five4camping
NJ
Full Member
Joined: 04/24/2006
View Profile
 Offline
|
We need to get our tt from Pigeon Forge to Cherokee. What route would you recommend? Can we pull it right over the mountain (my husband has a lot of confidence with his diesel) or should we go around? Looking for suggestions. 
|
turninghawk
Gatlinburg, TN
Senior Member
Joined: 09/11/2003
View Profile
|
I'd go right over the mountain. Take your time, enjoy the scenery. If you find you're the locomotive of a multi-car train there are plenty of pull-offs. Should be no problem.
|
AlabamaTraveler
hueytown al usa
Senior Member
Joined: 01/02/2004
View Profile
|
Hey, with a diesel just go for it. Straight over the mountain will save you many miles of driving. Don't worry so much about your speed. No one needs to be going fast on that road. Happy camping.................
Rolling Wheels Camping Club
Lawrence, Dianne & Buttons "Roll Tide"Our Photos
|
Horsedoc
Dixie --- N. Georgia
Senior Member
Joined: 09/30/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Good information above. One request > Pull over occasionally and let the traffic by. You'll get many thank you waves rather than the one finger wave if you fail to let them by.
|
floridacamper
Florida/Georgia Line
Senior Member
Joined: 03/25/2002
View Profile
|
If your husband feels comfortable about driving tight curves and you have good power and brakes then I'd go over the mountains as well but I'd do it real early in the morning, before it got bumper to bumper traffic. That way if you did need to pull over there would be a place to pull over too.
Most of the pull over spots fills up during the day with sight see-ers
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO ALBUM
|
|
|
scbwr
Wilson NY
Senior Member
Joined: 03/09/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Just did it a few weeks ago. Through the mountains is ok....be sure to downshift when going down. I did a bit too much braking and the brakes overheated a bit. On the return trip, we went around the mountains....more distance to cover, but we could go faster and so the time ended up being about the same. From what I saw, the steepest grades would have been going from Cherokee back to Gatlinburg. But, with a diesel, you'll have more power than I have with the gasser.
It's a beautiful drive, so enjoy!
2001 Dodge 3500 DRW V10 Magnum
2002 Sunline T280SR
Arrow Hensley Hitch
10' Porta Bote
My photo galleries.
|
Handbasket
Asheville, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 01/17/2003
View Profile
|
You need to have more confidence in braking power than diesel power to go over the mtn. Not enough pulling power going up just means a slow trip. Not enough braking power on the downside can flat ruin your day, and maybe a whole bunch of other folks', too. Make real sure your trailer brakes are working right, and plan on gearing down a whole bunch.
Jim, "When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded."
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
'94 968, M030 swaybars ('DOPPLER')
|
Retired Phone Man
Covington, Louisiana
Senior Member
Joined: 03/19/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Take the bypass around Gatlinburg. Pretty drive and you miss the Gatlinburg traffic and narrow lanes.
Jim
2007 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab with 5.7L V8 and Tow Package.
2007 Gulf Stream Ameri-Lite 21MB
Peaches - Lhasa Apso/Mut Mix
|
five4camping
NJ
Full Member
Joined: 04/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Thank you to all that replied. We appreciate your insight.
|
