Speed VS grade - Relative performance

[Power Wagon]

For those of you who carry a lot of weight and/or pull an RV or other load that doesn't vary much in weight...



I'm curious about how fast you pull a 7% grade. Now, if you've got 300+ HP on tap, I don't want to hear about it.



On the other hand, if you've got a stock or close to stock 1st gen or 12V, what speed do you climb a 7% grade. Why 7%? It's about the maximum grade I've ever seen on an interstate, and generally on most other good roads.



To make this make some sense, your weight, either gross, or at least what you're towing would be helpful...



I've seen some real movers towing stuff and some real crawlers, and am just curious how most of you do...



Thanks

Mark

 

[Champane Flight]

Monarch,Wolfcreek.

I pull these two passes on a regular basis with 95 2500 stock five speed,2wd,about 20000lbs. I believe both hills vary from 4% up to 7 to 8%. I usually pull in third at 35-39mph. At this speed I am not lugging(can accelerate)and still have to back out for corners(not interstate). If I had a gear in between 3rd and 4th I believe it would pull a little faster. I still get people in my way on the way up and when I pass them with a 30ft fifth,with 17ft boat behind, they look a little perplexed. Have to explain after 15 years of pulling these mountains with semis(hazardous materials).

That it is just a walk in the park with my little rig.

 

[RHARVEY]

We gross about 12,000(not much), but on a 6-7% I can usually run 60 or better. . The truck is almost stock. It has a K&N and a straight 3" exhaust.



Rick

 

[wyosteve]

Have almost stock ETH. Gooseneck 4 horse trailer loaded and 32' enclosed car trailer both come in around 12K. Pull most grades you mentioned about 55-65 in 5th. In mtns. same grades 50-60, mainly because lots of curves.

 

[Shooter]

That is why I have 300+ hp and a Gear Vendors, so I can MOVE up thoes grades

 

[Champane Flight]

Like to see it

Like to see somebody do a steady 60 up Wolfcreek!

 

[pcorssmit]

Me thinks I could if my truck sat about 8" lower to the ground. Howabout sombody pulling Norfolk Hill at 60?



Pete

 

[JMorrow]

I have a 1993 W250 with auto-trans and pulling a 29' TT. Total weight is 16000# Climbing a 6% grade at 38 to 40 mph 3rd gear K&N air and Banks exhaust. Soon to be changed, I am going to Wentland Diesel for extras.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I gross about 12,500 fully loaded - can pull 7% Sierra grades at 65 mph WITHOUT the Power Shot 2000 propane injection listed in my sig - can pull well over 70 mph on the same grades WITH the propane... If I wanna live dangerously...

 

[Turbo Thom]

Well , my sig. tell I have a 96, 12V. The truck is stock, but for a new injector pump that was installed at City Diesel in Knoxville, Tenn. I tow 13k up a 6-7 degree grade in fifth gear at 70 and can acclerate when I want. Before City Diesel that was not so. If anybody knows of Mount Eagal between Nashville and Chattanooga Tenn, the only the thing that slows me there is the buggers in the left lane that are driving fords.

Preston

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

Hi Powerwagon

I know you are familiar with Cabbage Hill so I'll use that as my example.

If you remember in '97 & "98 the east bound lanes were closed for resurfacing and you had to use the west bound lanes to go east. In Sept. of '97 while on the way to Yellowstone at a GCW of about 12,500 and pretty much stock I topped at 40 mph and at times thought I would have to go into 3rd.

In May of '98 just prior to an 11,000 mile trip I had a set of BD injectors installed at The Powershop. In June - same truck same trailer 60mph at the top. I passed everything towing anything - it felt great!

Now with the new pump I could easily run against the governor in 4th (about 70mph).

Happy trails

 

[Power Wagon]

Last time I drove up cabbage in the PW, I stood on it for a ways and got to about 70, maybe 73. That's about all it'll do up Cabbage. Of course, that's not much less than it'll do on the flat. With 4. 10's the old 318 just doesn't like to run that fast. It pulls much better at 2500 than it does at 3200. For that matter, it pulls really well down to around 1200. I think I've managed about 85 once passing someone who must have wanted to race or something, because they sped up when I got beside them. But, it's just plain out of RPM's. On the other hand, with the trailer in tow (a little over 11,000, I think), I can easily get to 40 up Cabbage in 3rd. However, I don't like buzzing it that fast. It would rather run at 35. If I had 3. 90's instead, I could probably run 45 up Cabbage.