Summer Trip to Colorado, Can I pull Casita in the Mtns with my Tow Vehicle? Options

[snowman0157]

What can I expect? Suggested routes? Go/no go opinions. Planning a trip to Colorado this July from Texas.. Pulling 17' SD with Chevy Tahoe 4.8 V8 (the small V8). I have "tow mode" and added transmission cooler on the Tahoe. I don't know about gear ratios.... Planning to go from Colorado Springs to Mueller State Park first. Been there and done that before; no problem. Then I want to go to Gunnison area (any Steep hurdles on getting there?), then (you know whats coming right?), over to Montrose then South on US 550 to Durango..... This is Red Mtn. Pass and others, right? Is this advisable with my Tow Vehicle and Trailer? I drove it in the 70's in a Ford Pinto and I thought I would have to push the car several times....Feedback appreciated.. Especially from anyone that has done it with trailer. This forum rocks. Thanks in advance.

[DesertHawk]

James, I have gone between Carrizozo to Roswell a few times (Carrizozo to Lincoln with a 22' C-Class MH) but never notice anything excessively steep. I am assuming it was the pull from Carrizozo towards Lincoln or if not from out of Roswell up towards San Patricio. Both could be described as awesome I agree. For an excessively steep drive, one would have to go up to WY US 14-A. We did the downward drive on US 14A after the split off of US 14 from Ranchchester, WY heading down hill to Lovell, pulling a 1983 20' Komfort Lite Travel Trailer with a '83 Ford F250 4 speed manuel with granny gear. I had to hold granny in gear and ask my wife to manually apply the trailer brakes now and then. They had a sign warning of the steep down grade, I should have taken the fork to Shell/Greybull. Most of the route was neat, all very pretty execpt for the 14 miles with 10% grade and sharp curves which I am sure was also pretty but I was to occupied to really notice the scenery.
http://www.rockymountainroads.com/us-014alt_wy.html
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/3-us-14a...nhill/783264578
2. New Mexico SR 159 off US 180 might be a bugger with a trailer (I have only done it with a pickup & campershell). It is mainly a one lane road for several miles as one travels to the ghost town of Mogollon. It was a fun drive for me 30 plus years ago. A neat drive one I just may do someday with the Scamp.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogollon%2C_New_Mexico
http://rozylowicz.com/retirement/mogollon/mogollon.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL8_jweu39Y&NR=1

3. The drive down from Cloudcroft, NM in a light snow shower in the pickup & campershell combo was a little harry one dark early evening 30 plus years ago, one of my first drives in snow being from South Texas. It was wanting to slip and slide when I would want to slow down. I did this drive many times, you want to have strong breaks, down gear as much as possible. A neat drive, one we did the first year we got the Scamp, the Ranger pulled it very well both up and down. Plan on going again, next year. I had planned on going this fall but never worked out.

4. The drive out of the Eagle Nest, NM area with a tour bus barreling down on US 64 from Taos meeting you on one of the hair pen curves and almost taking off your mirror on the drivers side. Or the drive (from the Silver City, NM area) on New Mexico SR 152 between San Lorenzo and Kingston (on either side of Emory Pass) could prove to be exciting with a trailer or even without.

5. Some might find the drive on US 6/89 down from Thistle to Spanish Fork and US 191 between Vernal to Dutch John in Utah to be white knuckled affairs. (I believe I have the Thistle one right, it was a alpine grade road, the one I am referring to if not someone from Utah correct me please.) I've drive both of these twice, Vernal to Dutch John ('70 pickup and Komfort Lite) and then Dutch John to Vernal (C-class).

We have not driven the Beartooth Pass, east exit from Yellowstone to Red Lodge. I would like to do this one someday, I've heard about it. Make me want to see it myself sometime.

We did it to Aspen to Leadville, CO in a 22' C-class motorhome towing a Geo Metro with a 15' canoe on top of the Metro. I had to pull the mirrors in on that one. A neat drive with a great view above timberline at he pass at the top. Camped at Twin Lakes, I believe it was called.

We have done the Highway 1, Calif. coast both directions pulling the Komfort Lite and in the C-class (with Metro & canoe) and with just the Ranger. Another neat drive with great vistas of the Pacific from the Hwy, want to do it again.

We did Tioga Pass, west bound from Hwy 395 to Yosemite with the Komfort Lite pulled with a Chevy Van (full sized one with canoe on top). Another neat drive with great views, great memories, would love to do it again.

We pulled the Million Dollar Highway, Montrose-Ouray-Silverton-Durango from Durango up and over with the Komfort Lite and 1/2 ton '70 Chevy pickup. Another neat drive with great views, great memories, would love to do it again.

None would I NOT do again with the exception of the US 14A. Maybe with the Scamp, but more than likely not. Perhaps with a heaver tow than the Ranger. I would like to see the Medicine Wheel, it didn't get too bad until after the turn off for the Wheel.

The key to them is respect for the road and keeping the speed in control, on some having enough power to keep the RV going is also a factor if climbing up. Slow and careful will keep you safe, which is why the US 14 A was such a scary drive. I had a very hard time keeping it slow enough for the curves. I did not count the curves but with the 10% grade it is a challenge.