Black mountain of Fancy gap,which do you prefer??

1-tonmudder

1-tonmudder

Doin my part to stir the pot.
Joined
Apr 17, 2005
Location
Greeneville TN
We're headed to Liberty NC at the end of Sept for a sale and I've been weighing my route options.From here its only about a 5 mile/10 min difference between I-77 and I-40.Most likely I'll take 77 down the gap but am undecided about the return trip.I know I'm gonna have to pull one or the other on the way back.I will be pulling a 16 foot enclosed that will probably weigh 5-7K depending on how much we sell and what we buy.Both are roughly the same grade and mileage and I have pulled both numerous times with more weight.Just wondering what your guys preference is.I "think" I'd rather do Black mountain but that will put me running hwy 70 from Weaverville home,mostly on a two lane road,and probably after midnight, w no phone coverage once I go thru Marshall.Not exactly ideal if you have trouble.The downside to Fancy gap for me is the roughly two hours Ill be in VA.Never had any trouble out of the state in all the times I've been thru there but that area around the NC/VA line is a speed trap.Black Mnt seems to have more curves in it than FG which you have to slow down for.
 
If I am heading towards TN, I usually go 77/Fancy Gap. Time is pretty much the same either way.

Only 2 problems going that way....fog (hit it more times than not on that climb) and as you said, the speed traps (never pulled, but they're like flies on shit every time).
 
7 Mile Hill on 77 is a straighter run both ways.
Screw Black Mtn towing anything.
Last time I crossed there is was 50* on NC side, snowing sideways on the TN side when we crested while towing
a 12ft. enclosed trailer with a 15 passenger van.
I think we slid sideways halfway down the mountain until the wind let up.
 
I’ve always felt Fancy Gap is an easier pull. Curves aren’t as bad as Black. Wife just pulled the camper up Fancy last night with the cruise on 70 with no issue.
 
Fancy Gap is a way easier pull all day long. Both suck equally in bad weather.

Just set the cruise at 5 over in VA and let all the other idiots get the tickets. VA Varies as to which counties can run Sheriffs on the highway, but the ones that do through there, Smyth in particular, love them some tickets.
 
Both suck in bad weather, but fancy gap is an easier pull for me.

I just make sure I’m in left lane and got a good run up before I pass the rest area.

This keeps my Rpm’s up where I can run 70ish in the left lane. Easy pull for me without really hammering on it. If I drop below 63, we drop to 3rd gear and I might as well do 35 up it.

Turns aren’t as sharp on fancy gap so it feels less sketchy with a load.
 
1-tonmudder said:
its only about a 5 mile/10 min difference between I-77 and I-40
Click to expand...

Unless there's ANYTHING whatsoever blocking one lane on 40 in the gorge. If that's the case, you can possibly add 3 hrs to the black mtn route.

I use to be so conditioned to go black mtn because of convoy with Jason and Josh that it didn't bother me...but now having gone up fancy gap so many times, I MUCH prefer that route.


Mac5005 said:
Both suck in bad weather, but fancy gap is an easier pull for me.

I just make sure I’m in left lane and got a good run up before I pass the rest area.

This keeps my Rpm’s up where I can run 70ish in the left lane. Easy pull for me without really hammering on it. If I drop below 63, we drop to 3rd gear and I might as well do 35 up it.

Turns aren’t as sharp on fancy gap so it feels less sketchy with a load.
Click to expand...

This x1000, 75 and hammer down by Loves and I don't have to downshift.

But also, as I mentioned above...the gorge with it's "walls of death" all of 12" off your trailer tires, and the friggin idiots and trucks make 40 MUCH more stressful than 77/81

Only drawback to fancy gap is the damn fog. Last year on the way to Potts I saw a new low on the speed limit sign: 15mph :eek: But that was at 5am and you really DID need to go 15mph
 
Another vote for fancy gap.


Once your past Asheville there really isn't much in the way of towns or exits so if you have issues and have to go get parts is a long ordeal.

From raleigh to winrock it adds about 20 min to the drive. I'll take the 20 min hit to the arrival time for a much easier tow.
 
Fancy gap here too. With no trailer headed to TN I'll run BLK MTN and risk getting caught in the gorge by traffic, but with a trailer fancy gap all day long.
 
Towing: Fancy Gap > Black Mountain
 
What about 321>421?
Google Maps
upload_2020-8-24_9-38-53.png


I'm not too familiar with the Boone to Johnson City section, but I don't recall it being exceptionally steep or curvy, and the rest of it should be pretty straightforward.
 
CasterTroy said:
Unless there's ANYTHING whatsoever blocking one lane on 40 in the gorge. If that's the case, you can possibly add 3 hrs to the black mtn route.

I use to be so conditioned to go black mtn because of convoy with Jason and Josh that it didn't bother me...but now having gone up fancy gap so many times, I MUCH prefer that route.
Click to expand...
Damn flatlanders
 
Fancy Gap for all the above cited reasons. Traffic and weather are never in your favor on I-40 west of Asheville.

BTW the mountain on I-40 is Old Fort Mountain. It is near "Black Mountain" the town, but the mountain you drive over is not called that.

Hoping to get out to the Liberty Antique sale myself; I missed it the last couple of years.
 
jeepinmatt said:
What about 321>421?
Google Maps
View attachment 324473

I'm not too familiar with the Boone to Johnson City section, but I don't recall it being exceptionally steep or curvy, and the rest of it should be pretty straightforward.
Click to expand...

If I recall correctly, that is one of the twistist, narrow roads up there. Think back woods, eastern Kentucky. The speed limit is 35mph and if you get stuck behind someone slow, pack a lunch.

CasterTroy said:
It's been my experience, that it can take an hour to get from one side of Boone to the other, depending on what's happening at APP that day
Click to expand...

Quoted for truth. I was once working on campus at ASU and broke a tap. Had to run to lowes and pick one up. The trip took me 45 minutes! It wasnt even a ball game weekend! I was furious!
 
Black Bear said:
Yes... Every trip to koh we use fancy gap. What's 20 min detour when your driving 2500 miles.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's easy math but hard to wrap my head around given all the years I've been up and down I-40. In fact, the portion at Old Fort was still under construction when I was driving over to see relatives in Canton back in college. Hwy 70 was the way over the mountain, a small piece of which is still there. That involves a one lane section under a train bridge, so definitely not the way to tow!
 
Last edited:
jeepinmatt said:
What about 321>421?
Google Maps
View attachment 324473

I'm not too familiar with the Boone to Johnson City section, but I don't recall it being exceptionally steep or curvy, and the rest of it should be pretty straightforward.
Click to expand...
Thats a suck ass stretch of road from here to Boone.Youll have go by the university in JC and then to Elizabethton.All city driving w lots of stop and go traffic and you still have to pull roan mountain.Lots of two lane road on that route.Ill burn the extra fuel and go one of the other routes.
 
CasterTroy said:
But also, as I mentioned above...the gorge with it's "walls of death" all of 12" off your trailer tires, and the friggin idiots and trucks make 40 MUCH more stressful than 77/81
Click to expand...
Yeah I had forgotten about that wall,not a big fan of it.Tonya will not tow anything against a wall,it makes her nervous as shit.
 
Back
Top