Community Forums

shaneotr · 10-04-2018, 07:08 PM

Wanting to take Hwy 441 over the Smokies thru NC and into Georgia to Athens and Milledgeville. Heard horrible stories about not being able to cross the mountains on that hwy. Any opinions?

Twomed · 10-04-2018, 07:11 PM

Depends on what you are driving, pulling, weights...??

Jake21 · 10-04-2018, 07:18 PM

I have done 441 in a 40 foot with a tow. No big deal for me.

shaneotr · 10-04-2018, 07:23 PM

36' Chevy 502 winnebago Brave towing 2009 Malibu. Have aux braking with the toad. Also have checked all the weights and we are well within the gross combination weight limits.

shaneotr · 10-04-2018, 07:24 PM

Gas or DP?

doc · 10-04-2018, 07:38 PM

You will have not problems. The Tennessee side is steeper up to the Gap. Use the pull-outs to keep folks from yelling at you. Tunnels have heights on them, but that is on the sides. Much higher toward the center.
When you reach the Gap and start down, go sorta slow the first mile or so and then you will be fine. Coming thru Cherokee is a snap, but the traffic can be challenging sometimes. Just north of Franklin NC it is pretty steep in a couple of curves, so don't get over confident and too fast. From Franklin to Athens is pretty much 4 lane all the way. They are re-paving from I-85 south for a few miles, but that is going on at night, you should be fine.

Hooligan · 10-04-2018, 07:39 PM

It's been several years since I traveled 441 from Gatlinburg to Cherokee. The worst of the drive would be that section thru the Smoky Mountain Park. The climb from Gatlinburg is 13 miles of 7-8% grade. A long max effort climb, and I believe there are 2 tunnels. The descent on the NC side is 8 miles of 7-8% grade.
I-40 is a good alternative. (I-40 SC25 I-85)

Going further south to hwy 129 in not a good idea. Steep, many curves, known as "Tail of the Dragon"

shaneotr · 10-04-2018, 07:48 PM

Thanks didn't know about the tunnels! Slow and steady wins the race! Will be goi g sliw on both sides!

shaneotr · 10-04-2018, 07:50 PM

Thank you, that's the info I needed. Not sure this is a good idea but we are gonna try it. If nothing else, we can unhook and drive the toad till we get to Georgia. Appreciate all the info.

Jake21 · 10-04-2018, 08:22 PM

You’ll be fine. Enjoy the drive. Out of curiosity, please post back here what your experience was. There is always advice and opinions given here, but your experience based on our opinions would be interesting.

TIA
JJ

shaneotr · 10-05-2018, 07:03 PM

Well. Here is my sad report. We chickened out and took I-40 to I-26 to I-85 to 441 I to Milledgeville. It took us 7.5 hours to do that from Pigeon Forge, Tn. I sure appreciate the information but we spoke with a couple of people in the park and of course theirs were horrible stories of them taking 441 across. We actually did it 6 years ago in a 32' gasser without towing. When we went to Bryson City NC. But with this Brave being 36' and towing a car, and my other half having very very limited experience driving mountains. We decided to be less adventurous. So, here we are in Milledgeville. Ga. Safe but a bit disappointed.

johnhicks · 10-05-2018, 08:23 PM

I've done that stretch in a car; I wouldn't want to do it in my MH towing. No doubt I could do it safely but it wouldn't be any fun, and I'd much rather run more miles easy-peasy than shorter white-knuckled.

Ivylog · 10-06-2018, 08:06 AM

A little later to the dance but you made the correct decision. If you had been northbound and the DW was driving the car I would have said OK. Southbound pulling...NO and you are on the outside of most of the curves with a good view of how far down it is to the scene of the accident.

Air Conditioned Gypsy · 10-06-2018, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnhicks

I've done that stretch in a car; I wouldn't want to do it in my MH towing. No doubt I could do it safely but it wouldn't be any fun, and I'd much rather run more miles easy-peasy than shorter white-knuckled.

JBH has the correct answer! Just today, I ran about 40 miles further just to avoid NYC and northern NJ. Took longer, but was less nervous the whole way.....

Regards.

Chuck