Community Forums

Davezi · 01-30-2021, 08:03 AM

Need some input from drivers towing a 30' trailer on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Fancy Gap, VA to Asheville, NC. Staying at Linville Falls Campground.

Trailer height is 11'5' with AC unit; so it appears that the tunnels would not be a problem. Your opinions please. Towing with a 5.3 V-8 Silverado. Trailer comes in at about 8,000.

ArtJoyce · 01-30-2021, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davezi

Need some input from drivers towing a 30' trailer on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Fancy Gap, VA to Asheville, NC. Staying at Linville Falls Campground.

Trailer height is 11'5' with AC unit; so it appears that the tunnels would not be a problem. Your opinions please. Towing with a 5.3 V-8 Silverado. Trailer comes in at about 8,000.

We have driven on the road many times and planed to drive on it may times that clouds and weather made it not worth driving. Have a backup plan for your trip. There are a lot of steep grades, with a trailer the trick is down shifting and doing the engine braking. There were many that we slowed way down and dropped in to 1st gear or we would have burnt up our brakes.

If that is a 1/2 ton truck and 8K trailer. Thats a lot of rig for those narrow winding twisting, mountain roads. I would sure make sure I had good experience driving mountain roads and had fresh transmission fluid.

If you get off at asherville you will be fine for tunnel height. But if you headed to SMNP. Three tunnels might be an issue: Years ago I read to takes 3 inches off the clearance of the tunnels of the BRMPW because road resurfacing may have changed the heights. But it might not be an issue because the measurements are at the side and the tunnels celling is more arch shape.

Tunnels that may be an issue:

458.8 Lickstone Ridge 402 feet 11 feet 1 in

459.3 Bunches Bald 255 feet 10 feet 6 in

461.2 Big Witch 348 feet 11 feet 3 in

CharlesinGA · 01-31-2021, 11:10 PM

Many of the tunnels, on the south end at least, are built with curves in them so you cannot see from one end to the other. Otherwise you could crowd the centerline.

I don't think any heavy resurfacing has been done in years on the BRP, at least not from Ashville to the south end, but a good section of it had a thin tar and gravel resurface which made it look nice and added a lot of traction. Some bikers complained but I talked to some who rode it the day or two after it was put down who said they didn't mind it at all.

Here is a list of all the tunnels, with both minimum and maximinum heights (edge line, and center line) https://www.virtualblueridge.com/par...laces/tunnels/

I have NO experience with the BRP north of Ashville but have driven (or ridden with a friend on all of the parkway south of Ashville.

It will not be a comfortable sightseeing ride with a 30 ft trailer behind you. Many of the pull offs are small and if the weather is good and traffic heavy, the pulloffs will be crowded. There are a few large ones, but most are not.

I have stayed at Mt Pisgah Campground several times, and always enjoyed it, but went straight to the campground and set up and then went riding.

If you have not found it, this web site has a lot of good information on the BRP and surrounding area, including downloadable maps, milepost lists, hiking trail maps based on mileposts where the parking is, campground site maps, links to where you can purchase printed maps, etc.

https://www.virtualblueridge.com/

There is also an app called the "Blue Ridge Parkway Travel Planner" by the Blue Ridge Parkway Association, that you may find helpful.

Charles

Palmeris · 02-01-2021, 07:23 AM

Have driven the entire length from Front Royal to Cherokee on our Harley Davidson Road King - 4 days of driving avegrge speed limit is 35 mph.

There are no services on the parkway, you have to exit it to find fuel, food , lodging etc. and those roads can also be elevation and twisty depending on where you exit.

The parkway may be a challenging drive as its so beautiful you want to be checking out the views however there are no guard rails and no shoulders so the driver has to stay focused- but there are many over looks to pull over at, as mentioned some are small, some are larger. As mentioned the tunnels get more frequent further south, what I found troublesome on the Harley was going from bright sun light into the dark, coupled with the curved road inside the tunnel-

Would certainly do it again via motorcycle or a car but I wouldnt tow anything on it but that's me.

Teamfoxy · 02-01-2021, 07:49 AM

Last summer I noted that the heights listed on the tunnel signs, between 441 and Ashville, were higher than what was listed on the BRP maps. We were driving in the car because we thought our motorhomes' 12'3" height would. Be an issue.
We have travelled the BRP nearly every year for 14 years in gas motorhomes to 34' and with a 28' trailer behind a 5.4l V8 F150 rated up tp 9,000 lbs. We never had a problem in any of them. Some of the roads near the BRP are another story. I.e. 221 between Linville and Blowing Rock.
It gets pretty busy between Ashville and 441. The further north you go from Ashville, the less crowded it gets and driving will get easier.

Davezi · 02-01-2021, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teamfoxy

Last summer I noted that the heights listed on the tunnel signs, between 441 and Ashville, were higher than what was listed on the BRP maps. We were driving in the car because we thought our motorhomes' 12'3" height would. Be an issue.
We have travelled the BRP nearly every year for 14 years in gas motorhomes to 34' and with a 28' trailer behind a 5.4l V8 F150 rated up tp 9,000 lbs. We never had a problem in any of them. Some of the roads near the BRP are another story. I.e. 221 between Linville and Blowing Rock.
It gets pretty busy between Ashville and 441. The further north you go from Ashville, the less crowded it gets and driving will get easier.

Thanks for info----- As of now, I'm planning on traveling on the BRP from Fancy Gap to Deep Gap , then heading up to Boone, NC. A one mile section of the BRP is going to be closed this year near Linville Falls,NC

Wondering how route 105 from Boone,NC to Linville Falls, NC. as to traffic/etc.

Triangle Drifter · 02-18-2021, 04:03 PM

We have driven large portions of the BRP over the years. Most of it with our 34' & 12' 10" 5er in tow. It is an awful lot of up & down, left & right, better done without the trailer.

The big issue is the weather. They are not called smokey mtns for nothing. Not much fun when visibility is no more than 100'. The BRP is fine however some of the access roads are hair raising. Great biker roads but large vehicles not so much.