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06-19-2019, 05:54 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 11
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driving in pass (snoqualmie pass)
Ill be going through snoqualmie pass this weekend with my 19foot apex nano, I haul it with my 2007 nissan titan that has the tow package included. while not to worried about going uphill. its the downhill part im a little worried about. im pretty sure lightly pressing my brake while going down would be a bad idea. If anyone has any tips, tricks, and or advice im open ears.
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06-19-2019, 07:44 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,505
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If your trailer brake controller is set correctly (they brake sufficiently w/o locking up), nothing wrong with lightly applying brakes for short periods.
When you get to the top, slow down, downshift if you need to, and go down slowly. Apply brakes to stay in rpm range for gear you are in. Easy peasy
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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06-19-2019, 07:49 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Big brown desert
Posts: 3,003
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Downshifting is key
__________________
2014 Stealth Evo 2850- "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7- "Clifford"
2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6 w/Track Pack- "Julia"
Just glad to get away
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06-19-2019, 07:49 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
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As long as you have a brake controller installed, you should have no problems.
I tow my much bigger and heavier TT over it, without breaking a sweat.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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06-19-2019, 07:59 PM
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#5
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Drew
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 20
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Downshift
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06-20-2019, 08:58 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Snohomish, WA
Posts: 1,151
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Please don't overthink this....
Snoqualmie Pass, WA
Elevation: 3015'
Speed limit: 65mph / 60mph for trucks
Lanes: 3 lanes each way
Snoqualmie is about the easiest pass to ascend and descend in WA. It's the main east/west thoroughfare that big rigs use year-round to transport goods throughout the state. With it's recent roadwork complete just east of the pass, the road is fresh and easy to travel. The grades are very gradual and the curves are wide and sweeping.
Travelling tips:
- Stay in the right lane and use the middle to pass the big rigs
- Keep you truck in tow/haul mode
- Set the cruise at 60mph and enjoy the ride
If speeds peak 65mph, lock out the top 1 or 2 gears and the truck should easily slow you back down to 60mph.
It really is the safest and easy pass to navigate.
Safe travels
__________________
2017 Forest River Surveyor 247BHDS...
...Tugged by a 2016 F250 XLT FX4 SuperCrew, Shortbed 6.2L, 4wd, 3.73...
...Joined with a Husky Centerline TS 800-1200lbs WDH
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06-20-2019, 09:32 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Richmond VA
Posts: 4,510
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Wow! All of 3015 feet!? You'll be fine.
I run over the eastern mini-mountains in Virginia and West-bygod which are 2x this altitude in places with my Roo all the time and never gave the altitude or grades a second thought, especially not on the Interstates. Ford 3.5 EcoBoost transmission auto downshifts on the downgrades as needed.
-- Chuck
__________________
2006 Roo 23SS behind a 2017 Ford Expedition
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06-20-2019, 09:41 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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Run the "Divide" on I-90 between Butte and Bozeman. That's a fun run.
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06-20-2019, 01:26 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clarkbre
Please don't overthink this....
Snoqualmie Pass, WA
Elevation: 3015'
Speed limit: 65mph / 60mph for trucks
Lanes: 3 lanes each way
Snoqualmie is about the easiest pass to ascend and descend in WA. It's the main east/west thoroughfare that big rigs use year-round to transport goods throughout the state. With it's recent roadwork complete just east of the pass, the road is fresh and easy to travel. The grades are very gradual and the curves are wide and sweeping.
Travelling tips:
- Stay in the right lane and use the middle to pass the big rigs
- Keep you truck in tow/haul mode
- Set the cruise at 60mph and enjoy the ride
If speeds peak 65mph, lock out the top 1 or 2 gears and the truck should easily slow you back down to 60mph.
It really is the safest and easy pass to navigate.
Safe travels
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I agree, the Snoqualmie Pass is a piece of cake, compared to a lot of passes out West.
3000ft pass isn't much elevation. It would be in the East though.[emoji6]
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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06-20-2019, 01:33 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: ALASKA (World's Biggest Campground)
Posts: 6,594
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The elevation of that pass in WA is irrelevant. It's the distance of incline and decline on the west side. Smart to stay in the right lane, but be warned, unless they've done some serious road repairs in the last year, it's rough road on the westbound decline in that lane. Folks in the center and left lane will be doing 70+ MPH.
__________________
'07 K3500 Silverado LT Crew Duramax (LBZ)
2016 Salem 27RKSS
1984 CHEV SCOTTSDALE K20 2GCGK24J0E1XXXXXX (Chevrolet Legends-Class of 2019)
"...exhaust fluid? We don't need no stinkin' exhaust fluid"
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06-20-2019, 03:39 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: British Columbia Canada
Posts: 556
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
If your trailer brake controller is set correctly (they brake sufficiently w/o locking up), nothing wrong with lightly applying brakes for short periods.
When you get to the top, slow down, downshift if you need to, and go down slowly. Apply brakes to stay in rpm range for gear you are in. Easy peasy
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Good advice, especially the part about staying in RPM range for the selected gear. Don't want the drive axle to have a whole lot more braking torque than the other wheels or it will result in locking up and then sliding in slippery conditions.
Same advice for engine brakes, in slippery conditions disengage or use lowest setting.
__________________
2017 FR3 28 DS
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06-20-2019, 07:31 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 840
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Good advice from all corners. We traversed Snoqualmie Pass last summer East to West towing a 35-foot 5th Wheel Cardinal. There were large sections of roadway under construction/renovation, so our speeds were restricted and lanes were often narrowed down to one or two lanes each direction. We kept our speed on the descent to a Max of 45 mpg in the lane restriction areas. The only issue involved aggressive drivers of mostly BMW and SAAB cars that simply had to get ahead of us and then slam on their brakes. Beware!!
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06-20-2019, 11:42 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,263
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I cross Snoqualmie pass several times per year, even before the Westbound downhill section was built. Now tow a MicroLite BDS with my 2004 Titan. 4th gear, Tow/Haul engaged and when braking is needed just apply until speed is down then release and Coast until you want to brake again. Don't ride the brakes. This is hardest on trailer brakes.
For the more hairy passes just do what truck drivers do. Start at the top nice and and only brake when speed hits max. Brake heavy enough to slow down significantly then release and Coast again. During coasting, brakes will cool. If you ride them they can heat excessively and damage pads/shoes, etc.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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06-20-2019, 11:51 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 840
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TitanMike has the answers. Do what he suggests.
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06-21-2019, 12:00 AM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jakie-Boy
TitanMike has the answers. Do what he suggests.
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Agree.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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06-21-2019, 09:08 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 851
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I would turn down the gain a bit on a long downhill. as pointed out don't ride the brakes, the way the electric brakes work there is less finesse to them. To me, mine feel like they are trying to do all the work stopping when you just apply the truck brakes a little with the gain set high enough to be at the point where they can almost lockup. They also feel way hotter than my truck brakes when set that high. Basically I think my big old 2500 truck disc brakes with hydroboost are much more heavy duty than the stuff they put on the camper, so I keep the gain pretty low. My controller is not the fanciest, a REESE Towpower Brakeman IV Digital Brake Control, but it's not a dinosaur either. So apply no brake, let speed go up a little, then apply moderate brakes and slow down slower than you want, repeat, rather than just constant brake pressure all the way down. This is all done after downshifting at the crest to a lower gear. It's possible you want to even be as low as 2nd but I don't know your truck. Mine would would probably be in 2nd and I wouldn't have to touch the brakes at all unless traffic slows. Snoqualmie is only steep going back into Seattle, if you come from Seattle you hardly notice the downhill into Cle Elum, but the other way you really notice it going down into North Bend. The downhill at the Gorge seems worse than Snoqualmie when going east, but at least it's straighter. The bad part about that going westbound is is is LONG and you might be pushing a 30+ mph headwind the whole way as well.
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