Okay this was intense

[SHRED]

Last edited Thu May 30, 2019, 10:02 AM - Edit history (1)

Today was hair raising. YouTube "Dooley Mountain Oregon" or "Oregon Highway 245".

188 turns in 14 miles of the worst part. We didn't realize the road we were getting into.

I should have unhooked the tow car from the motorhome.
In fact, we shouldn't have gone up and over Dooley Mountain period but we made it.

Twisty, steep dropoffs, no guard rails, and the area burned in 2016 leaving a barren view that wasn't reassuring.
I kept it in first after the pass for the downhill to highway 7.

Lesson learned...I hope


Driving 20,000 pounds over it isn't for the faint of heart.

[cilla4progress]

1. Been on some roads like that

in e. Washington. Logging roads. Not pulling 20K LBS though! Maybe 12K - loaded horse trailer!

[SHRED]

2. It was white knuckle time

I need to really research the roads here better.

[CentralMass]

6. Oregon has an aversion to using guardrails.

[SHRED]

7. And this...

As I look back on this experience I am perplexed as to why Oregon doesn't have signage for this road. Such as "steep and narrow curvy road ahead with exposed drop offs. Not recommended for towing".

Or words like that.

[CentralMass]

8. I agree.

[applegrove]

3. First gear is your friend for sure. Used it many a time at particularly

steep hills on the dirt road to our cottage.

[thewhollytoast]

4. Glad you are okay.... now get some sleep.

Toast

[rusty quoin]

5. 20,000 pounds? I hope you got plenty of breaks.

[SHRED]

9. I used 1st gear coming down the grade

Last edited Thu May 30, 2019, 10:40 PM - Edit history (1)

It's a must to not get the brakes hot.

[rusty quoin]

10. I recently watched this bad movie, all the way through, Black Dog, with Patrick Swayze.

It’s a trucker movie. What it was good in doing was explaining the importance of finding the right gear before you begin the decline because it can become too late and brakes cannot save you.

I’m glad you came out of it safe, and with real adrenaline infused experience that will last your life.

1st gear...you must have crawled down. Had I been in your place I would worried about the transmission ability to hold out the whole way down.

[SHRED]

11. I swapped out...

...the aftermarket tachometer a previous owner installed for a transmission temp gauge.
Much more important and useful.
It got hot but within an acceptable range.

[rusty quoin]

12. One hell of a story.