GPS for steep grades

[Sandy___Shirley]

Are there any units or phone apps that will warn us when we are approaching a steep grade? Would love to hear something like, “7% grade 5 miles ahead”. We will be traveling from Maryland to Oakland and back again this April and May. The plan is to unhook the toad and drive each unit separately up or down steep grades. None of the road atlases we have seen seem to give a good definition of what grades are where, we have heard that there are apps and systems that will do that.

Any help pointing us towards the products we should consider would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Mile_High]

As stated way back in the second or third post - the Garmin RV760 warns you of grade. Also curves, speed limit changes etc.

Don't let everyone bother you about disconnecting your toad. May Dad used to disconnect the old 51 military Jeep from the station wagon before we went over Loveland Pass back in the 60s, or it would heat up the wagon. Didn't mean we just stayed home, we just improvised.

[Passin_Thru]

Good Grief! as Charley Brown says. You shouldn't be pulling a Toad if you can't do the grades. There are only about 3 over 7% going west if you go go out I40 then up I5 or 99 in Ca. As I recall after driving fro OKC to the NW about 200 times in a big truck. The highest elevation on I-40 is 7,330 ft, at the Arizona Divide just west of Flagstaff. The steepest grade is around 4% for about 3 miles near Harriman. I ran trucks that had a maximum of 230 Horsepower, hauling cattle all over the West. It took a half hour to climb La Veta in Co at 13 MPH. I you can't go faster than 45 mph you will get a ticket in NM or AZ for going to slow. Ask my Aunt.
A driver can receive a traffic citation for violating the Basic Speed Law even if their speed is below the "maximum speed limit" if road, weather, or traffic conditions make that speed unsafe.

[Ductape]

Yeah, wintertime cabin fever's getting intense on the webz. 😉

And it IS a public forum. Nothing wrong with inquiring why someone wishes to do something unusual. Those who want to manage the conversations can always buy some web servers and get busy with a private forum.

[Bill_Satellite]

Executive wrote:
Rather than be snarky with each other AND the OP, why not simply answer his question? Mountain Directory or Google Earth Pro will get the job done for him. I do agree the asked question as to his thought process relative to unhooking the toad has merit but since he didn't volunteer that info on his post, I didn't feel necessary to ask him. Heck, I stop and unhook the toad at most of the toll booths in Kalifornia. They charge, on average $6 more if you're hooked up. I stop, unhook, go thru the toll station and rehook and I'm on my way. Only takes about a minute to hook/unhook. It's all good. That's what makes everyone different... 🙂 Dennis

So, YOU didn't volunteer and YOU didn't feel necessary. That's the same commentary as the others. Much like you saying you stop and unhook and rehook to save $6. I won't comment on what you do to save $6 but I consider it easier to save $6 by just skipping 1 glass of wine when I make it to may destination an hour before you do! Keep in mind that I just traveled from MI to NJ where the toll booths came up faster than the paws of the tax man.

[Executive45]

Rather than be snarky with each other AND the OP, why not simply answer his question? Mountain Directory or Google Earth Pro will get the job done for him. I do agree the asked question as to his thought process relative to unhooking the toad has merit but since he didn't volunteer that info on his post, I didn't feel necessary to ask him. Heck, I stop and unhook the toad at most of the toll booths in Kalifornia. They charge, on average $6 more if you're hooked up. I stop, unhook, go thru the toll station and rehook and I'm on my way. Only takes about a minute to hook/unhook. It's all good. That's what makes everyone different... 🙂 Dennis

[Bill_Satellite]

Sandy & Shirley wrote:

Nutinelse2do wrote:
Ok, I will be the first to ask.... Why would you drive the toad and rig separately on hills?

Going down the grade we have a breaking system, but using that much breaking does not sound like the best idea to us. Our Motor home is gas not diesel and we feel that pulling an extra 3,000 lbs up the grade is just not worth the extra fuel and ware on the engine.

Yes, everything is designed to handle that, but it is our personal choice and we have had a few friends recommend it.

It's certainly not necessary unless your RV is under powered or your car is over weight (neither appears to be the case). You will use more fuel by disconnecting and driving both vehicles and you add wear and tear to the car with the same amount of wear and tear on the RV.

[ncrowley]

I also check the Mountain Directory. I look at the route and note any steep grades. I do not unhook but it may cause me to think about another way, or plan to take the steep grades when it is not really hot.

[Sandy___Shirley]

Nutinelse2do wrote:
Ok, I will be the first to ask.... Why would you drive the toad and rig separately on hills?

Going down the grade we have a breaking system, but using that much breaking does not sound like the best idea to us. Our Motor home is gas not diesel and we feel that pulling an extra 3,000 lbs up the grade is just not worth the extra fuel and ware on the engine.

Yes, everything is designed to handle that, but it is our personal choice and we have had a few friends recommend it.

[Ductape]

ferndaleflyer wrote:
How about this---The motor home motor doesn't have enough power to pull the toad at a decent speed up steep hills and it could also cause a over heating problem----better to in-hook and drive the toad. That really wasn't a very informed question.

Yours is not a very informed supposition regarding a 2015 motorcoach.

[jplante4]

Also, Google Earth Pro (NOT Google maps) has a route profile feature that shows you percent grades and elevation. Create a route and right-click on the blue line to get the profile view.

Looks like this;

[Second_Chance]

Nutinelse2do wrote:
Here is a good link for the OP to check

I've found FlattestRoute to be pretty inaccurate in several places. Just my personal experience...

Rob

[Nutinelse2do]

Here is a good link for the OP to check

[rk911]

ferndaleflyer wrote:
How about this---The motor home motor doesn't have enough power to pull the toad at a decent speed up steep hills and it could also cause a over heating problem----better to in-hook and drive the toad. That really wasn't a very informed question.

do you speak from experience or from an abundance of caution? when we first started towing back in ‘03 i was concerned about steep grades but i soon realized that it was not a race to the top. if you’re determined to unhook then i would suggest getting and using the 2-volume mountain directory.

[Nutinelse2do]

ferndaleflyer wrote:
How about this---The motor home motor doesn't have enough power to pull the toad at a decent speed up steep hills and it could also cause a over heating problem----better to in-hook and drive the toad. That really wasn't a very informed question.

Too funny. Informed question?:S

I wasn’t aware it was a race. But thanks for answering for the OP

If it’s a speed issue, by the time you unhook once, and rehook again, you could have been over the grade. Overheating, or not enough power, sounds like someone needs a lighter toad.

Gonna make for a very long trip.

[ferndaleflyer]

How about this---The motor home motor doesn't have enough power to pull the toad at a decent speed up steep hills and it could also cause a over heating problem----better to in-hook and drive the toad. That really wasn't a very informed question.