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Old 03-04-2013, 10:45 AM   #1
New Kid on the Block
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best route through west virginia

Hi Folks.
We are taking a trip from mammoth cave to Harpers ferry,sometime in the begging of April.We are looking for suggestive routes through west virginia
We travel with a 2008 Passport 245rb being pulled by a 1992 Ford Bronco
5.8 l ,EOD4 tranny.The truck is old but in excellent shape mechanicaly.
Thank you for your input.
Bill,Maria and our dog Oscar< the grouch>
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Old 03-04-2013, 12:11 PM   #2
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Do you no what campground you will be staying at?
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Old 03-04-2013, 12:50 PM   #3
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Harpers Ferry Koa is nice we have stayed there several times ,but the spots up the hill from the office are kinda tight(but we do have a 42ft 5ver)the sites would be better if they were angled instead of straight in.If you need wood for the fire go see the man just out side the campground on the same road that has the firewood for sale sign in his yard .good deal and he even gives you a starter bag his wife makes.Tell him you want some ugly wood and he will give you several free pieces.Realy nice manSorry can help on directions though,we come out of prince geoerge va and go up 17 to 66 to 340.
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Old 03-04-2013, 12:52 PM   #4
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Its nice to boondock at hollywood casinos,you can stay there for several days we did it for 2 and then went to koa for 3 ,had a great time .
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Old 03-04-2013, 04:43 PM   #5
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Do you no what campground you will be staying at?
We were thinking for the monongahela national forest.I know it is hilly but I
do not know if we can pull it with the Bronco.My concern is how steep are the
downgrades.
Thanks
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Old 03-04-2013, 04:49 PM   #6
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Harpers Ferry Koa is nice we have stayed there several times ,but the spots up the hill from the office are kinda tight(but we do have a 42ft 5ver)the sites would be better if they were angled instead of straight in.If you need wood for the fire go see the man just out side the campground on the same road that has the firewood for sale sign in his yard .good deal and he even gives you a starter bag his wife makes.Tell him you want some ugly wood and he will give you several free pieces.Realy nice manSorry can help on directions though,we come out of prince geoerge va and go up 17 to 66 to 340.
Thanks for the info.I most definetely use your advice for the ugly wood.
thanks a lot.bill
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Old 03-04-2013, 04:50 PM   #7
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Its nice to boondock at hollywood casinos,you can stay there for several days we did it for 2 and then went to koa for 3 ,had a great time .
Thanks it is an option.
bill
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Old 03-04-2013, 05:15 PM   #8
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Your two main routs will be I-64 to I-79 north.
64 will be a pretty easy pull not many hills to speek of.
79 on the other hand is a constant up hill down hill.
The problem is not that they are realy steep but a couple are a long ways to the top.
I think you will be fine just keep a eye on your temps and take it easy.
Hope this helps.
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Old 03-05-2013, 05:01 AM   #9
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Your two main routs will be I-64 to I-79 north.
64 will be a pretty easy pull not many hills to speek of.
79 on the other hand is a constant up hill down hill.
The problem is not that they are realy steep but a couple are a long ways to the top.
I think you will be fine just keep a eye on your temps and take it easy.
Hope this helps.
Thank you.I am trying to combine nice views without having overheated brakes,
since we got brake drums on the rear of the bronco and the trailer.I am going to
take it easy anyways,my raising days are long gone.Thanks again.
Bill
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Old 03-05-2013, 05:30 AM   #10
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Newkidontheblock,

I know this isn't the kind of comment you are looking for, but you seem to keep commenting on wanting to be safe and not overheat brakes, towing carefully and having your "raising days" behind you.

Have you given thought to how your trailer and Bronco are matched? There is a general "rule of thumb" concerning vehicle wheelbase and trailer size. The recommendation is to consider a 20' travel trailer with a 110" wheelbase and add one foot of trailer length for every 4" of wheelbase length.

Your Bronco (I did love my 93 XLT until everyone started calling it the OJ Mobile. Yes, it was white). Anyway, your Bronco wheelbase is 104.7" that is extremely short and doesn't offer much stability towing a 27' travel trailer. One way to overcome that is with good sway control, probably the only effective way with the rig you're towing is a Hensley hitch. Once you do get into the bigger downhill runs in WV, you're going to find more concern with keeping the tail wagging without the dog turning around to watch it wag, as you will be with maintaining speed. Remember, you've got a 27' sail that's 10' tall behind you catching any and every wake from passing 18 wheelers and every gust of crosswind that blows through those canyon walls.

Please be careful, that's a very large sidewall to put behind such a short vehicle. It could get away from you very quickly and there's little recovery you can do except ride it out once that occurs.
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Old 03-05-2013, 09:10 AM   #11
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Newkidontheblock,

I know this isn't the kind of comment you are looking for, but you seem to keep commenting on wanting to be safe and not overheat brakes, towing carefully and having your "raising days" behind you.

Have you given thought to how your trailer and Bronco are matched? There is a general "rule of thumb" concerning vehicle wheelbase and trailer size. The recommendation is to consider a 20' travel trailer with a 110" wheelbase and add one foot of trailer length for every 4" of wheelbase length.

Your Bronco (I did love my 93 XLT until everyone started calling it the OJ Mobile. Yes, it was white). Anyway, your Bronco wheelbase is 104.7" that is extremely short and doesn't offer much stability towing a 27' travel trailer. One way to overcome that is with good sway control, probably the only effective way with the rig you're towing is a Hensley hitch. Once you do get into the bigger downhill runs in WV, you're going to find more concern with keeping the tail wagging without the dog turning around to watch it wag, as you will be with maintaining speed. Remember, you've got a 27' sail that's 10' tall behind you catching any and every wake from passing 18 wheelers and every gust of crosswind that blows through those canyon walls.

Please be careful, that's a very large sidewall to put behind such a short vehicle. It could get away from you very quickly and there's little recovery you can do except ride it out once that occurs.
Thank you very much for your answer which is greatly appreciated.When I bought the trailer I explained the towing vehicle specs to the salesman,and beeing stupid to trust a salesman,I was assured that the short whell base was
not a big issue.I guess it turned around to bite me in the rear.This what happens
when there is a luck of Knowledge,you must pay the price.I have a Reese weight
distribution bar in the back of the bronco but no Hensley.In my neck of the woods the Hensley is not even mentioned by the dealers.If I undestood your comment correctly I should stay away from the hills of West Virginia.
Thanks again and God Bless you.
Bill
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Old 03-05-2013, 11:50 AM   #12
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No, I don't think you should stay away from the hills of West Virginia, or really any other hills. I do think you should be super vigilant about the potential to get into a "sticky situation" and try to do what you can before that happens rather than after it happens. In other words, be aware of your limitations and stay away from them as much as possible. Let's say, in going down a hill, you're trying not to use the brakes, so you're coasting a bit faster than you feel comfortable, but you need to save the brakes, and then, along comes a gust of wind, you're going too fast and the "squiggles" start.... That's too late to try to manage the situation. If possible, downshift to second, go down the hill slower than you probably could, but that way you're below that "uncomfortable speed" and your able to save the brakes as well.

Just being aware of the potential to get into a fishtailing situation will go miles in preventing it. I wasn't sure you had even thought about the short wheelbase and the long trailer combination. I'd hate to have started to say something, and decided not to because of the "weight police" kind of image, and then read a month from now that you had an issue and lost control of your vehicle and damaged something because you weren't aware there was even a problem.....

Just be safe, that's the key

John
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Old 03-05-2013, 12:37 PM   #13
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No, I don't think you should stay away from the hills of West Virginia, or really any other hills. I do think you should be super vigilant about the potential to get into a "sticky situation" and try to do what you can before that happens rather than after it happens. In other words, be aware of your limitations and stay away from them as much as possible. Let's say, in going down a hill, you're trying not to use the brakes, so you're coasting a bit faster than you feel comfortable, but you need to save the brakes, and then, along comes a gust of wind, you're going too fast and the "squiggles" start.... That's too late to try to manage the situation. If possible, downshift to second, go down the hill slower than you probably could, but that way you're below that "uncomfortable speed" and your able to save the brakes as well.

Just being aware of the potential to get into a fishtailing situation will go miles in preventing it. I wasn't sure you had even thought about the short wheelbase and the long trailer combination. I'd hate to have started to say something, and decided not to because of the "weight police" kind of image, and then read a month from now that you had an issue and lost control of your vehicle and damaged something because you weren't aware there was even a problem.....

Just be safe, that's the key

John
Thanks Again For your advice .It is very kind of you and your honesty is appreciated.I will take every bit of your advice and be extra carefull.I just
hate to send the old Bronco to the junk yard.I will see what happens this
summer and maybe next year I will be looking to buy a pick up truck with
longer wheel base.
God Bless you.
Bill
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Old 03-06-2013, 09:37 AM   #14
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New Kid on the Block, Howdy;

Welcome to the forum.
As far as getting to Harper's Ferry, you might want to consider
staying on I-64 until you run into I-81 and go North from there.
That will have you going 'with the grain' so to speak up the
Shenandoah's. Hop off at Winchester, Va. on to SR 7 then
US 340 North into Harper's Ferry.
One 'trick' some OTR drivers do to help maintain a comfortable
downhill speed is decied on the maximum safe speed for you,
slow to 5 mph below that speed and when you reach the max. ease-
on the brakes to slow back down to the 5 under speed ... repete until
you are at the bottom. DO NOT allow the maniac behind you to dictate
your speed. If he/she wants to go tear-a**in' down the hill they'll pass
ya soon enough.
Enjoy the ride, one of the few places on Earth that when you are going
down hill about all you can see in front of you is the trees on the next hill.

hank
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Old 03-09-2013, 06:31 AM   #15
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New Kid on the Block, Howdy;

Welcome to the forum.
As far as getting to Harper's Ferry, you might want to consider
staying on I-64 until you run into I-81 and go North from there.
That will have you going 'with the grain' so to speak up the
Shenandoah's. Hop off at Winchester, Va. on to SR 7 then
US 340 North into Harper's Ferry.
One 'trick' some OTR drivers do to help maintain a comfortable
downhill speed is decied on the maximum safe speed for you,
slow to 5 mph below that speed and when you reach the max. ease-
on the brakes to slow back down to the 5 under speed ... repete until
you are at the bottom. DO NOT allow the maniac behind you to dictate
your speed. If he/she wants to go tear-a**in' down the hill they'll pass
ya soon enough.
Enjoy the ride, one of the few places on Earth that when you are going
down hill about all you can see in front of you is the trees on the next hill.

hank
Thanks you Hank
I did some Google and it sends me through I-60 to I-70 to SR7 then to US 340
to Harpers Ferry.According to Google that's a 10 hour drive and not too many
places to stop.since I do not want to drive 10 hours straight.I guess I could
but I do not think it is gonna be a nice ride so we could enjoy the scenery.
I will take a look on Google maps for your suggestion nand I hope I will find
a place to spend the night.
Thanks Again for you input.
Bill
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Old 03-10-2013, 09:23 AM   #16
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New Kid on the Block, Howdy;

Haveing lived in Southeast Ohio for almost 15 years and driren Over the Road
all thru that area as well as the rest of the Country blah ,blah ......
There is a HUGE rest stop along the Wva. Turnpike (I-64). Parking for
about 300 to 400 big rigs. Has a decient restraunt (or did, think it may have gone to fast food place or 2), and a tourist trap store along the far side of
the parking lot. It's called Tamarack. Just South of the Oak Hill, Wva. exit
and before the Beckley exit.
Yes, you will have some mountians to go up and down, it IS West Virginia.
They did a great job of keeping things in a manageable grade for just about everyone. The toll for a Big truck 'used' to be $12.00. Don't know what the tolls are now, sorry.
If you become dead set about going all over Ohio to get there, Be sure to take I-275 East around Cincinatti to I-71 to Columbus 3.0 to 4.0 hrs. depending on construction), and I-270to I-70. Then it's East to Wheeling, Wva.. 16 miles later you'll be into Pa. for about 17 miles till you need to keep your eyes peeled for the Pa. Turnpike at Washington, Pa. (2.5 to 3.0 hours), (toll road), and will have tunnels before you get to Breezewood (where I-70 leaves the turnpike 2.5 to 3.0 hrs.).Then it will be another 3.5 to 4.0 hrs from Breezewood to harper's Ferry.
One thing to remember is the history of the Pa. Turnpike. It IS the oldest (first), such road in the World. Hitler sent his road engineers over to study it so they could build the make the Autoban system.
Getting from Louisville, to Charleston, Wva. takes 3.5 to 4.0 hrs. Charleston,
Wva. to Lexington, Va. takes about the same. Then from Lexington, Va. to Harper's Ferry, Wva. takes about 2.5 more hours.
Of course you [I]could[I] take I-79 to I-68 but 68 has some long hills
Going up and down. there are mandatiory brake check stops for big trucks on a few of those hills. But it a few hours shorter...I-68 will re join I-70 just after
you cross into Pa. I-68 is more a get around for the trucks that can not use the tunnels (on I-70 on the Pa. turnpike), due to Hazmat and the like.
All of the above is for you information and based on my experience driving those roads. What you decied to do ...

Have a safe trip, enjoy the views.

hankaye
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Old 03-12-2013, 12:34 PM   #17
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Thank you

Thank you very much for the very detailed message,very helpfull.Pocking
at Google maps it was suggested to take I-64 East ti I-81 north to Va-7
East to US-340 north to Harpers Ferry.Hopefully that will work without
major problems. I will look for the truck stop so we can spent the night
Thanks Again for your info.
Bill
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Old 03-12-2013, 07:04 PM   #18
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New Kid on the Block, Howdy;

You should have a nice ride taking that route...
Next time you're in Goo-goo Earth zero in on Oak Hill,
Wva. and check out the lay-out for the Rest Stop
(Tamarac) , zoom in on the exit and you might get the
number. Something I like to do so I'm not suprised when
it shows up.

hankaye
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Old 03-13-2013, 10:56 AM   #19
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New Kid on the Block, Howdy;

You should have a nice ride taking that route...
Next time you're in Goo-goo Earth zero in on Oak Hill,
Wva. and check out the lay-out for the Rest Stop
(Tamarac) , zoom in on the exit and you might get the
number. Something I like to do so I'm not suprised when
it shows up.

hankaye
Hankaye Thanks again.Next time you are in my neck of the woods I will buy
you a beer.I am going to take a look at Google earth for the truck stop.
Also may be you should ask to register the name Goo-goo with google.
I will let you know what it comes up from the Google earth.
Bill
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Old 06-04-2013, 10:46 AM   #20
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when will be down at Mammoth Cave? our family will be camping there July 28through Aug 4 & will be staying at the HorseShoe Cave Koa (not sure if that is completely correct) It is the nearest Koa thou to Mammoth Cave
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