? Class-A Gas Climbing MPH

Around the Western states, we had some slow going, particularly on SR20 going over Washington Pass (5200' above MSL), but our 32-footer Class A with the Ford V-10 managed relatively easily. I think the slowest climb was out of Winthrop, WA, up the long westbound drag to the top of the pass it got down to 30 mph in a couple of places. That was the only time I was mildly concerned, but more about the coolant temperature than anything else. It's about a 15-minute continuous climb.

What often happens going up some mountain grades, I-70 west of Denver being one of most challenging, is needing to gear down to first gear. But keeping the
RPMs at a comfortable 3500 for example, 35mph or more is usually easy to maintain. Often in fact you catch up to slower heavy trucks, and as mentioned above, it becomes difficult to get around, so with the 4 way flashers on, you just follow them to the top. Going up is not the problem, going down is where care in needed. You need to stay in a lower gear, but even then, the RV's speed will tend to keep increasing, so brakes must be applied firmly and briefly, with keeps them from over heating.

zigzagrv wrote:
Some of the toughest hills are on US65 from Springfield, Mo to Branson. Several looong and steep (over 6% grade)hills. Have to brake going down to stay under 70 mph, then hit the gas near the bottom to get momentum to get to the top. Usually doing 30-35 mph at the top with the rig in my sig with 4-ways on. Good straight road, but difficult to keep up the speed.

I remember going over those years ago thinking, wow these are STEEP.


35 to 40 MPH going over Grapevine, Siskiyou's, Tehachapi, Donner.

I've passed diesels on those but it was because the diesel had got stuck behind a slow truck, unable to get around.

Once you lose speed I don't care what you are driving you're gonna be slow the rest of the way to the top.

Some of the toughest hills are on US65 from Springfield, Mo to Branson. Several looong and steep (over 6% grade)hills. Have to brake going down to stay under 70 mph, then hit the gas near the bottom to get momentum to get to the top. Usually doing 30-35 mph at the top with the rig in my sig with 4-ways on. Good straight road, but difficult to keep up the speed.

I feel pretty sure that if you were only able to run 5mph for very long at full throttle you would quickly let the smoke out of the transmission. Since that apparently didn't happen I am going to say that they were doing at least 20 to avoid having too much transmission slip.

5 mph means to me that it may not make it, especially if you had to stop.
My FIL had that happen to him years ago with a marginally weak TV (6.9L FOrd Diesel). Had to get towed up the hill to his house.
(Then he had it turbo'd)

I would not wan't something that weak.

I was able to maintain 40-45 mph going thru the Rockies on I-70 towing 6500 lbs on my 08 Bounder V-10 with 5 speed trans..

I do have the full banks power pack system and 5 Star tuning..

5 mph sounds like the old gasser is just wore out...

dcmac214 wrote:
What's the real gas class-A hill climbing MPH?

Talking to couple old timers while wandering around RV show, one commented and other agreed that a gas Class-A slows down to about 5mph climbing our Western Mountains. I've had occasion to follow some on prior trips and can't recall ever being slowed down anywhere near single digit MPH.

They should probably see about getting the other 4 cylinders to fire.

Headed East on I70 up to the Eisenhower Tunnel (11,000+ ft.) with a 95 460 F53 with car in tow (20,000 lbs) . 35 MPH in second gear @ 3200 RPM.
With 528 stroker engine, I climb the same grade @ 55 MPH in high gear.

Richard

1999 Winnebago with Ford V-10 towing a Soul on a Dolly. I've been all around the Western US, where there are some serious uphill grades. With one exception I've never been below 30 mph and only rarely below 35. The one exception was a stretch that included uphill hairpin curves. Even then nothing below 20.