstate through town.
All the tires, truck and trailer were all smoking enough I moved over a lane. I though they were going to catch on fire...as I passed by smiling. That would have been ugly if you have ever driven on that elevated interstate through town.
