Community Forums

sgtjoe · 09-14-2016, 06:44 PM

Anyone driven I-90 Eastbound out of Butte, MT and traveled down Homestake Pass?? I have an exhaust brake in my 2001 Tradewinds DP will this be enough? Is it as bad as Mountain States Directory says?

cwsqbm · 09-14-2016, 07:18 PM

Steep? Sure. Just start slow and you'll be fine. It's an interstate highway, not some remote mountain pass.

jmcannonball · 09-14-2016, 07:28 PM

I have probably made a dozen or so RV trips across I-90 from Seattle to points east. Get your speed under control BEFORE you head down the pass and let the exhaust brake do its job. You might have to occasionally tap the brakes to keep the RPM's within limits, but should be no problem.

sgtjoe · 09-14-2016, 07:49 PM

It is posted 25mph for vehicles 12,000 lbs or over. Would 1st gear on my Allison 6 speed be ok. Years ago before I got smart I overheated my brakes on a down grade, that was scary.

Tuquala · 09-24-2016, 06:30 PM

Been down it many times with a 7500+# trailer and a gas tow vehicle. Never had a problem. Normal warnings are the key, use brakes only as necc, use lower gears, and stay at a reasonable speed. There are worse passes out this way than this one.

mattcoa · 09-01-2021, 05:28 AM

Went down the East side last week. Set the cruise on 25 and had the exhaust brake on my 2019 Duramax. Never touched the brakes pulling my 7000# TT.

LETMGROW · 09-01-2021, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmcannonball

I have probably made a dozen or so RV trips across I-90 from Seattle to points east. Get your speed under control BEFORE you head down the pass and let the exhaust brake do its job. You might have to occasionally tap the brakes to keep the RPM's within limits, but should be no problem.

The key word in this post is 'BEFORE'.
Can't add anymore.

2cyber71 · 09-01-2021, 07:45 AM

I did Homestake back in June going west and July going east.
I have a 43 ft diesel pulling a Liberty.
It wasn’t bad. I left my tranny in auto and got to 3rd gear going up.
Slowest was 45 mph. So was all the trucks coming up.
Going down wasn’t bad either.
I think I touched my service brake twice.
Engine temp maximum was 210 Tranny temp maximum was 199
Going down the engine brake didn’t work that hard.
I’m 43,000 + 4000 lbs for the car.
I think Fancy Gap in North Carolina on I 77 is worse going down.

Actually my temps got higher in the Big Horns on I90.
It’s a long run up and not as steep, so it got to 212. Then the fan kicked in.

twogypsies · 09-01-2021, 12:37 PM

Eastbound is worse than westbound and I'm glad you read the description in the 'Mountain Directory for Truckers and RVers'... our bible when traveling mountains.

As stated by everyone, get into low gear before the descent and the descent on this one starts immediately. It's a multi-lane interstate and those in the right lane will be going very slow. Get in line and join them. It'll be over before you know it!

Honestly, we've driven worse with the motorhome. You'll be just fine. Just don't ride your brakes.