Toll free Alp passes for motorhomes

[DBK]

Using chat gpt and our own experirnce I’ve compiled a short list of motorhome friendly , toll free pass routes across the Alps . Have I missed any ?

Fern Pass
simplon
Great st Bernard
San Bernardino
Ofen
Brenner (avoiding motorway sections )
Reschen

What are your criteria? Do you mean passes going from one country to another? For example, the Susten pass is listed above and it's a stunning road but it only takes you from one part of Switzerland to another bit of Switzerland.

It might be more useful to list the passes with tolls which folk might use to get from say France into Italy and of course the free alternative routes.

 

[Jewellbags]

What are your criteria? Do you mean passes going from one country to another? For example, the Susten pass is listed above and it's a stunning road but it only takes you from one part of Switzerland to another bit of Switzerland.

It might be more useful to list the passes with tolls which folk might use to get from say France into Italy and of course the free alternative routes.

Yes you’re right , it’s passes that get us to or from Italy into the other countries . The criteria being ease of drive , views , toll free and possibly overnight stops

 

[WESTY66]

I came into Switzerland from Italy via mustair, then did the Fluela pass stopped at a lovely aire at fideris, then towards the oberalp pass to andermatt, then up onto the sustenpass towards Interlaken T’was a very nice Drive

 

[Brains]

You managed to descend without using the brakes at all ? Doesn’t that put strain on the engine ? I used a combo but still had to cool the brakes

In an automatic even using the gears manually it's not possible to descend an Alpine pass without using the breaks at all.
But I was limiting break use to just the entry into the corners.
The straight decent between the corners you can mostly use manual engine braking.

What I noticed is a lot of automatic went down almost riding the breaks all the way (hence getting overheated), whereas my brakes would not have got more than little warm.

I've done descents of Alpine passes in a manual (Ford Transit base) van.
Totally possible to do without even touching the brakes,
to such an extent a English van behind me assumed both the bulbs had blown until I used the breaks to turn into the campsite at the bottom !

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Glad I have the advantage of a Telma retarder on my vanhaving been up and down some savage roads in Switzerland and Austria the retarder has paid for itself.
Just click the lever and it slows down no need to touch a brake pedal I would think these should be standard on anything over say 5 ton

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[Jewellbags]

Glad I have the advantage of a Telma retarder on my vanhaving been up and down some savage roads in Switzerland and Austria the retarder has paid for itself.
Just click the lever and it slows down no need to touch a brake pedal I would think these should be standard on anything over say 5 ton

Just read up on what they are - did u have it fitted aftermarket and may I ask what was the cost

 

[Jewellbags]

I came into Switzerland from Italy via mustair, then did the Fluela pass stopped at a lovely aire at fideris, then towards the oberalp pass to andermatt, then up onto the sustenpass towards Interlaken T’was a very nice Drive

I have book marked that thanks . Wish google maps would save routes as well

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Just read up on what they are - did u have it fitted aftermarket and may I ask what was the cost

Was a factory fit but you can get aftermarket ones for about £7-8knot cheap but a brilliant bit of kit