Towing in PA

[lexi]

Hi, I'm planning a trip to Ocean City MD from Upstate NY and in a previous post I heard that the hills in PA are tough on your engine while towing. Is there a better way to go than using 476? On mapquest there are different routes but I'm not sure if the hills are any better. Thanks for any advice.

[04SalsaSienna]

For what it's worth, I towed something around 3500lbs (low profile) with my 04 from Ohio to Ocean City last year on the PA turnpike, and while the engine had to work, nothing blew up. I think the worst thing was the altitude at points, where on a few slight but long inclines I could not climb above 50 mph for the life of me...

Heh - next year we're going to brave W. Virginia with the same load... I keep wondering if we'll end up like that Bill Cosby Lombard Street sketch (just stop on the worst hill and put the parking brake on...)

[lexi]

Thanks, I read your post and I'm hoping that I have an easier time but I have about 2700 lbs to tow. How were the tolls?

[brian_bp]

Hi, I'm planning a trip to Ocean City MD from Upstate NY and in a previous post I heard that the hills in PA are tough on your engine while towing.

How tough could they be? From sea level to the highest peak (which you won't drive over) the entire state only has 3,213 ft (979 m) of vertical range, and corner-to-corner it is only 520 km (324 miles) wide; Google Maps says Wilmington DE to Binghampton NY via 476 is only 201 miles (325 km). By comparison, from the lowest point in Alberta to the busiest mountain pass, the tourist highways cover 1472 metres (4739 ft), 500 km is the warm-up leg of any real journey, 300 km is the run between the province's two biggest cities, and Siennas tow anything up to a couple of tons on any highway. Pennsylvania roads may have steep grades, but they can't last for long. No problem for a Sienna with only 2700 lb in tow, but I do understand looking for the easiest route.

I would be more concerned with traffic and tolls.