TrailManor Owner's Forum - View Single Post

**Bill** · 07-24-2004, 07:51 AM

[quote author=smurfe link=board=20;threadid=2157;start=msg14963#msg1496 3 date=1090290659]Most of my towing would be on flat roads (along the Gulf Coast,) but do have aspirations of traveling to mountainous areas. (Gatlinburg area and New Mexico areas and the such)
Smurfe[/quote]If you don't mind, keep track of your results and let us know.

TKB wrote about towing in the White Mountains. I lived in NH for almost 30 years. I love the White Mtns, and have taken our TM there on several occasions. There are some steep grades, in fact, but the thing to remember is that there is no real altitude in the east. The mountains run from sea level to perhaps 5000 feet - it is hard to get much higher than that, and you probably won't tow your TM to any altitude much above 4000 feet. By contrast, in the Rockies, Sierras, etc, the mountains may present about the same altitude gain, but you may tow from 7,000 up to 10,000 feet.

Altitude is a killer for naturally-aspirated (non-supercharged) engines - there just isn't enough air for them to breathe right. I was very surprised at how badly it affected the performance of my Explorer. Gatlinburg won't have much altitude, either - but depending on where you go in New Mexico, you might encounter some. This doesn't mean you can't go - but just keep it in mind, as part of your trip planning, and don't plan to push too hard.

Bill

07-24-2004, 07:51 AM	#7
Bill Site Team Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine Posts: 10,105	Re:Nissan Xterra [quote author=smurfe link=board=20;threadid=2157;start=msg14963#msg1496 3 date=1090290659]Most of my towing would be on flat roads (along the Gulf Coast,) but do have aspirations of traveling to mountainous areas. (Gatlinburg area and New Mexico areas and the such) Smurfe[/quote]If you don't mind, keep track of your results and let us know. TKB wrote about towing in the White Mountains. I lived in NH for almost 30 years. I love the White Mtns, and have taken our TM there on several occasions. There are some steep grades, in fact, but the thing to remember is that there is no real altitude in the east. The mountains run from sea level to perhaps 5000 feet - it is hard to get much higher than that, and you probably won't tow your TM to any altitude much above 4000 feet. By contrast, in the Rockies, Sierras, etc, the mountains may present about the same altitude gain, but you may tow from 7,000 up to 10,000 feet. Altitude is a killer for naturally-aspirated (non-supercharged) engines - there just isn't enough air for them to breathe right. I was very surprised at how badly it affected the performance of my Explorer. Gatlinburg won't have much altitude, either - but depending on where you go in New Mexico, you might encounter some. This doesn't mean you can't go - but just keep it in mind, as part of your trip planning, and don't plan to push too hard. Bill