.......and it's still shifting often???
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Hauling a Vette
- Thread starter jwstewar
- Start date
.......and it's still shifting often???
Not sure if you've taken this route before so I'll toss it out.
Don't forget to turn off the radar detector when you get to VA.
You'll also have a couple very long hills in front of you. Downhill in your direction. You may want to downshift so you don't cook your brakes. IIRC, it was near Fancy Gap, VA.
Once you're into NC, you're going to find people are driving a bit faster on I-77. Watch for people blowing past you at 85+. Ditto once you get on I-95 (which is going to feel like a loonnngggg ride since it's normally crowded and you really need to pay attention).
Don't forget to turn off the radar detector when you get to VA.
You'll also have a couple very long hills in front of you. Downhill in your direction. You may want to downshift so you don't cook your brakes. IIRC, it was near Fancy Gap, VA.
Once you're into NC, you're going to find people are driving a bit faster on I-77. Watch for people blowing past you at 85+. Ditto once you get on I-95 (which is going to feel like a loonnngggg ride since it's normally crowded and you really need to pay attention).
When you're in the hills of WV, everything shifts often...
jwstewar
Active member
We actually didn't even bring the radar detector. Just planned on running the limit. I just swapped out from driving. We are now on 26 about 25 miles from 95.
I will give the Dodge Props, it did a good job of grade braking. On those long hills I didn't even touch the brake. Just took my foot off the gas.
I will give the Dodge Props, it did a good job of grade braking. On those long hills I didn't even touch the brake. Just took my foot off the gas.
loboloco
Well-known member
Dang, you passed close. Wish you luck on the haulage. I have kind of stayed out of this one cause I used to contract for this type of work.
That will add some time...
I think we're about the same distance to your destination (1050 miles). My best time is 14 hours flat. Worst was our last trip at almost 20 hours. Sat in a traffic jam for close to 3 hours. Normally, we do it in right around 16.
jwstewar
Active member
Got it loaded up, and left about 12, by the time we got out of town and got gas, it was about 12:30. We've driven about 3 hours on the FL turnpike. One toll was $16, one was $7.50, and then we were going to get something to eat (but didn't) and got right back on and cost us $3. I'll post a pic later.
jwstewar
Active member
You know people slam the 5.3 and say it isn't a towing motor, I'll you what, I wouldn't trade my stock 5.3 for this chipped and breathing 5.7 Hemi. Oh, and I can get 9.5 MPG towing my 10k box camper and this one is only doing 9 towing 2200 of flat trailer. Don't know yet loaded, it is running 3rd a lot and 2nd frequently. Haven't figured out how to lock overdrive out.
Next time get a Cummins. And throw that auto tranny away
My experience suggests Manual trannies and diesel engines.
My 95 one ton Dodge gets 15-18 MPG pulling a load (32 foor camper was easy Dozer, not so much) Empty almost 20. And it stays in the gear you put it.
Automatics are for toys and grocery getters. Tow vehicles should be manual trans.
Real trucks have dually wheels, manual tranmissions and say Cummins on the side.
That said, I have hear very good things about the newer Hemis. How old is yours.?
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jwstewar
Active member
His is a 2005 with now 17,600 miles on it. It is a 2500 Heavy Duty Crew Cab 8 foot bed. I think my 1500 Silverado pulls better suspension aside. Oh BTW, this is the first time it has ever towed anything. I couldn't even get the brake controller to hold the trailer so I could latch the ball until I adjusted it.
jwstewar
Active member
Oh, you want to hear something funny. F-I-L got into an argument over gas. He says a vehicle uses more gas if it gets less than 1/2 tank. I know a lot of vehicles the 2nd half of the tank will go faster, but MPGs don't go down. We'be had to stop everytime we get to 5/8s of a tank.
Us old farts can be stupidly stubborn like that.
As fuel levels go down, so does weight load. So in fact MPG would go Up.
But hardly noticeble on a 6,000 lb truck.
BTW, assuming I am wrong here,,,,,Getting off the highway to refill at 1/2 tankful would use more gas than your FIL's theory could possibly save.
jwstewar
Active member
Us old farts can be stupidly stubborn like that.
As fuel levels go down, so does weight load. So in fact MPG would go Up.
But hardly noticeble on a 6,000 lb truck.
BTW, assuming I am wrong here,,,,,Getting off the highway to refill at 1/2 tankful would use more gas than your FIL's theory could possibly save.
I agree with both of these sentiments. Takes a lot of time to, have to make sure you can get in and out with the trailer. He would just rather put 30 or 40 in vs. 70 or 80 or more.
The vette is what the trip is all about.
Humour him and let the old guy have the day. Picking up the car of his dreams... It is, after all, his day.
I looked the specs up, I was surprised, this car only had 210 HP stock and did 92 mph and 15.5 in the qrtr. Compared to todays cars, it is slow.the old trucker
New member
I'm waiting to see how you secured the car to the trailer...
The Old Trucker
The Old Trucker
jwstewar
Active member
I'll try to get picks when we stop. I'm fighting with my phone. It keeps losing pics. I'll take them and then they'll disappear. I've got a chain wrap around each lower control ARM in the front going to the opposite corner. Then the rear I used 2 t-hooks in the frame in FRONT of the rear suspension and too it to the opposite corner of the trailer. None have loosened so far, I keep checking them. I also put chicks on each side of the back tires and secured them with a rachet strap around each tire.