One day I stood in Ouray and watched two approximately 40' DP's come down the hill into town. The first one was as cool as a cucumber...the second had all four brakes smoking and smelled terrible.
I don't know for sure but I think the driver of the first DP might have enjoyed the drive...I'm sure the second driver was exhausted and grateful that he survived the trip.
For that road, it is all on the driver. I've done it several times in a '88 32' Bounder towing first a Buick on a tow dolly and later a Jeep on a tow bar. I enjoyed the drive every time. My family is full of truck drivers. I had expert instructors teaching me to drive such roads. I'm thankful and feel lucky I had those long gone mentors to teach me to drive. For the record, the brakes on an '88 P32 Chevrolet chassis aren't that good! My '03 Workhorse has much better brakes but I still use compression braking to retard my downhill speed.
I will probably do it again someday.
The answer is: If you have equipment in good repair and you know how to operate your equipment on such a road it is a good drive...if not..maybe you should take an alternate route.
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2003 34' Georgetown on W20 Workhorse Chassis. UltraRV power mods. Doug Thorley Headers and MagnaFlow 12589 mufflers. Front Sumo Springs, Rear P32 Sumo Springs, UltraRV Track Bar.
1998 Jeep Toad.
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