395 North Barstow to Tahoe under 460 V8 power
This question was just asked by a guy with a DP. I was planning on taking the same trip next spring in my 460 V8 powered 33’ Holiday Rambler pulling a Dodge Caravan on a tow dolly. How doable is this ...
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When I was traveling with three motorhomes up to Mammoth Mountain, the one with the 454 gas engine went ahead, and arrived at the campground about 5 minutes before the Country Coach I was driving, and the other diesel pusher behind me.
I can tell you I had full throttle, but the DP did not have the horsepower to weight ratio that the gas engine RV has.
I have a 460" Bounder, and it has 225 factory HP. By installing a Banks exhaust system, and a larger intake opening, the RV has plenty of power to take the grades, such as 395 from Victorville to Carson City (with some 9,000' passes, and grades up to 6% up and down the mountains.) and highway 50 from Carson City up to the 6,800' pass at Lake Tahoe. I keep up with most of the car traffic. Towing my Windstar van or Edge where no problem either.
My suggestion is that if you have not changed the transmission fluid in the past 10,000 miles, change it sometime before the trip, then it will be fresh.
Also consider changing out the brake fluid. It should be replaced every 6-7 years, because it absorbs moisture, and if the brakes get hot, that moisture can change to steam, - non-compressable, and you can loose the braking ability.
Fred.
I can tell you I had full throttle, but the DP did not have the horsepower to weight ratio that the gas engine RV has.
I have a 460" Bounder, and it has 225 factory HP. By installing a Banks exhaust system, and a larger intake opening, the RV has plenty of power to take the grades, such as 395 from Victorville to Carson City (with some 9,000' passes, and grades up to 6% up and down the mountains.) and highway 50 from Carson City up to the 6,800' pass at Lake Tahoe. I keep up with most of the car traffic. Towing my Windstar van or Edge where no problem either.
My suggestion is that if you have not changed the transmission fluid in the past 10,000 miles, change it sometime before the trip, then it will be fresh.
Also consider changing out the brake fluid. It should be replaced every 6-7 years, because it absorbs moisture, and if the brakes get hot, that moisture can change to steam, - non-compressable, and you can loose the braking ability.
Fred.
