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09-10-2016, 08:08 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Blue Springs
Posts: 6
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My 2016 White Hawk 25BHS made it through US129 The Dragon
Just got back from a vacation in the Smoky Mountain National forest. On the way there we went through Pigeon Forge and up the National Park drive to Cherokee,NC. The drive down that road was crazy. 360 degree turns, tunnels, slow drivers, etc.
So we tried another way home with GPS. Well the nav system took us right to the heart of US129 "The Dragon". We popped on it at what was called "The Tail of the Dragon." 318 turns in 11 miles. There was huge signs saying The road is restricted to all semis and all trailers over 30'. Heavy fines will incur if caught. My trailer was 29' end to end. Barely legal.
I had never heard of this road before. We saw bikers everywhere. There was a one biker restaurant at the turn. We stopped to see what was up. They all looked and me and my family like we were crazy. We made sure to buy a magnet for the RV fridge once we found out what we were in for.
The drive was freaking awesome. There was 4 tents taking pictures of bikes and vehicles going down the road at various locations.
Pretty sure my towing skills equal master class after that drive. My 2015 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 5.7 hemi pulled up and down that road like a champ. My wife and I started making jokes at every gas station with tiny parking lots we stopped at after that saying, "This ain't nothing, we got this."
__________________
2015 1500 Ram Crew Cab Big Horn, 5.7 Hemi
2016 Jayco WhiteHawk 25BHS
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09-10-2016, 08:12 PM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Blue Springs
Posts: 6
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This is one of the photos from the booth we are going to buy.
__________________
2015 1500 Ram Crew Cab Big Horn, 5.7 Hemi
2016 Jayco WhiteHawk 25BHS
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09-10-2016, 08:28 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Newburgh
Posts: 6,307
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Sounds like it was an awesome time! Pic looks great too...
__________________
2022 33RBTS
Progressive Industries EMS - Hardwired
Equalizer 4 Point WDH
2021 Ford F350 7.3
Air Lift Rear Bags w/ On Board Compressor (Pending)
2016 28BHBE - (Traded and Missed already)
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09-10-2016, 08:50 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Blue Springs
Posts: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcm157
Sounds like it was an awesome time! Pic looks great too...
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It was a great time. Stayed at Yogi in the Smokies campground for 6 nights. Middle of the mountains. No cell service, no radio stations, and our site backed up to the river. 15 hours each way was the only bummer from KCMO to Cherokee, NC.
My parents took me to the KOA down the road when I was younger. It was cool taking my kids to the same spot.
__________________
2015 1500 Ram Crew Cab Big Horn, 5.7 Hemi
2016 Jayco WhiteHawk 25BHS
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09-10-2016, 10:04 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Dacono
Posts: 255
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Awesome pic!! Kinda cool they do that. Glad you guys had a good time.
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09-11-2016, 01:01 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Slidell
Posts: 49
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great drive
That highway is a great attraction/destination for anyone that enjoys riding a motorbike or driving a sports car. About 12 years ago before the wife, the two kids and the life I love now I spent three exciting days driving a modified Miata on US129 at Deals Gap. A neat bonus was getting to see the dam used in the movie The Fugitive staring Harrison Ford. Got to be one of the best drives east of the Mississippi.
Great job keeping the Jayco on the blacktop and out of the trees. I have never pulled a camper on the Dragon, but after entering the GSMNP on the Townsend entrance road a couple of years ago heading to Elkmont GC, I feel like I would be up to the challenge.
Thanks for sparking some fond memoirs with your story.
__________________
2008 Toyota Sequoia Limited
2011 Jay Feather X18D
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09-11-2016, 05:43 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Maryville
Posts: 54
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wow very gutsy. i live 5 mins away from the dragonon the tenn side. drive that trail once a month.. kids cant handle it anymore... lmao
Sent from my SM-G928T using Tapatalk
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BigMike
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09-11-2016, 06:55 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Newburgh
Posts: 6,307
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Those are the memories that folks that don't do this stuff will never understand,
Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk
__________________
2022 33RBTS
Progressive Industries EMS - Hardwired
Equalizer 4 Point WDH
2021 Ford F350 7.3
Air Lift Rear Bags w/ On Board Compressor (Pending)
2016 28BHBE - (Traded and Missed already)
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09-11-2016, 06:16 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,851
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We drove it up and back in July when we were there. Saw a wrecker pulling a bike out of one of the valleys. Never heard what happened to the driver.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
 Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
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09-11-2016, 09:16 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Dale Hollow Lake Tn/Ky
Posts: 2,525
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I'm guessing you didn't make any friends with your trailer on the dragon. I have driven on the dragon 3 or 4 times and there is no way you could make many of the turns without dragging across the middle line, very dangerous for drivers coming from the other direction. I would encourage fellow forum members to drive the dragon only after dropping your TT or 5'er at a nearby CG. Fun is fun but this road has restrictions for a reason. Just imagining the mess you would have been in with a breakdown pulling a 29' TT. We towed on the dragon years ago pulling a pup. It was before GPS and our first trip on that side of the NP. Once you're on the dragon there is no turning back. Don't recommend the dragon with a trailer of any length.
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09-12-2016, 02:50 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,851
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We were in a rental car. My son rides it on his bike.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
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09-15-2016, 06:47 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sparta, TN
Posts: 1,174
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It is one thing to find yourself inadvertently on the Dragon.  It is quite another to deliberately drive the Dragon in ANY RV. The potential for disaster is just too great. Even if it is not your fault. But consider if you are on the wrong side of the center line, and that IS unavoidable with any sizable trailer, an accident WILL be your fault.  If you can pull a trailer of any size through that route without incident you probably have an angel looking out for you.
Yes, I have ridden the Dragon several times on my Harley Davidson Ultra Classic.
I have also ridden Florida.......11 turns in 318 miles. 
__________________
Chuck - Sparta, TN
2012 Jay Flight 22FB, 2 x Honda EU2000i
2013 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD
EDUCATION is what you get when you read the fine print.....
EXPERIENCE is what you get when you don't.
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