Any car can make it up the hurley, it just depends what you want to put your car through. I have seen minivans, volvos, civics etc. at Railroad Pass. As has been mentioned, there are usually lots of washboard and potholes (unless it has been freshly graded). Depending on where you are going, it is a lot of distance on gravel. But you should never need clearance or 4wd, except when the road has very recently been plowed and is still muddy. All that being said, I'm happy I've had a truck when I've driven it, as you can go faster and worry less about wear and tear.

Conditions as of a week ago were moderate. It hasn't been recently graded, but I've seen it in worse conditions. Snowline is right at Railroad Pass, but the road was plowed well weeks ago.