Blue Ridge Mountains

[mroidt]

Hi guys

This is gonna be my first tow over mountains with a 10K fiver, looking for

advice on how to drive these hills. What I mean is with the 3. 54 gear,

is it gonna be 55-60 all the way up, and 65 with th Pacbrake on all the way down.

Also what would be better going up 55 or 60 all day long.

What I mean to say is 2500 RPM at 60 all day long, going up.

Thanks, and the TDR , been very good to me:-laf

 

[DonTX]

Going OVER them is pretty much a non event, pretty much everywhere I have crossed the climbs are mild. I don't think they will allow you going down the ridge with the 5er. I took advantage of my pickup camper and travelled the ridge from Wash DC to Georgia, one of the most beautiful drives in the US. I guess that don't answer the question very well though.

 

[aviatorman]

I've done the Blue Ridge mountains from every side of the compass and they're beautiful driving. The climbs aren't that agressive, but unless you've added some horses to your cummins, you'll probably get down around 50-55 MPH on some of the grades. Downhillin is no sweat with a "grunt-brake". The Blue Ridge parkway is a great drive, but I've never done it with my "5 er" hooked up. It has some pretty "switchy" turns which kept me busy in an empty truck, don't think it would be fun with the rig in tow. Keep in mind that the "Blue Ridge Parkway" is a scenic drive that goes along the crests' and so with the dozens of campsites in the blue ridge , you can park your rig and tour in your truck.

 

[DonTX]

To correct myself, I was sure when driving it I saw signs limiting length of vehicles, but the Blue Ridge Parkway web site shows no such restrictions, so if you have a hankering to see it in your 45ft fifth wheel, go for it!

 

[JAlford]

If your 5er is more than 11ft tall - beware of the tunnels! They are on the Blue Ridge Parkway on the southern end. No warning until you get to the tunnel, except for a small sign. I had to turn around once when I didn't see the sign, and then there was a tunnel. That was no fun, turning around on a two lane.

They are majestic, and green! This is the best time of year to see them, as the Rhodedendron is in bloom. Wish I could tag along!

The hills aren't as bad as the passes in the West, but they are as steep as there is in the East. When my truck was stock and I was pulling my 1st 5er (8K) there, I was lucky to crest at 25-30mph on the hard 7-8% grades in places. I came home and ordered the Edge EZ immediately. My truck is now modified, and I am towing a bigger 5er(12K+), so I don't have any problems in the East.

 

[CUMMINZ]

I know of one section of the Parkway close to Grandfather mountain and toward Boone that there are signs recommending NO RVs.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Recommendations... .



Get the transmission locked up and put your foot on the floor.

 

[mroidt]

JAllford

Cuminz

I'm not going the Parkway guys or the Rigde Trail did that in a car few years back.

Going across I-64Charleston, WV to Charlottsville, VA, then on to the coast.



I hope you're not tellin' me I have to keep it on the floor all the way up them there hills. . :-laf

Thanks for all the Replys and don't stop now

 

[y-knot]

You have a rotten set-up for towing. The 3. 42 RP is about the worst set of gear besides the truly gross 3. 08's for towing anything of much weight. First and foremost you should get yourself a good quality automatic transmission cooler like the one sold at www.proweldperformanceparts.com . They will not help tow the load but they will save your automatic from killing itself as your truck struggles to get over the mountains. Good luck

 

[mroidt]

y-not

Don't you think if I stay in Drive and keep her locked up , even with

the 3. 54 , shouldn't it stay cooler? I figured at 55 I'll be doin'

2300 rpm and at 60 , 2500 rpm maybe less . TIA

 

[TowPro]

the parts of the blue ridge parkway I have seen were all 35mph speed limit.

I have only done sections of it.



Just be prepared to have people passing you. there are a lot of motorcycles using that road, nothing worse then riding behind an RV on a motorcycle



Unless you are heading somewhere specific, A lot of people find a base camp, unload the RV then go out and drive. This gives you the ability to stop and see the sights at places your RV will not fit.

 

[steved]

JAllford

Cuminz

I'm not going the Parkway guys or the Rigde Trail did that in a car few years back.

Going across I-64Charleston, WV to Charlottsville, VA, then on to the coast.



I hope you're not tellin' me I have to keep it on the floor all the way up them there hills. . :-laf

Thanks for all the Replys and don't stop now

You will have no trouble on I64... have the truck in "D" with the converter locked before the climb and you will have no trouble getting over the ridge on I-64. Just take your time... I64 isn't that bad.



As noted, I would NOT recommend anyone tow on the BRP... I towed my 18-foot/102" flatbed (empty) and it was a challenge to keep everything in my lane on some of the tighter turns... I believe the lanes are either 8 or 9 feet wide in some places, and keeping the front of the truck on my side of the yellow line while keeping the right rear of the trailer on the road was almost impossible to do at all times. Not to mention the ups/downs add to the excitement... and lack of anything resembling a berm. Your are lucky to cruise much over 35mph, so plan on several days to take the entire BRP and Skyline drive in at any one time.



steved

 

[fortunate1]

The previous suggestions for an A/T cooler are hereby seconded. I mounted one under the cab (left side, back seat). Also put an electric fan on it to provide more air movement during slow driving or traffic jams.

Can you lock up in 2nd gear with your mystery switch and shift kit? If so, that is really handy when driving BRP, Skyline Drive, thru Smoky Mtn Pkwy, etc. You can also lockup in "o/d off" (3rd). Both of these will allow for good climbing and some engine braking on these curvy roadways.

Have fun!

 

[mroidt]

fortunate1

Yes I can lock up in 2nd, thats one of the nice things that Dave

at Goerend Bros. Trans did for me. Thanks Dave!!



I don't think I'll have time to put a transmission cooler before I leave.

Don't our trucks with the Tow Package already have a trans cooler?

TIA

 

[steved]

I don't think I'll have time to put a transmission cooler before I leave.

Don't our trucks with the Tow Package already have a trans cooler?

TIA

Yes, you have a cooler (actually two of them... one is water/fluid, the other is air/fluid)... and no, adding another cooler isn't necessary if you can keep the converter locked up... you only generate that majority of your trans's heat when the converter is unlocked.



As an example, I towed a trailer weighing 8k pound with my bone stock 99 215HP auto 2500. The trans temp never exceed 170*F in the pan from Gallup, New Mexico to Oil City, PA. While I was no speed racer up hills, the trans only ever heated up when I was pulling onto the highway from an onramp (with the converter unlocked). I actually cruised most of the trip with 125*F fluid in the pan... and before someone cries that the pan is a bad place to pull temps, it is still indicative of the conditions in the trans.



I would not worry about adding an extra cooler for all you will encounter.



JMHO,

steved

 

[mroidt]

Steved thank you

and thanks to all that replied and that do.

this is a wonderful place



off to the mountains

 

[fest3er]

Hi guys

This is gonna be my first tow over mountains with a 10K fiver, looking for

advice on how to drive these hills. What I mean is with the 3. 54 gear,

is it gonna be 55-60 all the way up, and 65 with th Pacbrake on all the way down.

Also what would be better going up 55 or 60 all day long.

What I mean to say is 2500 RPM at 60 all day long, going up.

Thanks, and the TDR , been very good to me:-laf

It looks like you have adequate power for most purposes. I think the only grades you'll have trouble with are the two 7%ers on I64 (down Sandstone Mt. then up the other grade when headed east). For those two, you may well be in D about halfway up, and your EGT will climb some. I doubt you'd hurt the engine putting it in D, and puttin' the metal to the pedal and the wood to the floor (or however that goes), so long as you don't overspeed your valve springs.



For comparison, my '98 12V in OD (auto, stock turbo, stock plate slid forward, 215 injectors, 3. 54 gears, 28PSI max boost, grossing 10K with the little trailer) can maintain around 72 MPH going up Sandstone; empty I can accelerate up to about 90 on the steepest parts. EGT does climb on those two grades, but it quickly drops back. When I hauled the little trailer to Vegas in May, EGT climbed to about 1000 post-turbo in places crossing CO on I70 (I maintained about 72 on those grades, too, in OD). And it stayed there a few minutes on the way down t'other side. Here in WV, it isn't nearly that bad (prolly helps that the air is thicker).



Those are the only two grades you'll have any trouble with. The rest are 5% at worst, I think. Even the hill near Charlottesville isn't too bad, though it is long-ish. Generally speaking, if you have to drop to D on the way up, you might want to stay in D on the way down.



The worst problem in these here hills is fog.