Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: 18360 on November 20, 2019, 12:05:13 pm

Title: Steep hill
Post by: 18360 on November 20, 2019, 12:05:13 pm
So I was driving home today and was going up a steep incline.  At least 45 degrees and about 500;yards long.
Had it up to 57 mph at the bottom.
At the top without putting too much more on the accellorator I was going about 43 mph.
Which was no big deal.
But after I was on level ground again, for about a minute the engine was idling somewhat rough.
I too my foot off the accelerator and it was back to normal.
My question is how to handle steep incline like that.  Is there something I could have done different.
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: craneman on November 20, 2019, 12:11:53 pm
When did you last change your fuel filters? How old are your fuel lines?
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on November 20, 2019, 12:15:31 pm
So I was driving home today and was going up a steep incline.  At least 45 degrees and about 500;yards long.
Had it up to 57 mph at the bottom.
At the top without putting too much more on the accellorator I was going about 43 mph.
Which was no big deal.
But after I was on level ground again, for about a minute the engine was idling somewhat rough.
I too my foot off the accelerator and it was back to normal.
My question is how to handle steep incline like that.  Is there something I could have done different.
Either your fuel tank was low enough the pickup sucked some air or you are starting to get restriction in your fuel filter under full load. It smooths out after a minute as there is very low demand for fuel at the injection pump at idle. You could also have a bad fuel line that is letting air in the system.

Pierce
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: 18360 on November 20, 2019, 12:31:22 pm
I was low on fuel.  I added about 60 galons right after. That brought it up to 3/4 full.  But my fuel gauge acts funny sometime.
It will go to empty from reading 1/2 full.
I just had the oil changed and I know they put several new filters in.
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: wolfe10 on November 20, 2019, 12:43:30 pm
Remember, to minimize condensation in the fuel tank, store with tank FULL.
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: Old Toolmaker on November 20, 2019, 01:56:00 pm
My question is how to handle steep incline like that.  Is there something I could have done different.

Once upon a time, Ford wrote in it's Owner's manual "The ten-gallon gasoline tank should be filled---nearly full---and the supply should never be allowed to get low."  Because you won't make it up a steep hill if you do so.
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on November 20, 2019, 02:09:37 pm
I don't think it is possible for your coach or any one else's to go up a 45° slope under any circumstance.  ^.^d

Make sure you have a relatively full tank.
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: craneman on November 20, 2019, 02:36:25 pm
I don't think it is possible for your coach or any one else's to go up a 45° slope under any circumstance.  ^.^d

Make sure you have a relatively full tank.
My Cat loader had a hard time going up a 2 to 1 slope.
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: FourTravelers on November 20, 2019, 03:13:09 pm
So I was driving home today and was going up a steep incline.  At least 45 degrees and about 500;yards long.

45 deg. ??!!
Wow
Not me!
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: wolfe10 on November 20, 2019, 03:27:54 pm
Actually, not possible!

6% is max for normal Interstate grades.

10% is REALLY steep.

Have done one 16% grade on a private road out of Durango Colorado in the coach.  Sign at the bottom of the hill said "No fire protection".  I asked the owner of the house we were visiting what that meant. He said the local fire department would not bring their equipment on that steep a grade.
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on November 20, 2019, 03:38:47 pm
On a road down to a boat/raft/fishing landing on the Snake River in Grand Teton NP.  40' school busses full of rafters were going up and down.  Away from the rafting haul outs the fishing was good.
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: Michelle on November 20, 2019, 04:23:26 pm
I was low on fuel.  I added about 60 galons right after. That brought it up to 3/4 full. 

Do keep in mind that the tank has a large footprint and fuel can slosh away from the pick up pretty easily as a result.  With the fuel pickup generally being a little bit off the bottom of the tank, it *is* possible to stall at tank levels less than 1/4, including something as simple as making a turn into a parking lot.  Just one of several reasons not to go that low. 
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: lgshoup on November 20, 2019, 06:44:58 pm
I just can't believe there is a 45 degree hill unless it's on private property. I did an 18 % going up from Lucerne (sp) valley to Big Bear. Only did it once!
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: craneman on November 20, 2019, 07:08:07 pm
45 Deg= 50% grade
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: Olde English on November 20, 2019, 07:11:45 pm
I've rode up a 1 in 1 hill and that was on the Post Hill scrambling and hill climb track, that kind of incline (45 degrees) was so steep keeping the front wheel down compromised traction on the rear, flip over haha. The only other hill that steep that I've been around was at a tank testing track in the late 70s when I was involved in the XM 1 development which later became the M1 Abrams.
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on November 20, 2019, 07:52:22 pm
Grade as expressed as a percent is 100 x rise/run.  A 45° slope rises 1 foot for every 1 foot of run.  It is a 100% grade.

Grade - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_)(slope)

Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: craneman on November 20, 2019, 08:10:08 pm
And I always thought vertical was 100% As they say learn something new everyday.
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: dsd on November 20, 2019, 09:56:03 pm
How well will the retarder work?
 Quote; The San Francisco Municipal Railway operates bus service among the city's hills. The steepest grade for bus operations is 23.1% by the 67-Bernal Heights on Alabama Street between Ripley and Esmeralda Streets.
I think personally I'll avoid.
Scott
Title: Re: Steep hill
Post by: Journey, Roam, Explore on November 21, 2019, 11:09:29 pm
My guess is pretty much like craneman said, either you have an old fuel filters or you have cracks in your fuel line. you would have to have a really low amount of fuel in your tank for your pickup to not pick up. Even at that steep grade. You said you added 60 gallons but you didn't indicate whether that brought you to full or not so you could have been at 10 gallons and added 60 and now at 70 gallons or you could have been at 100 gallons and now you added 60 and now you're at 160 what would have been more helpful would have been to say it how much it took to get you to full. Many of us can attest to not trust your fuel sender unless you know for sure that it's calibrated properly. Our first trip we ran out of fuel because the previous owner didn't think it important enough that we knew that there was an issue with it. He said oh it's a known issue on the forums.but there's lots of reasons why your engine might run rough but I would start with 30 fuel filters or cracks and leaks in your fuel lines.
And since you have a 1998 if your fuel lines have not been changed out you have cracks and leaks in your fuel system almost guaranteed.