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  1. #11
    Seasoned Camper
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    Quote Originally Posted by TS_Breezes View Post
    I guess I should have just left the mountain pass off my post
    We don’t plan on going over the pass- and would enjoy a leisurely drive around the Albuquerque and Santa Fe regions. We understand many drive the pass - so have any of you driven the 550 drive south to the areas I mentioned? Cool stuff to see along that route?
    If your intent is to avoid mountain passes or go to Santa Fe or Albuquerque then 550 will do it. If you want to see scenery 550 is not the way to go since it goes through some real dry country. It has been a couple of years since we have been on that road. Looking at Google maps the road is the typical New Mexico back road with with lots of sealed cracks. Expect plenty of bouncing and pounding from the road. With your rig you can easily do the commonly traveled Colorado passes, use engine brake and gear down and go slow.
    2020 Reflection 337RLS
    2020 F350 Dually

  2. #12
    Long Hauler
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    May 2020
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    All over - Full-timing
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    I live right off of 550, near the little town of Bernalillo and just up the road from Santa Ana Star Casino. I've driven 550 to get to much more beautiful locations, such as Jemez (which is burning right now), Coyote and Regina, NM which gives you access to the Santa Fe National Forest.

    As for 550, it's a typically New Mexico road. Lots of sealed cracks (as pointed out above), not much scenery, except off in the distance, until you get closer to the Jemez Mountains. It is flat though.

    Being an ol' Colorado rodeo boy, pulling horse trailers over Wolf Creek pass, and many other Colorado passes, Wolf Creek is one of the nicest passes to pull a trailer through. Just take your time and when going down hill, keep the rig in a lower gear. If you have an exhaust brake, use it. Heck, there are even pullouts along the route so you can soak up the great Colorado scenery.

    If we weren't in such a hurry to make the next rodeo, I'd have stopped many times. Now that I'm older, and supposedly wiser, I have stopped to admire the scenery.

    It's all in your comfort level though.

    From the Mountain States Directory:

    "Going westbound from the summit of Wolf Creek Pass we find signs warning--"7% grade-winding road next 9 miles" and "Trucks stay in lower gear" and "Vehicles over 55,000 lbs. must use right lane" and "Vehicles over 55,000 lbs. 25 mph." Starting down the mountain westbound the speed limit is 25 mph. and it's four lane road."

    It's not as bad as it sounds. Just keep it slow, in a lower gear, with the exhaust brake, and don't "ride" the brakes, tap them then get off of them; keeping in a lower gear will kept your speed down, so you shouldn't be using your brakes as often.

    Mark & Mary. Currently hailing from New Mexico and going full time in August 2022.
    Current coach: 2021 Grand Design Reflection 320MKS
    Current Rig: 2019 Ford F350 SD Crew Cab, w/8' box, Lariat, SRW, 6.7l Diesel
    Mark & Mary. Full-timing across the USA (and Canada)!
    Current Coach: 2021 Grand Design Reflection 320MKS
    Current Rig: 2019 Ford F350 SD Crew Cab, w/8' box, Lariat, SRW, 6.7l Diesel

  3. #13
    Fireside Member
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    May 2019
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    Thanks Rob - I saw you mention the mountain directory previously and purchased both East & West copies.
    It is pretty thorough.

    Quote Originally Posted by Second Chance View Post
    Just a note of caution... flattestroute.com can be misleading. It often shows grades of 10 - 15% that coincide with neither reality nor The Mountain Directory. I would recommend downloading a digital copy of The Mountain Directory (combined East/West version):

    https://mountaindirectory.com/ebooks/

    I have found this to be much more useful with its maps and text descriptions - lots more information.

    Rob
    2020 F-450 Lariat, CrewCab 8' bed, diesel
    2020 Solitude S-series 2930rl-R

  4. #14
    Fireside Member
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    Sep 2017
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    Henderson, NV
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    No problems with Wolf Creek Pass... The end!
    Chuck & Ursula Stratton
    US Army Helicopter Pilot
    2015 Reflection 303RLS
    2015 GMC SIERRA 3500HD DENALI

  5. #15
    Left The Driveway
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    We take 550 all the time between Albuquerque and Durango. We have taken it north and south. It’s a fine road with interesting rock formations part of the way. We are taking it this August coming from Durango and continuing to Colorado Springs stopping in Bermaililio and then Raton. We are full timers pulling a 41’ Solitude and take our time getting places.

  6. #16
    New Member
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    We live in Pagosa Springs and have used 550 somewhat. When we do we go US 84 south and then over to 550 through Dulce NM. It is a back way but we have done that way to 550 and then east to Bernalillo, north of Albuquerque. We prefer to use US 84 from Pagosa to Santa Fe. Us 550 is a very good road and you should not have any issues

  7. #17
    Setting Up Camp
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    Sep 2020
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    Colorado
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    Quote Originally Posted by TS_Breezes View Post
    Looking for a mountain-pass free drive - to get from Durango to Colorado Springs/ Cheyenne Mountain SP.
    550 south through Cuba down to I-25- then up to our destination.
    Any surprises along that route? Solitude is 13’ 4” high and 35’ long.
    Will probably take it slow - 3 nights - until our next reserved site in Cheyenne Mtn. Suggestions?

    Thanks!!!
    Cindy
    Cindy,

    Taking the HWY 550 route to I25 will be the most level in altitude gain and loss as well as the most serviced and maintained route. You will encounter the Raton Pass on I25 headed north to Trinidad. Construction has been completed there and it is now an easy pass to manage.

    What will be surprising is the vast open space you will travel through. Second, you will see the smoke and maybe forest service response teams due to the massive forest fire that is burning west of Las Vegas, NM.

    Most of the route from Farmington to I25 is open space with only a few small towns you will pass through. Farmington and Santa Fe will be your best fueling stops. I have experienced severe winds from Santa Fe to Raton this time of year which resulted in much slower speeds and 7-8 mpg. Ouch at $5.60/gallon of diesel.

    Enjoy your time in the Land of Enchantment (New Mexico) and the state of Color (Colorado).

    Keith
    Keith and Tina
    2021 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
    2014 RAM 3500 6.7L Cummins Crew Cab SWD SB 4X4
    Hitch Curt 20k Fixed Mount

  8. #18
    Site Sponsor
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    Feb 2018
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    SW Colorado
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    Quote Originally Posted by TS_Breezes View Post
    Looking for a mountain-pass free drive - to get from Durango to Colorado Springs/ Cheyenne Mountain SP.
    550 south through Cuba down to I-25- then up to our destination.
    Any surprises along that route? Solitude is 13’ 4” high and 35’ long.
    Will probably take it slow - 3 nights - until our next reserved site in Cheyenne Mtn. Suggestions?

    Thanks!!!
    Cindy
    Cindy
    Your planed rout will be a cake walk, but might be a bit boring. NM is high desert. The Junction at I 25 can have heavy traffic. Be sure to fuel ip in durango or befor Bloomfield NM. Between there and Bernalillo (I 25) there is not much. Its all Native American reservations. Bernalillo probably has the best fuel prices before you swing north on I 25,

    Personally with you rig I would do 160 west over wolf creek then at Del Norte cut up to 285 then north to Buneao Vista then east on 24 to Colorado Springs.You can take a short side trip to the Sand Dunes NP north of Alamosa (you can cut straight across on that Del Norte leg to 285. Beautiful scenery and good roads. Wolf creek is a very easy pass to drive and the views are a million times better than ABQ. Plenty of fishing and places to camp. You will want to go slow, not for the road, but for the view.Your flat route will will be boring and not a lot of places to stay - well except Santa Fe.

    Safe travels.
    Last edited by powerscol; 05-13-2022 at 07:42 PM.
    2018 Reflection 150 Series 220RK 5th wheel with 6K axle upgrade. B&W 25K OEM Companion, Steadyfast system, 2022 F350 SRW 6.7 King Ranch 8' bed, Trailer reverse lights, rear spare tire holder, storage tube, sumo springs, Victron MultiPlus 12/120/3000, and Solar

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