towing to US nationals from Phila PA area

rognelson777 · 08-10-2011, 11:34 PM

Towing a 28ft tag with a 98 gas 454 motorhome 32ft, what is best way? Which way has easiest hills?

Tom Goldman · 08-11-2011, 08:25 AM

Is this a trick question?
when you tow everything is uphill, bothways !!
Seriously,the only way to go from Eastern PA is out the PA turnpike to I 70 .
My old carburated 460 Ford motorhome with a loaded 26' trailer never had any problems, you just have to accept that you're going to be in 2nd gear at 45-50 mph a few miles when you hit the hills on the Turnpike.

11 1/2 -12 hours from Allentown.

rognelson777 · 08-11-2011, 08:46 AM

thanks for info. I was just wondering if any major grades like I 81 in virginia 7%

45/50 mph is not bad on hills, went to state college last year and the on grade is 7% at the end on 322 is a killer on the motorhome without trailer.

Brian VP · 08-11-2011, 09:48 AM

If you have a problem on 81 forget about going to Indy. There are some long tough hills on the turnpike like Aleghany Mountain and you don't even want to know about Wheeling. You could fly everything to Columbus and pick it up from there, that part is easy, other than that I am not sure what to tell you, sorry.

Ross Family Racing · 08-11-2011, 11:20 AM

When you go thru Wheeling stay on I70,do not take the 470 bypass.470 has a couple of killer hills whereas 70 has a gradual hill after you get into Ohio that makes it more motorhome friendly. When you go back you do have 2 mile hill on the east side of Wheeling.
Jeff Ross

Run to Rund · 08-11-2011, 12:01 PM

The answer is a Dodge pickup with Cummins Turbo Diesel power. Out west, our flat lands are often higher than the peaks of eastern mountains. My twin turbocharged Cummins (2004 Dodge) maintains the speed limit (75) on cruise control pulling 5000-6000 pounds up to 7000 ft. elevation.

Chris1529 · 08-11-2011, 12:25 PM

[QUOTE=Brian VP;274503]If you have a problem on 81 forget about going to Indy. There are some long tough hills on the turnpike like Aleghany Mountain and you don't even want to know about Wheeling.

I agree!

Sidling Hill also on Turnpike, but it is not nearly as tough as it is on I-68.

Matt Welker · 08-11-2011, 03:31 PM

Gas 454 MH, been there done that. If you don't have a banks exhaust you better be carrying extra ignition wires to replace the ones that will burn off when the exhaust starts to leak. Get ready for the popping and banging.

Don't even think about 68, 70 is the best route by far.

BVP is correct on all points.

Your best hope is that the wheeling tunnel is back open as the by pass is almost impassable with a gas MH.

Someone on here should know if it is open and what direction.

Best of luck and if you are stranded on the side of the road in the hills before Columbus with the MH ignition wires on fire after that section of the trip, the cops are friendly.....atleast the one who found me waist deep in the MH dog house was LOL

08-10-2011, 11:34 PM	#1
rognelson777 Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 376 Likes: 20 Liked 135 Times in 74 Posts	towing to US nationals from Phila PA area Towing a 28ft tag with a 98 gas 454 motorhome 32ft, what is best way? Which way has easiest hills?

08-11-2011, 08:25 AM	#2
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,476 Likes: 891 Liked 882 Times in 236 Posts	Re: towing to US nationals from Phila PA area Is this a trick question? when you tow everything is uphill, bothways !! Seriously,the only way to go from Eastern PA is out the PA turnpike to I 70 . My old carburated 460 Ford motorhome with a loaded 26' trailer never had any problems, you just have to accept that you're going to be in 2nd gear at 45-50 mph a few miles when you hit the hills on the Turnpike. 11 1/2 -12 hours from Allentown. __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

08-11-2011, 08:46 AM	#3
rognelson777 Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 376 Likes: 20 Liked 135 Times in 74 Posts	Re: towing to US nationals from Phila PA area thanks for info. I was just wondering if any major grades like I 81 in virginia 7% 45/50 mph is not bad on hills, went to state college last year and the on grade is 7% at the end on 322 is a killer on the motorhome without trailer.

08-11-2011, 09:48 AM	#4
Brian VP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 144 Likes: 0 Liked 8 Times in 1 Post	Re: towing to US nationals from Phila PA area If you have a problem on 81 forget about going to Indy. There are some long tough hills on the turnpike like Aleghany Mountain and you don't even want to know about Wheeling. You could fly everything to Columbus and pick it up from there, that part is easy, other than that I am not sure what to tell you, sorry. __________________ Brian Van Poppel 1682 SS

08-11-2011, 11:20 AM	#5
Ross Family Racing Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: St.Clairsville, Ohio Posts: 459 Likes: 0 Liked 51 Times in 14 Posts	Re: towing to US nationals from Phila PA area When you go thru Wheeling stay on I70,do not take the 470 bypass.470 has a couple of killer hills whereas 70 has a gradual hill after you get into Ohio that makes it more motorhome friendly. When you go back you do have 2 mile hill on the east side of Wheeling. Jeff Ross

08-11-2011, 12:01 PM	#6
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: towing to US nationals from Phila PA area The answer is a Dodge pickup with Cummins Turbo Diesel power. Out west, our flat lands are often higher than the peaks of eastern mountains. My twin turbocharged Cummins (2004 Dodge) maintains the speed limit (75) on cruise control pulling 5000-6000 pounds up to 7000 ft. elevation.

08-11-2011, 12:25 PM	#7
Chris1529 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,366 Likes: 6 Liked 70 Times in 29 Posts	Re: towing to US nationals from Phila PA area [QUOTE=Brian VP;274503]If you have a problem on 81 forget about going to Indy. There are some long tough hills on the turnpike like Aleghany Mountain and you don't even want to know about Wheeling. I agree! Sidling Hill also on Turnpike, but it is not nearly as tough as it is on I-68. __________________ Chris Bowman The Mountain State Mustang 1984 Mustang GT350

08-11-2011, 03:31 PM	#8
Matt Welker Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Clear Spring, MD Posts: 193 Likes: 1,465 Liked 77 Times in 15 Posts	Re: towing to US nationals from Phila PA area Gas 454 MH, been there done that. If you don't have a banks exhaust you better be carrying extra ignition wires to replace the ones that will burn off when the exhaust starts to leak. Get ready for the popping and banging. Don't even think about 68, 70 is the best route by far. BVP is correct on all points. Your best hope is that the wheeling tunnel is back open as the by pass is almost impassable with a gas MH. Someone on here should know if it is open and what direction. Best of luck and if you are stranded on the side of the road in the hills before Columbus with the MH ignition wires on fire after that section of the trip, the cops are friendly.....atleast the one who found me waist deep in the MH dog house was LOL __________________ Matt Welker Stock 1741, SS/AH 114 www.facebook.com/welkerracing