grittyoctopi
Salado, TX
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What are the steepest grades that you routinely have to climb towing your TT in mountainous areas?(and come down)
Thanks,
cliff
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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6% ~ we like to camp on the other "dry" side of the state but there's a mountain range between us. This is the main reason we have a diesel. Power to climb and an exhaust brake for coming down.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
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smkettner
Southern California
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Routine would be 6%. Have gone 10%.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675 watts solar
Send a PM if I missed something
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opnspaces
San Diego Ca
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6% is the steepest I've pulled my TT. Probably a lot steeper pulling the PU.
1996 Suburban 4x4. 350, 4.10 3/4 ton
2005 Jayco Jay Flight 27BH
1986 Coleman Columbia Popup.
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dbbls
Missouri
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Very rare to find a grade over 6%, but they are long.
2011 F-350 CC Lariat 4X4 Dually Diesel
2012 Big Country 3450TS 5th Wheel
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Bonefish
Midland, TX
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Towed up and over Wolf Creek Pass.....I think the max was 8% grade.
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beckid
So. Calif.
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Just went over ALOT of 7% grades in SD and Wyo. Knuckle biting I tell ya...and the wind did not enhance the experience in a positive way whatsoever.
Me '54
Him '58
Maggie the wonderdog
2008 Fleetwood Fiesta LX 34N
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gmw photos
midwest
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I was up and down a couple of 7% grades last week in Colorado and Wyoming. Pulling a 19' Funfinder ( 3800 pounds ) with a Nissan Frontier, 4.0 gasser, six speed manual. Was able to climb in third or fourth, and came down in third. Coming down in third, the engine held it to between 40 and 45 mph without using the brakes.
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Gdetrailer
PA
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dbbls writes "Very rare to find a grade over 6%, but they are long."
Depends on where you are in the country and the terrain of that area, some states are more like rolling hills and some are more like pure mountains and anything in between.
In PA, I have one nearly in my backyard at 9% for 1/2 mile.
In W VA and VA have found several at 6%-7% up to 7 miles in length.
In VT I have run into quite a few 10%-11% grades for as short as one mile to as long as 5 miles.
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the bear II
Torrance CA.
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Cliff,
I'm going to read between the lines on your post and guess that you may be concerned about towing up and down a steep grade. I looked back at some of your previous posts and most of your questions are the type someone new to RVing or towing would ask.
Maybe this will put your mind at ease. The rule of thumb when towing uphill is to drop down a gear when your engine is lugging. You may have to go all the way down to first gear on a really steep grade. I've gone up some 10% grades in first gear doing 15MPH in my old truck. The goal is to use the transmission gears to keep you engine from having to work too hard.
Rule of thumb for going downhill is to use the same gear you had to go uphill in. So on that 10% percent grade, I went down it in first gear at about 20MPH.
There is a braking technique used by truckers when going down a steep hill. It's known as the Aggressive Braking Technique. You determine what maximum speed you feel is safe. As your RV builds up speed going downhill you wait until it gets 5 - 10MPH above your safe speed and then apply the trailer brakes and tow vehicle brakes hard until the speed drops to 5-10 MPH below your safe speed. You let off the brakes and then watch for the speed to get above your safe speed and apply the brakes hard again, not skidding hard but enough to slow down quickly to get to 5-10 MPH below your safe speed. You repeat as needed. This helps give time for your brakes to cool in between applying them.
If you get to your 5-10 MPH over the safe speed too quickly and are having to use the brakes too often you may need to go to a lower gear.
I often travel a mountain road where it goes from near 6000 feet down to 1000feet in a series of 6 to 10% grade switchbacks. I do it in first gear and only have to use the aggressive braking about 5 times. It takes me nearly an hour to get down the hill. But I have strong brakes, not overheated brakes when I get to the bottom. It's great for enjoying the scenery along the way.
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