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RoadEyePie · 03-21-2023, 02:05 PM

Route 163 through Monument Valley and Mexican Hat to Rt. 191 to Moab, UT.

Concerned about "Drive Shaft Hill", 11% grade for a half mile. I'm pulling a 39 ft. FW with a one ton dually GMC.

Anyone familiar with this route?

AZstavman · 03-21-2023, 02:18 PM

I went there last year towing my Toad

Really not much of a challenge, wasnt to concerned. A 6%+ for 5mi seems worse to me

andy29847 · 03-21-2023, 03:31 PM

I've been that way several time. I've never noticed a hill that was exceptional. The big grades along this route are 5-6%.

HopsBrewster · 03-21-2023, 03:48 PM

A 1/2 mile is nothing. Just make sure you're using the right gear and let the engine and transmission keep you safe. Don't ride your brakes!

RoadEyePie · 03-21-2023, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HopsBrewster

A 1/2 mile is nothing. Just make sure you're using the right gear and let the engine and transmission keep you safe. Don't ride your brakes!

The 11% grade is up hill.

twogypsies · 03-21-2023, 06:32 PM

We've driven from Moab into Arizona on 191/163 a few times - both directions. Didn't even realize there's a hill!

It's a very popular RV route for all kinds of RVs. I found this on YouTube. You can search just about anything on the site. I think what you're talking about is around the intersection of the two highways & it's on 191. Not sure though exactly where you're talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObVgKAsDR7o

Tahoetom · 03-22-2023, 08:58 AM

Not talking about Moki Dugway are we? 39 feet with a tow ? No Way

BarryG20 · 03-22-2023, 10:10 AM

I don't recall any hills marked 11% but there is a pretty decent hill going into or out of Mexican Hat down to the river crossing depending on your direction, another decent one on 191 but nothing that should make you think might have a hard time.

Now as the previous poster mentioned the Moki Dugway would be a no go as he mentioned but that is on 261 you have to turn off 191 to get on it there would be a sign stating the road number and Goosenecks State Park turn left (which is an excellent view of the San Juan River and a perfect example of an entrenched meander) which you could drive to as it is before the dugway. Awesome drive up to hwy 95 you come out by Natural Bridges National Monument. A lot of hiking and indian ruins up there on Cedar Mesa and the drive out to Muley point at the top of the Moki Dugway is pretty good as well but that rig is not going to have much fun on the Moki Dugway itself if it can even maneuver the turns or even out to Muley point road gets fairly rough at the end of it.

HopsBrewster · 03-22-2023, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

The 11% grade is up hill.

That doesn't change my comment.
Some people are so worried about a hill that they forget to take their foot off the brake pedal going up. I've witnessed it before and I will see it again.

traveldawg · 03-22-2023, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

The 11% grade is up hill.

I never heard of "Drive Shaft Hill" on either 163 or 191 until now. (nor have I seen any lost drive shafts (or broke down vehicles) on that route the many, many times we've been on it).... Is it the stretch Forest Gump ran up?

And I can't find it in the Mountain Directory on either of those roads. I do see some 6%'ers but never had an issue with any of them.

Me thinks one is way overthinking that route and needlessly worrying. People in all sorts of oversized and undersize tow vehicles and motorhomes run it all the time.

RoadEyePie · 03-30-2023, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveldawg

I never heard of "Drive Shaft Hill" on either 163 or 191 until now. (nor have I seen any lost drive shafts (or broke down vehicles) on that route the many, many times we've been on it).... Is it the stretch Forest Gump ran up?

And I can't find it in the Mountain Directory on either of those roads. I do see some 6%'ers but never had an issue with any of them.

Me thinks one is way overthinking that route and needlessly worrying. People in all sorts of oversized and undersize tow vehicles and motorhomes run it all the time.

I'm not sure what year your Mountain West Directory is, but mine has it in there which is where I read it. We drove it today and I'm pretty sure It's there but wasn't anything to be concerned about. The only issue we encountered on the drive was the snowstorm we encountered at the top near Blanding.