Fancy Gap

[richfaa]

Is a 6% 8 mile long grade starting at about the 2MM on I-77 in VA. Did that today in the 08 6.4 Ford. Spoke to a truck driver at the Flying J at the 83MM to verify the grade. Had to back off to 55MPH to keep the tranny temps at 170 degres the boost at 35 and the EGT below 1150..Don't like to see them higher than that. Had plenty of power left but to use it would be to abuse the truck. Came over the top with the MPG O meter reading 7.8MPG. We weighed in at 22,316 lbs at a FLying J... The truck driver we spoke to said try that grade with 85K.....

Also ran into Chris and Dave,,,,(Cando) here at Fort Chiswell Rv park 83 MM I-77, VA.. They are right in front of us. Had Dinner and a nice visit.. Can't go anywhere without running into a MOC'er.
Isn't that great....

[Bill-N-Donna]

Rich, I remember a big grade somewhere in that area that was called
“Fancy Gap.” Could that be the same one?

Also, did you by chance come through KY today, possibly on US 23? Someone told me they thought they seen our camper and thought we were going camping. That was in Greenup. They thought it looked like our truck and everything. Just curious!

[richfaa]

OOpps. Why did I say happy gap.. It is fancy gap...no that was not us....not that far yet.

[Bill-N-Donna]

quote:Originally posted by richfaa

OOpps. Why did I say happy gap.. It is fancy gap...no that was not us....not that far yet.

I would guess that the performance of you T/V made you very "happy" while coming up that grade at Fancy Gap, therefore, "Happy Gap!"!

[adelmoll]

Oh we Love Fancy Gap. From there we went to Mayberry and saw all of the old Andy Griffith places. Be sure you go on the Blue Ridge Parkway as far as the Mobry Mill. Awesome, beautiful place.

Helen

[tom41]

Fancy Gap and Mount Airy a nice place, been there several times and that grade plus the one from mount airy to Fancy Gap is pretty good pull also. Don't foget "Snappys" place for the pork chop sandwiches! I'm an Andy Griffith fan.

[lwcdg]

If you guys really want a grade get off I 77 and onto US 52 from the Blue Ridge Parkway you can only pull up the grade. Truckers are required to stay off the downhill side. Only pull going uphill. What a great place. We have friends living in this area so I know it (US 52) quite well, may even retire there.
Chuck

[steves]

I always use I-77 when we go to Florida. I love that hill and watching/listening to the truck work. I pulled it this year in [s]OD[/s] meant to say cruise control, all the gauges stayed within normal limits. I added a Edge Mileage Max chip this past year (my SIL gave it to me for a Xmas present along with the install - he has a diesel repair business) it's only a 35HP bump but it works well.

[richfaa]

Had to take it out of CC.With it set at 62MPH we were starting to get into parameters do not like to exceed as mentioned above. That is why I think the external gages are a valuable asset. Any of These new diesels will charge up those grades but at what cost to motor wear. We have our gage set to alarm at optimum readings according to Ford and when we see the red alarm lites we are backing off. At 1300 degrees the ends of the turbo blades are starting to be white hot and everytime they do that they weaken just a bit. On diesel forums we read of guys doing 0-60 times and wondering why the turbos are blowing.

[clutch]

Having a pyro can sure save you a lot of money and grief. I don't understand why the gauges are not part of the truck from the factory. If they were I am sure that there would be fewer turbo failures for them to warranty.

[mlh]

Be careful on windy gap. I live in Salem about 75 miles north of windy gap near I81. Sevreal times I have seen in our news paper that tractor trailers have been blown over the mountain. One police officer was biown over the mountain. While i was pulling Monty, I had a 6 foot long 2x10 blow out of my truck bed going up that mountaim. It was laying on a 2x4. Air got under it and boom it was gone. BE CAREFUL your little fiver is no match for that mountain.
MLH