Community Forums

vettenuts · 03-13-2015, 10:35 AM

Anyone ever go south on route 77 from Fancy Gap, VA to the NC border? Looking for advice in advance since I will be fairly heavy and towing with my W24 five speed. It's a seven mile 6% grade from what I understand.

smlranger · 03-13-2015, 11:00 AM

Traveled that road in our 42' coach pulling a Honda CRV. It is not any more challenging to drive than the rest of I77 thru WV or any interstate in mountainous country for that matter. The issues with that road are when it gets foggy so just use care and common sense.

Steve Ownby · 03-13-2015, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

Anyone ever go south on route 77 from Fancy Gap, VA to the NC border? Looking for advice in advance since I will be fairly heavy and towing with my W24 five speed. It's a seven mile 6% grade from what I understand.

Just start down cautiously until you feel comfortable with the grade. If you have time, schedule a couple of days at Mt Airy in the Mayberry campground. It's a very well kept little campground and the Main Street of Mt Airy is a throwback to the 1950s. I recommend a pork chop sandwich at the Snappy Lunch.

Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

SteveB2 · 03-13-2015, 11:28 AM

Fancy gap is a piece of cake. Sounds worse than it is, you'll be fine. Now Black mountain near Asheville is a challenge.

decodancer · 03-13-2015, 04:54 PM

I take that route on regular visits to Mom in Florida. Can't tolerate the I95 traffic and congestion and love the beautiful scenery. Grades are not really an issue and they have extra lanes for slower traffic. Second the fog comment especially early in the morning. My biggest issue was crosswinds in a few areas while driving a high top B conversion but it was an unusually windy day. I always stay at the Staunton KOA, great folks, open all year round and a dozen ducks who escort you to your site.

vettenuts · 03-14-2015, 06:41 AM

Does anyone know what the likelihood of fog is in the May time frame? I understand it can get pretty bad in that area and we had planned on leaving Fancy Gap in the early morning as we need to get to our final reservation. If fog is common that time of year I may skip over to 95 at Fredricksburg and just go down 95 instead. The difference in mileage is minimal either way.

Tom N · 03-14-2015, 10:36 AM

I do this route every year in my 38' W24. All I do is use the grade brake, which I always leave on, and drop out of overdrive.

I weigh ~23,500# and get 100 mpg going down the mountain.

-Tom

wallacerm · 03-14-2015, 05:05 PM

I ave done it several times with a travel trailer and in a 27,000 lb. class A. No problems with either. The grade is 6% but not more than that, so if you keep speed under control from the outset, you will have no difficulty. There are about four runaway truck emergency ramps, which can be intimidating, but I have never had the least problem in keeping speed under 50.

vettenuts · 03-14-2015, 05:34 PM

I was going to stay in Fancy Gap which would require an early morning departure. I may just pass by in the afternoon and stay in Mt. Airy instead. That should minimize the chance of the morning fog.

vettenuts · 03-14-2015, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom N

I do this route every year in my 38' W24. All I do is use the grade brake, which I always leave on, and drop out of overdrive.

I weigh ~23,500# and get 100 mpg going down the mountain.

-Tom

Tom, that is very similar to my coach. Sounds like you are in 3rd gear then when you go down. Curious since this will be my first experience like this.