We loaded up our 3770lb pop up and hitched it to the back of the truck this weekend. Piled the family and a weeks worth of camping gear into the bed of the truck as well.

Then headed out 208W from Fredericksburg VA to 33N on into West Virginia. Took 33N out to Bowden WVA and Elkens WVA. For the last hour of the trip we hit the 7%, 9% and 10% grades before arriving at Jellystone Campground.

WOW, that was fun! Couldn't wait to turn the rig around and do it again!

I've been so used to cruising the relatively flat I95 in 5th gear with the camper in tow, I was caught off guard when I found that 4th gear was not the gear to be in when approaching the 10% grades at 30mph. Ha!

This wasn't just some steep, straight hill. Uh uh. There were so many switch backs and S curves, my Tom Tom GPS looked like it had an endless red ribbon sprawled out across the screen for about an hour as we traversed the mountain peaks. The elevations we read off of two of the signs we spotted were just over 3600' for one and just over 3300' for another. Each of these grades were 3 1/2 miles to 5 miles long.

I for one enjoyed listening to the totally stock engine rev from 3000rpm to 3800rpm in 2nd. All the while maintaining roughly 28mph to 32mph through the switchbacks and S curves. Then when possible, 3rd gear holding steady at 3000rpm at roughly 37mph to 38mph.

I was totally stoked to say the least. I remember saying on the last incline before hitting the campground "I believe this is the hardest I've ever worked this truck since I got it." My wife was so into it, she was keeping track of the signs posting the grades as we passed them.

And it wasn't just my gasser V10 screaming. It was also the big rigs and other 3/4 ton diesels pulling the grades. All in all, it was very cool, couldn't care less what others were driving. It was a blast!

Anyway, that's it for me, had to share the most recent outing with my truck. Yeah, I know, I wasn't hauling a 8500lb TT or 5th wheel. Nor was I hauling 10,000lbs of farm equipment. And my set up (truck, camper and gear) only tips the scales at 11,800lbs total weight. But hey, it was cool.

Enjoy,
RustyFuryIII

 

Cool, Good story

 

U forgot to say u averaged 19 mpg on this fun outing. LOL

 

I know what you mean.
When I went x country, I got so used to 3000 RPM in the mountains that when I got back, I just could not use OD anymore.

It just didn't sound or feel right.

V10, 3000 RPM, GOING UP A GRADE - How sweet the growl....

 

I love the sound of my V-10 at 4000 rpms also so very adicting. Glad ou had a great trip. CRUISE ON BROTHER.

 

I have not towed in mountains like you did but I am sure the torqshift and tow command would do the job. I like the truck better when I tow than empty. Driving empty it almost seems sluggy but not when I tow.

 

Give us a call we can help with that sluggy symptom...

 

I know what you mean. I just got back from the Ozarks with my boat, gear and family of five. The v10 at 4k is mean sounding. On one of the grades an old lady was braking down hill and I hit the brakes. The tranny down shifted to third and I went all the way down the hill at 4500 rpm's.

My wife thought there was something wrong with the truck and I just said "Ain't that cool?"

 

KSCRUDE,

Only dreamin' I got 19mpg while having fun! The truck actually turned in a respectable 10.585mpg hand calc on the trip out. That was from the front door of my house to the campgrounds, then to a gas station to fill up.

I got 11.523mpg hand calc on the way home. But I drove the truck around WVA after we got there. Then drove the truck to work when I got home 1 time so that figure would not reflect true towing only mileage.

Not too crazy about the $127 it took to fill 'er up after I got home, but hey, the price of our toys.

The truck has over 45,000 miles on it. I had a fresh fill of Mobil1 in the crank case. Chevron 87 in the the gas tank. The engine consumed 3/4 quart of oil on the round trip. No knocking or pinging from the engine at all.

Ford makes a great truck, I'm very, very pleased with my purchase!

Enjoy,
RustyFuryIII

 

That is great millage for that kind of driving in any truck. The buick roadmaster is a real road dog, aka cadilac. Too bad they don't still make them today.