Gappy
NE Indiana
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Joined: 11/14/2010
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First time to climb real mtns in this rig at the beginning of a 2 week Colorado, Utah trip. I am pulling a 4 dr Wrangler and am surprised how slow going the grades are for us. At one point I was down to first gear and 20 mph and quite the line up behind me.
A lot of 2nd gear and 30-35 mph and the go pedal is generally on the floor. Engine temp is great, oil pressure fine. I don't have a trany temp gauge. We are in the east foot hills by Pikes Peak and headed west tomorrow so was thinking about unhooking the wrangler and have the wife drive it to ease the pain of the climbs and descends. Do you think that is worth while?
I assume all this is normal for a 39 ft DP at 10K ft elevation. Any suggestions
Tom
2013 Silverado 2500 Duramax Crew LTZ Z71 4x4
2013 Winnebago ONE 32BH
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dupreet
High Point, NC
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Joined: 08/03/2007
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Brings back teenage memories of tractoring up I-40W near Black Mountain, NC with a heavily-loaded 12-pax van towing a 28.5' Prowler Bunkhouse. First gear and 11mph all the way up the hill. I got all excited passing a poor semi doing about 6mph!!!
Safe Travels!
Todd
Todd
1993 Ford E-350 pushed by a 1988 Wilderness 24' TT
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SCOMP225
Brownsburg,Indiana
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Joined: 12/08/2002
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Your Climbs are fine - just let the MH grab it's own gear and keep going at 10,ooo ft everything is a little slower- do you have an Oxygen mask ?
Chuck
1992 American Eagle
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Edouard
Hudson QC. or Lake Worth, Fl
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Joined: 09/14/2002
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I do not let the mountain climbing grades spoil my trip, just sit back, watch the temp guages and enjoy the scenery with your DW sitting beside you. RV'g was not meant to be following each other up the hills. I did those same hills with a ford 275hp first edition v-10, gave your suggestion some thought, then decided, Hey, there's no rush.
Eugene & Stella
08 Dolphin DL35C, WH-24, Allison 6 Spd.Tranny.
2013 Kia Soul 4U.Automatic, Rental Tow Dolly for now.
FMCA 318247
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NorCal Dan
Coffeyville, Kansas
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Joined: 03/28/2007
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Your 1st gear/20mph sounds painful. How much horsepower in your rig? I've got the ISL 400hp in our rig and rarely do we drop below 45mph on the hills.
Unhooking the toad may help a little, my rig doesn't notice our Jeep back there going up, but I know it's back there going down.
'08 Monaco Diplomat SFT pushed by '07 Jeep Wrangler -- USAF Retired --
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sbmowrey
sc
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Joined: 11/10/2004
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I don't see where it would hurt anything to give it a try. I usually unhook the towed when I enter the east gate into Yellowstone and it does make a difference.
I don't think I would do it for the day but if you were coming to a bad section it might be worth it.
2006 Mandalay 40G
2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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Id unhook on the long steep climbs if I were running your gasser. The less you have to run the coach at "explosion" RPM's the longer its going to last. Dont matter the fwd speed..its the RPM's that will do you in.
As far as normal for a rig your size....yep! Seen it many a time...no big deal...just one more is all
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
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Gappy
NE Indiana
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Joined: 11/14/2010
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It's a 330 Cat.
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crasster
Dallas
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Joined: 07/06/2007
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I agree with the "find the gear" and "enjoy the trip" mentality. Take a chill pill and enjoy the views. Loosen that grip on the steering wheel. RV'ing is supposed to be fun, not stressful.
4 whopping cylinders on Toyota RV's. Talk about great getting good MPG. Also I have a very light foot on the pedal. I followed some MPG advice on Livingpress.com and I now get 22 MPG! Not bad for a home on wheels.
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The Texan
Cascade or Meridian, Idaho
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Joined: 01/16/2004
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Gappy wrote:It's a 330 Cat. There is your reason.....That is a lot of weight for a baby Cat to haul over a grade. That is the main reason we bought a MH with a 400ISL, after having a Fleetwood with the ISB300 and seeing the same thing you are seeing. Unhooking the toad will help, but NOT to the extent you think.
Bob & Betsy(FishNFanatic) - USN Aviation Ret'd '78 & LEO Ret'd '03 & "Oath Keeper Forever"
'05 HR Endeavor 40PRQ, 400 Cummins-Pulling our '11 Silverado LT, Ex Cab 6.2L NHT 4x4, w/2010 Rzr or 01 V Star in back.
Where the wheels are stopped today
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