Towing over Mount Eagle TN / Chattanooga

[eyeguy1]

We have a Wildwood 30KQBSS, about 6900 dry weight and about 7600lbs loaded.
I tow with a 2014 Ram 1500 Laramie Ecodiesel with airlift 1000 bags and an Equalizer 4pt WDH.
We are heading to Florida (from Southern Indiana) in two weeks for vacation and would like to know from others about your towing experiences through that part of the mountain and area.
We went last year and chose to go 65 to Alabama, turn left to Atlanta and head south. That route bypasses all the mountains with decent grades. At that time I towed with a similar truck but was a Hemi vs the Ecodiesel.
A buddy of mine has a duramax and a 30ft Rockwood. He went over mount eagle last year and swore he wouldn't do it again. He is somewhat of a candy ***** though. Lol. He also doesn't have much tow experience.
I would like to hear from others that have gone this route.
Thanks folks

[peterbilt]

I know it is not the same but I drove tractor trailers across for years just take it slow and stay I the right lane you should be ok just remember take it easy and you will make it

[Stank Bait]

He is somewhat of a candy ***** though.

Me too. Obviously you have not driven it. It is a steep grade. A trailer would raise the pucker factor squared when going down hill.

Give it a go and report back.

[eyeguy1]

Originally Posted by Stank Bait

He is somewhat of a candy ***** though.

Me too. Obviously you have not driven it. It is a steep grade. A trailer would raise the pucker factor squared when going down hill.

Give it a go and report back.

I am too when it comes to towing. Just curious how others felt about that stretch.

[Stank Bait]

I think that it is such a long way down without an up stretch is what gets me. Once you start is does not go up for miles until you get to the bottom. Then sometimes there were cops at the bottom when you thought you could just let it rip. It's not like other mountain roads with sharp turns and short up hill sections.

[Kimber45]

I towed a 7k toy hauler with a 14 ram 1500 5.7 hemi through there on the way to bike week. two harley's in the back. stopped at the dragon's tail on the way down from Michigan. I dont even remember anything that worked my truck or gave me a concern.

[TimVWulp]

Originally Posted by Stank Bait

He is somewhat of a candy ***** though.

Me too. Obviously you have not driven it. It is a steep grade. A trailer would raise the pucker factor squared when going down hill.

Give it a go and report back.

Hi it's not that bad! Just take your time up and pay attention to what gear the TV is using to climb the pass. You did not say what transmission you have is it a 6 speed? It most likely you will be in 4th or 5th gear going up the hill. So you have a diesel under that hood right. It has a 16 to 1 compression ratio a gas has 8 to 1 compression ratio so your engine has a lot more power to slow you down with your engine. If you have the engine brake option you have this will help even more. On the way down just use 4th or 5th gear tap the brakes so you don't over heat them and so you stay below the red line on the engine tack.

Hope This Helps Tim

[eyeguy1]

Originally Posted by TimVWulp

Hi it's not that bad! Just take your time up and pay attention to what gear the TV is using to climb the pass. You did not say what transmission you have is it a 6 speed? It most likely you will be in 4th or 5th gear going up the hill. So you have a diesel under that hood right. It has a 16 to 1 compression ratio a gas has 8 to 1 compression ratio so your engine has a lot more power to slow you down with your engine. If you have the engine brake option you have this will help even more. On the way down just use 4th or 5th gear tap the brakes so you don't over heat them and so you stay below the red line on the engine tack.

Hope This Helps Tim

I have the 8 speed trans but no exhaust break on the ecodiesel

[lbrjet]

It is an 1100 ft elevation change up going south and then 900 down at an average of 4 percent grade. I'm sure you can handle that. Use your gears to help slow you down and take it easy. I like to average 45 to 50 when going down long grades. It will be good practice since 4 percent is not really steep at all.

[eyeguy1]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

It is an 1100 ft elevation change up going south and then 900 down at an average of 4 percent grade. I'm sure you can handle that. Use your gears to help slow you down and take it easy. I like to average 45 to 50 when going down long grades. It will be good practice since 4 percent is not really steep at all.

Thank ibrjet I was actually thinking of the 30-40mph range. First time towing through that pass and wondered what strategy/gears others used with similar set up

[burkede]

I would try to avoid Atlanta. not sure where in FL you are headed, but I would take 65 south to Mobile and then I-10 across to link up with I-75. Not to avoid Mt Eagle, but to avoid Atlanta.

[BGinVA]

So I'm from Chattanooga and regularly drag my rig up and down I-24 to Nashville and go down I-75 thru Atlanta to southern GA and FL a lot. Mount Eagle is not a problem. Easy grade compared to some narrow single lane 9% grade state and county roads around here. Getting around/thru Atlanta takes a little planning. Rush hour is bad. Avoid if possible. Mid-day is usually Ok. Have your co-pilot monitor Waze or Google Maps to see traffic situation. Easy to sidestep problems. I have driven straight thru downtown on weekends. The West side beltway is normally less crazy than the East side. Avoid "spaghetti junction" where beltway meets I-85 in northeast. Pick your lanes early and go with the flow. No sweat.

[jtesta1]

I pulled it a few times with 2009 silverado 6.0 with 8288ws 5er. No problems up or down.

[Ortep]

I did that run last year but reversed way, Florida to Indiana. Towed with a '11 Pathfinder, 4.0L V6, towing a Flagstaff A-Frame (T21TBHW) weighing 3100#. Used 3rd & 4th gears going up and down the grades (mostly 3rd going down). The trick about driving THRU Atlanta is to fill up before getting there and then staying in the HO Lane, NEVER get out of that lane and you don't have to worry about missing an exit. Going North to South or South to North it's the only way to get thru Atlanta, I always drive thru Atlanta never around.

[Springerdad]

I'm drawing a blank. HO lane?

[kenh]

I cross that hill at least 8 times each year pulling a trailer. It was a bit of a struggle up and down when I was towing about 6500 using an F150. It strained uphill and the brakes were less than adequate coming down.

With my 2500HD 6L pulling 8800lbs was not bad at all up or down. Slowed to about 55 by the time I crested the top. It was more difficult to go down than up. I usually had to manually apply the trailer brakes.

Now I'm pulling the same 8800lbs with an F250 6.7L. It is much easier both up and down. The engine braking really helps. But I still get a running start going up. Then I slow to 35mph as I begin the downhill run.

Watch your speed and brakes going down on the southbound slope. I see more brakes burning on the southbound descent than the northbound.

It is really nothing compared to driving in the Rockies. Take your time.

Ken

[Pathfinder75]

Originally Posted by Springerdad

I'm drawing a blank. HO lane?

High-occupancy vehicle lane is a restricted traffic lane reserved at peak travel times or longer for the exclusive use of vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers.

[CaptnJohn]

Pulled a 7K # TT with an F150 2.7 EB several times. Not a problem. Now pulling 13K # with the F350 it seems flat.

[gfarmcafe]

Originally Posted by burkede

I would try to avoid Atlanta. not sure where in FL you are headed, but I would take 65 south to Mobile and then I-10 across to link up with I-75. Not to avoid Mt Eagle, but to avoid Atlanta.

I agree with this option if you're going anywhere in the panhandle or down the west coast of Florida along, or close to 98. You can easily jump over to I-75 at Gainsville.

Regarding Mt. Eagle, never, ever drive that during the night when fog sets in and you can't see 10' in front of you. One of our mistakes last year. Nothing happened except I couldn't sleep for a week!

[txredfish]

I have pulled a 7000 trailer several times over the mountain going both ways outside Chattanoga with F150. No problem at all. Just downshift going down instead of riding the brake. Just get in right hand lane and go 50 to 55. Just like others have said.
But never been through Atlanta. Not near as bad as some of those Colorado 7% grades.