Quote:
Originally Posted by Jswood49
I recently picked up my 2018 Sunseeker 2850SLE and I’m planning on a trip to Yellowstone NP in August. One section of my route puts me on US16 between Buffalo, WY and Worland, WY. Can anyone give me any pointers on this leg of my journey? Not being familiar with the area would like some advice from you who have been there. Thanks and I’m really enjoying this Forum!!
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Just drove 14 between Shell and Dayton today from Yellowstone to keystone SD...very rough. Your route is a bit different so at least here is a shot. I had planned to go around using 90 but DW wanted the view and Google said it was faster....not true. Not going to lie not sure if I would do it again or not just yet. It was doable but nailbiting for me. Your route does not look a lot better. Not sure about construction for you but this is what I went through on 14.
1. 14 is heavy construction up top...12 miles of NO road. Basically took the trailer off roading through a construction zone. Take your route or 90 around if you don't want to deal with it. There are 3-4 sections of one lane roads so be patient. We waited up to 30min at one section 5-10 at others. Put it in park and set your e-brake. Don't sit on the trailer brakes at these stops. When you do go through the no road parts 1st gear less than 15MPH no braking as much as possible.
2. 8% grades on the east side for about 20ish miles WITHOUT A BREAK. I kept it in first on my 16 F150 EB and 25MPH for just about an hour. If I got over 30MPH I would brake hard for short times to get below 25 and start again.
3. I pulled off when possible to let others pass but the pullouts are all gravel so be picky and make them wait on you to be safe. If you pull off and had to come to a complete stop let your brakes cool again before taking off.
4. Pulling up is long. I did not have heat issues but still pulled over to let the truck get back to temp. This was good to also rest my nerves a bit as well.
5. There is a brake check point before you descend the east side of 14 and you are required to stop. I did, checked my brakes and they were warm so I let them cool and headed out afterwards. I did not see one for the west side.
6. Maybe just today but it was windy as heck out at the bottom east side today. 20-30MPH crosswinds blowing all over the place. Make sure sway control is tight...very tight.
7. I dumped all spare water trash tanks etc just to be as light as possible coming down.
8. Where it says bump they are not messing around. Slow to 15MPH or less. I hit one at 25 and thought I was going to lose something. Stuff is all over in storage compartments.
BTW the east entrance seemed pretty easy in Yellowstone by comparison with maybe 6% grades and lower speed limits.
Fishing bridge is also under heavy construction and is all gravel now as well.
I heard today a Fisher opened up in tetons (yikes was there yesterday) and parts are closed down there as a result.
Avoid the west side of the north loop as well. 20min construction delays for the next few years. Look at main gate for addition updates and closures like inspiration point[emoji20].
RVTripwizard has a beta section that let's you view the grade of your route. Suggest paying for it to help plan routing. Both sides of the bighorn mtns were off the chart compared to other parts of my trip. Here is the gradient for your route. 30 miles and 5000ft for both routes it looks like with many grades over 7%
Good luck, enjoy the trip, be safe!
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Oh yea... see my thread on propane as well since you are coming from Alabama it may be useful for you to know in advance as well. Hoping someone can answer it for both of us.