Driving advice: First trip down Mounteagle

[Bmonty25]

Good afternoon.

I am in search of some driving advice. I am driving from Indianapolis, IN to Atlanta, GA tomorrow morning. Suggested route is 65 to 24 to 75. This will take me southbound through Mounteagle. I have a 2013 Ram 2500 Diesel, and I am pulling a 30" Flying Cloud approximately 8,000 lbs +. The alternate route would be 75 down.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Bmonty25]

Good afternoon.

I am in search of some driving advice. I am driving from Indianapolis, IN to Atlanta, GA tomorrow morning. Suggested route is 65 to 24 to 75. This will take me southbound through Mounteagle. I have a 2013 Ram 2500 Diesel, and I am pulling a 30" Flying Cloud approximately 8,000 lbs +. The alternate route would be 75 down.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Jim & Susan]

Shouldn't be a problem at all with your truck and camper. I've been over it a couple times with my '02 F250 and '73 Overlander (weighs only around 4000 lbs) going to/from Ft Campbell to visit daughter, son-in-law & grandkids. Follow the speed limit rules set for truckers (35 to 45 mph as I recall). No worries. It not as long or difficult a pull as it sounds. Road is in great shape and well designed.

Have fun. Is this the trip to the N Georgia mountains you were panning a month or so ago?? Need to give a full report and let us know where you decided to stay.

Jim

[Rich W]

I've been down both but only I-75 with the AS. I think they're about the same if the grade is your concern. I don't think you'll have any issues with the slope but there is construction on I-65 at Bowling Green and some areas afterward. I encountered a little on I-75 but not much. If it's a toss up, my vote is with I-75 because no construction and it's mostly 3 lanes per side.

[Bmonty25]

Jim,

Thanks! It is the same trip. Started out from West Point this past Wednesday. We made a stop at Jackson Center and are currently in Indianapolis. My parents convinced me to take the kids to Disney for a week and then we will head to the mountains. We are staying at Unicoi State Park for two nights and then the north Georgia airstream park for the remainder of the week.

Did you use an exhaust break?

[Jim & Susan]

My truck is a V10 Gasser, so no exhaust brake. I really don't think you'll need it. The South side (downslope side) is three wide lanes and very easy, no sharp turns to contend with.

Bad choke point in Nashville at the junction of I-65 and I-24 on the northside of town. Road is under construction (and has been for years, it seems like). Just watch the lane changes/shifts and go slow. Only lasts for about a 1/2 mile or so. In downtown Chatanoogo there are a series of "elevateds" right in downtown. These are kinda rough as well in spots. Overall, tho, the interstate system in TN is in very good shape. First few miles in North Georgia on I-75 have a few rough spots, not bad tho. Driving in Atlanta......man-o-man. If you are coming thru town on Sunday, go thru downtown on I-75, don't take the perimeter (I-285). Traffic will be fairly light on a Sunday and there is a lot of repair work in I-285 right now....in the daytime, on the weekends...lanes closed, monumental backups. Tune your radio to WSB 95.5 FM to get traffic reports every 10-15 minutes as you approach Atlanta.

Sounds like y'all have a great summer trip planned out. Have a great time.

Jim

[jimfa440]

Originally Posted by Bmonty25

Good afternoon.

I am in search of some driving advice. I am driving from Indianapolis, IN to Atlanta, GA tomorrow morning. Suggested route is 65 to 24 to 75. This will take me southbound through Mounteagle. I have a 2013 Ram 2500 Diesel, and I am pulling a 30" Flying Cloud approximately 8,000 lbs +. The alternate route would be 75 down.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I pull a 30' Excella with a GMC 2500. No sweat, just gear down and let the compression work for you.
Jim

[beatrix1]

Wish I would have seen this earlier. I make that commute about twice a month. Only taken the trailer (the '61) twice. Good route, just take it easy. There is a rest stop at the top of the "hill" if you are going South just before you get to Monteagle.

[Betty Farmer]

I don't foresee you having a problem. I, an 80 year old female, pulled a 25 foot Sierra through the Northeastern Mountains with a 1/2 ton, gasoline Chevrolet, pickup - with absolutely no problem. We have pulled it for a 700-800 mile trip to South Texas Hill Country with our 1 Ton Diesel GMC and did not have an evener hitch ( or whatever they are called) on the hitch.

My best wishes for safe traveling for you.

[dcasr]

I have pulled the hill both ways many times. The elevation gain and loss is less on the North side, and the gain and loss considerable more on the South side. Put it in a lower gear, low enough you don't have to keep hitting the brakes, and let your engine work for you. The slope does go on for quite a ways on the Chattanooga side, so don't upshift prematurely, just ride it out.

GMC K2500 1999 Suburban 7.4 with a 29' Excella 1990.

[Bk Yd Safari]

I've pulled Monteagle several times in both directions (1500 Chevy 5.3 ltr). Don't worry about Monteagle in either direction or either side, unless its foggy. Its a very pretty drive from Nashville to Chattanooga. As others have posted Nashville's traffic can be very heavy. Nashville would also be a good overnight stop. Stay at Two Rivers campground just 2 miles north of Opryland Hotel. From there its a short drive to downtown Nashville.
Returning home, be aware the I-75/I-24 north bound split in Chattanooga is a real slowdown early mornings and again starting around 3:00p.m.

[Bmonty25]

Thank you for all the advice.we made it through with no issues. We drove through Nashville and Chattanooga yesterday (Sunday) without any real traffic. I think I had built up Mounteagle a bit too much. It was a great drive and very easy to maneuver using the exhaust brake. My Wife laughed when it was all over. She had pictured a cross between The worst mountain imaginable and a cliff.

Thanks again!

[rodsterinfl]

Great. I am right behind you Bmonty25. I am prepping to make my first trip from Florida to Jackson Center via I-75 then later westward through the tunnels to Virginia then Wilmington NC and finally St. Augustine before turning home. I have also been thinking about driving in hills and curves. When you are not used to it, being "terrain challenged" is very real.

BTW, yesterday, NOT TOWING, I had a nut job merge onto I-75 right in front of me (I was doing 65mph) and he slammed on the brakes on the highway to 30mph! I almost hit him. Instead of easing in he came on like he had to stop before changing lanes- whew., glad I wasn't towing. We have to be careful.

[mimiandrews]

Originally Posted by rodsterinfl

BTW, yesterday, NOT TOWING, I had a nut job merge onto I-75 right in front of me (I was doing 65mph) and he slammed on the brakes on the highway to 30mph! I almost hit him. Instead of easing in he came on like he had to stop before changing lanes- whew., glad I wasn't towing. We have to be careful.

Sometimes that is done deliberately. It's an insurance claim scam. They get hit and then sue for "injuries."

Doing it in 65 mph traffic sounds really, really dumb. They might get more injured than they bargain for.

Glad you were able to avoid him.

[featherbedder]

I have driven Mt. Eagle both ways, only 1 problem returning to Il. in many trips. Stopped at rest stop on top in middle of nite woke up snowed in lasted several hrs. but very cautious coming down, as rd. crews rite on top of weather and rds. Ps. use tranny in gas vehicles or exhaust brake in diesels, riding brakes down hill will result in brake fade. Take time either up or down, great scenery.