Is there someone here who is from Colorado or has done some towing and camping in Colorado. I was thinking of seeing some of the Rocky's during our vacation this summer. I don't have a lot of time and my shortest route would be straight west and slightly south to Colorado. I have considered the area around Colorado Springs or Rocky Mountain National Park. The info on the net on the park is not too specific but I gather the camping areas are at about 8000 feet or higher. some require reservations and some have an RV restriction of 27 feet. I will be towing a 31 foot trailer and will be longer than 50 feet hitched up. I would welcome some personal experienses like how accessable campsites are with this combo and how will this height affect my towing performance. We have towed a lot along the east coast and mountains but not at this altitude. We have towed this combo at grades of up to 9 and 10%. Will we be OK camping at that altitude we live at 600 feet. Some of the park data notes that you may have to move to lower elevations if you have problems. Would i be better to stay in a private park at lower elevations and drive in for day trips.

 

I am not from Colorado, but I visit there most years and have done a great deal of camping in Rocky Mountain National Park.

You will be able to take your rig up the mountains, but you will be doing a lot of your towing in second or even first gear. Ford says that you should expect a 3% reduction in towing performance for every 1,000 ft. gain in elevation.

The roads in your destination areas are good and the grades are moderate at the most. You will not encounter any 9-10% grades.

You are correct in presuming that your trailer's length pretty much excludes you from most of the national park's campgrounds. I have seen some 30 ft.+ rigs in Moraine Park campground, but there are only a very few sites that can accomodate them. Moraine Park is on the National Park Service Campground Reservation System; it would be worthwhile to call the campground staff directly and ask if they can accomodate you. There is a spacious campground just outside of the park's boundaries and it is usually full of large rigs. The name is Blue Arrow.

If you take things slow and easy for the first couple of days after you get into the high country, you shouldn't suffer any of the effect of altitude sickness. Don't do any hiking during this acclimation period.

Good luck with your plans.

Dino

 

A trailer that large will limit the number of places you can go... some of the most beautiful (and less populated areas) won't permit trailers that long and/or you've got real big cahones to pull a trailer that big up a gravel road with two wheel drive.

Couple of links - to get some sense of what is available

http://www.gocampingamerica.com/index2.html

http://www.campcolorado.com/

http://www.rvpark.com/col.htm

 

I have no intent to pull that thing up gravel roads. I do realize that it does limit some of the places we go. I have had to back it out of gas stations in one horse towns as I could not get around the pumps and have had a campground owner pull a post out on a corner so i could make the corner. That is why I am asking as I need to know where I am going ahead of time. We will pull it up the Interstates and State roads to a nice campground and then take day trips. That is why I want something on the east side of the Rockies and will not be pulling the trailer through the passes. I will check out the campcolorado link. Thanks for the info.

 

CanadianSCrew, WOW that is a lot of trailer for your truck. I suggest you ask at :
Link

Lots of veteran RVers that will help you out. Good Luck

 

I am from Colorado Springs. There are a few areas south of Colorado Springs that would have room for your rig. Around Fountain, Co and maybe even some a little west towards Woodland park. This would put you around I-25 and Hwy-24 for access to the mountains. Keep in mind, we are in a severe drought here and the mountains look like January without the snow. Fire bans are in effect all over, so no campfires. Some places are not even allowing propane stoves or gas grills. The scenery west of Colorado Springs is great. Trip to the top of Pikes Peak is nice. All depends on what you want to do. It would work well to park at an RV park with that trailer, I don't know too many places that can handle a 31' rig and then have a place for your truck to park. Good luck.

 

Well I just made a reservation at Garden of the gods RV resort near Colorado Springs. We will tow the trailer out there and then leave it and take day trips from there. Will let you know next month how it went. Thanks for the input and I will have to watch for "SCOTTS-CREW" while I am there.

 

That is a nice place. Been there the last few year. You will enjoy!