Driving Steep Grades

[scott woodward]

I'm considering purchasing a new home that has a very steep driveway. Can
anyone comment on my chances of success in getting the GMC up the hill (and
down safely).

Parameters:

Never any frozen precipitation.

Good quality concrete driveway.

Actual grade unknown, but it seems steeper than any road I've seen. Total
elevation gain about 200'

Thanks,

Scott

 

[david l greenberg]

On Mon, 17 Jan 2000 07:43:59 -0800 Scott Woodward
writes:
>I'm considering purchasing a new home that has a very steep driveway.
>Can
>anyone comment on my chances of success in getting the GMC up the hill
>(and
>down safely).
>
Hi Scott,

There are too many factors, like engine condition etc. But backing the
coach up the driveway will certainly increase traction if that becomes an
issue.

Does the driveway level out at the top? The angle would not be good for
the fridge I suppose if not reasonably level.

David Lee Greenberg
200 MacFarlane Dr
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
www.gmcss.com/registry.htm

 

[dave posey]

- -I have made several attempts at my mountain living friends driveway- frozen
and dry - backwards and forward- finally got up to the house with the
motorhome when he gently help pull it backwards with a tow chain in his
small 4X4 pickup, dry surface and after I added about 5 gallons more gas
to keep the old girl running. Next time I take the car. Dave, 76PB, CA

.

 

[gary miller]

I have a similar driveway and my front wheels spin out as I start up. I tried
backing up and it worked fine except it is a real traffic stopper for me to get
lined up backwards. Now I pull in forward to near the spin point and my wife
hooks a nylon snatch line on the front and gives me a boost with the toad (a
Geo Tracker). It works for me.
Gary
North Bend, Oregon Coast

> I'm considering purchasing a new home that has a very steep driveway. Can
> anyone comment on my chances of success in getting the GMC up the hill (and
> down safely).
>
> Parameters:
>
> Never any frozen precipitation.
>
> Good quality concrete driveway.
>
> Actual grade unknown, but it seems steeper than any road I've seen. Total
> elevation gain about 200'
>
> Thanks,
>
> Scott

 

[bob mclaughlin]

I'm glad to see the old Model T driving techniques validated. We used to
have to back up hills in it because of the gravity feed fuel tank under the
drivers seat, first gear band was usually badly worn and reverse was geared
lower. Two of these three reasons may still apply as well as the increased
traction. I love it!
Bob M
- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailtowner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Hanson9
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2000 4:48 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: Driving Steep Grades

I have never had a problem going up anything in my 23' by backing up. Dean

 

[travism]

> I'm glad to see the old Model T driving techniques validated. We used to
> have to back up hills in it because of the gravity feed fuel tank under
the
> drivers seat, first gear band was usually badly worn and reverse was
geared
> lower. Two of these three reasons may still apply as well as the
increased
> traction. I love it!
> Bob M

But the most important reason for backing a model T up a hill was that it
did not have a pressurized oiling system---no oil pump at all---and the
transmission shared the pan with the engine. If you went up hill forwards,
the oil ran back into the transmission and bye-bye engine.

BTDT,

Travis