Colorado area Routing Question

[TheHollands!]

Hey everyone, I'm going to be visiting a friend in a few weeks in Fraser, CO and then heading to Salt Lake City, UT. My map is showing a route out of Fraser on 125 to 230 to 130 meeting Interstate 80 at Walcott, WY. Anyone familiar with that particular stretch?  I'll be traveling in my MCI-9 with tow vehicle and would rather hear from someone who's done it in a bus or truck rather than a local saying they take their car that way all the time. Cheers, Craig

[luvrbus]

We have been across that way in a bus towing a Jeep you have a couple of grades of around 8,000 ft in altitude,I remember Walcott being 7,000 ft it is a nice drive.It is a little farther but I go 287 from Ft Collins to Laramie and catch 80 west now   

[gumpy]

I'm very familiar with the 230/130 from Encampment/Riverside to Walcott. Not an issue in a bus. Last year we came down from Encampment to Walden, but took 14 south. Good road between Encampment and Walden. No problems for bus and toad. 14 to 40 was kind of narrow and winding, but not really a problem. I don't know anything about 125. It's been over 35 years since I was on it.

However, that seems like an extra long way to go to get to Utah. I'd be inclined to go 40 all the way. You have Rabbit Ears which is a first gear 18 mph down grade for me in the MC9 (I'm not a fan of hot brakes). You can either go on through on 40, or turn north at Craig and take 13/789 to I-80 (stop at the Conoco in Baggs and say hi to my family :-)  That's a very bus friendly road.  40 has Strawberry pass in Utah, but it's not much. I've done it in the bus before, also.

[windtrader]

Check road construction on I80. About a month ago I was on from Cheyenne to SLC and it was down to two lanes and some curves. Sort of scary at night during my second day driving a bus. LOL

[eagle19952]

https://www.flattestroute.com/

[Zephod]

I'm very familiar with the 230/130 from Encampment/Riverside to Walcott. Not an issue in a bus. Last year we came down from Encampment to Walden, but took 14 south. Good road between Encampment and Walden. No problems for bus and toad. 14 to 40 was kind of narrow and winding, but not really a problem. I don't know anything about 125. It's been over 35 years since I was on it.

However, that seems like an extra long way to go to get to Utah. I'd be inclined to go 40 all the way. You have Rabbit Ears which is a first gear 18 mph down grade for me in the MC9 (I'm not a fan of hot brakes). You can either go on through on 40, or turn north at Craig and take 13/789 to I-80 (stop at the Conoco in Baggs and say hi to my family :-)  That's a very bus friendly road.  40 has Strawberry pass in Utah, but it's not much. I've done it in the bus before, also.

In mine, I suppose I'd drop out of drive and put it in 2 or even 1 for steep downgrades, using the brake to bring the speed down after it rises. Staying off the brake as much as possible. I know the theory but here in SC I've never had to do it.


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[gumpy]

In mine, I suppose I'd drop out of drive and put it in 2 or even 1 for steep downgrades, using the brake to bring the speed down after it rises. Staying off the brake as much as possible. I know the theory but here in SC I've never had to do it.


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I suppose if I were driving a schoolie in SC I wouldn't worry about it either. Big difference between your bus and mine. Big difference between the hills of SC and the mountains of CO. 

[TheHollands!]

Craig, I hadn't considered 40 all the way across. I see it's 50 miles shorter, Iv'e been across on 80 quite a few times, I'm up for some new scenery so maybe I'll try going 40. Thanks for the different feedback guys. I'll let you know how I fare in a few weeks. I'm still in Chicago atm heading to St Louis tomorrow. Cheers, Craig

[Zephod]

I suppose if I were driving a schoolie in SC I wouldn't worry about it either. Big difference between your bus and mine. Big difference between the hills of SC and the mountains of CO. 

Where I drive, there are no hills. Where I would like to drive, there are hills. As my bus has R n D 1 2 3 on the stick, I'm assuming 2 is for moderate hills and 1 fir steep hills.


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[belfert]

Check road construction on I80. About a month ago I was on from Cheyenne to SLC and it was down to two lanes and some curves. Sort of scary at night during my second day driving a bus. LOL

I'm confused here.  Cheyenne to SLC is over 400 miles on I-80.  I have been that way numerous times in my bus and I recall the entire stretch in Wyoming is only two lanes in each direction.  Only in Utah does it widen to three lanes in each direction.

There is that long grade into SLC.  I recall one year they were routing all traffic on the inside shoulder in a single lane.  Talk about white knuckle with a concrete barrier on one side and trying to keep speed under control.

[Oonrahnjay]

I'm confused here.  Cheyenne to SLC is over 400 miles on I-80.  I have been that way numerous times in my bus and I recall the entire stretch in Wyoming is only two lanes in each direction.  Only in Utah does it widen to three lanes in each direction.

There is that long grade into SLC.  I recall one year they were routing all traffic on the inside shoulder in a single lane.  Talk about white knuckle with a concrete barrier on one side and trying to keep speed under control. 

     Brian, I read that as "two lanes total", as when they dig up one side of an Interstate and route the closed traffic over on the other side with a temp concrete barrier.  Saying "down to two lanes" really means one lane in each direction and those single lanes pretty much obstructed.  I was driving I-81 in Pennsylvania recently and they had recently opened both sides between the I-83 junction and I-80 after at least part of that section had been "crossed over" like that for a couple of years (average speed, 30 MPH with long tailbacks).   There still lots of orange barrels, stacked concrete barriers, and construction equipment sitting around so I guess we'll see more of it again (and I-81 north of I-80 needs it).

[belfert]

     Brian, I read that as "two lanes total", as when they dig up one side of an Interstate and route the closed traffic over on the other side with a temp concrete barrier.  Saying "down to two lanes" really means one lane in each direction and those single lanes pretty much obstructed.  I was driving I-81 in Pennsylvania recently and they had recently opened both sides between the I-83 junction and I-80 after at least part of that section had been "crossed over" like that for a couple of years (average speed, 30 MPH with long tailbacks).   There still lots of orange barrels, stacked concrete barriers, and construction equipment sitting around so I guess we'll see more of it again (and I-81 north of I-80 needs it).

I didn't think about that.  I am so used to construction on I-80 where it is down to a single lane that it doesn't phase me.  I drive my bus 3,000+ miles on I-80 each year and there is always construction somewhere.  We've hit a few traffic cones over the years and dented the trailer with one.  (Never hit a traffic barrel.)

Some years ago I hit a bridge with my bus in Nebraska on I-80 .  They had the bridge down to one very narrow lane and I hit the right side of the bridge.  I stopped on the shoulder right after the bridge and expected to see the entire side of the bus caved in.  The only damage was a scratch down the side and the tag axle wheel had hit the bridge.  It ended up that the tag axle wheel was knocked out of alignment and the tire wore on the shoulder.  It cost me about $1,000 to get the tag axle alignment fixed and a new tire.  I was really lucky that didn't turn into a tragedy.