Midwest to GA - avoid steep grades?
My family and I are planning an extended winter vacation to Savannah Georgia. We have a 31 foot winnebago outlook and plan to tow a car. We've taken a few long range trips in our RV but this will b...
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I will go contrary to the advice you have been given. I've been up and down Monteagle twice in my previous motorhome - a 1990 Winnebago Chieftain (31').
I had no issues. Going up from Chattanooga towards Nashville was relatively easy - I was able to maintain 40-45MPH fairly easily. Coming down I was real nervous. So, I downshifted to second gear and let the engine keep me in the 35-40MPH range. I would start to creep up in speed. So, about every 0.-5-0.75 miles I would stab the brakes and get my speed back down. It worked like a champ. I was fine both trips.
Monteagle is really the only hill to worry about on I-24. It feels tight between there and Chattanooga. But, its more illusion than reality. If you have been up and down the pass by the Eisenhower Tunnel, I can't see how this one will present much of an issue. It really not that long and that bad - just a bit steep.
Also, you are not at near the elevation that the Eisenhower tunnel is, so you should get much better performance than out west.
I have not taken my Bluebird up and down that hill yet. I will get that chance at some point, though.
Ironically, I have not been up I-75 from Chattanooga to Jellico in Tennessee. So, I can't comment on how easy/difficult that hill is. I had always been under the impression that Monteagle was the worst to deal with. I may be wrong, though.
I had no issues. Going up from Chattanooga towards Nashville was relatively easy - I was able to maintain 40-45MPH fairly easily. Coming down I was real nervous. So, I downshifted to second gear and let the engine keep me in the 35-40MPH range. I would start to creep up in speed. So, about every 0.-5-0.75 miles I would stab the brakes and get my speed back down. It worked like a champ. I was fine both trips.
Monteagle is really the only hill to worry about on I-24. It feels tight between there and Chattanooga. But, its more illusion than reality. If you have been up and down the pass by the Eisenhower Tunnel, I can't see how this one will present much of an issue. It really not that long and that bad - just a bit steep.
Also, you are not at near the elevation that the Eisenhower tunnel is, so you should get much better performance than out west.
I have not taken my Bluebird up and down that hill yet. I will get that chance at some point, though.
Ironically, I have not been up I-75 from Chattanooga to Jellico in Tennessee. So, I can't comment on how easy/difficult that hill is. I had always been under the impression that Monteagle was the worst to deal with. I may be wrong, though.
