To Pikes Peak and back
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From: Lone Star State
To Pikes Peak and back
The new F150 earned its keep this last week. We made over 2,500 miles from Texas, OKC, Salina, KS I-70 over to Denver then 25 South to Co Springs, into the mtns on 24. Then back home down I-25 through Raton Pass.
We hauled our 24ft camper the whole way a Keystone Passport @5k lbs loaded.
The truck did very well even though I wish I had gear control. It would hunt in the out of overdrive on the highway. I never triggered sway control even with 40mph gusts from the side. I was able to maintain 50mph up Raton Pass with it held to the floor. I wish I could activate engine braking more easily. It only seemed to kick down on aggressive run away downhills. I could have used it on more mild descents. Coming down Pikes Peak I would have liked 2lo or an in between 1-2nd gear. 1st gear crawled at 10-12mph and 2nd gear was too fast at 25-30mph.
I averaged 10mph hauling 65mph.
We ran several easy rated off road back road trails in the Charles Wells Colorado guide book. I used 4 low to crawl down The Shelf Road trail. The rest of the trails I only needed 2wd and manual gear for 1st or 2nd. With the AS leveling kit I never had clearance issues. I may have had some pop or clunk from the front end but nothing obviously broken.
We hauled our 24ft camper the whole way a Keystone Passport @5k lbs loaded.
The truck did very well even though I wish I had gear control. It would hunt in the out of overdrive on the highway. I never triggered sway control even with 40mph gusts from the side. I was able to maintain 50mph up Raton Pass with it held to the floor. I wish I could activate engine braking more easily. It only seemed to kick down on aggressive run away downhills. I could have used it on more mild descents. Coming down Pikes Peak I would have liked 2lo or an in between 1-2nd gear. 1st gear crawled at 10-12mph and 2nd gear was too fast at 25-30mph.
I averaged 10mph hauling 65mph.
We ran several easy rated off road back road trails in the Charles Wells Colorado guide book. I used 4 low to crawl down The Shelf Road trail. The rest of the trails I only needed 2wd and manual gear for 1st or 2nd. With the AS leveling kit I never had clearance issues. I may have had some pop or clunk from the front end but nothing obviously broken.
Last edited by L8 APEX; Jun 18, 2010 at 05:41 PM.
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From: Pasadena, Maryland
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From: Lone Star State
One thing I did notice was the truck seemed to have an engine miss every now and then. I don't think it was a transmission shift. Even at steady cruise it would skip a beat on occasion. I could not pin it down though. It was at cruise under load at various altitudes 3-9k ft.
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Thanks for sharing your pics! I've driven to the top of Mt Evans (and hiked a few too) but never Pike's Peak. Maybe this summer I'll make it down there.
X2 on the Charles Wells books too. My friends and I have worn out our copies of the Colorado books. I even bought one for Moab before my trip this Spring. When you get back there, they're worth their weight in gold!
X2 on the Charles Wells books too. My friends and I have worn out our copies of the Colorado books. I even bought one for Moab before my trip this Spring. When you get back there, they're worth their weight in gold!
