Raton Pass - Montana Owners Club

av2pilot · 03-12-2008, 10:49 AM

We're planning a trip out to Colorado Springs this summer and wondered if my Dodge (5.9L Diesel) would have any trouble getting over the pass and whether I needed an exhaust brake to get down as well!!! I'm sure I'll be SLOW in the right lane! Thanks

BB_TX · 03-12-2008, 10:57 AM

Some of the Dodge owners can probably give you a better idea. But I don't think you will have a problem. Raton Pass is a little over 7800', not at high as many other passes.
With my 6.0 I can go into it at about 65 and still be going 50-55 as I top out without sticking my foot in it. Just take it easy.

richfaa · 03-12-2008, 11:03 AM

Our 05 Ford V-10 pulling the 3400 had no problem. With the diesel watch the boost and EGT. We have pulled much worse.

bigmurf · 03-12-2008, 12:03 PM

Living in Colorado for 30 years we never really worried about Raton. There are more passes to worry about. g

Jolu · 03-12-2008, 12:09 PM

On Edit Harry,
You won't have any problem with Raton Pass. I came over it in Feb with a 92 GAS CC 4X4 Dually pulling my 2955RL. We have been over Raton many times with motorhomes pulling a tow SUV as well as most passes in CO. You are probably experienced at towing and would not have any problems with any of the passes in Colorado. Wolf Creek Pass is more challenging of all the passes IMHO and then mainly downhill. Just keeper under control on the downhills and all is well.
JB

av2pilot · 03-12-2008, 12:57 PM

Thanks for the info! I figured I'd be alright, but I figured I'd check with the pros!

Mac · 03-12-2008, 02:51 PM

I'm a native of Colorado and Raton isn't a bad pass at all UNLESS it's snowing. In that case it can be a long hard and nail biting pull. I did over heat the transmission on a class c motorhome once pulling a car over Raton heading south so it isn't a walk in the park but you should have no issues with that or any diesel.

mac

bsmeaton · 03-12-2008, 05:38 PM

I didn't know Raton was a pass!

Now if your heading west out of Colorado Springs on 24 towards Woodland Park, that starts to be a pull!

HamRad · 03-12-2008, 06:29 PM

Brad,

That's funny. I was on the downhill side headed south before I realized we'd crossed over Raton Pass!

Dennis

padredw · 03-13-2008, 03:50 AM

I expect we have averaged 3 trips a year going and coming over Raton Pass. We have pulled every fifth-wheel we've ever owned with every pickup we've ever used as tow vehicle over Raton Pass. We have never considered it a problem. Going north it is a long downhill almost all the way into Trinidad, CO; going south the same into Raton.

I write this note to say that we enjoy staying at the Cedar Rail campground at the top of the pass (just barely in New Mexico). They are nice folks who run it and we like the view.

TLightning · 03-13-2008, 09:21 AM

Your diesel is a turbo...it will not know if it is in the Rockies or in Florida because the turbo keeps pumping air in the engine. The gassers loose about 3% of their power for each 1000' of altitude gained. The turbos loose very little power.

Bob Pasternak · 03-13-2008, 09:45 AM

av2pilot: We went over Trail Ridge Road with Our '05 Dodge & our 3000RK without a bit of trouble. 12,100'. http://www.rmnp.com/RMNP-Areas-TrailRidge.HTML

Also went over Wolf Creek at 10,800; same thing. All you have to do is watch for the slow moving V-8 diesels.

bsmeaton · 03-13-2008, 03:20 PM

David,

I didn't even know about a CG at the top. I'll have to check it out next time I drive by.

BillE · 03-14-2008, 02:04 AM

"That" CG at the top is just plain NICE!!! Like said above, nice folks running the operation. Not paved, but not that bigga deal; being on the smallish side.

Enjoy the view.

Bill

Ramblin Roadrunners · 03-14-2008, 03:46 AM

Raton Pass is a foot hill bump in the road. LOL !!!!
Jay D.

sreigle · 03-15-2008, 02:52 PM

I don't even know where Raton Pass is but we towed I-70 through Colorado from west to east. And also this grade on Utah highway 12... This sign is for those going down the grade we just came up. This was with a Ford 6.0 and I know my Dodge 6.7 will tow anything my Ford would tow.

padredw · 03-17-2008, 05:14 AM

Just for Steve: Raton Pass is north of the town of Raton, New Mexico on the border between New Mexico and Colorado on I-25. Heading north, the first town in Colorado is Trinidad.

sreigle · 03-18-2008, 10:38 AM

Thank you, David. I should have figured that out. I've been over that stretch of I-25 but don't think I've ever towed over it. But being on an interstate it won't likely be too bad. The most I've seen on interstates is a couple of 8 percenters in western Maryland.

Kimmrg · 03-20-2008, 06:35 AM

What an awesome post! We are heading to CO for the summer and will go in through Raton. What I am worried about is US 160 from Walsenburg to Durango. We pull with a diesel F350 Duelly so from what I am seeing we should be OK. If we get stuck on Wolf Pass 10850 feet, I'll let you know. We are staying at Cedar Rail too. Safe travels and hopefully we will see some MOCers on the road!

bsmeaton · 03-20-2008, 06:52 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Kimmrg

What an awesome post! We are heading to CO for the summer and will go in through Raton. What I am worried about is US 160 from Walsenburg to Durango. We pull with a diesel F350 Duelly so from what I am seeing we should be OK. If we get stuck on Wolf Pass 10850 feet, I'll let you know. We are staying at Cedar Rail too. Safe travels and hopefully we will see some MOCers on the road!

You'll hit LaVita pass and Wolf Creek along 160. My Dealer is in Durango so I've been up and over that route quite a few times from Denver with both our new 3400 and our old 2955. We even pulled the boat behind the 2955 over Wolf Creek to get to Navaho Reservoir several times. Wolf Creek just doesn't live up to it's truck driver song anymore since they opened it up to 3 lanes and fixed some of the grades.

You'll be fine. We have the 6.0 single rear wheel 350. No engine brake, no chip, just Ford.

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