Airing down for Engineer Pass

[vagabond]

Not having done much off road in a Jeep before, (mostly been 4 wheelers and Rzrs) I'm wondering what PSI you guys would run for Engineer Pass/Cinnamon Pass? I'll be coming off of California Pass to Animas Forks then up to Engineer and follow the Alpine Loop all the way around and down to Silverton some time next week. Wanted to skip Mineral Creek since I'll be alone and didn't want to risk tearing things up since I'll be headed home right after this; So I'll be heading up from Ironton. Running stock height 33" on a Mojave with Asfir skid plates and rear lower control arm skids as well. Thanks!

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[Rahkmalla]

18 is what i run for general purpose offroading. 15 is what i run for beach sand.

Plenty of people out there running lower, but i'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to letting air out.

 

[jeepers29]

My deflators are set to 13psi

 

[Fpolanco]

I ran Engineer Pass last year and ran it at my go-to of 15 psi.

Engineer isn’t super technical but even if you run it at 18 psi, it’ll make the ride way more comfortable.

 

[Fpolanco]

Did you come up from the west side, off of Hwy 550? I ran that many years ago and it was pretty rough.

I’m pretty sure I came out of Silverton and off Animas Loop. I don’t remember it being TOO rough.

Then again, I still may be suffering from heat stroke as I just got back from Moab last week.

 

[smlobx]

I ran this past year at 20psi. It’s not a hard trail. Just take it easy and you’ll be fine. There will be tons of people on it so you won’t be alone.

The biggest problem is concentrating on the trail with the magnificent scenery!

 

[CJ5w4wdSmokyOnMyTail]

Ran it last summer at about 20 in my 35s. No problems, but maybe I should have lowered it a bit more?

 

[ColoFreeJeeper]

I ran the Alpine Loop 2 years ago and didn't need to air down. You can if you want to take the edge off but completely unnecessary for traction. Start with 18 to 20 psi. I kept it in 2wd for the vast majority of the time and only used 4LO on the steep descents to control speed. I've been living and Jeeping in CO for 20 years now and Engineer Pass is pretty tame. The only spicy part is the 5 miles between US550 near Ouray towards Engineer Pass. Just go slow over drop-offs to avoid scraping your bedsides.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...rican-basin-engineer-pass-crystal-mill.48806/

 

[WillMiller87]

I did Cinnamon about a week ago and can confirm you don’t need to air down for traction, but it will make the ride less jarring. I went with 20

 

[vagabond]

That's kind of what I figured. I've been over Engineers before on side by sides and knew it was one of the milder passes, barring the entry just south of Ouray. Will air down some and check it out. Thanks for all the answers everyone!

 

[bd100]

Did the west entry south of Ouray on a stock lift Sport S with stock diameter 32s, AT tread, front sway disconnects, rear control and shock skids. Did not air down. It worked. Now I have engine and trans case alum skids, which may contact next time I go.

 

[dajudge]

Why do you guys tell people they don't need to air down, is it some kind of macho badge of courage, you enjoy being beaten to death? Air down! It makes it so much smoother, that is the reason for airing down on 90% of trails.
Especially in the San Juans, they are called the Rocky Mountains for a reason! All of the trails have gotten MUCH rougher in the last 10 years, the SxS have torn them up!


I have been running 18 with the JT.

 

[BigLizzard]

I did that trail last year, I aired down to about 12-15 on my 37s. I don't think it helped with traction so much as comfort.

 

[jeepers29]

I did that trail last year, I aired down to about 12-15 on my 37s. I don't think it helped with traction so much as comfort.

Yep, traction is not an issue. Getting your kidneys and teeth home intact are.

 

[bd100]

I tried to avoid airing down in general because we tow a trailer with load range E LT tires which seemed to want 50psi to avoid overheating on the interstate at 70mph in summer. If we were to stay in one place for a while I could air down and back up to 35psi each day, but even that is a bit of a chore for short trail runs.

As for comfort, the sway bar disconnects help a lot. I have stiffer shocks now so I guess I'll have to air down next time to keep the family happy.

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