US550 Durango to Ridgeway Colorado

rlmankin · 09-05-2017, 01:48 PM

Has anyone pulled their RW along US550 (million $$ highway) between Durango and Ridgeway, Colorado. My wife and I are considering a short trip in late September. I see there is a tunnel with clearance of 13'9". We have a 2013 GMC 3500HD SRW and a stock 31SL. Also, any thoughts on the road between Cortez and Telluride?

Thanks in advance.

Robb

johnboytoo · 09-05-2017, 01:57 PM

Last August we road 550 north of durango with the coach and jeep towed and didn't have an issue as far as we went (maybe 30 miles)...

then when we took the train to Silverton, we took a charter (LARGE) bus back and no issues from there, and I did see a lot of rv's and trucks, so they make it, guess you can...

but it's September and check road conditions up high

rlmankin · 09-05-2017, 02:09 PM

Thanks. You're right, it is September, so weather could be just about anything.

mhs4771 · 09-05-2017, 08:00 PM

Yea, these things aren't fun to take down the road sideways. Found out last October coming back from Thompson, Manitoba when we hit a patch of black ice. Not good to see the back corner of the RW out the side window and you're not making a turn.

**piper guy** · 09-06-2017, 12:04 AM

Yeah, and the black ice kinds negates the possibility of flooring it and pulling it straight again ........ had that same kind of pucker factor many years ago in January in Wisconsin towing a Race Car trailer with not enough tongue weight ....... still brings back unwelcome vivid memories.

atom ant · 09-06-2017, 02:13 AM

it was snowing up there in July this year, so weather is something you get anytime. It's a challenging road - but I see all kinds of rigs on it. We came over there in the Jeeps early spring, and I was commenting on the CB how I probably wouldn't do in the MH, and then a big ol Tiffin went by the other way!

Barnjess · 09-07-2017, 04:35 PM

Is there a way from Creede to Durango with out going on 550? We are doing this in a few days!! yikes!

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RCAircraft · 09-07-2017, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnboytoo

Last August we road 550 north of durango with the coach and jeep towed and didn't have an issue as far as we went (maybe 30 miles)...

then when we took the train to Silverton, we took a charter (LARGE) bus back and no issues from there, and I did see a lot of rv's and trucks, so they make it, guess you can...

but it's September and check road conditions up high

Not sure about clearances however I use to take my youngest son to college in Durango and ran into major snow in the mountains in early August then again in May when picking him up for the trip home. Durango is mild however the mountains between Colorado Springs/Denver and Durango/Silverton/Grand Junction can be some trip. I finally stopped taking the short routes and traveled down to I-40 from Lees Summit, MO to Albuquerque then up to Durango. At least it was not a white knuckle drive.

atom ant · 09-09-2017, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barnjess

Is there a way from Creede to Durango with out going on 550? We are doing this in a few days!! yikes!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes - From Creede you can just jump back down south to 160 and go west over Wolfe Creek Pass into Pagosa Spr and on into Durango. Its probably much faster than going north up through Lake City and back down 550, and I think the view is just as good, especially looking west from Wolf Creek Pass.

Lake City is a fun place to go with the pickup if you have time, and the views from Creed to Lake City are gorgeous as well!

RCAircraft · 09-09-2017, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atom ant

Yes - From Creede you can just jump back down south to 160 and go west over Wolfe Creek Pass into Pagosa Spr and on into Durango. Its probably much faster than going north up through Lake City and back down 550, and I think the view is just as good, especially looking west from Wolf Creek Pass.

Lake City is a fun place to go with the pickup if you have time, and the views from Creed to Lake City are gorgeous as well!

In the first week of August, 2007 or so I followed a snow plow over Wolf Creek Pass on US 160 west bound. The snow was over a foot deep along the sides and snowing heavily. On the west side of the pass the road gate was closed. We must have been the last of lost souls getting off of the pass.That cured me and took the southern route out of and into Durango via Albuquerque from then on.

atom ant · 09-10-2017, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCAircraft

In the first week of August, 2007 or so I followed a snow plow over Wolf Creek Pass on US 160 west bound. The snow was over a foot deep along the sides and snowing heavily. On the west side of the pass the road gate was closed. We must have been the last of lost souls getting off of the pass.That cured me and took the southern route out of and into Durango via Albuquerque from then on.

The only rule about Colorado weather is there are no rules. Ironically we bought 3 RVs in Durango we took delivery on all of them around January-February. We had to drag all of those back home to Denver over Wolf Creek, and in January and February we were on dry roads, even when there was a blizzard going on in Denver on one of those trips.

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