Best route to avoid mountains in WV

Oh my! At 82+ I am to old to spout history lessons as I was alive when the Federal-aid highway act of 1956 was signed by Eisenhower. It was also known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways act.

I have rarely ever heard the term "freeway" used in the East. But we do have the Durham freeway--thats what it is called but most know it as 147, Daughter had to re learn the eastern language after having lived in Cal for 10 years. I have lived in 10 States, I think, and have been to all but one + lived for short periods in 23 countries. Hear in NC its hard to understand even if I have been here more than 15 years. 82 is a long time.

Swieduwilt wrote:
I tried to use the lower gears D 1 2 M
They did not help, the engine revved 4500 but did not effect the 12% grade. My chassis is an F53 with the 7.3L V8 6 speed transmission.
Also the Tow Haul button does nothing. I guess I will have service look at it.

Now I have to ask what routes you were taking. Interstates typically max out at around 6-8% grades (there are rare exceptions). I don't recally anything extreme when we took the freeways across a couple years ago.

12% for a long enough distance to have issues with the brakes is a whopper of a hill.

What was the speed when you were up to 4500rpm? That should be providing a lot of engine braking...just maybe not enough by itself, particularly if you let the speed get too high.

With our F250 and 7500lb trailer, we've been on some pretty good grades and rarely get above 3500rpm.

When using the tow/haul on a downhill, did you try tapping the brakes? That will typically cause the transmission to downshift. Though sometimes, I will still manually downshift if I see a particularly bad hill coming up. Check the vehicle manual to verify how it is supposed to work.

ferndaleflyer wrote:
Sorry about my misinterpretation of "Freeways" as here we commonly call these "interstate highways". Also I-77 in WV is partly a toll road. Anyway the OP has not told us where he is starting or where he is going yet.

No problem. An "interstate" is a specific type of "freeway"...mostly related to funding. Interstate Defense and Highway Act of 1956 is the basis for them. After seeing the Autobahns during WWII, they came back and thought it would be a good idea to develop a similar system.

A freeway is simply a limited access roadway (think no driveways and interchanges that use ramps rather than at grade crossings).

Swieduwilt wrote:

ken56 wrote:
In order to miss 'mountain' roads you would have to take 81 down to I-40 over to I-75 and up to Ohio. How much time you got? Like others have said and meaning no insult learn how to use the transmission to slow your downhill roll. Ignore the people behind you. YOU and only you are responsible for the safe operation of your vehicle so what's behind you doesn't matter. If you avoid 'mountain' roads then you will never see a lot of this country.

I tried to use the lower gears D 1 2 M
They did not help, the engine revved 4500 but did not effect the 12% grade. My chassis is an F53 with the 7.3L V8 6 speed transmission.
Also the Tow Haul button does nothing. I guess I will have service look at it.

The point is you can't enter a downhill grade doing the speed limit. You have to slow down to the speed you want to be going down the grade. My trans does me just fine and I use the brakes only to slow back down to below the target speed with a firm push on the pedal and then let off. Repaat as needed. I tow with a GMC 2500 with a 6 speed tranny. I've been on some pretty good grades out west and even here in the east. Hard to guess why yours does nothing.

On 64 to 81 to 64 through WV from VA to OH, there is no 12% grade to my knowledge. The longest and steepest is Sandstone Mountain (@7%)starting at the top at Pluto Road. I use the mountain directory as well. Descending from Sandstone mountain you have two 90* turns and there are two runaway truck ramps. I was always anxious about the run, but never had problems. We stopped at the brake check. . . .we always said it was to change into our "brown" pants and when we got to the bottom we would pull over to change back into our "white" pants. LOL

Dale

One thing many don't understand, no matter if using engine braking or service brakes, it takes much less brake to slow you from 30 to 20 MPH than it takes to slow from 40 to 30 MPH.

66 to 81 will work, there is a short cut up there around Winchester that comes out in Hancock, MD I forget the number then take I-68 over to Morgantown, I 79 North to I-40 west into Ohio. One long up hill out of Cumberland and a long down hill at Coopers Rocks but thats it and they aren't bad. Once you cross over the river at Wheeling its pretty flat in Ohio and I 40 is about in the middle of the state. Stay clear of the PA pike. I been all over that area.

ken56 wrote:
In order to miss 'mountain' roads you would have to take 81 down to I-40 over to I-75 and up to Ohio. How much time you got? Like others have said and meaning no insult learn how to use the transmission to slow your downhill roll. Ignore the people behind you. YOU and only you are responsible for the safe operation of your vehicle so what's behind you doesn't matter. If you avoid 'mountain' roads then you will never see a lot of this country.

I tried to use the lower gears D 1 2 M
They did not help, the engine revved 4500 but did not effect the 12% grade. My chassis is an F53 with the 7.3L V8 6 speed transmission.
Also the Tow Haul button does nothing. I guess I will have service look at it.

ferndaleflyer wrote:
Would be interesting to know where you are starting and where you are going. Those mountains run from TN to NY. You got to cross them to get to OH. Was just up that way from NC to Ohio river last week. I would suggest using the interstate roads no matter.

Starting from Manassas, VA, commonly known as Northern Virginia. I usually take I-66, to 81

Sorry about my misinterpretation of "Freeways" as here we commonly call these "interstate highways". Also I-77 in WV is partly a toll road. Anyway the OP has not told us where he is starting or where he is going yet.