Different Deals Gap Pics

[RP#62]

These were interesting.
-RP
http://tailofthedragon.com/dragon_trucks.html

[T-Bird]

It's hard to believe, out of all those trucks...only 1 picture of a "Swift" truck!!! 

[Willow]

Often on the road we see freighters prominently marked "Swift".

Perhaps it's time some should be identified as "Not so Swift".   

[T-Bird]

Most of the trucks that travel 129 are swift drivers. One of the swift dispatchers told me a couple of years ago that they will have to send a wrecker to deals gap about 10 times a year!

[Al in AK]

 I can't understand why DOT does not restrict oversize vehicles. I believe they restrict oversized motorhomes on the going to the sun highway, but I guess that's because it's a park.
I do believe that looks scary. And i thought some spots on the Alcan were bad!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alph]

RP,

thanks for that post! 

if i remember correctly, isn't crossing the center line illegal? 

[..]

The truck advisory sign shoudl read 0-5mph curves cause those trucks can't go around the Dragon bends at 15-20mph.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I've crossed The Dragon many times in a tractor-trailer with a over-size load . The company I work for owns and operates Fontana Dam. The only way to get there is come in on The Hellbender or The Dragon.Most of those steering wheel holders in the pictures you posted should'nt be allowed on I-75 with a tractor-trailer much less US 129 . If I'm loaded " Heavy Hauler " over 100,000 pounds gross I'll have a escort but under 100,000 its up to me to deal with.Most of the time I'll request a escort however I've crossed it as many times without a escort as I have with one.



After you pass the over-look its all gravy from here with only 15 to 20 curves that you have to cross the yellow to clear then its hammer time 



Most of the time this is the type of rig I'm operating a three axle low-boy that can load material as well as equipment. Picture's below taken at The Hellbender Store on Hwy.28 just before you cross the bridge to Fontana Dam.

[JerryB]

Looks like if some of them slid the trailer axles forward a few notches it would help.........JerryB.

[Big IV]

Folks (bikers and car clubbers) have been asking for 129 to be restricted for years, but as long as Fontana Dam is running they'll need trucks to bring things in and out.

I've yet to cross the Dragon where I didn't meet a truck in at least one part or another.  The trucks do the best they can, but sometimes you just have to get out of the way. If you're hammering it at full speed it would be awful hard to get out of the way in time.

The mountains of NC have a few other roads that could easily have a gas station and a website to pull in bikers and car clubbers that have less commercial traffic.