Towing on I-70

I have a stock 2020 TRD DCSB OR and could use some towing advice. We are planning a trip from WI to the Moab area in the spring. Route would require taking I-70 west from Denver through CO. Our camper is an Aliner (pop up) with a weight of about 1500 lbs. Counting for gear, passengers and tongue weight I will be just short of max payload of 990 pounds. Have trailer brakes with Curt Echo brake controller. I also monitor transmission temps via OBD. We towed this setup with no issues to sw NM last year. However had no mountain passes like I-70. On the return we would be going through southern CO or northern NM. Am I asking for issues or damage driving west on I-70? I would certainly take my time using S3 or S4 and stopping to idle if tranny gets too hot. Thoughts? Thanks for the advice and feedback.

 

@ColoradoTJ

 

The main thing in your favor is that your trailer is reasonably light. If you were towing 4500 lbs or more then you may have some concerns. Even though you’ll be close to max payload you’ll be just fine. Watch the tranny temp and keep the rpm’s up. I have traveled I-70 several times in years past and just don’t see any problems you will experience.
Another positive is that you have trailer brakes and brake controller. Most states don’t require them on that light of a trailer any many don’t have them. So you have a big advantage coming down mountains and long grades. Your truck is built to handle the trailer and weight.
Only thing I would consider is adding an after market tranny cooler, which is a good idea where ever and what ever you tow.
Don’t be in a hurry, don’t worry about driving the speed limit, slow is good. Have a great trip.

 

Thanks guys. I appreciate it. We are traveling mid May so I should be aware of snow, chains, tires. Good point. I am still using the stock Goodyear Kevlars as they still have good tread. We planned on taking I-70 past Grand Junction then down to Moad. Will look into the hot springs! Thanks.

I do not have an additional tranny cooler at this time. Pretty much stock. Granny temps have been fine towing so far but I do live in the flat lands. LOL

Any thoughts on taking Hwy 64 back through northern NM? Is that a better than taking I-70 back East since we will be in southern UT at that point in the trip.

 

I second everything that @ColoradoTJ said. I’ve been over Wolf Creek at least 20 times in a bunch of configurations (towing, not towing, summer, winter, etc). It’s a tough few miles. La Veta is a long slog, too.

Northern NM is easier but WAY more remote…

 

Mountains suck for trailers.

 

In 2006 I had a 1999 Tacoma with a 2.4 liter with a 3000 pound load that I took on 1-70 on a move from Los Angeles to Chicago. I had a couple semis pass me doing about 28mph on the steepest part of the grade going up the Ike in Colorado. The real steep part is less than 10 miles long. That was the only real issue I had in 2005 miles. You can do it.

 

Nice vehicle, don't see many like that around my parts, but there's a guy up the road from me with one very similar. He runs a 4WD/offroad shop in Charlotte and his is a sort of rolling advertisement for his shop, but he takes it all over the place. His has a Hellcat engine in it.



What type of grades do you see out west in the mountains, and how long a constant grade can you expect on an interstate? I'm sure they can be steeper and longer on less major roads. I tow quite a bit here in the eastern Appalachian foothills where the long grades can be a couple of miles and can be as steep as 7-7-1/2%, an 18' tandem flatbed with a tractor and implements, all-up trailer weight usually around 4500-5500 pounds depending, and my tiny bed is full of other landscaping related tools. My recommendation is to keep the speed down (60-65 max on the flats and slight grades, pulling in 4th), pull the steep hills in 3rd (5spd automatic), stay out of 5th altogether. I also monitor T1 and T2 temps via Scangauge and even in midsummer rarely see them go past 210-215 for more than a minute or so. I'm driving a stock 2011 DCSB SR5 4x4. And I suppose your 3.5L is probably as thirsty as my 4L, so a 5 gal reserve can would definitely be handy out there where there aren't as many gas stations.

 

I'm in your weight class. My little trailer has hit the CO roads on four different trips so far, including the 70 when scooting from Carbondale to Breckenridge. I've gone over the LaSals from Moab to Gunnison on one trip, and I've gone Grand Junction to Durango on another. So, general vicinity of your route.

I have zero issues when climbing the hills. The truck has power to spare. I did get nailed by a surprise snow over memorial day one year. I got a quick googled lesson on CO traction laws while sitting in a coffee shop that morning. I do recommend you run tires with the 3-peak badge if you go in May. I doubt you're any stranger to snow however, unlike this Texan.

ColoradoTJ is absolutely right on the gas issue. Some of those mountain towns like to fleece you. Planning fuel stops and sometimes topping off at 1/2 tank is a good idea.

It's a purty area. Try to detour off the interstate as much as possible.

 

PS. If you find yourself on highway 160 for the return, try to time a lunch stop at Pagosa Brewing. They have a beer-battered salmon fish and chips that is freaking amazing. I can't tell you why, but it's amazing.