Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Class A Motorhome Discussions
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-02-2015, 08:49 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 287
I 70 east bound over the Rockies

First of all dont tell me you should have bought a diesel I cant afford one. I have a 2008 Damon Challenger 38' with a Workhorse 8.1L chassis with 33,000 miles pulling a 2 dr Jeep Wrangler. While heading east on I 70 going up to the Eisenhower tunnel I came to the first steep climb at 10,000'. I ended up in first gear going 30 mph with the gas peddle to the floor. Then I got a warning on the instrument cluster "CHECK TRANS TEMP" so I pulled over and let it cool down. Then unhooked the toad and let the wife drive the toad and follow me in the MH. We dropped back down to 9,000' and then up to 11,120' at the tunnel. We made it through and re-hooked the toad and went on our way. Before we pulled out that morning I made sure all fluid levels were good. Why I had a problem and others go over with no problems doesn't make scene to me. I am telling this to give you food for thought if you make a grade like this. I looked at other posts that said there would be no problem doing this grade well I didn't make it with out any problems.
__________________
Mody n Domy
full timing it
Mody n Domy is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 05-02-2015, 09:36 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
mhbell's Avatar
 
Thor Owners Club
Forest River Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Georgie Boy Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Utah
Posts: 657
at 30 MPH with the gas pedal to the floor, it would not take to long before you started to over heat. I have traveled all over the US in several different Gassers 36 to 38 ft towing a toad. I find that on really steep grades that I gear down before starting up the grade and when I am in first gear I back off and slow to 20 or 25 MPH Never hold the pedal to the floor. I have pulled grades that took as long as 40 minutes to reach the summit. Never had a problem. If you need to pull over to the side or a turnout, don't turn the engine off until you have let it idle for 5 minutes or so to stabilize the temperature. are the fins of the radiator plugged with bugs, or something like a boot on the front restricting airflow? Since I am retired I am not in a big hurry and take it easy going up and down grades and try not to tax the engine Especially when the temps are 90 deg F or above with no wind or breeze blowing..
Mel
__________________
2016 Thor Axis 24.1
web site https://rvbloggers.wordpress.com/
mhbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2015, 10:35 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Newcastle, WA
Posts: 288
Mel has very good advice. I go over passes just as he describes. Look for the slowest moving semi and I follow behind at 25, 20 however slow they want to go, relax enjoy the scenery and a cool running rv. This will greatly add to the longevity of the running gear and save money too. I love to drive and a long slog up a grade is just as fun as any other part of the vacation. Last time I traveled eastbound over the Blue Mountains in Oregon we clawed all the way up at 20 mph. The wife will get up for refreshments on the slow segments. She drives the mh very well, but prefers to relax in the passenger seat with all her electronic gizmos.

Kevin
Steady_Rest is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2015, 04:10 AM   #4
Registered User
 
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 7,114
I do the Eisenhower a couple times a year. I'll select 1sr gear so its not popping back and forth between 1st and 2nd. I then hold, 15 - 25 mph, whatever the 18 wheelers are doing. Engine is revving about 3500 rpm. The gas pedal should not be mashed to the floor. Temperature guages astays abot in the center,

I just cruise along along with the 4-ways on and enjoy the scenery.

I-80 east of SLC is almost as bad. I-80 east of Larimie WY, same thing
Waiter21 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2015, 05:46 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
jimmyjnr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boulder CO
Posts: 741
Unhooking the toad and taking it easy is the best advice
jimmyjnr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2015, 06:00 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Luckiest Dreamer's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,189
As an RV'r one of the biggest problems we face is to realize that big bus just can not travel over the Mountains the same as the cars that we normally drive. So our tendency is to push as hard as we can in an attempt to keep up. Patience is the key. Equiptment failure can be the cost otherwise!
__________________
Larry B, Luckiest Dreamer
Luckiest Dreamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2015, 07:02 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 557
I went up the west side of the tunnel 2 years ago in a 2010 dodge pickup pulling a 4 wheel u haul. Had the dash set so I could read the engine and transmission temp. I went up the hill not pushing it very hard while watching the trans temp. The temp never quit climbing. I hate to think what a motorhome trans temp is running. Slow down and be safe.

Dan
__________________
2002 Beaver Marquis Emerald C-12 Cat 505 HP towing 2004 Honda CR V with 300K on clock
2014 Volvo 630 Heren Bed ET Hitch SOLD
2017 New Horizons Majestic 35 foot SOLD
dadej is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2015, 07:03 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 287
OP thanks for all the advice this is the first time I have pulled a grade this steep. So next time I know how to handle it. Being from Michigan it was intimidating going over 8,000' as an overpass is about it there.
__________________
Mody n Domy
full timing it
Mody n Domy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2015, 07:08 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
George Schweikle's Avatar


 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,773
Here's my little lesson: A few years ago, we intended to get to Yellowstone on rt. #16 from Buffalo WY. We were in our previous '95 Trek with the 6.5 Diesel, towing a car trailer, the road was 7% grade for 10 or miles, and it was 100 degrees. After several overheating episodes, we gave up that plan, returned to town and went to the visitor center to return the guidebooks. Upon hearing of our situation, the attendant said how wise we were since at least one motorhome per year caught fire and burned to the frame after overheating and continuing to climb the road. Again, likely an attitude of "Full throttle" without considering the consequences (extended full throttle makes the exhaust manifolds red hot, sets some under hood insulation on fire, and... ).

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mody n Domy View Post
... I ended up in first gear going 30 mph with the gas peddle to the floor....
__________________
George Schweikle Lexington, KY
2005 Safari (Monaco)Trek 28RB2, Workhorse W20, 8.1, Allison 1000 5 spd, UltraPower engine & tranny, Track bars & sway bars, KONI FSD, FMCA 190830, Safari Int'l. chapter. 1999 Safari Trek 2830, 1995 Safari Trek 2430, 1983 Winnebago Chieftain, 1976 Midas Mini
George Schweikle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2015, 07:15 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Lued's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Gretna Ne
Posts: 487
When I had my Bounder workhorse it would get warm in the Rocky's Changed Trans and Motor to synthetic , Motor Mobil 1 10/40 I was running 3500 to 4000 rps, Allison trans use TranSynd synthetic fluid, and I always unhooked the Jeep. Helped a lot.
__________________
2001 Monaco Diplomat 8.3 40ft, 1999 Jeep Cherokee
IA summers, Parker Dam CA winters.
Lued is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2015, 03:42 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ & Plover, WI
Posts: 6,403
Yep, just slow down a little and let the temps tell you how fast you can go up the hills. You need to try Teton Pass just west of Jackson, WY. It has an 11% grade that will slow down the biggest engines. Going down it is even more fun.
__________________
2006 Monaco Executive 44 Denali
2013 43 QGP Allegro Bus ( SOLD )
2013 Avalanche
Crasher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2015, 12:14 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
DD788Snipe's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Apple Valley CA
Posts: 1,069
I pulled that grade both ways about 5 times when I had my 2005 Winnebago Voyage with a W-20 chassis towing a Saturn SL2. Never dropped below 35mph and never overheated. You have to anticipate the grades and get a running start so to speak. My GCVW was 22,000lbs. The only thing I did different was I put 91 octane fuel in at the bottom of the mountains before I made the climb
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Craig & Carolyn Roberts Apple Valley, CA
Toad: 2017 GMC Canyon 4X4 Crewcab
DD788Snipe is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Where to head East of WI? dreamin5 Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 3 08-20-2014 05:37 AM
Best Route Into Canadian Rockies From Glacier? Tarheel Navigation, Routes & Roads 2 08-03-2014 11:02 AM
Yellowstone east with Sturgis traffic, where else to go jimbo2013 Navigation, Routes & Roads 10 07-21-2014 06:54 AM
Wanted: info on east bound US4 in New England area. lbaldwin Northeast Region 1 05-13-2014 08:10 PM
East Bound, Bend Oregon to...?? Stealth01 Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 8 04-12-2014 08:22 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.