I64 West through WV KY IN MO at night?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by CDL CPL, Oct 3, 2017.

  1. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    White County, Arkansas
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    64 is boring until West by Gawd Virginia.

    The Federal Interstate System has a specific limit to gradients and curvature etc for purposes of maintaining a car at 70 mph safely. Big trucks are a whole different animal in WVa.

    64 has Sandstone mountain if memory serves... it's 5 miles down. You can literally type into you tube and there is a stack of interstate mountain related driving videos to watch and enjoy. (Or not... some are pretty crappy...)

    The problem with Sandstone is not in good weather. It's when it's icing up top and raining in the valley down below and everything in between in the middle late at night and you can only do a certain speed before that dancing rig gets away from you... Sandstone does not do well when people run it very badly, they will get hurt or even killed. And it's a mild mountain considering what other grades are around the USA.

    322 in PA 7 mountains come to mind. That was my first one near Milroy for training purposes in winter. I'll come up it or down it in 3 feet of powder while the megas were crying for tow trucks at the bottom in the ditch...

    Or... my favorite, 24% in Vermont south of Ethan Allen facility at the Canadian Border. That one is 3 miles straight up. Takes about more than a hour to pull it at less than walking speed at 80K on a 350 cat. And 4 hours to cool the gauges back to normal provided you did not burn the engine out via excessive pyro temps pulling it.

    I think that's enough. You will find 64 pretty boring in places, such as Indiana. I hate it. There is however a pretty good truckstop here and there back in my time with very good people and food that helps with the boredom.

     
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  3. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    There isn't a single grade on the interstate system, in any state, to be concerned with. Just practice some common sense and keep the speed down so you don't over heat your brakes.

    Rule of thumb, if you are constantly having to brake then you are going to fast. Slow down and drop another gear. You want to be in that sweet spot that your engine brake is holding you back with only having to use the foot brake every 45 seconds or so.
     
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  4. CDL CPL

    CDL CPL Light Load Member

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    Iowa
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    That really helps!! The video was good told us exactly what gear to be in and what to do. Hubby has been through various moutains before this is just unfamiliar territory so we trying to get all the info we can..thank a lot everyone!! We should be taking off here soon, if anything else comes to mind feel free to let us know..
     
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  5. BKLusk64

    BKLusk64 Light Load Member

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    going west you will be going up Sandston..... but the grade dropping down to cross the New River before Sandston is nothing to play with. I guess you could say you will have a few practice pulls and drop offs before you get to Sandston.
     
  6. tucker

    tucker Road Train Member

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    The DOT likes to do roadside inspections around Mt Vernon, IL,
     
  7. jethro712

    jethro712 Medium Load Member

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    welp, being skittish, make sure you do not shift once you start downgrade. go extra slow if you must. let super trucker go. just under 34k and the right gear, should not need brakes to the point of cooking them. knots in your stomach is good, keeps ya on yer toes.too slow is easier to recover from than too fast. have fun
     
  8. Rackpass 85

    Rackpass 85 Light Load Member

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    Toll is 19.25 total 6.75 each one total of 3
     
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  9. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    South west Missouri
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    Just my opinion,

    Depending on your start point in WV, for the extra 60 miles, run up to I70 and hammer down.

    No shame. Done it a few times for less hills.
     
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  10. tucker

    tucker Road Train Member

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    That’s terrible advice,
     
  11. Finfn1372

    Finfn1372 Road Train Member

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    Greenville,NC
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    Run that stretch a lot,to me it can be dangerous.Going westbound you'll have a 7% about the 156,on the WV side.
    Make sure you get plenty of rest,don't want to run half stepping.
     
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