Community Forums

DMacLeod · 07-13-2022, 11:44 AM

I know Glacier NP has a vehicle length restriction of 21ft bumper to bumper.
We took our Ford F350 to the North Fork part of Glacier and we were not checked for our vehicle length. (we're just over 22ft long)
Has anyone been on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in a truck longer than 21ft? I know I'd be taking a chance, but I'm curious just how strict they are.

777 Driver · 07-13-2022, 12:28 PM

Why does the restriction exist?

How many oncoming motorists will you encounter on your crossing?

Why would you think it's OK to knowingly violate the restriction?

Can you 'get away with it'?

Probably, yes. Maybe not.

US 2 has plenty of room to accommodate you.

JMHO.

Take care,
Stu

Hit_the_Rhod · 07-13-2022, 12:39 PM

We just left Glacier Bay today, and we are 50'. No problems . . . . Oh, wait, we're a BOAT!

TexasJack · 07-13-2022, 01:34 PM

I have absolutely NO experience with that road. . . . but why let that stop me? [emoji849] [emoji16]
From things read there's a few, or more, hair raising, uh, hairpin turns. Longer vehicles make for more troubles on that road.

Find out more before going.

traveldawg · 07-13-2022, 02:48 PM

We took our F-350 SB there last year on day trips - no problem. Because the road can be narrow in spots with steep drop offs I think it is the RVs they are trying to keep out, not the pick up trucks.

Finding a place to park - that's a whole different story. Get there early. Or try to get signed up for the hop-on hop-off buses.

MikenDebbie · 07-13-2022, 02:55 PM

General consensus from the Montana forum - duallies are not a problem…
Here is a screen shot from a thread about the Going to the Sun road a year ago…

**hamm2018** · 07-13-2022, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMacLeod

I know Glacier NP has a vehicle length restriction of 21ft bumper to bumper.
We took our Ford F350 to the North Fork part of Glacier and we were not checked for our vehicle length. (we're just over 22ft long)
Has anyone been on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in a truck longer than 21ft? I know I'd be taking a chance, but I'm curious just how strict they are.

We were on it today riding our Spyder. We seen several duallies on it, no issues until a Red Bus and a dually meet on the narrow section. The Red Bus stopped to let the dually get past.
Did not see any location where they actually measured the vehicle. But there are numerous signs nothing bigger than 21ft in length or assembly.

SergioP · 07-13-2022, 09:18 PM

https://youtu.be/ZJ8_l2I3A-I

This video in the first minute shows the problem is rock walls in the narrow part. A long RV side would come real close or maybe hit the wall in the curves.

Might end up with a “Darlinton Stripe” on your RV.

Tdave · 07-13-2022, 09:55 PM

We’ve got a current generation Ford dually, and I jumped at the chance to ride up to the pass from the west side on an e-bike a couple days ago when the road was still closed to motorized traffic… because I really didn’t want to drive my dually on the road.

For what it’s worth, best decision ever, got to stop whenever and wherever we wanted to marvel at the scenery from up there. Hard work, even with the e-bike, but totally worth it.

777 Driver · 07-13-2022, 10:15 PM

The montanaowners.com folks may think it’s OK to violate the Glacier NP published restriction and by inching across the centerline you might avoid kissing the rock walls, as a Montana native who has driven the Going To The Sun highway dozens of times (WOOHOO, it opened today!), the dozens of motorists that you meet during your crossing of the Logan Pass, may not be as thrilled as you are about avoiding prosecution for a violation of published park restriction.

Have you considered the effect you’ll have on the dozens of motorists you'll meet? Many of those folks are terrified by that road. I’ve seen them, pulled over at the various pull-outs, literally shaking in terror by the rock walls on one side and the sheer, thousand foot drops, on the other side. It is a spectacular drive for those who are not terrified. Meeting an oversized vehicle can certainly add to that terror.

In my past, as an aircraft mishap investigator, we recognized a concept described as “Normalization of Deviance”. Briefly, normalization of deviance suggests that successfully doing something that is, arguably stupid, reinforces the belief that it’s OK to do. Hey, I (or, somebody I know…or…read about on a forum) did that and it worked before, it must be OK to do again.

It’s not.

Drop, the trailer and pull in those mirrors. Enjoy the drive over Logan Pass, both ways. Go back and pick up the trailer and be on your way. I know, it's more miles...but...you're here for the scenery. Enjoy.

Take care,
Stu

MevetS · 07-14-2022, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMacLeod

I know Glacier NP has a vehicle length restriction of 21ft bumper to bumper.
We took our Ford F350 to the North Fork part of Glacier and we were not checked for our vehicle length. (we're just over 22ft long)
Has anyone been on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in a truck longer than 21ft? I know I'd be taking a chance, but I'm curious just how strict they are.

Last time we were there, over 10 years ago, we were in our Crew Cab, long bed, F350 (also 20' +). The biggest problem on the Going to the Sun road was if you forget to pull your side view mirrors in. We hit another pickup that forgot to pull their mirrors in. Busted the mirror.

**hamm2018** · 07-14-2022, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 777 Driver

The montanaowners.com folks may think it’s OK to violate the Glacier NP published restriction and by inching across the centerline you might avoid kissing the rock walls, as a Montana native who has driven the Going To The Sun highway dozens of times (WOOHOO, it opened today!), the dozens of motorists that you meet during your crossing of the Logan Pass, may not be as thrilled as you are about avoiding prosecution for a violation of published park restriction.

Have you considered the effect you’ll have on the dozens of motorists you'll meet? Many of those folks are terrified by that road. I’ve seen them, pulled over at the various pull-outs, literally shaking in terror by the rock walls on one side and the sheer, thousand foot drops, on the other side. It is a spectacular drive for those who are not terrified. Meeting an oversized vehicle can certainly add to that terror.
Take care,
Stu

Yesterday, numerous people had the left side wheels over the yellow line toward us. That was even the small cars! They would see a motorcycle, or in our case the Spyder, and ease the vehicle away from the edge wall.
The great thing about the Spyder on that road, is if you want to stop, you do not allot of room to park.

MN_Traveler · 07-16-2022, 10:48 AM

If you think that road is interesting … try the pikes peak summit road…

Fwiw, iwould listen to and obey the published restrictions … they are there for a reason and not arbitrary. As said above, they are there both for you and for the other guy.

It is precisely for roads like this that my toad is a mini cooper manual transmission. I can stay away from people going the other way who are too wide, go down steep grades while barely touching my brakes, and can almost always find a small parking spot no one else can fit into [emoji4]

DMacLeod · 07-17-2022, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike in Austin

General consensus from the Montana forum - duallies are not a problem…
Here is a screen shot from a thread about the Going to the Sun road a year ago…

Well, we did it, we drove our dually both ways on the Going-to-the-Sun road. To be honest with everyone, I would not recommend driving a dually on the road. The issue is many people tend to drive over the center line to stay away from the drop-off if they're driving east bound, or stay away from the rock cliff if driving west bound. Yes we made it ok but we did have to drive with our mirrors folded in and stop a couple of times in the narrow sections to let other large trucks pass.
It can be done but if you have an option to take a smaller vehicle you would probably enjoy the drive better.