Utah Hwy 12 May 15, 2009, 11:52:20 am Yahoo Message Number: 102331We are currently at Kodachrome Basin State Park near Cannonville, UT and will be heading to Capitol Reef NP via Hwy 12. It is our understanding that we may want to unhook the toad at some point and was wondering if anyone here know where you would need to do that before it gets too steep.We have a 30' LD.Jim C[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Utah Hwy 12 Reply #1 – May 15, 2009, 12:12:16 pm Yahoo Message Number: 102332Jim wrote: We are currently at Kodachrome Basin State Park near Cannonville, UT and will be heading to Capitol Reef NP via Hwy 12. It is our understanding that we may want to unhook the toad at some point and was wondering if anyone here know where you would need to do that before it gets too steep. --- All kinds of rigs negotiate Utah 12 without problems, but if you're concerned about grades and feel that your trip up to Capitol Reef would be better made "separately", then you might want to either start off from Kodachrome unhooked or find a place to do this around Henrieville before the stretch to Escalante. Since the Kodachrome and Henrieville are are not that far apart, and you have a safe place to separate the toad from the LD at your campsite in Kodachrome, my suggestion would be to do the separation there.You will likely receive other suggestions; as always, YMMV. ;-)Joan
Re: Utah Hwy 12 Reply #2 – May 15, 2009, 06:33:09 pm Yahoo Message Number: 102337It is our understanding thatQuotewe may want to unhook the toad at some point As Joan indicated, there is no reason to unhook unless your LD is really underpowered for pulling your toad up a grade; otherwise, just go and enjoy probably the most fantastic views of any road we've ever driven! Be sure to stop at the overlooks...we don't have our Utah map with us right now, but there are two in particular that offer awesome views: one shortly after leaving Escalante (looks like a moonscape) and one farther up the road (don't remember exactly where it was, but it's on the east side of SR-12 and from which you can see the Waterpocket Fold of Capitol Reef National Park and the northern portion of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: Utah Hwy 12 Reply #3 – May 16, 2009, 11:30:42 am Yahoo Message Number: 102348Jim, Very interesting part of the country. I spent a week at Escalante State Park in October 2007, photographing in the area and backpacking along the Escalante River. Escalante State Park is a nice place to stay; no hookups, but nice setting and hot showers. I also visited Capitol Reef on the same trip, but routed my trip to avoid climbing over Boulder Mountain. That's the mountain the road climbs between Escalante and Torrey (near Capitol Reef NP). The problem is that the road goes up to about 9,600 ft elevation. The GCWR of my 2007 E450 engine is reduced by 2% for every 1,000 ft above sea level. So, the sea level GCWR of 20,000 lbs is reduced to 16,160 lbs at 9,600 ft elevation. Since my toad (a 2008 Jeep Wrangler) weighs 3,960 lbs with 1/2 gas tank and gear, I have insufficient GCWR to cross any passes above approx. 8,760 ft elevation while towing (and I travel alone and try to keep my gear to a minimum and always travel with near empty water/grey/black tanks). Your 30 footer has an even lower elevation cap since it weighs more. So, my suggestion would be to unhitch at Boulder before you start the big climb over the mountain. Then rehitch at the bottom. That way you won't stress out your engine beyond its recommended rating (and you'll help out your brakes as well). You might also want to schedule your mountain crossing for early morning because the air will be colder (denser) and the engine will have more power. Make sure to be ready to pull over near the top. There are some great vistas up there! I drove the part of the road from Kodachrome to Escalante in my 26' Midbath towing the Jeep with no problems by the way.Have fun!Mike
Re: Utah Hwy 12 Reply #4 – May 16, 2009, 11:50:00 am Yahoo Message Number: 102350Hello Jim: Here is a real winner for a campground along 12. Calf Creek Recreation Area. http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2020/places/3223/ When you pull into the campground there will be a sign saying 25' RV limit. That's not true. Drive your toad around and you will see several sites that are more than adequate for your rig. The hiking is wonderful. Camping is cheap because it's a BLM administered campground. As you drive to the campground you actually drive through the creek. As long as the creek isn't real high, it's not an issue. I waded the creek first and the water was not up to my knees so off we went. A wonderful two night stop. Enjoy:Ed
Re: Utah Hwy 12 - Boulder Pass while Towing Reply #5 – May 16, 2009, 12:39:12 pm Yahoo Message Number: 102354QuoteJim, "...Your 30 footer has an even lower elevation cap since it weighs more. So, my suggestion would be to unhitch at Boulder before you start the big climb over the mountain. Then rehitch at the bottom. That way you won't stress out your engine beyond its recommended rating (and you'll help out your brakes as well). You might also want to schedule your mountain crossing for early morning because the air will be colder (denser) and the engine will have more power..."QuoteMike With respect, Mike, IMHO I would tell Jim not to worry about a 9000' pass. I have driven our 30'LD towing a car over Wolf Creek, Vail and Eisenhower Tunnel passes (in Colorado), all around 10,000' several times with no problems. I have driven rte 12 including the pass you reference in my car 4-5 times and would not hesitate to take the LD over it while towing.Chris
Re: Utah Hwy 12 Reply #6 – May 16, 2009, 04:49:18 pm Yahoo Message Number: 102360Thanks to all who responded. I failed to make clear my concern was GCWR since my combined weight is approx 17,000.Ed, thanks for the suggestion on the campground.Jim
Re: Utah Hwy 12 - Boulder Pass while Towing Reply #7 – May 17, 2009, 06:37:48 pm Yahoo Message Number: 102403On Sat, 16 May 2009 16:38:30 -0000, "Chris Horst" wrote:QuoteI have driven our 30'LD towing a car over Wolf Creek, Vail and Eisenhower Tunnel passes (in Colorado), all around 10,000' several times with no problems. I have driven rte 12 including the pass you reference in my car 4-5 times and would not hesitate to take the LD over it while towing. With respect Chris, I am going to side with Ford on this. I sure don't know the ramifications of exceeding the limits they set and frankly I don't want to know as it could be an very expensive lesson that would not be helpful to our new budget. I suspect that it "punishes" the engine/transmission in some way that might not show up for many miles down the road.We crossed from Durango to Cortez on US160 this morning. I did not know the pass was above 8,000 otherwise I would have unhooked. My next navigator will not let this happen.Don & Dorothy An MB named Koko & a Jeep named Pelli Our Travel Blog: http://travelingdorothy.blogspot.com/ Our Mods Blog http://kokoandpelli.blogspot.com/
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