Southward trip. OH to FL need Hwy info I77, I85 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

coachgeo · #1 08-02-2003, 01:35 PM

If you know anything about a portion of Interstate 77 and Interstate 85 please pipe in with information. Construction, mountains, Hilly..., friendly MB enthousiast along this route ???

In late Aug. I'm considering a route of I77 OH to NC. cutting Westward off of I77 around Charlett onto I85. or Columbiana SC at I20. Travel thru GA, (stopping at Eurotruck Importers) Then on into AL. Cutting South to Panama City FL around Auburn AL (or Birmingham if Mike and Jen; editors or Rockcrawler.com want to have chow and trade stories).

Considering above route cause it takes me closer to family and friends along the way.

I'm going to be driving my Unimog 404 DIESEL (617 Turbo) pulling a military trailer. I can climb any hill, mountain, or hell I could even climb some cliffs.

I can climb anything the gods throw at me: ..... Just I can only climb it at about .02mph so for this trip the less upgrades I come across the better. Ok.... so not really .02mph but slow enough to snarl the traffic a little.

Look forward to your info. and remember ... though Ive got a bigger engine than most 404 Mogs (running on WVO) I still am more Tractor in design than highway rig thus my questions.

George

PS. I drove my car down I71 to I65 then Hwy231. That I considered Hilly with some very long upgrades. Sorry for not stopping by Mike. I drove it NON STOP.

Thanx in advance for any info

U wont understand!... Its a Daimler thing !

robertbrown29 · #2 08-02-2003, 01:58 PM

George.having lived in NC SC and GA it would be my suggestion to take 77 to 20 in columbia (my hometown) and 20 to ga.I dont know where euro trucks is,so if it is off 85, ignore what I just said. 85 always has construction (the new georgia flag says 'Construction Ahead!) Avoid Atlanta and 285 during morning and evening rush hour(7-9 am 4-7 pm).also closer to your trip call the ga dept of transportation or gdot.com to get updates. coming into atlanta several months ago I waited in a construction zone for 1 hour and it was 11pm! great city,bad traffic. good luck

LightMan · #3 08-02-2003, 06:14 PM

You will definitely hit some serious mountains and hills as you get out of ohio and head southeast. You could try to detour on your way to Aiken, SC, where United Energy has 24/7 pay at the pump B20 biodiesel =] There are a few b20 pumps in NC though too =]

coachgeo · #4 08-02-2003, 11:15 PM

GOOD INFO thanks both of you.

Eurotruck is in Oakwood GA. Just up I85 from the Atlanta Perimeter when I eyeballed it on Map.

I got to read a Topo Map. in West Virgini I 77 cross the Allaghany/Appalatians.

If its slow going that one time up thru those passes and then sorta flat once over.... thats doable I think

CSchmidt · #5 08-03-2003, 12:35 AM

George,

I live just North of Charlotte, NC ( Mooresville), so consider a pit stop if needed. I grew up in Buffalo, NY and just made a round trip. We headed up on I-77 up to Beckley, WV and then hit Rt 19 off to I-79... not on your route there. I-77 in WV is pretty hilly with some LONG 5% grades up and down. Several have mulitple truck run-offs. But each is at least 2 lanes and sometimes 3 for the hills so there is plenty of room. Virginia speed limits are lower and radar detectors are illegal. There are also 2 tunnels in VA, shouldn't be a problem for you but they don't allow tank semis.

I would make sure you skip Charlotte at rush hours (6:30am-9am and 4pm-7pm). Bumper to bumper, 80mph to 0mph and back to 80 mph. Everyone thinks they are the re-incarnation of Dale Ernhardt around here on the highway. There is a bunch of contruction from about mile marker 23 down to mile marker 10 in I-77 (which is where I-85 comes in).

Either I-77 to I-85 or I-77 to Columbia and then I-20 to Atlanta will work. I-85 is a bit more direct and I haven't heard of bad recent construction... but you never know.

And watch Atlanta at rush hours as well... very crazy.

Good luck with your trip. No problems with finding diesel along the routes.

Chuck

LightMan · #6 08-03-2003, 12:37 AM

unimog's are sweet!

kashbaugh · #7 08-03-2003, 11:21 AM

George,

Presently there is construction on 85 near Atlanta, but I think they have completed the southbound portion. Check just before you leave on the Georgia DOT site here
http://www.georgia-navigator.com/perl/maps/state
for the latest info. The site is usually fairly current and informative.

Personally I prefer to drive 85 rather than 20, but don't ask me why! I just do. But I think the grades might be a little better on 20. I don't think there is as much altitude differential, but don't quote me.

Try to avoid not only the Atlanta perimeter, 285, at rush hours, but realistically anything within 10 or 15 miles of it. Times others have mentioned are on track, but with Atlanta rush-hour assume on the pessimistic side!!!!!!

Enjoy!
kma

coachgeo · #8 08-03-2003, 12:11 PM

Good info.

How hard would it be come down 20 then to jog back up 85 to Oakwood. Im wondering if any advantages in doing 20 get negated when I have to cut across (perimeter hwy?) and go back northward a short ways on 85 to Oakwood GA

kashbaugh · #9 08-03-2003, 01:20 PM

If you come in 20 you would cut North on 285 to what we lovingly call Malfunction Junction - or Spagetti Junction - to get to 85 North, which would take you to Oakwood. If it is the middle of the day or the middle of the night that isn't a bad trip. I do it myself "all the time".

20 inbound rush hour isn't as bad, I don't think, as 85 outbound if you need to make a decision.

If it sounds like I'm overreacting about rush hour in Atlanta, don't bet on it!

The Navigator site has cameras and such to check rush hour operations. If you're around your computer at Atlanta rush-hour, check it out "for fun".

Enjoy your trip!
kma

Snibble · #10 08-03-2003, 01:23 PM

Coachgeo... I took my 1988 300SEL down I-77 on my way to Myrtle Beach and Camp Lejeune, NC with my friends on 4th of July weekend. There are 3 toll booths you will go through in WV. The WV are some psycho drivers.. so please be carefull at night.... I had a big @ss semi going 85 UPHILL about a foot from my rear bumper... never been so scared while driving. But other than that... pretty much straight forward drive. Take care...
Sharif