Mountain Directory: A Details for Truckers, RV and Motorhome Drivers



From the author, RW:

When customers obtain out that I’m from Kansas, they on the total say, “Kansas?  What can you bid me about mountain passes when you are from Kansas?”  But after they hear my legend, they lower me a limited slack.  (Incidentally, assemble you know that there used to be as soon as a researcher with too mighty authorities grant money who certain that Kansas in actual fact is flatter than a pancake?)

When I used to be a kid in the early 60’s my fogeys owned a 16 foot Mobil Scout scoot trailer.  We pulled that trailer in every single place the western United States and Canada with a 1962 Chevy with a 283 cubic ride engine and a three walk on the column.  So I realized to love mountains and I realized to love touring the wide start areas of our gargantuan land.  With that cramped trailer and the unswerving Chevy, we never had any problems climbing or descending grades.

Read extra …

VITAL INFORMATION FOR ANYONE DRIVING A LARGE OR HEAVY VEHICLE

In an strive and fabricate mountain using a limited safer for truckers
and RV’ers, R&R Publishing Inc. has been gathering and steep gragepublishing
data about mountain passes and steep grades since 1993. The Mountain Directory Ebooks give the locations
and descriptions of over 700 mountain passes and steep grades in
22 states. The Mountain Directory ebooks bid you where the
steep grades are, how long they’re, how steep (%) they’re, whether
the avenue is 2 lane, three lane, or four lane, if there are gain away
ramps, switchbacks, inspiring curves, walk limits, and so forth. With this
data, one can know ahead of time what a pass is love and
fabricate an informed resolution about whether to trail over or around. If
you pick out to trail over, more than most likely the chilly morning hours would ease
the tension on the engine and transmission all the draw during the climb. Unhooking
the towed automobile would fabricate the climb and the descent more straightforward. Realizing
what lies ahead is half of the battle.

The broadcast variations of the Mountain Directory books had nearly 240 pages of textual express material and color reduction maps. All 240 pages are in the downloadable variations of the Mountain Directory ebooks. Nothing is lacking. Within the printed variations, mountain pass locations had been marked with a yellow triangle on the color reduction maps.  Within the book variations, that it’s most likely you’ll click on on the yellow triangles and the textual express material looks to be that describes that attach.

Virginia Kentucky East design

4. US 33
(between Harrisonburg, VA and Judy Hole, WV.)

There are three summits alongside this stretch of US 33. The eastern summit is between Rawley Springs, VA and Brandywine, WV.  The east facet is 4 miles of 8 to 9% grade. The west facet is 4½ miles of 9% grade and all aspects beget continuous inspiring curves and hairpin turns.  The freeway is 2 lane on both aspects.

The middle summit is between Oak Flat and Franklin, WV. The east facet of this hill is 2½ miles of 8% with 25 mph curves.  The west facet is about 3½ miles of mighty milder grade.  It is 4 to 5% over most of its size.  There are some inspiring curves discontinuance to the bottom.  The avenue is 2 lane on both aspects of the hill.

The western summit is between Franklin and Judy Hole, WV.  It is 5 miles of customary 9% grade on all aspects. Both facet are two lane with inspiring curves and hairpin turns. Divulge warning on this avenue.

E book Introduction:

There is an outdated asserting amongst over-the-avenue truckers. “There are two forms of drivers — those that’ve been in anguish on a mountain grade, and americans that will be.” Sadly, this also applies to many RVers. Trucks and RVs beget identical problems relating to weight, engine energy, and braking in mountainous terrain.

Factor in your self descending a mountain grade on your RV. You did not know there used to be the kind of long, steep grade on this freeway. What a surprise! And things will not be going smartly. You beget got a white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel. The engine is not conserving relieve all of this weight, the brakes are smelling sizzling or even smoking, you are pushing more challenging on the brake pedal but your walk retains rising. All that it’s most likely you’ll gaze ahead is extra mountain. Your mind is racing during the total available in the market suggestions and none of them are gorgeous. “I’ve got to attain something,” you say “or I’m not going to manufacture it.” The suggestions encompass: plug into the rock wall, trail over the facet, hit those bushes, or gaze when that it’s most likely you’ll fabricate the following curve and hurry it out. You pick out the last possibility and, when that it’s most likely you’ll be lucky, you fabricate it to the bottom in one half. You pull over and whereas that it’s most likely you’ll be looking ahead to your heart to remain pounding, you wipe the sweat out of your face and you peek your shirt is soaked, your mouth is dry, and your arms are shaking. It is most likely you’ll presumably possibly presumably presumably be taking into consideration, “If I had known it used to be going to be love that………….”

Perchance your rig has negate all the draw during the steep climbs. The temperature is in the 90’s and the grade is so steep that it’s most likely you’ll barely climb it in first equipment. The engine and transmission temperatures are rising. How a long way to the live of this hill? You assemble not know if it be one mile or ten. Something smells sizzling. What to attain? Pull over and chilly off? But then all momentum is lost. Can you even gain started again? You wish you had unhooked the automobile you are dragging up this hill on the relieve of the motorhome. If you happen to might possibly presumably possibly be lucky, that it’s most likely you’ll attain that subsequent time. You are questioning what number of thousand bucks a brand original engine and transmission will most likely be.


In the end of the last few years we’ve heard many experiences about very costly repairs to force practice ingredients. Each so typically rigs are lost completely. A freeway patrol officer in Oregon informed us that in the summer an average of one motorhome per week burns to the ground whereas making an strive to climb Cabbage Hill on I-84 east of Pendleton. If a fireplace begins, the closest fire department is at risk of be many miles away. By the point they reach, there might possibly be nothing left to attain but dampen the ashes.

Many persons are under the impression that the grades in the eastern mountains will not be as severe because the grades in the western mountains. It looks to be right here is since the elevations will not be as excessive in the eastern states. But elevation on my own is not the topic–it’s a long way the alternate in elevation that makes a grade doubtlessly perilous. If all diverse elements are equal, a grade that descends from 4000′ to 1000′ over 10 miles is not any diverse than a grade that descends from 10000′ to 7000′ over 10 miles. Both draw you beget gotten a 3000′ alternate in elevation spread over 10 miles. (This example would lead to an average grade of nearly 6% for 10 miles.)

A natty share of the grades in the western states are in the 6% differ. A natty share of the grades in the eastern states are 8, 9, or 10% and typically mighty extra. The eastern grades are on the total shorter but right here is not frequently so. A fast worth during the eastern e book will shriek over 50 grades which are between 7 and 10% and from 4 to 7 miles long. There are others which are mighty extra hard. The avenue to the live of Whiteface Mountain in Recent York is 8 to 10% for 8 miles. There might possibly presumably possibly presumably be no need for truckers to make expend of this avenue but RVs are allowed. Shut to Cumberland, Maryland there’s a hill on I-68 that is posted as 6% for 13 miles. In North Carolina freeway 181 crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway and the southbound descent is 11 miles of grade that varies from 6 to 10%. Mighty of it’s a long way 8 to 9%. These grades are correct as perilous because the grades in the western states.

From the
Colorado allotment of the Mountain Directory West:

VAIL PASS elev. 10603′ (on I-70 east of Vail, CO)

The descent on the westbound facet of Vail Pass is about 10 miles in size and begins at milepost 189 on I-70. One half of mile west of the summit there are warning indicators for westbound traffic–“Escape limit 45 mph for vehicles over 30,000 lbs.” and “Steep grade subsequent 8 miles–trucks live in lower equipment.” The subsequent mile is rolling hills.  Then there’s a signal–“7% grade subsequent 7 miles.”

The descent is customary at 7% and there are 3 advisory indicators for the first runaway truck ramp which is about milepost 185 or 4 miles down from the summit. The gain away ramp is upsloping on the appropriate.  The second runaway truck ramp is about milepost 182, which is 3¼ miles after the first gain away ramp, or about 7¼ miles down from the summit. There are several advisory indicators earlier than reaching it and it’s a long way an upsloping ramp on the most life like most likely. Build not be fooled when the grade eases after the second gain away ramp.  It rapidly goes relieve to 7% and would not bottom out till 2½ miles after the second gain away ramp or about milepost 179.

The eastbound descent from the summit of Vail Pass continues nearly to the Frisco exit about 11 miles down the hill but the descent is not customary.  There are quick steep sections adopted by quick sections of lesser grade.  The last half of of the descent is 3-4% grade. There have to not any gain away ramps on the east facet of the pass.

While every effort has been made to be obvious the accuracy of the maps integrated in this e book, it’s a long way just about very unlikely to incorporate all mandatory part on such cramped maps. We recommend that these maps be former in conjunction with higher, extra detailed avenue maps.

In most conditions the passes and hills are described as descents. In diverse phrases, a pass will most likely be described from the summit down in one route and then from the summit down in the varied route. This directory doesn’t bid to incorporate every steep grade. In actuality, because of the massive rental we’ve tried to quilt, we can speak that we’ve doubtlessly overlooked some. Each so typically the prospects quoted are estimates and tons times they’re based mostly completely totally on avenue indicators or data provided by freeway departments. This e book doesn’t strive and price passes or grades per negate. There is an mountainous differ in vehicles and equipment. A hill that is terribly complex for one automobile will be no field at concerned with a identical automobile that is outfitted otherwise. Driver judgment is serious in deciding which hills have to quiet be averted.

The reason of this e book is to not discourage drivers from going where they please. It is only to bid them of the stipulations they might possibly presumably possibly stumble upon and to inspire them to be obvious their equipment is in gorgeous restore. Brakes have to quiet be in gorgeous working bid and smartly adjusted and the engine and transmission have to quiet be former to uninteresting the automobile at any time when doable, thus saving the brakes and conserving them chilly ample to tackle their stopping energy. The engine’s cooling gadget have to quiet be in gorgeous restore to remain overheating all the draw during the climbs. Turning off the air conditioner all the draw through climbs can assist, and if mandatory, turning on the heater can also assist dissipate heat from the engine.

From the
North Carolina allotment of the Mountain Directory East:

I-40 (between Sunless Mountain and Used Fortress, NC)

By law, all trucks other than pickups and vehicles are required to remain on the live of this hill and browse the facts posted relating to the eastbound descent ahead. The head of the hill is discontinuance to milepost 67 correct east of Sunless Mountain.  The grade is posted as 5 miles of 6%.  It is a sturdy 6%.  There are three runaway truck ramps, all of which are quick sand beds with sand piles at the live.  There is about a mile of grade left after the last gain away ramp.   The westbound descent is about 1¼ mile of 6%.

There are many aftermarket devices that will presumably possibly assist heavy vehicles in the mountains. Some can also assist by rising horsepower for the climbs. These encompass turbos and expend systems. Other devices, reminiscent of engine braking systems can assist all the draw during the descents. Some products, love equipment splitters and auxiliary transmissions can assist all the draw during the climbs and the descents. Moderately tons of these products also enhance gas financial system (whereas handing over extra horsepower) and lower wear and whisk on the force practice.

The critical ingredients keen about overheated brakes are the size of the grade, the steepness of the grade, and the walk and weight of the automobile. Lowering any of these will enhance the prospects of getting down the mountain without overheating the brakes. Most of the time, the one one the motive force can alternate is walk. Lowering walk might possibly presumably possibly preserve you alive. Be acutely aware the outdated phrase, “You can trail down a mountain a thousand times too slowly, but just as soon as too fast.”

Are attempting earlier than you aquire!


Take a look at out this free demo and gaze the draw in which it in actual fact works.

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Are attempting earlier than you aquire!


Take a look at out this free demo and gaze the draw in which it in actual fact works.

Issue the book





“Miller designed his two directories for RV as well to truck drivers
because, he says, ‘RV drivers would face the identical problems as truckers
thanks to the burden of their vehicles and braking systems that would
not be designed to rental the intense stipulations encountered all the draw through
mountain descents.’ Since most avenue atlases attain not encompass this particular
data, many motorhomers will obtain one or both of these books precious
in taking the surprises out of using in the mountains.” Sherry McBride,
Senior Managing Editor, Motorhome

“RVers on the total beget problems with mountain grades–both going up and
coming down. It be well-known to be warned when a steep grade is coming
up, and that is correct what the two Mountain Directories attain.” Waft to Waft

“Colour reduction maps and greater than 150 original mountain pass and grade locations
beget been added to R&R Publishing’s 1999 editions of Mountain
Directory West
and Mountain Directory
East
. Together, the books present locations and descriptions
for bigger than 700 mountain passes and steep grade locations in 22
states, as well to diverse mandatory data for anybody using a natty
or heavy automobile. In Mountain Directory East,
the introduction notes that elevation by itself doesn’t bid
a grade’s negate; the alternate in elevation, depicted in the e book
as percentages, is the serious negate.”


Family Motor Coaching

Virginia Kentucky East design

12. TETON PASS elev. 8429′



(on Wyoming Dual carriageway 22 west of Jackson, WY)

Teton Pass has sustained 10% grades on all aspects of the summit.  An peculiar feature is that both runaway truck ramps on the east facet of the pass will also be former provided that the runaway truck crosses the oncoming lane of traffic.  There is a posted weight limit of 60,000 lbs. on this pass.

The westbound descent from the summit of Teton Pass begins with a 25 mph walk limit and a truck warning signal–“Steep grade–10% subsequent 3 miles–expend lower equipment.” This grade warning is repeated a mile later.  About 2½ miles down from the summit the grade eases to 6-7% and the walk limit will increase.  This grade continues for about 3-4 miles and eases discontinuance to the Idaho snort line.

The eastbound descent from the summit of Teton Pass begins with a truck warning signal–“Steep grade–10% subsequent 5 1/2 miles–expend lower equipment.” There are 20 mph curves discontinuance to the live.  About 1/3 mile down from the summit is a signal–“Runaway truck ramp–2½ miles LEFT facet.” This warning is repeated several times as you manner the ramp. To expend the ramp you wish substandard the oncoming lane of traffic. The ramp slopes uphill.

The second runaway truck ramp is about 1 mile after the first. It, too, is on the left facet and is an upsloping ramp.  At this point the grade begins to ease to about 6-7% and the walk limit will increase.  The hill continues to the metropolis of Wilson, which is about 5½ miles from the summit.

“The worst piece is rarely the white knuckles, the cool sweat, the remarkable
adrenaline plug. It be the vacancy in the very pit of the abdominal,
the bid hopelessness of the topic. Anybody who has ever lived
through a runaway can bid…. a rig out of administration on a protracted downgrade
has a mind of its gain. And it would not care what will get in the draw in which. Miller’s
directories are plump of gorgeous stuff that’ll assist drivers fabricate tidy
routing choices and prepare them for dreadful grades – love size
and severity of grades, sharpness of curves and fix of gain away
ramps. It be precious data for rookie drivers or outdated arms touring
into a mountainous rental for the first time.” Andrew Ryder, Editor, Heavy Obligation Trucking

“Many truckers beget had the upsetting trip of cresting a mountain
grade too fast and questioning if they are going to be ready to remain on the bottom.
Richard Miller is one of them. After a thrilling descent into Camp
Verde Valley, AZ in 1993, he decided to attain something relating to the inability
of data on many mountain grades. The consequences of his efforts
are two modern belongings: Mountain
Directory West and Mountain Directory
East.
Each comprises maps exhibiting the positioning of grades and detailed data
about them, collectively with the peak of the summit, size and steepness
of grades, severity of curves, attach of gain away ramps, and signage.” Truckers Details

From the
Southern California allotment of the Mountain Directory West:

CAJON PASS elev. 4190′


(on I-15 south of Victorville, CA)

There is limited or no descent on the north facet of Cajon Pass.  The southbound descent begins with warning indicators–“Downgrade subsequent 12 miles–trucks test brakes” and “Truck walk limit 45 mph” and “Truck scales 5 miles” and “6% grade subsequent 4 miles” and “Runaway truck ramp 2½ miles.”

The grade will be a limited bigger than 6% the total draw down to the gain away ramp where it eases for a very quick distance and then goes relieve to 6% till reaching the truck scales.  After the scales the grade eases to about 2-3% for 3 miles, then goes to about 5% for one more 4½ miles.

This avenue has four lanes downhill and a gargantuan deal of traffic. Divulge warning on this hill.


“Rvers touring to original locations on the total meet unforeseen and presumably
dreadful challenges in mountainous terrain because they might possibly presumably possibly not
know what kind of avenue lay ahead. Atlases might possibly presumably possibly worth elevation, but
not how steep and what number of miles a grade is, whether or not there
are turnouts, and the condition of the avenue. Mountain
Directory West
and Mountain Directory
East
give locations and detailed descriptions of nearly 700
mountain passes and steep grades in 22 states. This permits drivers
to situation safer and more straightforward routes, or to be ready to face the grade.” Highways

“A precious e book for those planning to scoot in the Western states
is Mountain Directory…. It tells you
the percentage of grade, alignment, width and size of mighty
mountain passes in 11 Western states. (In actuality, there might possibly be now Mountain Directory East as smartly, which covers nearly 300 mountain passes
and steep grades in 11 Eastern states.)”

Joe and Vickie Kieva Collins, Highways

“As RVers and travelers in the west, we recommend this e book as a excellent
reference and we thought to preserve it in the cab of our truck. Unnecessary to say,
if we gain an more than a few to scoot in the east, we’re ready with
that e book as smartly.”Myth

“Every so incessantly, humorists writing in RV literature will gleefully
fabricate hay out of the realizing that of an RV hurtling down a mountainside
the expend of G forces to insist the walk rather than miles per hour. Then again,
the actuality of brake failure in the mountains, as those that beget skilled
this might possibly occasionally presumably possibly attest, is not in the least amusing. For the RVer tackling
the Rockies and diverse western ranges, this directory might possibly presumably possibly presumably be an precious
reference.” RV Times

“Mountain Directory is smartly attach collectively,
straight forward to make expend of, and prepares the user for using in the mountains. When
it comes to deepest safety and conserving the investments made in
RVs and motorhomes, drivers might possibly presumably possibly presumably be smartly served to preserve this e book
to hand.” Nationwide Motorists Affiliation Details

Mountain Directory for Truckers, RV, and Motorhome
Drivers… Wow! With a title that long, this e book better present
a carrier to RVers—and it does.”

Jim Brightly, Managing Editor, Motorhome

“It be hurry to give the traveler with data and peace of mind…..
Here’s a e book that must be positioned subsequent to every rig’s navigator…
Withhold this e book to hand all the draw through your travels.”

Bob Carter, RV Lately


“…. have to quiet indubitably be integrated on your RV library… chock plump
of data… our touring columnists beget already made modern
expend of this directory.” Tenting Canada

Mountain Directory …. used to be particularly
written for drivers of RVs and diverse heavy vehicles. The textual express material, accompanied
by maps pinpointing locations, describes how steep and long every grade
is, plus diverse pertinent necessary beneficial properties.” Trailer Existence

“… let me bid you straight: this e book applies to you.”

Invoice Farlow, Woodall’s Southern RV

“Pain Heights No More” “While the publishers are the fist to admit
that it’d be just about very unlikely to list every steep hill in the
western United States, Mountain Directory covers most grades which are long ample and steep ample to pose a
field to RVs.” Waft to Waft

“Motorhome drivers and truckers beget very identical problems appealing
steep grades, weight, brakes, and so forth., and piece of the answer is data
relating to the hills earlier than you gain there.”

Family Motor Coaching

From the
Pennsylvania East allotment of the Mountain Directory East:

Pennsylvania freeway 125


(between Shamokin and Factual Spring, PA.)

Gargantuan vehicles might possibly presumably possibly are enthusiastic to lead hurry of this 18 mile allotment of avenue. It crosses four mountains and entails hundreds of 15 mph hairpin turns and tons extra 20 and 25 mph curves. No topic your route of scoot it is most life like to climb and fall some very steep hills.  Mighty of the grade is 7 to 9% but there are many sections that have to quiet be 12% or extra, some lasting nearly a mile.  Brake sneakers assemble not beget ample time to chilly mighty between descents.

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