Beaver Hill Climbing

[John Padmore]

This may seem like a strange question. How steep of a hill will the beaver (Cat 3126) climb from a dead stop? The reason I ask is I would like to bring my coach to son's house and he is on a pretty steep hill....dirt road to boot! I may have to stop and make a 3 point turn at some point also. If the beaver won't climb.....what happens? Does it begin to roll backwards......yikes! :-/ Thanks.....

John

[Keith Moffett Co-Admin]

John
It makes a difference which 3126 you have.  One is 300 horse and the next is amped up to 330 hp.  There should be a label on the valve cover which will tell you what yours is.  
By way of an example, ours is 40 ft. but has the 330 hp. 3126.  We went over a hill so steep in Roseburg it had me worried but I shifted down to 3rd and went slowly and had no trouble.  I do carry large wheel chaulks just in case but havent need them.

Have you tested your park brake?  With the park brake ON and the engine running, put your foot on the chassis brake and shift into drive.  Release the foot brake, does the park brake hold?  Now slowly run up to 1200 RPM.  Park brake still holding?  This is how my book says to test it.  The park brake should hold on its own up to 1200 RPM.  

Seems like the park brake would then hold on a fairly steep hill, at least until you could blockthe wheels.

Keith

[Gerald Farris]

John,
You did not say what incline you are looking at, but your Beaver has enough torque to climb almost any road in 1st gear. However from you description, the problem will be available traction and sharp corners. Your coach was not designed for dirt roads, or sharp corners. If it happens to rain at some time before you go up or come back down, you will find yourself in a dangerous situation. The same thing is true if there is loose sand or gravel on the road. I drive dirt roads often when I am at the ranch here in Texas, and I have ended up in the ditch more than once when the road was wet with a 2 wheel drive truck.

The other issue is turning radius. Your coach does not make sharp turns, and if there are switch backs on the road, you may not be able to make the turn without damaging the coach. You know what the road looks like, so it would have to be a judgment call by you, but from your description of the road, I would find another place to park.

Gerald

[Joel Ashley]

My experience has been that if it looks hairy, then 20% of the time I'm fretting for no good reason and negotiate things easily.

It's the other 80% you have real problems with, and they are not worth the risk.  Even if I can make a questionable turn or get through a narrow place, the stress was rarely worth it;  to top it off, then I may have days to sweat over having to face the gauntlet going back the way I came.  One problem is that relatives (who don't have to drive the coach) tend to not see what you are worried about, and "shame" you into attempting something you shouldn't.  My wife and 50+ year-old kids now pretty much have learned not to do that, and listen when I don't think I should try something.  My problem was I figured someone standing outside the coach had a better perspective on the overall situation than I did from the driver's seat, and that's not always so.

Unless you are a glutten for stress, or are very experienced with what your coach can and cannot do, it ain't worth trying.  As Gerald says, your coach probably has the torque to handle the grade as long as you are in the appropriate lower gear.  It's the surface conditions (traction) and almost certainly the turn negotiating where your white knuckles will show up.  I often think coming down is trickier than going up, especially if I'd have to stop and back uphill to fidget my way around a hairpin;  as I used to tell my subteen grandson about black diamond ski slopes, once you're up there, there's only one way down.

Joel

[John Padmore]

Thank you all for your insight. I have travelled up this hill for 10 years while visiting on vacation, so I know it pretty well. Only 1 bad turn where I might have to make a 3 point turn but the hill is not very steep at that point. Very little traffic also. I was really just worrried about the torque getting up there. I will let you all know how it turns out - should be there in about a month from now. Thanks.....

John

[LarryNCarolynShirk]

John,

Also consider avoiding twist in your frame driving on uneven surfaces.  That has a tendency to pop out or break windshields.  Been there.

Larry

[John Padmore]

I have calculated the road to have a 10.5% grade. (614 ft rise in 5808 feet) hope I did this right. It is hard pack dirt. I am taking the coach up on August 20.....wish me luck Thanks.

John

[Joel Ashley]

That is a decent grade alright, but the low gear torque and dual tire spread should do the job, John.  I would have the spouse drive the toad up and down separately though.  If that corner is relatively flat and you've calculated length and turning radius to be acceptable, it may be your only real challenge - as long as it doesn't rain.

Joel

[Edward Buker]

John,

That would be 10.5% average grade, that will not be your worst case grade with perhaps a curve or two thrown in. When in doubt drive it first with the toad, that should give you a good or bad feeling about this adventure and respond accordingly. At the top can you turn around and if you find yourself in trouble on the way up? Is it a road that you could back down if need be? There is a big difference between a narrow road with a drop off along the edge and a small road on a steep broad hill without an edge hazard. Stay safe....

Later Ed