Steep highways
- Thread starter Snagglefoot
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I'm sure New Zealand has some steep hills to go up and down...but there is one in particular that was an obstacle to those going south from the city of Auckland - the Bombay Hills. It's nothing now, even a small car can get up in top gear, but in years past it was a different story. In the mid '60's my father was a mechanic at the trucking company that hauled coal and sand up to Auckland, and in the school holidays my brother and I went out with the drivers. Heading south in the morning, the driver would stop at the shop at the bottom for a pie and newspaper...he had his tea in a thermos. The truck would go in low gear, and he would have his breakfast on the way up, with the newspaper open over the steering wheel. Down the other side, and the driver of the Leyland Comet on the coal run would say - I only use the brakes on the last corner, if I use them before, then there are no brakes left for the last corner !'' That was one scary ride. In the big International with truck and trailer loaded with sand, the driver would work the twin sticks with both hands - he'd put his arm through the spokes of the steering wheel, lean over, head below the dash and change gear with both levers.
When I was a truck mechanic my self later, I wasn't impressed with the fancy Roadranger multi range gearboxes, I really liked to drive a twinstick.
When I was a truck mechanic my self later, I wasn't impressed with the fancy Roadranger multi range gearboxes, I really liked to drive a twinstick.
I run an 8% mountain everyday going to work. It's just outside of where I live. While it's only a couple miles, it definitely can point out the bad drivers and truck drivers... Super fun in bad weather.
If you got some time to kill, here's a video of the reverse trip back into my town, I started it at the base of the mountain... (of course, us locals wiz up the mountain a whole lot faster, lol)
If you got some time to kill, here's a video of the reverse trip back into my town, I started it at the base of the mountain... (of course, us locals wiz up the mountain a whole lot faster, lol)
I once rode up the Moki Dugway in Southeast Utah in a Dodge Neon.
They don't pronounce it right, but this video is shorter than most and shows the road well.
The steepest road I've driven regularly is US 14A in Wyoming. Second gear in my Silverado and still had to brake into a lot of the curves. I saw the paramedics loading up a biker somewhere before the long stretch of concrete barrier. A local who drove truck said truckers usually didn't end up on that road if they were paying attention.
This video gives a good sense of the downhill experience, but feel free to watch it on mute.
It doesn't really compare to either of these, but US 71 from I-40 to Fayetteville, AR has signs that get right to the point--"Very Crooked and Steep."
They don't pronounce it right, but this video is shorter than most and shows the road well.
The steepest road I've driven regularly is US 14A in Wyoming. Second gear in my Silverado and still had to brake into a lot of the curves. I saw the paramedics loading up a biker somewhere before the long stretch of concrete barrier. A local who drove truck said truckers usually didn't end up on that road if they were paying attention.
This video gives a good sense of the downhill experience, but feel free to watch it on mute.
It doesn't really compare to either of these, but US 71 from I-40 to Fayetteville, AR has signs that get right to the point--"Very Crooked and Steep."
There's always Pikes Peak. I was thinking of going up there once but I wasn't sure if a rental car would be adequate since they don't let any vehicle up there without a selectable first gear. I was thinking it might be like some cars where "low gear" that can be selected is 2nd. It's not a highway though.
There's this very steep local road near where I grew up. Part of it is really steep. Once a construction vehicle lost its brakes going down and it totaled a corner house. It's easy to tell because it's an older neighborhood but the house look so much newer than the rest of the neighborhood. I've seen public transit buses practice hill driving on that stretch of road. It's not really that busy and it's nice and wide.
I do remember when I used to take a bus to school. It was a public transit bus dedicated to taking students to and from our school where there was a very large area for students. There was one particular grade that's maybe about 15%. There was never a problem going down, but going uphill the driver might ask us to get to the front because it wasn't working with so many crowded in the back. Not sure why.
There's this very steep local road near where I grew up. Part of it is really steep. Once a construction vehicle lost its brakes going down and it totaled a corner house. It's easy to tell because it's an older neighborhood but the house look so much newer than the rest of the neighborhood. I've seen public transit buses practice hill driving on that stretch of road. It's not really that busy and it's nice and wide.
I do remember when I used to take a bus to school. It was a public transit bus dedicated to taking students to and from our school where there was a very large area for students. There was one particular grade that's maybe about 15%. There was never a problem going down, but going uphill the driver might ask us to get to the front because it wasn't working with so many crowded in the back. Not sure why.
GON
$175 Site Donor 2026
I drive that patch to work and the airport often. Not a killer stretch, unless you are a 18 wheeler going down the mountain. About every three months I see a 18 wheeler who's trailer has burnt to just the metal frame from the trailer's brakes catching on fire.
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GON
$175 Site Donor 2026
Yes, just one, and it is before the area where the truck burns down to its rims' and steel. And its also on the left side of the road- which is not so common for runaway truck ramps. With all the transplanted California drivers in their large SUVs in the left lane and clueless what is going on, I think it must very tough for a tractor trailers to get across three lanes to get to the ramp.
The driver does not know his trailer brakes are on fire until its to late. He just gets to the right and exits the truck cab and watches it burn. Not a good thing.
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Red Mountain Pass in Colorado
Hwy 99 going north out of Lillooet lake, BC. Average 8.4% grade for 11kms (7 miles) and hairpin turns. Towed our 7000 lb trailer up that in the summer heat. Lots of overheated cars as you can't get speeds up to push air through the radiator. Had to do a google-bike to get elevation.
Sonora Pass is one of my favorites, 26% grades in some locations. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/stanislaus/recarea/?recid=21873
We did Teton Pass in 2018 with our 11,000lbs 36' travel trailer. It wasn't too bad. Glad to have a 2500 Ram with a Cummins and exhaust brake! Going up was worse than down to be honest. I followed a dump truck one way and it was slow and my torque convertor was struggling to stay locked so engine temp and trans temp were a little elevated. Beautiful country!
https://www.google.com/maps/place/T...b9d5304d8b821!8m2!3d43.4974247!4d-110.9552144
Just my $0.02
https://www.google.com/maps/place/T...b9d5304d8b821!8m2!3d43.4974247!4d-110.9552144
Just my $0.02
I would love to drive those roads and sightsee these back roads.
Fro
3 years I drove both ways over the Grapevine about twice a week with a loaded semi truck. what is the big deal the videos make the hills to be?
Notorious I-5 Tejon Pass/Grapevine.
3 years I drove both ways over the Grapevine about twice a week with a loaded semi truck. what is the big deal the videos make the hills to be?
Going up it is a lot worse than going down it with regards to the vehicles blowing up. Lots of people in the summer are on the side of the road with their hoods open. Thats more of what I was referring too.
I would not wanna be pulling a travel trailer up in in the middle of the summer.
There have been quite a few overheated brakes. There was one driver who tried to hit the runaway ramp and died.
https://www.kget.com/news/two-killed-after-fatal-semi-crash-on-nb-i-5-ramp/
Driver error ,speeding.
We were in PA a few weeks ago and had to go a stretch on PA-125 to get from our Air BNB to the offroad park. I'm glad I rented a truck! My truc would not have liked pulling the constant 14% grades. Also glad I built my trailer with small diameter tires and brakes on both axles.
This was the easier way to go around last year
I did the Kootenay pass today. There was one stretch of 5 miles with a 8 % slope. With my 6 speed auto set to fourth, and a 3.73 rear end and 33 inch tires, I was doing 60 mph down the hill at 3500 rpm. Not bad, barely had to to use the brakes. Here are a few shots.
Here is the profile for the Coquihalla mentioned a few posts earlier. If you don’t gear down for of 15 km ( 9 miles) or so of 8 % slope, you will on your brakes hard.
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