advice again, we are tomorrow travelling to Barmouth, Wales and 2 friend's went ahead yesterday, they said they struggled to pull their 'vans up 1 hill, has anyone done this trip, where about's would it be (en-route from the Midlands) and do you think this will be worse than towing over the Yorkshire Moors???? arghhh scared!!
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I used to do this trip on a moped in the 1970's and I expect they are referring to Dynas Mawddy, I could get over it on an SS50, and the roads will have improved somewhat since then,so unless you're towing an elephant with a bicycle you'll be ok
Quote: Originally posted by markh1 on 21/8/2012
I used to do this trip on a moped in the 1970's and I expect they are referring to Dynas Mawddy, I could get over it on an SS50, and the roads will have improved somewhat since then,so unless you're towing an elephant with a bicycle you'll be ok
That's the one, and the roads have improved, but that hill is still as steep!
If you're really worried, owennicki, have a look at the rather longer A5 route through Llangollen and Corwen, then A494.
We have done this trip, we travelled up from from Chirk so used the A5 a bit slow but OK if you take it steady, we came back from Harlech/Barmouth via A470 to Welshpool and Shrewsbury, the difference from you we had to come down this hill, it was very scary and slow. the A5 will be a better route if you wish to avoid this hill
I know the stretch very well and it is in fact 'Dinas Mawddwy' which I think the Welsh pronounce it as Deenas Mawthooey. If you look in your map it's actually on the A470 between 'Mallwyd' and 'Cross Foxes Inn' which the gradient is signposted as 14% and probably goes for at least half a mile. You may well think it's steep going up but for strange reason it looks even steeper coming back. I have only ever been solo with a car and never towed a caravan up this stretch but depending what torque your vehicle has would be my main concern really but if you have a 4x4 then this shouldn't be a problem. I once went to Barmouth a few years back and travelled over night hoping to miss much of the traffic mainly for this stretch of road but sods law I got stuck behind a clapped out mini bus half way up and had to climb the rest of the way in first gear because it's just impossible to overtake. If you are concerned and worried about it then I would advise an alternative route even if it is a longer way round but like I said, if you have the right climbing vehicle with plenty of pulling power then it shouldn't let it deter you because it's only the fact that if you have stop or slow right down for a clapped out mini bus in front that I would be a bit apprehensive about.
It's fine. More than likely you'll get stuck behind something yourself. My Brother did it on Sat, & was panicking. He ended crawling up due to a mini bus with a blown up engine was blocking the road.
We are doing the same journey this Friday with our new to us caravan. This will be the second time I have towed it and will be going over Dinas. I believe the other route has/is having some major resurfacing work done.
Dean.
------------- Wheres that b****y mallet?
..............
Bailey GT70 Rimini
Dinas Mawddwy hill is on the main A470 road, which is the main road through Wales, joining North and South Wales. Yes, for about half to three-quarters of a mile it is about 1:8.
THAT IS ALL!!
The biggest problem is people who do not get into the correct gear at the bottom and try to change down halfway up.
Stop worrying and just drive it.
It really isn't that bad!!
Quote: Originally posted by davewakefield on 21/8/2012
I go up it in my 44 ton artic ok
Hasn't that got a diff lock on the gearbox though for gearing down specially for crawling up hills?
Diff locks are in the diff, not the gearbox, and most artic diff locks are useless anyhow, as like Dave, I drive them as well.
Most artics now are automatics, and like a manual, you still have to be in the correct gear to get up a hill and hope you don't have to change down. I've gone up Sutton Bank in an Iveco Stralis which, like a Mercedes Actros/Axor, is not known for it's tractionable qualities.
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We dothis journey every Easter and we always go A5 , Llangollen , Bala , why bother risking the other route , we did go " up the hill " one year towing a trailer tent with a 3 litre petrol shogun and I wouldn't think about doing it with the caravan now, it's not that much further going the long way round from the midlands,why risk your engine over heating a burnt out clutch just to save a few miles and a bit of time.you might be ok but theres always the risk of being stuck behind a muppet...
Quote: Originally posted by davewakefield on 21/8/2012 I go up it in my 44 ton artic ok
Hasn't that got a diff lock on the gearbox though for gearing down specially for crawling up hills?
Diff locks are in the diff, not the gearbox, and most artic diff locks are useless anyhow, as like Dave, I drive them as well.
Most artics now are automatics, and like a manual, you still have to be in the correct gear to get up a hill and hope you don't have to change down. I've gone up Sutton Bank in an Iveco Stralis which, like a Mercedes Actros/Axor, is not known for it's tractionable qualities.
If you were in a Stralis I'm surprised you didn't break down!
we have decided to go the other way round, we are pretty much top end of our towing capacity and don't won't to blow up the engine, although we have basically google 'walked' that run and the Yorkshire moors run and there is really not much init, other than the Y moors has a hairpin bend half way up and we managed that in 1st!
but as we took the moors route by accident, i'm not sure i'm willing to risk our car with known facts!!
how bad are the road works on the A5??
------------- April-Norfolk 7nts, Oxford 2nts, Defford 2nts
May-Symm Yat 3nts
June-Defford 2 nts,Pembridge 2nts
July-Tabacconist 2nts, France 19nts
Aug -Bosworth 2nts, Winchcombe 3nts
Oct -costwolds 6nts
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Topic: travelling to Barmouth
