Community Forums

Dsrtrider · 09-12-2019, 10:04 PM

This looks like a pretty good and long grade ? Anybody have any experience with it with a 36 ft gasser towing a 3200 lb toad.

rk911 · 09-12-2019, 10:31 PM

yup. mostly down but some up as well. there's a good pull just south of the cottonwood exit. the mountain west directory will have the grade/length information. get the app and/or the printed version. there will be a decent 1-2 mile pull just past the Cottonwood exit.
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10. CAMP VERDE GRADES and I-17

(between Flagstaff and Phoenix, AZ)

Camp Verde, Arizona is in a valley and the descent is long and steep from both north and south on I-17. There are runaway truck ramps on both of these hills. There is also a steep descent for southbound traffic near Black Canyon City between mileposts 251 and 244 on I-17.

FROM THE NORTH INTO CAMP VERDE:

About 26 miles south of the junction of I-40 and I-17 at Flagstaff there is a sign for southbound traffic—"6% grade 2 miles ahead." About ½ mile later there is another sign—"Trucks—vehicles pulling trailers check brakes and equipment—use scenic view." At milepost 312 a sign warns—"6% grade next 13 miles" and ½ mile later the 6% begins. The first 3 ½ miles are fairly steady 6% grade.

There are several breaks in the descent where the grade eases. The first two breaks are only ¼ to ½ mile long and then between mileposts 306 and 304 the grade is about 4%. Between mileposts 304 and 298 the grade is pretty steady at 6% (almost 6 miles.) There is a runaway truck ramp just before milepost 300. The ramp goes off to the right and is almost level. There are several warning signs as you approach it.

About milepost 298 the grade goes uphill for a short distance and then flattens as you approach the rest area. If your brakes are hot this may be a good place to cool them because it is still 9 miles to the bottom of the hill at Camp Verde. Not all of the 9 miles are downhill—in fact there is a mile of uphill included—and most of the downhill is 4-5% from the rest area to Camp Verde.

twogypsies · 09-12-2019, 10:42 PM

Actually, if I'm reading the OP's question correctly, he's going from Camp Verde south toward Cordes Junction and for that he'll have about 6 miles of steep uphill.

Just stay in the right lane where the semi trucks will be and they'll be going slow, also.

It's a popular route and many RVers do it.

rk911 · 09-12-2019, 10:55 PM

is it that long of a pull south of the cottonwood exit? could be...seemed shorter to me but it's been 2-yrs and i'm getting older. i recall not having too much tbl...we we're in a 40' gasser towing a jeep liberty. speed never fell below 40. about the only issue for me was being behind a really, really slow truck and being able to pass speed wise but unable due to faster traffic in the left lane.

no, the only real issue for me was the terrible road bed on WB 40 roughly 10-mi east of I-17 and I-17 between I-40 and Camp Verde. unless it's been fixed since 2017 buckle up and hold on.

Sue46 · 09-13-2019, 04:12 AM

We have done this several times with a 36' M and a 3900 lb. toad. No problems at all.

Glenn and Kathy · 09-13-2019, 10:28 AM

Pretty much starts at the Cottonwood exit. Just stay right, set up for the climb and relax the big rigs will be running about the same speed.

Glenn

DbleDutch · 09-13-2019, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsrtrider

This looks like a pretty good and long grade ? Anybody have any experience with it with a 36 ft gasser towing a 3200 lb toad.

Yes, it is a climb. Have done it each way 100s of times with all sorts of equipment. My practice is to turn off the chassis AC to squeeze every HP out and minimize heating. This is a major summer weekend escape route for the desert dwellers and thousands of RVs up and down this hill.

Dsrtrider · 09-15-2019, 10:03 PM

Did the drive today was good . Never got below 55 mph wasnt towing today. highest colant tempwas 208 trans temp 176 Coach ran flawless. Workhorse 8.1 Allison 2000 series Didnt use a/c , Thanks All