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I-40 knoxville-Hickory
Just checking to see what folks say about I-40 between Knoxville and Hickory, NC. I know there is a grade at Black Mountain. I will be driving it in a week or so and just curious as to how folks drive the grades, gear, speed, jake.
It’ll be the first mountain driving with new to us bus. Just trying to make sure I know what to watch for.
Thanks!
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9 Replies
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There are some grades but there is no magic to driving that route.
Use your jake or retarder to control the downhill speeds, let the cruise control do its thing for the uphill climbs and slow down for the curves. Some miles of the route are 50 MPH limits and while the truckers may try to push you, ignore them and stay at the limit.
You might have about 50 miles of curvy interstate or hilly sections at the most but the scenery is great so enjoy it.
There is no viable alternate route and for me it is not the hills that are notable, as much as the fact it is 2 lane in each direction and no matter how you drive there is always going to be someone trying to push you to go faster and the curves just will not allow you to go faster without increasing the stress level. Do your own speeds and let the folks pass.
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We just drove most of that stretch, comming and going, last weekend.
No big deal if you follow Jon’s advice. Our rig has a two setting Jake compression brake and it easily handled the coach. Just watch the signs and follow the speeds indicated for the curves and downhill sections.
It is a beautiful section of highway and for anyone not driving, a real treat. I was driving and paying attention to the road, but still, the scenery is spectacular.
Just remember to use your Jake or retarder, and save you normal brakes for emergency.
Happy Trails,
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Thanks! Will be driving it on saturday, june 28.. Should be fun.
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I forgot to mention the reason trucks might try to push you to speeds faster than you might be comfortable with is that there is a section a few miles long that forbids trucks from passing. That gets some all upset if they get behind you, but every time I have traveled that route there is always a truck going even slower than I do so I just get a comfortable distance behind that truck and then the truckers behind me can get pissed at the slow poke ahead of me.
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Jon’s spot on. I travel that route extensively and often use his technique of tucking in behind a slower truck. Once that’s taken care of, relax and enjoy the drive. Slow down thru the tunnels. If there’s an incident you want to be able to stop within your line of site. Have fun!
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Living in the area we have made this trip many times and I just relax and enjoy the ride. Like all have said, stick to the speed limit and you will be fine and much more relaxed at the other side. I have had trucks to pass me when they were not supposed to but they never get very far ahead. Just remember to come down the mountain grades no faster than the truck speed limit and you will not have to try to slow it down. My Jakes will maintain the right speed if I do not start down too fast.
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I’ve been across the mountain several times. My best advice is to top the grade, either direction at about 30-35 MPH, select a lower gear as you crest, then hit the Jake Brake (or Retarder) and let it do its job on the way down the other side. There will be some places that a judicious short application of the regular brakes will be required. Then on the eastbound downgrade there are three run away truck ramps. You really don’t want to use that option to stop unless absolutely necessary.
In 2012 following an in chassis engine rebuild with a grand total of 245 miles on the clock, the engine blew just after topping westbound. Lots of vibrations like are felt when activating a Jake Brake. In this case the vibrations were from a thrown rod – yep threw it through a hole in the block it made to escape. Shop paid every bill from that point until a new Jasper rebuild was installed.
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The trip over black mountain was uneventful as it should be!
Road construction after Knoxville. Honked a two, buses an XLII and a H, headed west bound on I-40. Anyone from PC?
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T&B,
I-40 gets a lot of Prevost traffic, not only motorhomes, but entertainers running to or from Nashville.
There was a time when the moment we saw an oncoming Prevost we would flash lights, wave or shout on the CB, but with the exception of an occasional wave that doesn’t happen any more.
Glad the trip through the Smokies went well. Isn’t the view leading up to the tunnels fantastic?
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