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chaseav · 01-21-2015, 05:21 AM

Welcome WVStreamer! I could get on board with that routing to MYR as well. My tow vehicle is a Chevy Avalanche with a 5.3L and a tow package. I've always babied it and she's working hard up anything more than a 1% grade. Route 19 regularly gets up into the 6% range but if you've got a bigger engine with bigger... guts... 19 will save you a good hour. Lots of stoplights though!

AldeanFan · 01-21-2015, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvstreamer

I still prefer the I 79 to 19 in WV to 77. As you enter NC Left exit on 74/52 thru Winton Salem...to 40 east. Near Greensboro 220 S. through Rockingham 74 and eventually Rt 9. We really enjoy Myrtle Beach Travel Park...NORTH Myrtle Beach..very close to the NC/SC border. We do the day trips to the inlet and Charleston and ?? The campground is Ocean-front clean and kid friendly. I'm a veteran camper but a newbee with our first Airstream..and my first post!

Wow! I feel kind of honored to have your fist post in my Thread!
Thanks for the recommendations, This is going to be a real adventure!

AldeanFan · 01-21-2015, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaseav

Welcome WVStreamer! I could get on board with that routing to MYR as well. My tow vehicle is a Chevy Avalanche with a 5.3L and a tow package. I've always babied it and she's working hard up anything more than a 1% grade. Route 19 regularly gets up into the 6% range but if you've got a bigger engine with bigger... guts... 19 will save you a good hour. Lots of stoplights though!

My Tundra has the 4.7 V8, its surprisingly strong for a relatively small v8 engine but our trailer is small and we generally travel light. The trick with the Toyota engine is to keep it revved up, no power below 3000 rpm. Our friends had a 5.3 Avalanche and towed a popup, we got better gas mileage towing the Airstream with a canoe on the Tundra than they did pulling their popup, but the Avalanche had over 400,000km .

chaseav · 01-21-2015, 06:24 PM

Yeah, our AS is 25ft and 5400lbs empty. Not to turn this into one of "those" threads but it tows great. But like you said it needs a lot of RPM to do anything on a hill. That's not a bad thing, just not used to hearing her get "angry" as my 5 year old son calls it. It's a newer Avalanche with the good engine so where we'd normally get 18mpg on the highway we now get 9-10 with the AS in tow. I did learn that you MUST be in tow / haul mode in order for the tranny cooler to engage. Got the trans temp up to 205 before I realized that.

wvstreamer · 01-21-2015, 09:18 PM

The Tundra is strong. And the GM5.3 is a great engine too. I'm used to Diesel for fuel mileage and torque. Understand that my truck is 20 years old but still great. WV has great rest areas...and they have dump stations too! Some good camping traveling through the state with nice state parks. If you get to Northern WV and want to rest for the night, check Coopers Rock State Park about 20 min off I 79 via I 68 near Morgantown. For fuel, best price in Wytheville Va on I 77. Enjoy !

AldeanFan · 01-22-2015, 09:50 AM

The more I look at the map the more options I see for travel south, maybe the 390 south out of Rochester and then 15 into PA?

One issue, if we travel over the memorial day weekend will we need reservations?

chaseav · 01-22-2015, 01:55 PM

The rest areas in WV have dump stations?! That's awesome! Stopped in Wytheville, for overnights (pre-AS) more times than I can count. Gas was cheap too. Hate all the traffic north of there though. Am I correct in saying that Diesel engines really don't care what they're pulling, they pretty much get the same gas mileage?

ROBERT CROSS · 01-22-2015, 02:19 PM

If your in WV and anywhere near it, check out The Tamarack well worth the effort, Great Food and doodads galore!!!

Bob

wvstreamer · 01-22-2015, 02:45 PM

There's a difference in mileage but I have found less difference. I think it's good for them to pull a load-always makes mine run better! Also Tamarack is an interesting stop. Nice quiet parking lot for over night rest too.

chaseav · 01-22-2015, 04:57 PM

Yep, stopped there once. It was near a travel holiday and it was a mad house. Doodads and Starbucks.

Pat Conway · 01-22-2015, 05:18 PM

If you could aline your trip to take in the Alumalina rally 27-29 March at Wateree State Park SC, you will have a great time. We went to the fall Alumalina rally and it was super, great park, super friendly people, and "possum bog" will knock your socks off. You could then swing over to the beaches before heading back home. Pat