driving uphill on gravel driveway
Soon I am going to visit my father-in-law who has a long uphill gravel drive way. Anyone have experience driving uphill on gravel? I have a 40' dutch star DP. I don't know the exact grade, I know a...
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I once attempted to head up a steep paved hill trying to get to a wine tasting facility. I bottomed out, in a swale meant to channel rainfall, and then the frame rails dug into the blacktop when I tried backing up. Couldn't go forward, didn't have the engine power, couldn't back up. But then a local stopped by, assessed the situation and called his dad in his 4X4 pickup. Strapped up, his and my engine worked together, and darned if he wasn't able to give me the extra oomph needed to break free.
Learned a few things that day:
1) See suspicious scrapes in the dirt or blacktop at the bottom of a hill? Means people can't make it up and have to back up.
2) Stop, even in the middle of the roadway if you must, and inspect the steep road before attempting.
3) When approaching a steep driveway, don't attack it head on, approach at an angle.
4) If you decide it's too steep, don't back down straight. Take the road/driveway interface at an angle. This prevents overhanging frame rails at the rear of the RV from hitting the ground too soon and digging in.
5) Even a small 4X4 pickup can pull a large class A up a hill a few feet.
6) Carry a couple sticks of 2'-2X4's to put under the rear wheels to give a couple inches of clearance if needed.
Learned a few things that day:
1) See suspicious scrapes in the dirt or blacktop at the bottom of a hill? Means people can't make it up and have to back up.
2) Stop, even in the middle of the roadway if you must, and inspect the steep road before attempting.
3) When approaching a steep driveway, don't attack it head on, approach at an angle.
4) If you decide it's too steep, don't back down straight. Take the road/driveway interface at an angle. This prevents overhanging frame rails at the rear of the RV from hitting the ground too soon and digging in.
5) Even a small 4X4 pickup can pull a large class A up a hill a few feet.
6) Carry a couple sticks of 2'-2X4's to put under the rear wheels to give a couple inches of clearance if needed.
