Sandstone Mountain on 64 East???

[Max Wedge]

I will be traveling east on 64 out of West Virgina heading to Richmond VA in about a month. I have heard that Sand Stone Mountain is a 7 1/2 percent grade for 9 miles. I will be hauling a 24 ft haulmark enclosed car trailer wieghing in around 8000 #'s with contents. I am concerned about slowing down on the other side--same grade. Anybody traveled that before? Any suggestions? I thought 6 percent was the limit?



Max



Truck is automatic w/o exhaust brake--but I do have dual axle trailer brakes

 

[wyosteve]

Max, I travelled it last fall pulling a 32' gooseneck enclosed car trailer. It's not really that bad because there are not too many curves and the ones that exist are pretty gradual. With your trailer brakes and downshifting to lock up your torque convertor, you should be fine.

 

[Max Wedge]

Originally posted by wyosteve

Max, I travelled it last fall pulling a 32' gooseneck enclosed car trailer. It's not really that bad because there are not too many curves and the ones that exist are pretty gradual. With your trailer brakes and downshifting to lock up your torque convertor, you should be fine.

Thanks, but I don't understand the concept of "downshifting" to lock up converter. Sorry to be so dumb. I just have this fear of hurting the brakes going down the other side.



Max

 

[rob10858]

i travel this road about once a month with my 3500 6 speed with e brake and tandem axle trailor [gcvw about 25000lbs] take my advice, at the top of the mtn, right under the overpass, pull off, enjoy a cold beverage, then take off down the mtn as slow as you safely can. youll see alot of big rigs doing the same thing. of all of the mtns states that we travel, this stretch of road is the toughest. the fact that there are no curves makes it worse [ imagine dropping a marble down a sliding board, vs one of your kid's hotwheel curving tracks] once you find your momentum gaining, its hard to hold back without heavy use of your truck and trailer brakes. the slower you start from the top, the less momentum that you have to control down at the bottom. just notice all of the truck escape ramps, and youll see how many folks thought that this was just another steep hill along i64. this one is different because just when you think its time to "let her loose" you have another 3 miles to go. the oldtimers always say go up in the same gear that you go down them, even though you have an auto, this holds true. hope this helps, the most beautiful stretch of hiway that youll ever find in the fall and spring.

 

[Paul Somers]

I did that stretch of I64 year before last comming home from Richmond, VA. I of course was traveling west. I was pulling 10,000# 5th wheel. Was the first time my EGT got close to 950 degrees post turbo.

 

[GeneA]

Traveled this stretch last June both ways with GCW of 20k and it is some of the most beautiful scenery you will see from the highway anywhere. Of course, I have an e-brake so it was no sweat on the down side. I would highly recommend the e-brake if you ever do anything but drive an empty truck.

 

[CRuD]

Other than PACKMANS advise which makes alot of sense, I would suggest that if you haven't already pull the drums off the trailer and have a GOOD look at them. You will need good working brakes where you are going.

I drove it about a year ago on my way to Norfolk from Mich. It is one of those stetches that my wife says things like look over there ain't it pretty "WAY" down/over there.



Like the man said earlier if you climb it at 45 when go down it 45.

Good luck

See Ya

Chris

 

[RANDZRAM]

Watch out for slow 18 wheelers!

Glad to see that some Fellow TDR members travel my way. I live about 25 miles from Sandstone Mtn. Have went up and down it too many times. The biggest problem on that hill is the slower 18 wheelers in the right lane. When you come up behind them and have to go around them, you have to be careful of the speeding cars in the left lane. That Mtn. has claimed MANY lives. Those escape ramps get used very regularly by big trucks. It is a real good idea to do what the signs say at the top: Use Lower gear. There is a mandatory big truck pullover being built at the top right now. When it is completed all big trucks over a certain weight will HAVE to pull over and stop to read Warning signs before they go on down the hill. I pull my 6000 lb. camper down it with no trouble, but I watch what I'm doing. It is a long ways to the bottom of the hill!