Have been over Wolf Creek a few times in a truck, both with and without Jakes. Never a problem. Maybe because I used common sense and drove off the top in lower gears and kept the speed under control till I got to the bottom?
THIS route, is the only one I ever intentionally and knowingly, avoided for 28 years of trucking! I've had to change my skivvies on a few others though, in the rookie years! LOL ;)
I remember going over two-lane Wolf Creek Pass for the first time in 1968 when I was 15 years old. Approaching the switchback featured in this video, I vividly recall a sign warning of the hairpin curve ahead and how many lives that had been lost in that curve. The widening of 160 over the pass greatly improved it but drivers have to be careful not to let it give them a false sense of confidence.
I been over only twice out of 25 yrs of driving the speed you drive up the hill loaded is the speed you drive comin down...4 gear with the jakes and tap on the brakes...we lost a couple drivers cause they didn't listen to our warnings...
You're right about that !! 1st time I went over that mountain was at night and I hadn't even realized I made the ascent I just picked up a load of carrots out of Alamosa Colorado what a surprise going down with icy roads and no Guard rails. this was like early 2001. I descended in 4th gear JAKE ENGAGED!!
@@mikedag1176 load of potatoes was my second run , i was in 3rd gear both jakes on and i enjoyed the view..no hurry my life isn't worth the load and the company
@@417plasma6 I go over the pass at least twice each summer I'm out in CO. Use a very similar technique in my SUV pulling a camper. I can always tell the really pro truckers on the downgrade by how slow they're going.
Truck brakes do not fail because brakes turn to liquid. Truck brakes fail because the friction between the brake linings and brake drums causes heat which in turn causes the brake drums to expand. When the brake drums overheat and expand too much the brake shoes can longer press the brake linings against the expanded brake drums with enough force to slow (brake fade) even if the driver has the pedal floored. Newer cars and pickup trucks have disk brakes at all 4 wheels instead of disk brakes at the front wheels and drum brakes at the rear wheels. Starting in 2007 or so some big truck manufacturers were starting to offer disk brakes as an option.
On even steeper descents in other countries, speed limits are set at lower than normal speeds and Trucks, Busses and other large vehicles are REQUIRED to use LOW GEAR. Both of these conditions are enforced both by speed cameras and regular police patrols. I have observed that many US drivers just ride their brakes as many pulled into the same stops as I was at, with their brakes smoking. The check point at the beginning of the Bitumen on Pike's Peak, where they measure the tire temperatures, were surprised at how cool my tires were until I explained that I ALWAYS us the gears, even in an automatic car, to slow the vehicle on a steep or long descent.
Worse one was the foreigner who lost control & weaved, smoked for miles & was too confident and stupid to use the runaway ramps. He just kept passing opportunities, but instead, ran into traffic and killed 4 people. I'm surprised it was only 4 when you watch the crash footage. Better to use the ramps then take chances with people's lives!
I traveled it a few times back in the 50's. Interesting road but not the worst I've seen. The view from the Lookout was featured in the movie Across The Wide Missouri.
I've been over Wolf Creek on my Harley and it's a beautiful ride, but I drove slow for the scenery and for safety. Yes, I got passed by people, but The Wolf can get dangerous very quickly. If you're a trucker and not in your bottom 5 gears, you're a fool! A Jake Brake helps a lot, but if you get going too fast the Jake won't help. The few times I've been over The Wolf, it was heavily patrolled by CO state patrol, for obvious reasons. Coming into Denver on E/B I-70 is another bad section of hi way. For reasons entirely unknown, some truckers don't believe the many warning signs posted about keeping speed down. I've seen a lot of rigs with smoking brakes coming off I-70. There have been some pretty serious accidents on I-70. They should require a Jake Brake on rigs in the Colorado mountains.
This road almost killed me driving across country in the spring coming back to the south from San Diego after getting out of the Navy. I was in a 2wd truck with nothing in the bed. We made the climb thinking nothing of it until that spring blizzard hit. I couldn't touch the brakes or gas. I was only able to downshift. I swerved all over that mountain and finally made it. There were no rails on the side and I couldn't see except for a porthole in my windshield. Meanwhile my wife and kid are watching me swerve all down the mountain in a fwd Honda Civic that had no issues with the pass. When we got to the other side my 40k mile truck was saying, CLACK CLACK CLACK. . . Luckily we made it all the way back to the south and surprisingly ran for another year going clack clack clack until I traded it in.
WENT THRU THERE WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD WITH MY PARENTS,,,,,1965,,,,,,IT WAS A NARROW 2 LANE ROAD,,,,,,AN 18 WHEELER WENT OVER THE SIDE WHERE THE SCENIC OVERLOOK IS,,,,ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE WE CAME BY,,,20 TO 3O CARS WERE STOPED,,,,,SO WE STOPED ALSO AND LOOKED OVER THE EDGE,,,,THE TRUCK HAD HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE CANYON AND FOLDED UP LIKE AN ACORDIAN
My dad used to haul mobile homes across Wolf Creek Pass back when it was a 2 lane road ,and he said it was all a planned trip over the pass the highway patrol would escort from front to back and their would be 15 or more mobile home in line to take them all across. I can't even imagine doing that I would dang sure need a new pair of underwear by the time we were done lol.
Hated Pike's Peak and Independence Pass, but Wolf's Creek was tame by comparison (for me, anyway). Main reason was that most of the pass has 3 lanes w/ the middle and outside lanes going the same direction, so you can stay in the middle lane, if needed. Heard a lot about the steep downhill grade, but keeping the car in a lower gear keeps things under control (and the brakes from burning out).
I've been on the wolf countless times over 38 years never one issue..it's simple to manage you have to respect it with complete authority meaning right gear and jakes..no brakes used you have to be a truck driver and a hot shot super trucker the grave yards are full of super truckers so are the junkyards...if you don't know the pass then don't take it and do not guess...I'm not so much for automatic transmission on any pass much less the wolf stay away from the wolf if your driving a automatic rookies stay away
Breeze Thompson I drove a chevrolet topkick with a 3116 cat w/exhaust brake& an automatic hauling a fully loaded 40 ft trailer down this pass - no problem! I had a selector , so I could choose the gear I wanted.
I've driven it for 50 years. It's no big deal unless you forget to respect the mountain and go slow. I've driven semi trucks and passenger vehicles up there.
Lower gear, engine brake, slow down to 20 miles/hr below recommended speed, let yourself speed up to recommended speed and slow down again. Intermittent braking keeps breaks from overheating.
Every driver that crashes on that stretch of road I just hope never drives in BC in Canada specially the number three because they’re not gone making it
It's usually a automatic transmission and a beginner driver ... You don't see old timers shooting off those cliffs ...The last one was a person from Florida.. My prayers go out to the family.. Better trainings and no Automatic transmissions should be aloud to be on wolf or monarch pass .. If you don't have the gears you will never have the brakes !!!
Yes. Exactly, never drove automatics except for a test drive, but have told they have a "hold" position, but people who have driven it, know that you don't get but one or maybe 2 chances to downshift even with a good jake. What people don't know is that it's. I'm estimating, 5 or 6 miles down to switchback, if you're a quarter mile down from top and stepping on the brake petal, YOU are in serious trouble
@@305r562 Yep, be slow at the top and switch your automatic transmission to manual mode to hold whatever gear your truck was in and leave it there to the bottom and use your engine brake to control speed and rpm. You may have to tap your brake pedal occasionally to slow rpm.
Imagine having the title of director and knowing fuck all of what you're talking about.... "the brakes are melting and they'll lose traction".... Well I'll be go to hell.... all these years I've been lied to and it cost me thousands of dollars in tires when all I had to do to keep traction was replaced the brakes.... well NOW I'm wandering if a new door handle will keep me from having to buy fuel!
The pass dangerous??? Bull shit!!! If drivers dont adjust to conditions,then there will be a problem.Any road can be driven safetly.Its up to the driver ,, not the road conditions.Conditions will always be,but how a driver adapts, makes all the difference
GET RID OF LOOK OUT ! PUT LOOK OUT ON UP HILL SIDE . 4 WHEELERS GO 85 ON THIS ROAD . PUT GREASE ON STEERING WHEEL . SO ITS EASER TO REMOVE hands WHEN U GET TO BOTTOM . # 1 scariest road in USA !
I love how the explanation is that the brakes melt, not that the drums expand. Expert engineer.
I've driven down this incline. If it takes and hour to get to the bottom of it, you were in the right gear and you will still have your brakes.
I was always taught to respecct the mountains and to go down the hill in the same gear as you went up it.
1:30 2:15 that’s me (red volvo). Nice and slow down that mountain.
Have been over Wolf Creek a few times in a truck, both with and without Jakes. Never a problem. Maybe because I used common sense and drove off the top in lower gears and kept the speed under control till I got to the bottom?
I drive over the road. I'm not afraid to admit. In the 80's. This road scared the hell out me in the 80's. Only 2 lanes back then.
THIS route, is the only one I ever intentionally and knowingly, avoided for 28 years of trucking!
I've had to change my skivvies on a few others though, in the rookie years! LOL ;)
I remember going over two-lane Wolf Creek Pass for the first time in 1968 when I was 15 years old. Approaching the switchback featured in this video, I vividly recall a sign warning of the hairpin curve ahead and how many lives that had been lost in that curve. The widening of 160 over the pass greatly improved it but drivers have to be careful not to let it give them a false sense of confidence.
I been over only twice out of 25 yrs of driving the speed you drive up the hill loaded is the speed you drive comin down...4 gear with the jakes and tap on the brakes...we lost a couple drivers cause they didn't listen to our warnings...
You're right about that !! 1st time I went over that mountain was at night and I hadn't even realized I made the ascent I just picked up a load of carrots out of Alamosa Colorado what a surprise going down with icy roads and no Guard rails. this was like early 2001. I descended in 4th gear JAKE ENGAGED!!
@@mikedag1176 load of potatoes was my second run , i was in 3rd gear both jakes on and i enjoyed the view..no hurry my life isn't worth the load and the company
No Jake, don't risk it, same as Cabbage
@@417plasma6 I go over the pass at least twice each summer I'm out in CO. Use a very similar technique in my SUV pulling a camper. I can always tell the really pro truckers on the downgrade by how slow they're going.
Truck brakes do not fail because brakes turn to liquid. Truck brakes fail because the friction between the brake linings and brake drums causes heat which in turn causes the brake drums to expand. When the brake drums overheat and expand too much the brake shoes can longer press the brake linings against the expanded brake drums with enough force to slow (brake fade) even if the driver has the pedal floored.
Newer cars and pickup trucks have disk brakes at all 4 wheels instead of disk brakes at the front wheels and drum brakes at the rear wheels.
Starting in 2007 or so some big truck manufacturers were starting to offer disk brakes as an option.
On even steeper descents in other countries, speed limits are set at lower than normal speeds and Trucks, Busses and other large vehicles are REQUIRED to use LOW GEAR. Both of these conditions are enforced both by speed cameras and regular police patrols.
I have observed that many US drivers just ride their brakes as many pulled into the same stops as I was at, with their brakes smoking.
The check point at the beginning of the Bitumen on Pike's Peak, where they measure the tire temperatures, were surprised at how cool my tires were until I explained that I ALWAYS us the gears, even in an automatic car, to slow the vehicle on a steep or long descent.
Descend in one gear lower than the one ascending. Safe rule of thumb.
Worse one was the foreigner who lost control & weaved, smoked for miles & was too confident and stupid to use the runaway ramps. He just kept passing opportunities, but instead, ran into traffic and killed 4 people. I'm surprised it was only 4 when you watch the crash footage. Better to use the ramps then take chances with people's lives!
Always said trucking downhill, will you be able to stop in time for the rolled over truck blocking the lanes of travel that is around the next bend!!?
I traveled it a few times back in the 50's. Interesting road but not the worst I've seen. The view from the Lookout was featured in the movie Across The Wide Missouri.
I picked up a load of carrots in Alamosa Colorado and ended up on highway 163 and Wolf Creek Pass. It was exhilarating and frightening. Llmmffaaoo
I know everything I need to know about Wolf Creek pass from C.W. McCall
That means you're gonna die, if you go west over it
25 mph is way too fast for 79000 gross unless you have a good jake. No jake? Better go off the top westbound, in 3 rd gear
Me too. He's hilarious.
Me too lmao
That and Black Bear Road😆👍
I've been over Wolf Creek on my Harley and it's a beautiful ride, but I drove slow for the scenery and for safety. Yes, I got passed by people, but The Wolf can get dangerous very quickly. If you're a trucker and not in your bottom 5 gears, you're a fool! A Jake Brake helps a lot, but if you get going too fast the Jake won't help. The few times I've been over The Wolf, it was heavily patrolled by CO state patrol, for obvious reasons. Coming into Denver on E/B I-70 is another bad section of hi way. For reasons entirely unknown, some truckers don't believe the many warning signs posted about keeping speed down. I've seen a lot of rigs with smoking brakes coming off I-70. There have been some pretty serious accidents on I-70. They should require a Jake Brake on rigs in the Colorado mountains.
I come down that i70 stretch every single morning and most truckers are good about it but there's always a few who come flying past me.
This road almost killed me driving across country in the spring coming back to the south from San Diego after getting out of the Navy. I was in a 2wd truck with nothing in the bed. We made the climb thinking nothing of it until that spring blizzard hit. I couldn't touch the brakes or gas. I was only able to downshift. I swerved all over that mountain and finally made it. There were no rails on the side and I couldn't see except for a porthole in my windshield. Meanwhile my wife and kid are watching me swerve all down the mountain in a fwd Honda Civic that had no issues with the pass. When we got to the other side my 40k mile truck was saying, CLACK CLACK CLACK. . . Luckily we made it all the way back to the south and surprisingly ran for another year going clack clack clack until I traded it in.
Me and Earl were hauling chickens on a flatbed out of Wiggins….
First time I did it in a freezing fog in the middle of the night, first time on Cabbage at 2:00 am in a very dense fog...good memories.
This road is like phantom 309 type shit
Respect truckers and the mountains!!
WENT THRU THERE WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD WITH MY PARENTS,,,,,1965,,,,,,IT WAS A NARROW 2 LANE ROAD,,,,,,AN 18 WHEELER WENT OVER THE SIDE WHERE THE SCENIC OVERLOOK IS,,,,ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE WE CAME BY,,,20 TO 3O CARS WERE STOPED,,,,,SO WE STOPED ALSO AND LOOKED OVER THE EDGE,,,,THE TRUCK HAD HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE CANYON AND FOLDED UP LIKE AN ACORDIAN
My dad used to haul mobile homes across Wolf Creek Pass back when it was a 2 lane road ,and he said it was all a planned trip over the pass the highway patrol would escort from front to back and their would be 15 or more mobile home in line to take them all across. I can't even imagine doing that I would dang sure need a new pair of underwear by the time we were done lol.
My first trip through here was before this tunnel was even started.
Hated Pike's Peak and Independence Pass, but Wolf's Creek was tame by comparison (for me, anyway). Main reason was that most of the pass has 3 lanes w/ the middle and outside lanes going the same direction, so you can stay in the middle lane, if needed. Heard a lot about the steep downhill grade, but keeping the car in a lower gear keeps things under control (and the brakes from burning out).
I've been on the wolf countless times over 38 years never one issue..it's simple to manage you have to respect it with complete authority meaning right gear and jakes..no brakes used you have to be a truck driver and a hot shot super trucker the grave yards are full of super truckers so are the junkyards...if you don't know the pass then don't take it and do not guess...I'm not so much for automatic transmission on any pass much less the wolf stay away from the wolf if your driving a automatic rookies stay away
Breeze Thompson I drove a chevrolet topkick with a 3116 cat w/exhaust brake& an automatic hauling a fully loaded 40 ft trailer down this pass - no problem! I had a selector , so I could choose the gear I wanted.
Automatics and assisteds have gear hold mode and jakes as well.
I went down both the wolf & cabbage w/out a Jake & in the snow. Just takes respect & common sense.
"I looked at Earl and his eyes were wide, his lips were curled, and his leg was fried" ...
Wolf Creek Pass - C.W. McCall - 1975 th-cam.com/video/X6LzWZYWpOU/w-d-xo.html
"The sign said clearance to the twelve foot line, but the chickens was stacked to thirteen nine!"
Arguably the greatest lyric ever written.
Where's Earl?
I've driven it for 50 years. It's no big deal unless you forget to respect the mountain and go slow. I've driven semi trucks and passenger vehicles up there.
I've been passed by semis with a highway patrol sitting on the side of the road and not stopping these trucks going faster than the speed limit.
Yes it is
Seems like a great place to drive standard
Lower gear, engine brake, slow down to 20 miles/hr below recommended speed, let yourself speed up to recommended speed and slow down again.
Intermittent braking keeps breaks from overheating.
Every driver that crashes on that stretch of road I just hope never drives in BC in Canada specially the number three because they’re not gone making it
Agreed! Guys getting in trouble on the Colorado hills will be in huge trouble in BC! Hywy 3 is no joke.
The Duffey lake rd at 13% is a real doozy!!
I would be scared to drive on it then☠️☠️☠️☠️✨
You can’t fix stupid. Stupid is forever
I’m glad I’ll never drive on that road in my car😖😖😖😒
It's usually a automatic transmission and a beginner driver ... You don't see old timers shooting off those cliffs ...The last one was a person from Florida..
My prayers go out to the family..
Better trainings and no Automatic transmissions should be aloud to be on wolf or monarch pass ..
If you don't have the gears you will never have the brakes !!!
I've seen old timers get into accidents because complacency
Yes. Exactly, never drove automatics except for a test drive, but have told they have a "hold" position, but people who have driven it, know that you don't get but one or maybe 2 chances to downshift even with a good jake. What people don't know is that it's. I'm estimating, 5 or 6 miles down to switchback, if you're a quarter mile down from top and stepping on the brake petal, YOU are in serious trouble
Been driving for a few months and ignorantly went down this route with automatic, knocked it out without any problems
@@305r562 Yep, be slow at the top and switch your automatic transmission to manual mode to hold whatever gear your truck was in and leave it there to the bottom and use your engine brake to control speed and rpm. You may have to tap your brake pedal occasionally to slow rpm.
It ain't bad if the weather is good unlike Canbage Hill which is nasty all the time....
When came cabbage once and was scared shitlist and my brakes were smoking really good
It is setup by wolves and condi kyme
Imagine having the title of director and knowing fuck all of what you're talking about.... "the brakes are melting and they'll lose traction"....
Well I'll be go to hell.... all these years I've been lied to and it cost me thousands of dollars in tires when all I had to do to keep traction was replaced the brakes.... well NOW I'm wandering if a new door handle will keep me from having to buy fuel!
Again, all about choices.
First thing you need on this stretch of highway is a clean pair of underwear
The pass dangerous??? Bull shit!!! If drivers dont adjust to conditions,then there will be a problem.Any road can be driven safetly.Its up to the driver ,, not the road conditions.Conditions will always be,but how a driver adapts, makes all the difference
GET RID OF LOOK OUT ! PUT LOOK OUT ON UP HILL SIDE . 4 WHEELERS GO 85 ON THIS ROAD . PUT GREASE ON STEERING WHEEL . SO ITS EASER TO REMOVE hands WHEN U GET TO BOTTOM . # 1 scariest road in USA !
Slow the speed limit and ticket the drivers.
Simply to fast and inexperienced