US 16 from Buffalo WY to Ten Sleep - Have you driven it?

[CharlesinGA]

I am spending from the 11th to the 16th at a Bigfoot fiberglass RV rally in Sturgis SD. On the 16th I will depart and want to head west, to Cody, and not sure what else.

I know that US 14 across the Bighorn has some real steep downgrades and I'm sure US 16 has some too but it just looks better, and is more direct to Cody anyhow. i have a '03 RAM 2500 with a Cummins and NO exhaust brake. I generally do fairly well navigating the downgrades in the NC mountains, but have to be real careful. A diesel just doesn't have much engine braking without an exhaust brake.

For me, a 7% grade for example is doable but requires slowing to a crawl and dropping into second or no more than 3rd gear and holding 25mph or so.

I'm looking for folks who have driven this route to comment on the downgrades. I could go around, but thats a lot of extra driving (and taking 212 from Spearfish to Little Bighorn battlefield and going over the north side of the Bighorn is not an option. Apparently the road is washed out and Google keeps giving me a long, out of the way detour on questionable roads. When I tried to drag the route back to the main road, it bluntly says "turn around".

Its difficult to tell from Google street view. I may have to boot the cat out of the room and use the computer in the house, the laptop on wifi in the shop has too much lag in it.

Charles

 

[UTTransplant]

We have done both with a travel trailer towed by a Ram 3/4 ton diesel and in a diesel 40’ MH with toad. In our experience, 16 is an easier road. it is not an easy road, just easier. You will still have some steep sections and hairpin curves, just not as many. We also think Buffalo is a neater town than Sheridan, but that is just personal opinion!

 

[CharlesinGA]

Thanks for the information. I did finally get a look at it on Google satellite and street view and is a very nice area but while its difficult to tell up or down grades on street view, I saw enough signs for "7% grade next 3 miles" and such to make me want to shy away from it if possible (at least this year, until I get the PAC brake installed.

Charles

 

[beaverfever]

you can drive it on u tube but don't miss one of the most beautiful drives in Wyoming. like any mountain range you will have some up and down but nothing you have to worry about,just keep the speed down and enjoy the scenery.

 

[Jackiemac]

Highly recommend the 120 through Meeteetse. Stop there at the museum. An hour or so will do it.

Also checkout the Gooseberry Badlands which are worth a short hike.

We did US 16 and don't remember it being too bad.

Change Google to cycle mode and it shows elevation profile.


Brewery at Tensleep pretty nice too.

 

[Rob&Deryl]

I did it years ago on motorcycles and the only issue we had was snow at the summit in August.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Highly recommend the 120 through Meeteetse. Stop there at the museum. An hour or so will do it.

Also checkout the Gooseberry Badlands which are worth a short hike.

We did US 16 and don't remember it being too bad.

Change Google to cycle mode and it shows elevation profile.


Brewery at Tensleep pretty nice too.

I had looked at 120 and was wondering about it. Museum is a good idea to break up the ride.

I had seen the trick about the gradient on Google Maps previously on the bicycle setting but had forgotten about it, thanks, it may come in useful.

If this truck was a gas engine, or a later diesel with an exhaust brake those grades would be nothing, and I would not even be asking the question. I have negotiated similar long 6/7/8% grades in North Carolina and with the older diesel with no exhaust brake, it comes down to slowing to about 20 mph, dropping into 2ed or 3rd gear (straight shift) and then jabbing the brakes every 20 seconds or so to keep the speed down, and a close eye on the tach the whole time to keep the engine RPM below about 2500. The Pacbrake exhaust brake kit will be here next week but won't get installed until this winter, its a fair amount of work, but will make steep down grades easy peasy. I should have ordered the Pacbrake kit earlier and worked on getting it installed, but this has been an expensive summer, and I was just trying to delay the inevitable.

The couple I travel with alot has vacation starting about the same time I leave Sturgis, so I suspect we will end up meeting up somewhere. He is not talking much right now, but I know he is putting a lot of work into getting ready.

Charles

 

[tanglemoose]

We typically get a little snow around middle of September... watch weather forecasts. Cody is nice in fall, don't miss museum. Lots to do in Cody. If weather turns, you can take Interstate from Sheridan up to Billings, to Cody, easy drive. The drive out if Cody to East entrance is beautiful, most people just zip by...