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Old 08-18-2021, 08:43 PM   #1
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Can the Pace Arrow Handle the Mountains?????

I Have a 1998 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 36B on a 1997 F53 460 V8 7.5L chassis. I'm asking this question because I'm heading West and everyone seems to have more HP and torque than me. I believe I have 245 HP with 400 ftlbs of torque. I do have the banks system but concerned about going down steep grades. Brakes are serviced but 245 HP at 400 ftlb doesn't seem powerful at all. Anyone with my same engine have experience driving in the mountains? How were the RPMs? I will of course downshift out of OD if needed but want to know about others experiences.
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Old 08-18-2021, 09:04 PM   #2
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I think the attitude most RVers take is that it's not a race to get up the hills. You will see that even the bigger MHs will slow down considerably. Get in the right lane and you'll be fine. Remember, rule of thumb, what ever gear you used to get up the hill is the same one you should downshift into for going down the hill.
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Old 08-18-2021, 09:16 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyDi View Post
I think the attitude most RVers take is that it's not a race to get up the hills. You will see that even the bigger MHs will slow down considerably. Get in the right lane and you'll be fine. Remember, rule of thumb, what ever gear you used to get up the hill is the same one you should downshift into for going down the hill.
Great advice! I will lower my gear before going up the grade.
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Old 08-18-2021, 09:21 PM   #4
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Can the Pace Arrow Handle the Mountains?????

We traveled from Spokane WA to Florida, then up to Massachusetts and back to Spokane last season with our 1997 Rexair 32 feet pulling a Sidekick and the Ford 460 had no issues with the hills, up or down.

Were we the first ones up? Nope. But it pulled big hills with no problems and going down, just used the trany and kept the speed low and only stabbed the brakes to slow down….didn’t ride them.

I’m sure your rig will do just fine assuming all preventative maintenance has been performed and everything inspected.

As always…take your time and stop at the top for the views….and to let rig catch its breath.

PS: We also have the banks system.
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Old 08-18-2021, 09:21 PM   #5
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Don't worry too much about the lower HP and torque figures. Your coach was set up by Ford with a specific rear axle gear ratio for stock power levels. The Banks power pack system significantly raises the stock power levels at the rear wheels. Banks claims +85 hp & +118 lb-ft, for the Ford 460, at the rear wheels.

We recently did a trip to Yellowstone and crossed numerous 8000+ foot passes. Our 1996 454 Chevy with the Banks power pack tackled those mountains with ease.

As for brakes, we like to save them, by using our gears. When we need to use them they are used, to drop the speed about 10-15mph, then wait to use them again when the speed gets back up that 10-15 mph. Gives the brakes time to cool before using them again.
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Old 08-18-2021, 09:41 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TriMoot View Post
We traveled from Spokane WA to Florida, then up to Massachusetts and back to Spokane last season with our 1997 Rexair 32 feet pulling a Sidekick and the Ford 460 had no issues with the hills, up or down.

Were we the first ones up? Nope. But it pulled big hills with no problems and going down, just used the trany and kept the speed low and only stabbed the brakes to slow down….didn’t ride them.

I’m sure your rig will do just fine assuming all preventative maintenance has been performed and everything inspected.

As always…take your time and stop at the top for the views….and to let rig catch its breath.

PS: We also have the banks system.
Thankyou!!!!!!! I'm glad your rig handled it. I just changed the coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, engine and generator oils and I am towing nothing, just have a wife and mother in law who like to bring a lot of stuff. I think I will be fine but will try to avoid any mountain above 8%. It's Utah and Colorado I'm really concerned about.
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Old 08-19-2021, 12:26 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Qstaar17 View Post
Thankyou!!!!!!! I'm glad your rig handled it. I just changed the coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, engine and generator oils and I am towing nothing, just have a wife and mother in law who like to bring a lot of stuff. I think I will be fine but will try to avoid any mountain above 8%. It's Utah and Colorado I'm really concerned about.
We went down through Utah on our way to Florida and hit a number of steep grades both up and down. The MOST steep was on Rt12 south coming out of Capital Reef NP. It's a fantastic view as it's on a knifes edge and you can see for MILES on either side. But the downhill was incredibly steep...I don't recall the percentage, but all I did was put it in FIRST GEAR...yup...didn't care WHO or how many were behind me (it was early October so not a ton of people behind me) and went REALLY slow down that grade. Didn't take too long and I don't recall having anyone behind me and then after that, it was just normal hills and I wasn't concerned.

Now Colorado...that might be a different story and I can't speak to that as I have yet to go through there. I told my DW that I will only go through Colorado when we have a DP....guess what? WE DO!!! So now it's back on our radar.

We did drive through there a couple of months ago when we flew down to Albuquerque to look at an RV. We decided against buying it and decided to rent a car and drive back (Man was THAT expensive! Ugh)

But man oh MAN! did we love that drive!!! Went through Durango to Silverton & then Ouray and the entire time I'm like, "Oh man...I would NEVER take my RV this way!!". It was incredibly scenic but you talk about steep grades and switchbacks?!! WOW!!! I've been on a lot of switchbacks in Idaho, Wyoming, Utah...but I've have NEVER seen such tight ones and the speeds signs saying 5 MPH!!! So yeah...don't go that way! Stay on the interstates and you'll 'probably' have no problems.

I'm trying to find some photos that show the switchbacks but since I was driving I didn't take any... I was too busy watching the road and praying!!!

Here's one coming out of Durango and on our way to Silverton. If I remember right, it was getting into Silverton that was pretty intense. From there to Ouray, (The next pic) wasn't too bad, but still pretty tight for a 40+ foot RV.

Enjoy and come back and post some of your pics and experiences.
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Old 08-19-2021, 12:52 PM   #8
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Great Info

Quote:
Originally Posted by D Gardiner View Post
Don't worry too much about the lower HP and torque figures. Your coach was set up by Ford with a specific rear axle gear ratio for stock power levels. The Banks power pack system significantly raises the stock power levels at the rear wheels. Banks claims +85 hp & +118 lb-ft, for the Ford 460, at the rear wheels.

We recently did a trip to Yellowstone and crossed numerous 8000+ foot passes. Our 1996 454 Chevy with the Banks power pack tackled those mountains with ease.

As for brakes, we like to save them, by using our gears. When we need to use them they are used, to drop the speed about 10-15mph, then wait to use them again when the speed gets back up that 10-15 mph. Gives the brakes time to cool before using them again.

I appreciate this, gives me more confidence.
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Old 08-19-2021, 12:53 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TriMoot View Post
We went down through Utah on our way to Florida and hit a number of steep grades both up and down. The MOST steep was on Rt12 south coming out of Capital Reef NP. It's a fantastic view as it's on a knifes edge and you can see for MILES on either side. But the downhill was incredibly steep...I don't recall the percentage, but all I did was put it in FIRST GEAR...yup...didn't care WHO or how many were behind me (it was early October so not a ton of people behind me) and went REALLY slow down that grade. Didn't take too long and I don't recall having anyone behind me and then after that, it was just normal hills and I wasn't concerned.

Now Colorado...that might be a different story and I can't speak to that as I have yet to go through there. I told my DW that I will only go through Colorado when we have a DP....guess what? WE DO!!! So now it's back on our radar.

We did drive through there a couple of months ago when we flew down to Albuquerque to look at an RV. We decided against buying it and decided to rent a car and drive back (Man was THAT expensive! Ugh)

But man oh MAN! did we love that drive!!! Went through Durango to Silverton & then Ouray and the entire time I'm like, "Oh man...I would NEVER take my RV this way!!". It was incredibly scenic but you talk about steep grades and switchbacks?!! WOW!!! I've been on a lot of switchbacks in Idaho, Wyoming, Utah...but I've have NEVER seen such tight ones and the speeds signs saying 5 MPH!!! So yeah...don't go that way! Stay on the interstates and you'll 'probably' have no problems.

I'm trying to find some photos that show the switchbacks but since I was driving I didn't take any... I was too busy watching the road and praying!!!

Here's one coming out of Durango and on our way to Silverton. If I remember right, it was getting into Silverton that was pretty intense. From there to Ouray, (The next pic) wasn't too bad, but still pretty tight for a 40+ foot RV.

Enjoy and come back and post some of your pics and experiences.
Those are awesome views, ThankYou
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Old 08-22-2021, 05:37 AM   #10
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Depending on the grade percentage and distance expect to be 20 - 40 mph
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Old 08-23-2021, 12:23 AM   #11
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Thanks

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Depending on the grade percentage and distance expect to be 20 - 40 mph
ThankYou, now maybe I won’t panic having to go that slow.
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Old 08-23-2021, 07:24 AM   #12
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Back when I was still racing I hauled a 24' enclosed trailer through the rockies several times with my 94 Pace Arrow with the 460 and no Banks system. Going up a few of the hills was slow but we always made it. Going down I would try to hit the top as slow as I could and let it pick up speed as I went and did the same as D Gardiner to scrub some off.

To be honest I think my 460 pulled the hills better then my V10 did.
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Old 08-23-2021, 11:58 PM   #13
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ThankYou

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Originally Posted by Craig1960 View Post
Back when I was still racing I hauled a 24' enclosed trailer through the rockies several times with my 94 Pace Arrow with the 460 and no Banks system. Going up a few of the hills was slow but we always made it. Going down I would try to hit the top as slow as I could and let it pick up speed as I went and did the same as D Gardiner to scrub some off.

To be honest I think my 460 pulled the hills better then my V10 did.


Now that’s good news!!!!
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Old 08-24-2021, 01:13 PM   #14
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Don't worry about avoiding the steep grades. We have a 2006 37C and pull a Chevy Colorado. Just came back from 2 months traveling the western Rockies with up to 10% grades. Slower, yes. But the grade brake and great engine-tranny setup worked very well.

Worse case scenario, you can drop some weight by leaving the MIL somewhere at the bottom of the steep grades! ��
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