Mountain driving for a flat lander

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by 19kM-1Driver, Feb 5, 2015.

  1. 19kM-1Driver

    19kM-1Driver Bobtail Member

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    Feb 5, 2015
    Michigan
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    Can anyone fill me in on what it is like to drive I-80 West toward Utah? I have family in Ogden. I have been driving for 3 months and feel I'm doing very good as a driver. I've had compliments from many but know I'm a rookie. I never get ####y about my abilities, EVER! Just want to know how the grades are. I drove out there a couple years ago with my new pickup but not behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer. I'll be pulling a 53' dry van. The truck is a 2000 Freightliner with a 10 spd. I just want to know if I"m barking up the wrong tree in wanting to go there this summer.:biggrin_25524:
     
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  3. otherhalftw

    otherhalftw R.I.P.

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    Nov 18, 2008
    CA...gold discovery foothills
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    Summer will be no issue. West bound into SLC is a piece of cake, except for winds between Cheyenne and Rawlins (Elk Mountain especially). As far as hills...nothing to write home about, if you have done some of the grades in TN and the south, or WV area....nothing that steep on I-80 east of SLC. If you go to Ogden, you won't need to worry about the long down grade known as Parley's Canyon, since you will take I-84 just west of the UT scale and it will take you directly into Ogden.
     
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  4. 19kM-1Driver

    19kM-1Driver Bobtail Member

    37
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    Feb 5, 2015
    Michigan
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    Thanks much for the heads up
     
  5. reefer101

    reefer101 Medium Load Member

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    Oct 24, 2014
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    there gona be thre steep heels betwin evenston and UT state lane. I usualy go 80mph down to build momentum for going up. and than before ut port of entry u gona descent not very steep. if you gona take i84 there gona be some 55mph twisty road. Now they make you wear chains at those hills first 30 miles on I80
     
  6. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
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    Pay attention to the signs.
    Watch the wind gusts.
    Steady on yer roll there driver.
     
  7. 19kM-1Driver

    19kM-1Driver Bobtail Member

    37
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    Feb 5, 2015
    Michigan
    0
    I've seen youtube video of a Van driver almost going over and somehow the driver brought er back upright. I remember a couple years ago while vacationing, winds out there being no less than 20mph. I imagine my speeds will depend on my payload.
     
  8. otherhalftw

    otherhalftw R.I.P.

    13,081
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    Nov 18, 2008
    CA...gold discovery foothills
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    Drive the road not the reputation!
     
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  9. Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

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    Jan 31, 2012
    Green Bay Wi
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    a month ago was in the Petro in Laramie cold windy night
    driver was going on how he told his dispatcher how he wasn't moving until weather improved
    i said i'll see you in April as i left


    honestly 80 in WY is like everywhere else in the country
    pay attn to conditions act accordingly
     
    otherhalftw and Moon_beam Thank this.
  10. poppapump1332

    poppapump1332 Road Train Member

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    birdsboro,pa
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    If you can drive in w.va you can drive anywhere
     
  11. Starboyjim

    Starboyjim Road Train Member

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    Dec 10, 2011
    Weed, CA
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    I disagree with some of this. I've driven the 80 westbound thru Nebraska and Wyoming into SLC quite a bit lately, and got some really nasty weather - really nasty. Plus, there's a real life mountain between Cheyanne and Rawlins, like 8,600' above sea level. There are a lot of hills in WV, for sure, just got out of there with my turbo screeching, nursing a load to Laredo, but there isn't anything over 4,000' in WV. Hills, that's what they got, although they do have a lot of them. If you have a GVW over 75K, those long pulls out of Cheyenne and into SLC can be really slow, especiallly if you get some of that 30mph-60mph headwinds out of the west. There's a reason why the Wyoming highway police shut down over 70mph - trucks can actually turn over from the wind force. Not a lot of that happening back east. Anyway, mountain driving, for my work, involves being patient, just rolling an easy gear up to the top and not flogging my rig to gain another 30sec. Just take it easy, it's cake. Last thing, I use more fuel with heavy loads and mountains, and don't arrive as quickly, so I watch my budget pretty carefully. Taking it easy helps with that.
     
    Ditch Doctor Thanks this.
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