Steep Grade.

[Phil57]

We just pulled into Watkins Glen NY and happy to be here. There was two grades we pulled coming into town that I seriously thought we weren't going to make. I have no idea what the grade is but the first started on a right turn so we had no run at it. I was in second gear about 10 mph at the top. The second one I was in 1st gear and 5mph at the top. That one I thought I was screwed. Flat out nothing left. I have the 340 motor and the 2500 Allison Trans. I think I need a hp mod. I have a few ideas but I'm not doing that again. Very stressful.

[uralman]

At times like that it's best to ignore the cars around you.

[Phil57]

Oh I did. Not worried about anything but getting to the top.

[HIDE OUT]

I believe its a 6 or 7 % grade When I hit it the first time with my ford F150 with the Eco boost I said here goes my first reel test and It passed with flying colors. I was able to keep up with normal traffic towing my 8000lbs TT this engine has plenty of HP and torque. Oh by the way be careful coming back down I've smelled plenty of trucks burning there brakes

[Phil57]

Originally Posted by HIDE OUT

I believe its a 6 or 7 % grade When I hit it the first time with my ford F150 with the Eco boost I said here goes my first reel test and It passed with flying colors. I was able to keep up with normal traffic towing my 8000lbs TT this engine has plenty of HP and torque. Oh by the way be careful coming back down I've smelled plenty of trucks burning there brakes

This was way more than 6 or 7. We were way off the beaten path and I'm guessing here but we got off 87 at Bath and took 54 to 23 to mud lake road I think. We decided we wanted to find a campground so we got off and never found one. I just let our GPS do the route. Bad idea. I have pulled a 7 with my Enclave behind me now we pull a Jeep Wangler two door that is 2 thousand pounds lighter. Worse the first grade we started from a dead stop and the second we started from a roll at about 15 mph. I tried to find info on the grade but haven't yet. I'm very curious because this was the absolute max for this rig.

[trbomax]

This is a perfect example of why I have 4wd TV s with manual front hubs.When I see something like this comming, I can pull the transfer case into 4LOW,but of course the front hubs are disengaged, so its really 2LOW ! This doubles my gearing advantage and if the rear tires dont break loose,I can climbe almost anything. I use this technique when backing into spots and manuvering as it really gives the converter a rest which in turn keeps the fluid cool. Remember there is no air flowing accross the trans cooler at 3-4 mph when backing around to spot the trailer!

[ernest917]

Did you manually downshift as you started up???


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[Phil57]

Yes I did. I kept the rpm's high. I will send in a suggested fix for my gps. It should have warned me well before I was committed.

[ernest917]

Will a GPS warn of a steep grade ?? Mine will warn of low bridges, narrow roads, etc but not grades and it's the truckers version....


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[dan-nickie]

I have done that in my old Class C motorhome with the V-10 engine. Not fun!
Did you happen to see what your temperature gauges were reading during the climb? Either engine or transmission.

[Phil57]

I did Dan the Trans topped out at 205 and the engine unfortunately I didn't have on my display but it was very close to going into the red. It also spiked as we hit the top. The engine returned to normal almost immediately and the transmission fell to 180 in a couple of minutes.

[Phil57]

Ernest my 7710 Rand McNally does.

[Paulie Boy]

Phil,
Check with Cummins, if I'm not mistaken the 6.7 L engine can go up to 360 hp with a change of the chip. Now whether the MH2500 tranny can handle the increased hp is another question.

[CT Camper]

Looks like for 2016 the Berk has the 380 option with 1100 lbs of torque! Intriguing.


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[Phil57]

Paulie I looked into that option last year and they will take the HP and Torque up to the 360 model with the same torque. I also found a chip that is adjustable that claims up to 30% increase in HP and Torque adjusted to what the Trans will take. It is undetectable and doesn't void the warranty. I don't have to much warranty left so I just need to decide. I will definitely do something. I talked to several Allison reps and they all told me not to do it but when pushed "off the record " they said it wouldn't hurt the 2500 as long as I kept the GCVW in spec and I didn't hot rod it. Ya right a 40' MH hot rod.

[Paulie Boy]

I think the 2016 Berk xl gets the 380 hp and not the regular Berk. The regular Berk stays with the 6.7L engine but can't remember the configuration (hp). The 380 jumps to the 8.9L at the lowest HP configuration. This is the same size engine that pushes the 450HP Charleston.
See? I retained something from the FR plant tour.

[mikdanmck]

To those of you going to/from Watkins Glen to avoid some steep grades


using Interstate 86 from the west - use I86 Coopers Plains exit #42 take county route 26 (Steuben County) and County Route 16 (Schuyler County) - this is a recommended route for NASCAR races -


Or from the East using I86 exit 46 route 414

[lbrjet]

There is a hill on rt 23 just west of Tyrone that is 12-14%.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[Phil57]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

There is a hill on rt 23 just west of Tyrone that is 12-14%.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

Bingo. That's that bad boy. We made it up all 33000 lbs(plus) but only barely. I was looking for stuff to toss out the door to lighten the load. Going up was tough but we will not be going down that way.

[aceinspp]

Just think of the fuel milage you would get on the way down. Later RJD