Just had the first long, hard, steep pull

[doc]

We have had the 2008 Essence just over a year and are on our first long trip west. We went across Monteagle, Tennessee yesterday heading up I-24 toward Nashville. Usually with the previous coach (300 hp Cat) towing a Honda Element, we would drop down to 50 or so MPH. Well I was surprised yesterday, the Allison stayed in 5th gear after the first downshift and never got below 58. I had backed off to see if it could accelerate while climbing. It could and even shifted up on one of the less steep levels. We are well pleased with the performance.
Fuel up in Oak Grove, Ky at the FlyingJ. This tankfull got 8.33 and pulling the Element.
I had to let someone know and you guys understand better than most!

[powerboatr]

i have coasted down monteagle and its an adventure even in a dually

we ran 8.1 and 8.2 this weekend coming and going mostly flatland's here in north east Texas,

thank goodness for cruise, when i manually controlled the road speed it would creep up to 75-80.


how did you do going down the other side?

[doc]

"how did you do going down the other side?"

Set the jake brake and just sort of steered down the Nashville side. Not sure my nerves would let me do this on the Chattanooga side. LOL

[skipwil]

doc- i was nervous going down that mountain in a cr-vic patrol car. i'm not sure how i'd feel in the moho. safe journeys

[igor2brvn]

Doc, that is good performance! I've climbed that hill several times in a big truck with similar performance. My F53 gasser will maintain about 50 mph pulling a Jeep toad up that hill.