Measuring grade on hills

The Garmin dezl560 and 760 gps devices will display grade. I've not used the feature, so I can't comment on the accuracy.

Tom

Check here.

or here

or here.

or just put "auto inclinometer" into Google and let it find you a whole bunch. :W :)
Barney

I glued one of those small bubble-type devices intended to be installed on a surface of a trailer to tell if it is level or not. I located it just above the driver's side door so I can see it easily.

It reads in degrees, which is easier for me to understand than percentages on grades anyway. If you want to know the percentage of a grade, you could use a conversion formula (divide the degrees by 0.9).

It's not a precision-reading device, but it surely gives you an idea of what your rig is facing while going up a grade. If you want a more precise reading, one of those dial-type angle finders at a hardware store could be used for about $20, but it might look a bit funny glued in your cockpit.

My little gauge indicates my rig is at a 10-degree attitude while climbing my driveway. That's about a 11% grade. Pretty steep for me to walk.

I have a older DeLorme Topo mapping program, and it is able to diplay the grades while going over the planned route.

You could also display average grade, peak uphill and downhill grades. It would also total the feet it climbed and decended during the route. In other words, if you have a topographical map with your route on it, and counted each foot that you go up or down along that route, this is what is given as a total with the DeLorme program.

It has been a while since I have used the programs.

With Google Maps, you can check Terain, and see the area elevations. However it is not showing the grades of each hill.

Fred.

This is a 55 mph hill.... Or... This is a 35 mph hill..... Or.... This is a 45 mph hill...

Other than that, I don't see the need to measure it. As long as I get to the other side, it's all good.

I dont know about the Garmin but usually the road signs give that information..I read those.