Trail Ridge Road, Anyone?

[Lynn S.]

I'm curious if anyone out there has driven their rig over Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, and if you have, what was the experience like?

I'm familiar with the road, but only from the perspective of a car and the common-place elk jams. Once saw a guy towing a boat & trailer...he ran off the road, sheered off a tire, and my last sight of the tire was of it bouncing down into Forest Canyon. Unfortunately, this happened at a spot where pulling over was impossible.

Stories, anyone?

[SSquared]

I have towed over it only once, towing a 13 foot scamp (1600 pounds) with a minivan. Descending, I mostly used first gear, and I was still using my brakes more than I wanted. I pulled over once and found the front brakes blazing hot, the rear brakes warm, and the trailer wheels hardly warm at all. I wounder if my inertial-type brake controller got confused by the grades--I had it mounted at a steep angle, about what the installation manual says is the limit.

So make sure you know your trailer brakes are truly well adjusted.

[emdubyadee]

I have towed over it with no problems. I took it slow and was cautious. I have a heavy truck with a Diesel engine. I would only do it in good weather.

[Lynn S.]

Thanks for the input re: towing. I'm assuming that you had no or few problems with the couple of hairpin turns? How about when meeting traffic? The spot I'm thinking of is of the "knife edge," which is past the high point and headed toward the western side of the park.

Again, thanks!

[JDS]

Towed our Bowlus (24') over the entire Trail Ridge Road last July and except for a sleet/hail storm had no issues at all. Great scenery!

John S.

[Bill M.]

We have done it in late summer a couple of times. 25' Airstream and a diesel 2500. No problems but some very slow areas. Probably holds up traffic a little. There was room to stop at the visitor center. I certainly would not want to do it in snow or freezing conditions.

[kdickinson]

An option you could consider is to leave the trailer in a visitor center parking lot. It is nice to have the road opened again even though it is still snow packed as of a news report just yesterday! (another reason to think 2X about taking a trailer over it)

[Bigbat]

We towed a 27FB with a Chevy 1500. Just took it slow not a big problem except for the wind which was very strong. The tight turns were not that bad. The truck had enough power. The wind pushed us around and made the whole experience uncomfortable.

[manseyr1]

Drove it a couple of years ago towing a 27FB Classic with a 2500 diesel Left early in the morning to avoid traffic. No problem beautiful drive!

[dames7]

Did it last July, Traffic was mess (very slow), got honk at because we wanted to see the sights also and I guess some people like to race to the top, no parking at the top rest area for our rig.

Had great time beside all the A__H that don't understand to slow down enjoy them self's.

You need to leave very early or waite until later in the afternoon as most of the rush hour is trying to get back to find a restaurant to eat at.

[Wolf Alaska]

Everyone should be aware that if a trailer runs off the road & there's no shoulder; it will pull the TV off the road backwards with it. Your survival then depends on being able to jump out of the TV w/o being trapped by the opened doors. Your front or rear doors are like old style "suicide doors" when TV is going backwards.

We spend a lot of energy to keep trailer connected to our TV, but sometimes it would be good to have a way to just let it go.

Let's Roll !
Wolf

[Lynn S.]

Thanks to all who posted with advice. Now I know that it can be done by at least someone!

[Aerowood]

You won't have any trouble, but go over during the week. Nobody that I know locally really goes to the park on a weekend, just to many people up there.