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01-27-2020, 12:57 PM
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#1
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 5
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Era on steep grades
Hello, everyone.
I have a 2013 Winnebago Era 170a on a Mercedes Benz chassis and I have a question about driving on steep grades.
I am interested in camping at the Amicalola Falls St Pk in northern Georgia. The road to the park has grades of 25 percent. I know that my engine automatically shifts down, and I have driven it in mountains in New Mexico & Arizona, but the grades were not that steep. Has anyone been to this park in Georgia in a Class B Sprinter van? Did you have any problems? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I travel by myself, so there is no one to share the fear with!
Camper Fan
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01-27-2020, 04:09 PM
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#2
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pflugerville/Austin, Tx
Posts: 7,371
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Might want to double check that grade info. I think of steep as being 6-8% when in real mountains in the West. I did a quick look at the state park website and saw no mention of that sort of grade.
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01-27-2020, 04:17 PM
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#3
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Manhattan, Kansas USA
Posts: 1,315
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Fire apparatus could never get in there to fight a fire if there was a 25 % grade. The worst grade that allows access for fire fighting is 10 %.
That said you will have to gear down and travel back down at a slow rate of speed where the engine can limit your speed so you don't burn up your brakes.
__________________
Randy - Manhattan, Kansas
2015 Vista 27N
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
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01-27-2020, 05:41 PM
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#4
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pflugerville/Austin, Tx
Posts: 7,371
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Suspect that might be 2. 5 %?
Some info I cut and copied from the net:
An interstate is out of standard if it has a grade > 7%.
The National Road (built in 1806) had a maximum grade of 8.75%.
Local roads are much higher (12% or 15% are sometimes allowed)
Otter Tail MN County roads 6%, alleys 8%
Driveways can be as much as 30% for a short distance
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02-02-2020, 05:53 PM
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#5
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 69
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You will not have a problem. The MB Diesel engine is nothing but torque!
__________________
ToolmanTim
USN Retired CPO
2018 Sunstar 27PE (Boardroom)/ Fiat 500L
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02-02-2020, 08:27 PM
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#6
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 18
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This is from the web page: https://www.amicalolafallslodge.com/...ons/campsites/
Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge has one of the most unique RV campgrounds in GA. Each “pull in” or “back in” site offers power, water, picnic table, grill and fire ring. RV campers should note the road to access the campground is at a 25% grade and may not be suited to the largest RV Camper models. We recommend coming prepared to use a low gear for hauling, while still meeting the park speed limit of 15 mph. Know your vehicle’s towing capacity and state of repair before attempting the climb.
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02-02-2020, 09:31 PM
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#7
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Camper Fan
Hello, everyone.
I have a 2013 Winnebago Era 170a on a Mercedes Benz chassis and I have a question about driving on steep grades.
I am interested in camping at the Amicalola Falls St Pk in northern Georgia. The road to the park has grades of 25 percent. I know that my engine automatically shifts down, and I have driven it in mountains in New Mexico & Arizona, but the grades were not that steep. Has anyone been to this park in Georgia in a Class B Sprinter van? Did you have any problems? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I travel by myself, so there is no one to share the fear with!
Camper Fan
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Rule of thumb don't go down any faster than you came up, same gear up same gear down!
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02-03-2020, 01:16 PM
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#8
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 5
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Thanks to all who responded. Yes, LadyDog, that was the same info I found mentioning the 25% grade, when I first started looking at that park.
I can't shift down, as I have only P, R, N, and D, but I will depend on the Sprinter engine to do its job. Thanks, T00lman, for the encouraging post.
CamperFan
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02-05-2020, 08:15 AM
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#9
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pflugerville/Austin, Tx
Posts: 7,371
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On looking further at the RV park app I use, I see a number of reviews which mention as long as 40 foot and no mention of hills, so you should be good whether the grade is that steep or not! Possible the person writing the state info is not familiar with how grades are figured?
We live in an era where bad info is much easier to get than good info.
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02-05-2020, 08:48 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Pinellas Park, FL
Posts: 647
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Maybe they put in 25% when they meant on a 25 degree angle to level?
__________________
Thom Boles
2010 Winnebago Vista 32K with a 2013 Mini Cooper S Roadster toad.
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02-05-2020, 09:31 AM
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#11
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,354
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Sounds like whatever the grade of the road it's just one of the park roads with a 15 mph limit. It doesn't say how long that stretch is, but I would think your diesel could handle that just fine going up and your brakes going down. If you have tow/haul mode that might help going down.
If you're concerned you could empty all your tanks beforehand to reduce weight somewhat.
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02-05-2020, 10:08 AM
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#12
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pflugerville/Austin, Tx
Posts: 7,371
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I've not looked at many reviews but I would expect at least one for a real 25 % grade, so I fall back to thinking it is not really a true problem more likely info that is somehow skewed by some factor. Perhaps as simple as the girl at the desk getting a fresh complaint about the "steep" hill while writing up the park info?
We occasionally find the folks at the front desk have never actually used an RV, so what seems scary to them may just be routine for the normal user.
Maybe we can get a report back from the OP after their visit. Maybe it really is scary and we should all know?
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02-09-2020, 07:30 PM
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#13
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 5
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Era Steep grade
Well, I am hoping to make this trip in May, so I will definitely report back about my experience. Possibly someone else who has already visited that park will also give a report.
Camper Fan
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10-18-2020, 06:19 PM
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#14
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 18
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I'm wondering if you had made this trip or did the pandemic put it on hold?
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10-23-2020, 04:15 PM
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#15
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 5
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Era Steep grade
LadyDog, you guessed it. Fortunately, my reservation deposit was refunded in full, so I am hoping to try again next May.
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11-11-2020, 07:06 PM
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#16
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 8
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Why cant you down shift a Sprinter ----don't you just need to move the shift handle left or right to up shift or down shift.
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11-02-2021, 07:48 PM
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#17
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Camper Fan
Hello, everyone.
I have a 2013 Winnebago Era 170a on a Mercedes Benz chassis and I have a question about driving on steep grades.
I am interested in camping at the Amicalola Falls St Pk in northern Georgia. The road to the park has grades of 25 percent. I know that my engine automatically shifts down, and I have driven it in mountains in New Mexico & Arizona, but the grades were not that steep. Has anyone been to this park in Georgia in a Class B Sprinter van? Did you have any problems? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I travel by myself, so there is no one to share the fear with!
Camper Fan
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Hi Camper Fan
I was wondering if you were able to make this trip this year? If so was it a 25% grade?
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11-02-2021, 09:20 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Spring Branch, TX
Posts: 7,783
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I couldn't believe it was 25% but it seems that it is in the middle for about one mile:
__________________
2017 Winnebago Adventurer 37F
2016 Lincoln MKX Toad
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01-11-2022, 06:00 AM
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#19
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2009 ERA
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 2
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I thought all sprinters have a -D+ on the shifter. (-) to downshift, (+) to upshift.
Been hiking the start of Appalachian trail pre COVID driving my 2001 Suburban to Amicalola falls. I'm certain my 2009 ERa 2wd 2500 can handle it. Just downshift.
__________________
2009 ERA 170XL on 2008 Dodge Sprinter 2500
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08-31-2022, 03:22 AM
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#20
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 12
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The Mercedes manual says to top off the engine oil to the high mark when taking steep grades. Then it says to drain it off.
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