bmzero Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Yesterday, we made the trip from Moab, UT to Vernal, UT. To get there, we travelled through Douglas Pass in Colorado. With an elevation of 8,268', it was a true test of nerves, torque, the hitch, truck and trailer brakes and the engine brake. Despite me driving on full alert mode for about an hour and half, the views were outstanding. This was definitely the most breathtaking drive of the trip. I was glad to have the D16 on this leg of the trip. I would highly recommend this road to anyone traveling near Dinosaur, CO, but be prepared for a few pucker moments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Pass Here are some photos. "Willy Mammoth" - Volvo 730, Sold Heartland Cyclone 4000 Toy HaulerT-Minus 26 years and counting to being a full timer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 What, no traffic?! 2012 F350 KR CC DRW w/ some stuff 2019 Arctic Fox 32-5MCindy and Tom, Kasey and Maggie (our Newfie and Berner) Oh...I forgot the five kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmzero Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 What, no traffic?! There was a little traffic, but not much. I try not to take photos with other vehicles in them if I can help it. "Willy Mammoth" - Volvo 730, Sold Heartland Cyclone 4000 Toy HaulerT-Minus 26 years and counting to being a full timer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Gorgeous pics. I long for the day when we'll be able to travel out West on a more regular basis. 2012 F350 KR CC DRW w/ some stuff 2019 Arctic Fox 32-5MCindy and Tom, Kasey and Maggie (our Newfie and Berner) Oh...I forgot the five kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maveric Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Love this area. Have lived here for 30+ years. If you were to head east from Dinosaur, the mountains are awesome in that direction. Chris & Tonya '99 Freightliner FLD120, '01 Wabash Toyhauler (32' garage, 20' LQ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dollytrolley Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Yesterday, we made the trip from Moab, UT to Vernal, UT. To get there, we travelled through Douglas Pass in Colorado. With an elevation of 8,268', it was a true test of nerves, torque, the hitch, truck and trailer brakes and the engine brake. Despite me driving on full alert mode for about an hour and half, the views were outstanding. This was definitely the most breathtaking drive of the trip. I was glad to have the D16 on this leg of the trip. I would highly recommend this road to anyone traveling near Dinosaur, CO, but be prepared for a few pucker moments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Pass Here are some photos. Zero, That first image looks just like one of our properties in the high country in Oregon .........except........our buildings are not that ........"modern". OK, now fess-up.........being a old racer I'd bet you drifted around the corner in the second image at least......... 16 MPH.......... Drive on...........(stay on the right side of the ........guard-rail) 97 Freightshaker Century Cummins M11-370 / 1350 /10 spd / 3:08 /tandem/ 20ft Garage/ 30 ft Curtis Dune toybox with a removable horse-haul-module to transport Dolly-The-Painthorse to horse camps and trail heads all over the Western U S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgiaHybrid Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Dollytrolly, He is still young enough that the old adage, "You have old racers and bold racers but you don't have old, bold racers" doesn't apply. I bet he went around that corner running at least 18mph. 2017 Kenworth T6802015 DRV 38RSSA Elite Suites2016 Smart Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERO Maker Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Dolly, it should be "stay on the correct side of the guard rail"! Everything is mistaken these days. Rocky & Sheri Rhoades '01 Volvo 770 2016 DRV Mobile Suites, HoustonHERO Makers Ministry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmzero Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Ha ha. One thing I learned early on is that 70'+ at almost 50k lbs. deserves constant attention and respect. If there was any drifting, it was completely unintentional. "Willy Mammoth" - Volvo 730, Sold Heartland Cyclone 4000 Toy HaulerT-Minus 26 years and counting to being a full timer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinbad5024 Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 That is one of the best things about living in Colorado, we get to see sights like that frequently. I have traveled that highway a few times, and yes, it does require some respect. A few load speed switch backs, some tight two lane road in areas but the view in some places looks like it did back in the old west. Glad you enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who plans on traveling through that area to stop and enjoy the view. 2007 Volvo VNL 780 "Vlad" 2008 Dutchmen Grand Junction 34QRL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Please tell us that the kids were watching what was outside and not the TV in the back... Those guard rails looked awful clean, either nobody knows about that ride, or the body count is too high (think Tall of the Dragon). Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmzero Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Please tell us that the kids were watching what was outside and not the TV in the back... Absolutely. We have kept the TV off through all of the good stuff. That was the #1 goal of this trip; to expose them to parts of the country they had not seen yet. Mission accomplished. Those guard rails looked awful clean, either nobody knows about that ride, or the body count is too high (think Tall of the Dragon). #9 on Colorado's most dangerous roads - http://www.outtherecolorado.com/the-10-most-challenging-drives-in-colorado/ "Willy Mammoth" - Volvo 730, Sold Heartland Cyclone 4000 Toy HaulerT-Minus 26 years and counting to being a full timer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Few Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Yesterday, we made the trip from Moab, UT to Vernal, UT. To get there, we travelled through Douglas Pass in Colorado. With an elevation of 8,268', it was a true test of nerves, torque, the hitch, truck and trailer brakes and the engine brake. Despite me driving on full alert mode for about an hour and half, the views were outstanding. This was definitely the most breathtaking drive of the trip. I was glad to have the D16 on this leg of the trip. I would highly recommend this road to anyone traveling near Dinosaur, CO, but be prepared for a few pucker moments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Pass Here are some photos. DUDE, You have some " BIG HORNS" to drive that big rig through those tight and High elevated roads.. Either you have the nerves of a bear, or the "Marine Corps" taught you well!! Nevertheless, very impressive sir!! ( I'm currently at MCB Camp Lejeune N.C) thank you, The Few Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dollytrolley Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Dolly, it should be "stay on the correct side of the guard rail"! Everything is mistaken these days. Hero, You sure hit-tha-geezer-"correctly"-on-tha-head with your "correction". Funny guard-rail-story (or actually NO-guard-rail.....story)......way out Past the Middle-of-nowhere in the Southwest corner of Oregon is highway 140. Lakeview OR is on the west end of the highway 140 and Winnemucca,NV is about 200 miles to the East end of Hyw 140 only a few folks on large ranches live in the 200 miles and a lot of antelope and wild horses. Much of Hyw 140 is steep and curvey with two very large shear 1,000 foot cliffs that the highway snakes down with grades of 8% to 11% and not ONE INCH of guard rail on both of the cliff grades. The locals.....(ranchers mostly) wanted the road paved the state said the paving would be within budget but the massive amounts of guard rails need would cost way too much..........one old grizzled rancher said ......."oh heck just post a sign at each of the grade at each of the cliffs that says.......Caution 1,000 foot drop-off with NO shoulder or guard-rail"........you know what when folks break over the edge of the grade and peer out over a 1,000 foot shear cliff a few feet from their front wheel........everyone is VERY careful!! While the cliffs are shear they do curve in and out so the entire roadway down the cliff is back to back curves with 15 to 25MPH limits and few folks seem to want to exceed the limits. Some of Dolly-the-paint-horse best trails are near Hyw 140 so the Dollytrolley knows the road very well.......when we descend the cliffs I just drop into 3 rd gear and then toggle the Jake from high going into the curves and low Jake out of the curves sorta the Phantom-of-the-ophra playing the organ.......almost never touch the service brakes. In the dead of winter we have made the entire trip and never met a vehicle some days. Drive on..........(what guard........rails???) 97 Freightshaker Century Cummins M11-370 / 1350 /10 spd / 3:08 /tandem/ 20ft Garage/ 30 ft Curtis Dune toybox with a removable horse-haul-module to transport Dolly-The-Painthorse to horse camps and trail heads all over the Western U S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmzero Posted July 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 DUDE, You have some " BIG HORNS" to drive that big rig through those tight and High elevated roads.. Either you have the nerves of a bear, or the "Marine Corps" taught you well!! Nevertheless, very impressive sir!! ( I'm currently at MCB Camp Lejeune N.C) thank you, Ha ha. Definitely tense moments. Enjoy the humidity at Lejeune. "Willy Mammoth" - Volvo 730, Sold Heartland Cyclone 4000 Toy HaulerT-Minus 26 years and counting to being a full timer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPL Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Brit What great pictures of country that we will see again. Haven't been on that tour route yet but hope to make one trip at least.out there with the 5er (when its fixed). I don't think Shirley will let me make some of those places you have been but maybe she will let me get close. The last time we were out there I was in a 150 Ford and she spent a lot of time in my lap when she would look over the edge and see nothing but the bottom! But we still got to see some pretty country. Have a great trip but most of all stay safe!!! Pat The Old Sailor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyretired Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Nice pictures and that is a pretty pass. Our home is in Western Colorado and we have been over that pass a number of times. In fact we drove that pulling a 5er and a boat with PU. Sure is easier and safer with an HDT. Randy 2001 Volvo VNL 42 Cummins ISX Autoshift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jemstone Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 A lot of Colorado mountain roads don't have guard rails. In the Rockies, when the road is hugging a cliff with a drop off on the outer side, a guard rail would prevent snow removal during winter storms. The other benefit is that, when one slides off the road due to the lack of guard rail, the side of the truck will not be dinged up prior to its descent. John McLaughlin 2010 Volvo 730, D13, I-shift, singled and decked 2014 Lifestyle 38' Fifth Wheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Kildow Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 Ran that in 1995, 2 times with 53ft dry van. Grossing 79250 with a 260" Wheelbase Condo Semi. It was I thought the first trip a drive of a lifetime. Second time I know it was. And its on our list to visit in 3 years. And the views are out of this world on that road. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogo88 Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Jemstone; Can you give me a means of contacting you? Nothing earth shattering...just a comment about your signature. There is probably somewhere on the site that enables this, but I am dumber than a twelve year old when it comes to computers, and could not find it. rogo@myfairpoint.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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