South Carolina and Back .... WOW!!!

[JRichard]

Well, ive owned my truck for about a year now, and finally got the chance to take it on a long trip. I ran out from near Chicago, Illinois to Abbeville, South Carolina over this last weekend. Total miles roundtrip with detours and going through the Smoky Mountains measured 1870 miles. My only upgrades to this truck are a 4 inch exhaust, a superchips programmer and a BHAF. I pulled my 28 foot gooseneck utility trailer (4400 lbs empty) down empty and back with a 65 GTO on it (4200 lbs). Even at 8600 pounds behind me in the Carolinas on some of the 8 and 9 percent grades i had zero problems maintaining speed in 5th gear up 6 miles of grade at a time. All i can say is WOW am i ever impressed with my truck for what it can do. I just figured id rant about it a little bit and post some feedback for anybody considering a similar trip.



Jake

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Even at 8600 pounds behind me in the Carolinas on some of the 8 and 9 percent grades i had zero problems maintaining speed in 5th gear up 6 miles of grade at a time. "



Jeeze, where in S. Carolina do you find 6-mile long grades in 8-9 percent ranges - sounds more like Colorado Rockies, or I-80 over the California Sierra! :-laf



But, congrats on the trip and truck - sounds like you got a good one!

 

[mberry]

Couple weeks ago I drove to Maryland and back. 5,660 miles round trip in 1 week. Only engine mods are ATS manifold and TST. All I can say is thank goodness for the TST PMCR!

 

[JRichard]

These grades i was on were on a highway that runs along the mountainsides in the smoky mountains, i forget the road with the long 9 percent grades, i wouldnt have known the steepness, but there were signs. The other steep one was on 441 coming over the top of the mountains between gatlinburg and cherokee. Bein an illinois guy i never dealt with those kinda grades so i was impressed.



Jake

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

TOO bad your trip over the Smokies was in the winter - they are VERY spectacular in spring and Fall months - but I bet much of Illinois is too...

 

[Fireman]

Sounds like I-40 in western NC. It's long and steep for an interstate, makes one think that they might drive through Heaven before they stop climbing



Fireman

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

"Even at 8600 pounds behind me in the Carolinas on some of the 8 and 9 percent grades i had zero problems maintaining speed in 5th gear up 6 miles of grade at a time. "



Jeeze, where in S. Carolina do you find 6-mile long grades in 8-9 percent ranges - sounds more like Colorado Rockies, or I-80 over the California Sierra! :-laf



But, congrats on the trip and truck - sounds like you got a good one!

I know there is one long grade in West Virginia that is lke 10-12 miles long and goes from 6 to 9 % ( according to the signs ) It seems like it goes on forever.....



Yes these trucks are great...

 

[JRichard]

Sounds like I-40 in western NC. It's long and steep for an interstate, makes one think that they might drive through Heaven before they stop climbing



Fireman

Fireman! You have nailed it on the head actually, it was I-40. I took 441/66 over the mountains, and the got on 40, after 40 i beleive i took 26??



Jake

 

[dberry]

If you take 40 from Tenn to NC you go through the gorge it is very scenic. You might want to try Fancy Gap, 77 NC to Va. It is a nice pull with 49,500 on the deck. And 64 from Beckley to Va state line has a couple hills :-laf . We have a couple little mountains on the East coast!