We're towing the MINI on a flatbed, and are coming from the north, through Knoxville. Our original plan, which seems to be the fastest, is to head straight down on the dragon to Fontana. Is there another, less twisty route, that won't take us too far out of our way? At 8-9 MPG, and $3 per gallon, every mile counts! Can we do the dragon with the trailer, or is that tempting fate? Any advice from experienced Dragoners would be appreciated.

 

flatbedding your MINI? May I ask why?
And no, there isn't a less twisty route. Maybe truck it to Robbinsville and drive it up to Fontana from there...??
A loaded flatbed on the Dragon makes me shudder....

 

i wouldnt want to try the dragon with a flatbed. especially if you arrive midday. marysville is a small town on US 129 a short ways north of the dragon. maybe you can find a gas station that will let you park it for a few days.

 

there you go, Marysville..pronounced "Muhrsville". Sounds like a plan...

 

If you are looking for safety, your best bet is to do the route I suggested a few weeks back. Sure, you might have to spend a bit more gas money, but at least you'll be rid of most of the twisties until you get to Hwy. 28. As you drive the Dragon next week, you can see if that's how you want to return to Ohio...or go back the way you came.

If you want to gamble, drive the Dragon on the way down. Personally, I think that's a baaad idea, especially since this is your first venture. True, others do it and others have done it...and occasionally you'll see some trucker try it and get hung up. It's just too great a risk, IMHO.

 

Definitely do not tow a trailer down the dragon, especially if you have never ever driven the road before. It will be very unpleasant for you and downright terrifying for people coming the other way who are surprised to find you around the next corner.

 

We're bringing our two kids, along with all our stuff. No room in the MINI for a 8 hour car ride. Since we're bringing the Suburban, we are able to haul some things down for other people too, which is nice for them.

 

maybe get to a certain point and park the trailer. you & the other adult can drive Suburban & MINI. you don't want to risk it on the twisties!

 

I assume you are coming down I-75. If so, around east side of GSMNP is way out of the way, but why not go through Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg and across the park on 441, to 74, right on 28. While 441 is a curvy road, it is not the Dragon. It is a little farther, but probably quite a bit safer for a large vehicle/flatbed combo.

 

If you are comfortable with your towing abilities and have the ability to keep everything in your lane then just drive it. Key is confidence and being able to keep everything in one lane. It is this way with any road and any load!

Now...would I recommend talking an 60'+ eighteen wheeler down that road? NO! A Suburban and 18' trailer is hardly a eighteen wheeler.

 

I think most who know this road, and have driven it before, would agree this is not a road for trailers, and doing so poses a safety hazard to others. I wouldn't do it

 

Well........

I drove it recently mid-week. I would NOT recommend driving an RV on it. Or a 18 wheeler. Or an RV towing a vehicle or trailer. But a suburban with an auto trailer? NO PROBLEM, in my opinion. You see pickup trucks towing bass boats up and down it all the time - same thing. I would NOT recommend it during "peak" driving hours (e.g. Fridays and weekends). But on a Thursday.... you'll just PO a few MINI drivers who came early...

Or you can go around. Your choice. But it IS a US highway. It IS open to general traffic. It IS NOT so twisty that a sane person going a sane speed in a normal vehicle with a short trailer will have issues. They'll just PO any enthusiasts who happen to get behind them and get impatient and forget that this is a PUBLIC HIGHWAY that you have a right to tow your trailer on...

 

Yes, it is a public highway and you have every right to drive anything you like down it. I've seen just about everything on the dragon and there are plenty of folks that pull trailers carrying just about anything on this road. Make sure to stay as far over to the right as possible on the left hand turns.

However, I have never once seen any vehicle pulling a trailer that did not cross the yellow line frequentl. When I get behind someone pulling a trailer, I simply pull over at the next possible spot and wait 30 minutes or so before starting up again.

 

Last pickup with bassboat I followed up did a pretty good job of staying on their side of the yellow - better than some motorcyclists I've seen there... And the pickup pulled off at the first safe point and waved me by...

 

....it is not a big deal to go through the dragon with a trailer...I did it last year with a small trailer....and besides how does everyone think the gas trucks, food delivery trucks, construction trucks, etc get to Fontana and surrounding business's?? I saw about 5 or so 16 wheelers last year....and yes they were cautious but they still did it...

I would go straight in and enjoy it. Who cares if people are on your tail, just pull over occasionally and let them by...

 

Good way to get your picture on Kill boy's site.

Yes Aaron did pull a Harbor Freight trailer down there. Very small trailer with very little weight. Professional truckers use that road. They are trained professionals who know how to drive their rigs. The rig you have will weigh a lot too. A MINI isn't light & a UHaul trailer sure isn't. Add to that all the people & gear. Do you see what I mean?

*** This is a new experience for you guys. Remember your kids are in that tow rig.

Kara, I think the idea of dropping the trailer in Maryville is a very sound one. Then drive both the MINI & the counterfeit MINI down from there. Pick up the trailer on the way home.
Find the local UHaul franchise there & call them. I bet you they'd let you store that trailer there for a few days.

Have fun, be safe.

Edit.... Before you leave have that truck looked at, especially brakes, tires & cooling system.

 

I DO think the "drop the trailer at a Maryville U-Haul dealer" option is the best one - but I wouldn't be scared of pulling it over the Dragon, SLOWLY. But that's just me. I grew up driving farm tractors pulling stuff behind them down the highway...

 

That is an excellent idea....the best of both worlds...you get to tow the MINI just to the edge of fun and then unleash it for the last 30 miles or so...

 

use an alt route so you will be more relaxed and you wont end up on killboy's site with a mini on board.

 

Thanks for your concern and your advice. Yes, we had the truck looked over by the dealership. It has good brakes, and got two new tires, as well as a suspension repair that was needed. We'll toy with the idea of unloading the trailer before the dragon, but if we choose to drive it all the way down, Matt will be super careful. He always drives much safer and slower when the kids are with him. I shudder to imagine how he drives when we're not in the car.

 

I know you & Matt wouldn't do anything to jeopardies your kids. Sorry if I came off sounding that way. That wasn't my intention. I was trying to help in my old fart kind of way.

Glad to hear you had the counterfeit MINI looked at. One more thing. Put enough air in those truck tires. With a heavy load you will need the extra air.

 

Bingo!

The Dragon is not some mystical or magical place....it is a "US Highway"!

Now if there are weight or lenght restrictions then that is a different story....but there are not any. It is not a Mini FREE FOR ALL.

Like I said....if you are competent with towing a trailer have at it! If it is the first time pulling anything....may not be the best idea.

HAVE FUN and BE SAFE!!! EVERYONE!!!!

 

Kamofrogg, how did the tow go?

 

It went just fine. Once we got used to the extra weight, it was smooth sailing. And it didn't affect our gas mileage that we noticed. How strange is that? Matt drove the whole way there and back. The Dragon on the way in was a bit nail-biting with the drop off on the outside, but he didn't pass the yellow one time. The brakes on the truck are noisy now, so I need to get them looked at soon. Thanks for asking. We'll be doing it this way next year. We're pros!

 

Glad to hear everything went well. Hope the brakes on the truck are ok.....did the brakes on the trailer not work?