Mount Washington Auto Road

I know snow starts to settle up there in October.

As far as allowing vehicles. As long as it's registered and holds a valid inspection sticker they can't deny it the right to travel on the road.

I did a group ride up there many years a go and trust me many of the trucks where of questionable road legal stature. As long as you had the proper paper work to prove your state recognized it as a safe over the road vehicle. Their wasn't any thing they could do.

I traveled the road in my 95 Ranger on 38's stock 5 speed, 3.0 6cyl . Brakes where a little over heated by the end but I had no worries.

As I said it's a great family day trip so I know I'm planning it by the end of the month.

Mike
Methuen, MA
 
vwfoolwhy said:
As far as allowing vehicles. As long as it's registered and holds a valid inspection sticker they can't deny it the right to travel on the road.
They actually can. It's a privately operated road and they do have their own set rules of what can/can't be allowed, but it also comes down to the judgment of the person at the entrance. If they feel your vehicle isn't suitable or safe for any reason they can turn you away.

Here's their list of restrictions: http://www.mountwashingtonautoroad.com/Page-23.html
 
This looks really cool and i would love to do it i just wish it wasn't an 8 hour ride there.
 
My dad and i did it a while back in a 5 speed 87 xj, it was fine but i have yet to get my 98 lifted xj up there, i do wish to go though.

Check out the web site, it lists vehicle requirements and max width etc.
 
I'm going to try to get a trans cooler installed tomorrow, or at least pick one up and a new radiator. Then maybe in the next couple weeks I can go.
^^^I used to see your XJ around quite often, but not much anymore...is it in hibernation due to gas prices?
 
I would check the dates to see if MT was.. is still allowing people up there, they cut off the public use pretty early because it snows early and wind and cold.

As far as seeing my jeep, its been sitting in my drive way on jack stands because of brake issues, and i ordered yukon axle shafts. Though i am still driving it daily when its running, i am usually interchanging driving the XJ and my impala to work, I work out near the air port now.
 
I will likely be ready after the cutoff since frost is in the forecast tonight, I assume snow will come rolling in fairly soon.
I switch between the Jeep and a Monte. What's the story with the Impala? 3800V6?
 
Yea frost sucks.

There has been snow left on mt washington in june and back as early as july so dont count on it being accessible this year.


The impala is an 01 3400 (sigh) but it still hauls ass and as the family (still live at home unfortunately ) throw around car (pretty much anyone who needs it gets it) its not a bad vehicle. We bought it new and have put 120k on it, though my parents have still not done a tune up and it needs a sending unit. Otherwise its decent. I may buy it off my parents when they go to get a new car next year (told them i will = trade in value)

I just got most of my parts to get my jeep on the road again today and yesterday, so it should be on the road by monday if i can get the bearings pressed on my new axle shafts saturday.
 
Our club did a Sunrise ride up the mountain a couple years ago. It was pretty fun driving up there in the dark, fog, heavy mist, wind, :shiver: you name it. We couldn't see the sunrise cause it was to foggy. :dunno:
We did an observatory tour at the top.

We had several XJ's and no problems.
The mountain also had breakfast at the base waiting when we got down.
I think you need a group of like 30 people (not jeeps) to book the ride.
 
Mt. Washington is about 25 minutes south of me, so I'd sure be up for meeting anyone there. I've only been up it a couple times, because I've only lived up here a few years, but its a fun road, and if you've never been up the mountain, you are missing out!!! As for vehicles they allow, don't worry about it. They let me take my old ratty, rusted out Samurai up when I first moved up here. The restrictions are usually just for overly large vehicles, such as RVs and dually pickups.

The road really isn't that hard on the vehicle, as long as its in good condition. The second time I went up the mountain I did it in a '97 TJ with a 4 cyl. and 31s. Completely stock (except for the tires). Coming down isn't that bad as long as you can downshift. There are plenty of pulloffs and the scenery is awesome, so just stop a few times to let the brakes cool if they are in question. Overheating on the way up shouldn't be a problem unless you have a really crappy cooling system. Just make sure your radiator isn't completely plugged up, your fans(s) work, and the coolant is full.

When you plan to go up the mountain, leave enough time to look around at the top. There is a whole visitor's center up there with cool facts, pics, etc. One of the things you'll see up there is info about my wife's friend's grandfather, who was the only person to ever land a plane at the top of the mountain. Oh, and my wife's uncle handled clearing the auto road every spring for many years. Picture clearing snow drifts 20'+ deep with a dozer, with a steep drop on one side, when you don't even know where the road is under the snow. Talk about nerves of steel!

Jim
 
Just did it on Sunday. Granted the top was clouded in and visibility was limited but it was a beautiful drive up. I just put the XJ in 4low (unlocked hubs) and threw her in D. There was only a few spots that I need to drop down into 1-2. But it was a blast, I wanna see the race to the clouds. To think of those guys hitting 100mph on that road with nothing to prevent them from going off some of those drops, crazy man!!! Coming down was just as amazing!!

Pictures to come.

Part of me still thinks that they could have one hell of a rock crawl comp at the top. Some of the natural lines in teh rocks around the summit are crazy.
 
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