Headed North to Chi Town

Seangie · July 09, 2013, 07:45:06 PM

Out of north FL, Valdosta, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Indianapolis are all on the bill. Any big climbs I should be looking out for on the way? Trying to get the flattest route with the 7k lb van in tow.

Thanks!

-Sean

www.herdofturtles.org
1984 Eagle Model 10S

eagle19952 · July 10, 2013, 08:23:00 AM

None that I recall, Godspeed and safe travel.

babell2 · July 10, 2013, 08:27:26 AM

Steepest grades are at Chattanooga pretty flat after that. In a car about 12 hour ride.

Sent from my C5155 using Tapatalk 2

chart1 · July 10, 2013, 08:33:40 AM

Chattanooga is the only climb.

Seangie · July 10, 2013, 11:15:09 AM

Sweet. Thanks guys.

-Sean

www.herdofturtles.org
1984 Eagle Model 10S

Scott & Heather · July 11, 2013, 05:27:07 AM

Get up here already

belfert · July 11, 2013, 05:42:33 AM

You would likely take I24 from Chattanooga to Nashville. The toughest grade along there is probably Monteagle. The freeway splits and one direction goes around each side of the mountain. I can't recall which direction is the worse grade. My bus had no issues with my Series 60 and Jakes, but I actually lost significant uphill momentum in one direction due to a car driver being stupid and going slow.

niles500 · July 11, 2013, 06:17:02 AM

If he's going through Cinci he won't be going up Monteagle - FWIW

TedCalvert · July 11, 2013, 07:36:49 AM

Jellico on I75 north of Knoxville near the Tn/Ky state line. Not as bad as Monteagle iirc. Sometimes foggy.

Try to get your correct lane (not the right 2) before you get on bridge into Cincy as signage on the bridge is tucked up into the overhead and impossible to see from any seat higher than a car!

Happy trails.

belfert · July 11, 2013, 07:45:13 AM

Quote from: niles500 on July 11, 2013, 06:17:02 AM
If he's going through Cinci he won't be going up Monteagle - FWIW

I forgot about the part about Cincy. I remembered he was going through Indianapolis.

B_K · July 11, 2013, 11:11:20 AM

Unless they have a specific reason to go to Cincinnati, I wouldn't.

Most practical rte is I-75 N to I-24 W to I-65 N.

But that doesn't mean they can't go through Cincy!

BK

RJ · July 11, 2013, 02:48:00 PM

Sean -

Don't worry about the hills. Just pay attention, downshift the Allison manually (as outlined in my shifting article) and keep the RPMs around 1800-1900 on a partial throttle while climbing and you'll be fine.

Or let Angie drive!

FWIW & HTH. . .

Seangie · July 12, 2013, 05:25:21 PM

RJ,

Sadly...Angie has not driven yet. Mostly on my part as I am still getting used to pulling this van behind me. Great work you did months ago that is all coming into play. Unfortunately it means I hear your voice all day long in the back of my head...like a song that won't leave

Brian...yeah I just love hearing about your series 60

rub it in brother.

We are in an awesome campground just North West of Knoxville. Will be headed out to Lexington tomorrow (will be driving into Cincinnati in the van)
Met another bus converter today. Nice to meet other busconverters fulltiming.

Only one good sized hill so far coming into Knoxville. Had us down to 35 in 2nd gear. Keeping the RPMs up!

-Sean

www.herdofturtles.org
1984 Eagle Model 10S

tomhamrick · July 13, 2013, 03:34:14 AM

That's pretty fast for a herd of turtles!!!

belfert · July 13, 2013, 05:23:06 AM

I have the smaller 11.1L Series 60 with only 350 HP. It doesn't pull hills like a car or anything. With my 20 foot trailer behind it will slow to 35 to 40 MPH on a lot of grades out west.

I would like to put in a 12.7L at 400 HP or more primarily for better fuel economy, but I would never recover the cost and will probably never do it. I think the smaller engine is being pushed pretty hard and a larger engine could get better MPG. There are some pickups where the V8 gets better MPG than the V6 because the V6 is being pushed real hard.