This guy is 100% right....do not do this in any full sized truck! Been on this trail and many others in Colorado several times and it's not a trail to be light hearted about! He's got a brave wife, mine would of filed for divorce in Telluride....!!
I generally speed through black bear pass videos because "you've seen one you've seen them all" but I watched your whole video because 1) POWER WAGON and 2) your voice and style of video was very relaxing and enjoyable. Nice job!
I'm doing it... but not with a power wagon... I'm not that crazy. I'm doing it with an F350! I don't often learn my lesson but when i do, it's the hard way. Hope to post my video too. Thanks for sharing.
hell I'm second guessing it with my Jeep! That second switchback, and those parts after the third where the road isn't even wide enough for his tires. yikes!
You were fine. So something to keep in mind about that edge, is that most of the accidents happen from people panicking and actually driving up the wall. There are a few Jeep roll over videos with people actually being so afraid of the edge, then end up off-camber because they were started driving up the wall. But otherwise, great video. As I've been repeating in Full-Size forever, the trail is wide enough for a Power Wagon and even a Hummer. The only advice I would have offered you is that having your wife get out on those switch backs would have put you both more at ease. Having a spotter outside the vehicle always helps get a clearer more concise picture of the situation. I have been in situations I thought were bad, they felt bad inside the truck and my asshole was clinched tight, until I saw video or a photo afterwards and was like: "Oh yeah I was fine the whole time and no way would I roll over or XYZ" Cheers. Great video.
So I was setting my ram to go there next month...... Thank you, I will definitely NOT go to that trail. I felt like I was right there with you, and my butthole puckering
Dude I lived in CO almost my whole life and I lived in Telluride for 6 years. I own a 2000 Tundra that will seriously go anywhere. I’ve taken it on Jeep trails many of times. But when a trail is difficult due to its size that’s when I say no. So I never did Black Bear in my Tundra. With that being said…I can’t believe you did it in a freaking Power Wagon!!! 😮😮😆 Youre nuts bro! Two girls just flipped their brand new Bronco down that trails a month ago. They ok but had to be hospitalized. It’s a no joke trail. You should’ve went up through Ophir then drive up and over Ophir Pass to Silverton. Then drive to Ouray and start up Imogene Pass to camp. Then take Imogene over to Telluride. That’s a good fun trail that I’ve done in my Tundra many of times. Anyways glad y’all had fun and were ok 👍
It is no joke, but after my first time through it with my dirt bike, I was like, "WTF? That's all?" It is very beautiful, but it is over-hyped. As long as you have a basic idea of what you are doing with ground clearance and wheel placement, just don't drive off of the edge and you'll be okay. I took my Jeep XJ down it last year, and the Jeep didn't care... like, at all. Those girls who rolled their Bronco (sport) / Ford Edge went up the Telluride side and tried turning around after they went past the 1-way sign. It wasn't a rough road that did it. If I understand it right, it was an off-camber situation while trying to turn around.
Read up on the Power Wagons. Same lockers front and rear, winch, detaching sway bar and a set of 33" Falken Wildpeak M/Ts from the factory as the Wrangler 392. Great truck.
We did this trail with an 80 and a 200 series cruiser. Glad we did it. The views are breathtaking, but like you, in hindsight a small jeep would have been a better choice. This trail is not technical but if the shale is loose or there are wet sections be prepared for hours of pucker. Can't imagine doing it in a 3/4 ton truck! Props from NC.
Thanks for the video. I have a Power Wagon and was making plans to drive this exact route next weekend. At first I was doubting what you were saying about “Don’t drive this with a Power Wagon”. And I couldn’t understand way, I’ve taken my Power Wagon on some crazy trails and had no problems. But then I kept watching the video. That road gets very narrow and I am very aware of how wide my truck is. Not to mention how terrible the turning radius is. By the end of your video, it definitely had me rethinking my trip. Thanks again. I can honestly say some of the goat trails I drove in Afghanistan in an armored MRAP had more room then some of the spots in this video of yours. I appreciate your honesty and I’m sorry for doubting you.
Great job on the video and narration. Might turn down the background music a little, your commentary is priceless vs. royalty free tunes. Black Bear ain’t no joke. Great job!
Awe, Send it! (joking) Would like to see the same type of video on the Alpine Loop. At least any sketchy sections that a PW might have issues with. BTW, I took your advice and put the 37s on!
Just keep in mind that the Jeep rental places do not let you take them through Black Bear Pass. I don't know if they are GPS tracked or whatnot to make sure of that, but they don't want you to do that. Basically, all you need is good approach, departure, and breakover angles with a general idea of proper wheel placement and you are good to go as long as you don't drive over the edge.
Yes they do, but you need to trailer them in Telluride as they are not allowed on the road. And the trail is one way. So you'll need a drop-off trailer and a pickup trailer.
The rental companies don’t want you to take their rigs on black bear. I have enjoyed it both times in our old jku. It’s also much scarier when it is wet!
I've wanted to take my PW over BBP for a while. I'm not worried about the switchbacks or stair steps, but those narrow sections of trail are only getting narrower with traffic and weather. I saw video once of a group of H1 Hummers going over it, but I'd bet those narrow spots weren't that bad when they did it years ago.
I have driven this road twice. The first time was in a 1975 Bronco in 1975. Then a few years later I drove it in a full size, long bed 1978 Ford Crew Cab (I think it was called a Crew Cab back then). Using the long bed Ford was a very, very tough drive.
Power Wagon is 6 inches wider than the Jeep Wrangler and 20 inches longer than a Gladiator.... so I guess not any Jeep is going to have a much easier time. Maybe a Jimny 😋
I just crossed Wed 08/11/21 in my Rubicon, behind me the entire time was a young Mennonite family in a bone stock F-150 crew cab 4x4 with running boards. He scared the hell out of me, and expressed his second thoughts when we finished. There’s no backing up or changing your mind once you start. Don’t do it in an oversized truck. “Experience is a hard teacher, it gives you the test first, the example last.”
I am building a full size suv and want to try this trail out. Your rig did not do that bad. If a power wagon can make it I will be able. Thank you for this content.
Great video! We've got a 2018 PW with a Four-Wheel Camper on it and recently got ourselves into a pickle, three wheels on the ground type of pickle on some really steep, narrow stuff here in Nevada. Kudos for taking the big PW down Black Bear! Can empathize with your "idiotness" !!
Every time I watch a black bear pass video I’m reminded of that popular saying “why jump out of a perfectly good plane.” Its a beautiful place and something I would like to see but I’ll be hiking thank you. Did your wife want to kick your ass after this? This is one of those things when you’re coming down that mountain praying to god and promising the good lord that if he gets you safely to the bottom you’ll never, ever do anything so stupid.
I've been over several times on my motorcycle. No way I would take my PW over Black Bear. Haha! Good for you! Yes, mostly easy, but I would be concerned about a few of the exposed switchbacks.
Amazing scenery. Nothing like that here in Oregon. I just picked up my 2020 PW a couple of weeks ago and am getting it ready for many adventures. Looking forward to more videos!
Looks like fun. 45? Your narration i thought you were probably retired 77ish ,like Joe Biden driving lol. Im not retired and no i wont take my PW there, its to far away. It is no joke! and great video
My wife and I did BBP last week in my 2015 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X. It was intense for sure. We had excellent weather and it seems like every one has problems at that on switch back. We got hung up there and the thing which saved us were my rear lockers which got us off the corner. Glad we had rock-sliders and skid plates.
Did the trail in my 92 Bronco. I don't recommend it...could not relax. Would not try it in my Power Wagon. I have got in trouble following Jeeps in it.
The camera systems on the new power wagons would’ve helped you a lot, since it’s hard to see over the hood at times. I would call rock sliders an absolute must for that one switch back. Glad you made it!
Thank you for this! this was on my bucket list with the Ram but i was always curious how it would be because all you see if jeeps and this shows me why glad you made it!
This is crazy! I just traded my Jeep 4xE Rubicon for a Power Wagon. It’s always been a bucket list item of mine to run Black Bear Pass and I was just curious if anyone had ever done it. I love your narration. It really hits home how serious you are when you say not to run it in a Power Wagon. You’re serious, yet have a sense of humor about it. I really appreciate this. I showed my wife this video, and she was already afraid of this trail and she says she’ll not ever go on this trail, not even in a Jeep. Lol!
Altitude sickness...... I asked my doctor for some Acetazolamide before my trip to Black Bear. They work but make you piss like no other. Drink lots of water. Oh, nice job taking a full size through black bear. There's some really tight switchbacks! However, remember that tour companies take full size trucks with a bed full of passengers through it so you're not a total idiot. lol I've done it twice. Once in a 2017 Tacoma and once in a 2018 4Runner. The first time I went with a group of friends and it was actually my first off road trail I've ever done so I'm an idiot too lol. The next year I went up there in the 4Runner with just me. No problem in those vehicles but I've seen (on youtube or forums) FJ's and 4runners roll over on BB. They all seem to roll and that section before "The Steps".
Tight switchbacks in a full-size crewcab? I did the Black Bear Pass in a shortbed Toyota in the early 80s. The trail looks much smoother now, but the switchbacks appear just as hairy as I remember them. My experience with idiocy was taking a Silverado crew cab down the "Devil's Washbowl" near Crested Butte. Half my driver's side tires weren't touching dirt. No way to back out either. I use my Jeep or RZR for the pucker stuff now.
Hi Timothy, great video, thanks for posting it. Black Bear pass was one of my bucket list passes to hit but last summer we took our power wagon down the Schafer's Trail switchbacks in Canyonlands and when you watch videos of all these passes, it doesn't do it justice until you are there. After doing Schafter's Trail I think I'll pass on Black Bear Pass. These trucks are too big for some of these passes. We have video of ours on our channel, too. Thanks again for posting.
A few summers ago went with my son and his friend on a trip to CO in their Suzuki Sidekicks. We had some hairy moments passing other vehicles, but it was a blast. Can't imagine doing it in a PW. Subscribing... I'm in the market for a PW.
We were out there in August, but didn't take my F250 on Black Bear. Those super narrow spots and that second switchback are a big no for me lol. My group I was with would've kept me from going on it even if I did want to, they had a hard enough time with other trails lol. Thankfully we didn't have any issues with altitude sickness the whole time we were there.
Not the best choice of equipment but at least you owned your mistake. I have been over this pass in a 1980 FJ40 and it certainly was the right choice of equipment. Take care and be safe.
You did great. We run this trail every year. In a full size - the one switchback is tough but you did it just fine. Hopefully you enjoyed the other trails in Ouray. So may great spots with world class views. Give us a message next time ! We will go with you. And your comment about don't make mistakes... yep. Black Bear is a dirt road with a few turns and rocks.....unless you make a mistake - then it gets ugly quickly.
We have stuff that steep in the PacNW. They even haul logs off of stuff that steep albeit better road. The biggest difference is timber. We have a lot more timber so you cannot really see how steep it is and if anything goes wrong hopefully the trees will arrest your fall. I used to play around Red Lodge Mt when I worked in the oilfield for a weekend when it wasn’t worth driving all the way back to Washington. Similar country! Thanks for sharing!
Dude that was where railroad tracks were if it was gonna slide it would have with the old steam locomotive 100 years ago but you should know your vehicle limits before you go my wife and i are discussing a possible trek over blackbear and it should be soon as im 62 years old now and blackbear is the only trail we havent done and we'll be doing it in a 73 dodge powerwagon
Yep. I did it back in July. Had the trail pretty much to myself. I was solo, no spotter and coming down the steps it was raining with intermittent hail. It was thrilling! But I was in a Tacoma not a land yacht! Hahaha. I'll be doing it again next July now that I've highly modified the Tacoma. I give you all the respect in the world for doing it in a Powerwagon!
20 years ago I would have done this without another thought. Now that I'm close to 70, don't know if I've lost my nerve, or just too cautious. Those drops give me the willy goobers. I've got a 5 speed manual YJ jeep and I just think about the back and forth on those switchbacks (although my YJ might go around without reversing). Glad you made it!
That was tense! Thanks for the warning. We drove from Telluride up to the base of Bridal Falls and a few other local trails last October. Awesome trip! I'm looking forward to doing more wheeling in our PW.
I had to sub after watching this video. Your comments along with the video view, had me puckered up big time. Your Power Wagon with that ARE cap on it is something that I would like to own. Keep making these types of videos. Great Work my friend.
I've done this trail in the last century in a Nissan Pathfinder that was 6" narrower and 2 feet shorter than a Power wagon and was a butt clencher. I had a rainy day with slick rocks and sliding dirt. The only thing that saved you and your Guardian Angel was that it was dry! Actually, your driving skills are excellent.
Thanks for sharing your experience. This video confirms what I already suspected; There is no sane reason I could justify taking my recently purchased '20 PW on this trail. Not to mention it's far more impactful than any snark filled comment could ever be. Safe wheeling to ya!
You honestly make this trail look super easy. Video doesn't do justice on how sharp these switchback are going down. Great job and speed that you did it at.
Here's an alternative. Do like I did. I bought a 2020 Power wagon. Sent it to CJC offorad and had the suspension replaced with their Carli Pintop system with Carli Radius Arms and low mount steering stabilizer which provides a 2.5" lift and an additional 7 inches of articulation and great high speed behavior. Add 37's, proper underbody protection and hoon the shit out of it.
Great narration, keep it up. It's your own style. subbed to help out the new channel :) And man. This is making me re-think my plans to do Black Bear even though I've got a Wrangler 4dr with a lift and good tires, I don't have 35s. And I'm intermediate not advanced. This might be some of the better perspectives of this trail that I've seen. Power Wagon. SMH. LOL!!! :D
You do not need 35s to do Black Bear. I run 33s and it is very doable on 31s. The last time I followed a Jeep Liberty with its slightly larger than stock tires. It is a fun trail. Just go slow. Don't allow yourself to climb the inside bank, and breath!
