Anyone Driven Pikes Peak?

reardiff · March 7, 2018

Not sure if this is the right forum for this (moderator feel free to move if so) but planning a trip to CO and up Pikes Peak soon and had a few questions. Any reason to be concerned with engine / transmission overheating or other issues due to altitude? Also, is it safe to let engine do the braking in lower gears on the way down? With the 8 speed figuring 2nd or 3rd gear should be about right for descending.

Mike GMC · March 7, 2018

Engine braking is recommended. You risk burning up your brakes if you don't. The key is to stay slower and not have to use a ton of brakes. The altitude will kill lots of power, but it won't hurt the truck. You may have more issues with it than the truck will. Altitude sickness is a real thing.

reardiff · March 7, 2018

Elevation where I'm at in IL is 477 ft. so it will definitely be a shock to the system at over 14,000. However trying to convince a 9 year old who has ADHD to not run around after a 15 hour road trip maybe a challenge. Just as long as nobody throws up in my truck ;)

sdeeter19555 · March 7, 2018

We drove it, but with a turbo diesel...wasn't anything to climb, coming back down was combination of lowering gears, engine braking, and snub braking.

It sounds bad to drive, but it's nothing really.

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wforrest08 · March 7, 2018

We expect a full report on the experience and a pic of the truck at the top upon your return home. This trip is on my list of stuff to do one of these years. At least you got the 6.2 to carry you to the top unlike me. My In-laws did it a couple years ago in their Dodge Journey, if that thing can do it anything can! Everyone I’ve talked to about say the worse part is if “looking over the edge” bothers you or someone in the vehicle you/they will have the pucker effect in full force. Other thing hours road open changes with the time of year https://www.pikespeak.us.com/Essentials/hours-and-fees.html or you could always take the cog train to the top...

RadoRage · March 7, 2018

Like others stated. Watch the trip back down. Pull over and let the brakes rest if you see yourself on them more than expected, use engine braking if possible. Mainly, just take it easy going down. First timers tend to underestimate how quickly they get going downhill.. Expect power loss due to higher elevation. Keep aware of your own healt as well. High altitude can do a number on you if you dont prepare for it and do a lot of hiking.

sdeeter19555 · March 7, 2018

Just remember, no trailers...

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reardiff · March 7, 2018

Thanks for the replies, all good things to take note of. Don't plan on much physical exertion but certainly don't want to underestimate the altitude either. Certainly plan to get lots of pics and report back. I mentioned 'soon' but really won't be going until end of May. Just getting prepared at this point.

Off subject a bit, but also looking to take in some of the local trails / backroads nearby. However I'm finding the hard part with this is finding trails that a stock truck can reasonably handle with out getting in over my head. Also thinking about heading down farther and out to Carson Ghost town via Wager Gulch trail. If anybody has done that would love to hear about the experience.

Mike GMC · March 7, 2018

I used to do a lot of off roading in my Jeep. 99% of the trails are more than I would want to do in a stock k2 1500. Mostly due to the air dam. If you remove the air dam and make sure your spare tire is up to par, you should be able to handle engineer pass or mosquito pass. They are scenic, but not too difficult. As a novice, stay on the easiest trials. You still have to drive the thing all the way home. Trails are usually rated on a scale of either 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 depending on who's rating it. Stay on the low number ratings. Colorado doesn't have much mud, just big sharp rock that eat sidewalls.

Robopie · March 7, 2018

Took that pic on top of Pike's Peak during sunrise (that's my camera - took pics from phone as well). It was an amazing morning.

With today's modern cars, it's just like a normal drive. Nothing to worry about. Definitely downshift going downhill though. No big deal.

redwngr · March 7, 2018

Read about altitude sickness and acclimatization before you go. spend a day around Denver or Colorado Springs before going further up.

https://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/23/altitude-sickness-tips-colorado/

http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/altitude-sickness-rocky-mountain-national-park.htm

They used to stop vehicles part way down and check your brakes for heat before letting you continue.

Been up once in mid-80's in a pickup in a pickup (they checked our brakes coming down) and in about 2010 on motorcycles - they just waved us by..

Weather at that elevation can change on sort notice, and you can get snow any day of the year.

If you've not been to Rocky Mountain NP, take the opportunity to go there and drive Trail Ridge Road as well.

redwngr · March 7, 2018

3 minutes ago, Robopie said:

Took that pic on top of Pike's Peak during sunrise (that's my camera - took pics from phone as well). It was an amazing morning.

With today's modern cars, it's just like a normal drive. Nothing to worry about. Definitely downshift going downhill though. No big deal.

Fantastic picture!

reardiff · March 7, 2018

X2 great shot, thanks for sharing!

Grumpy Bear · March 7, 2018

Pikes Peak, Mt. Evens, Loveland Pass and St. Mary's Glacier. Lower gears. Easy on the brakes. Take a stop or three. I made it to the parking lot at the peak of Mt. Evans last time out but could nail the walk to the rock. Gassed. Hurt me more than the ride. Someone else mentioned the weather. Yea, the mountain makes it's own weather. Stay prepared.

thefishhawk · March 7, 2018

Personally, I'd do Mt Evans instead of Pikes Peak just due to the tourist factor, but of course Pikes is the famous one. They chopped off the top and put a parking lot with gift shop and restaurant on Pikes. Mt Evans is more rustic I guess. Park near the top then take a short hike.

Talking May you definitely have to keep an eye on the conditions if you are talking something like the trails down around Lake city like Wager Gulch. We haven't had great snowpack this year but May is pretty early, could easily not be passable all the way to the town.