Yep, another post on MPG
! This is an info sharing post.
Some info first:
-40' Country Coach Allure, with Tag
-As above, it's the ISL370 CAPS (Built July 2003)
-Towing a Honda CRV
-This was from a 4 month trip from San Diego to Alaska and back
-We were traveling heavy for 85% of the trip
-Heavy = Full water, or combo of water/grey/black; Fuel on average above 2/3rds of a tank. Only once on the trip, were we below 1/2 tank.
-Average trip speed 38 MPH
-MPG values adjusted for total Generator and Hydro Hot usage
-MPG manually calculated (Though Silverleaf for trip reflects 7.61)
-Only non stock item is the Aero Turbine 5050XL muffler. Our coach comes with same air cleaner that feeds air into Country Coaches of BIG CATS of that era, so plenty of CFM from the intake. (Note, the CC Stock Muffler is pretty good, so I doubt the Aero helped MPG or power much. Replaced because it needed to be...)
-Travel with Allison in Economy Mode, but I shift down for hills manually
-I use/add Optilube and Amsoil Cetane to every tank
Total Trip Miles = 9974.2
Average MPG = 7.5
Lowest = 6.14 (Long day of strong head winds.)
Highest = 9.63 (Long day, good tailwind for about 285 miles of travel)
I always add to these kinds of posts, that MPG is so variable due to differences in gearing, coach traveling weight, driving style, etc., etc.. So, this is of course only general info, never really applicable to other rigs or drivers. But, I'd say plus or minus a good .75MPG is reasonable for 'like coaches'.
The trip was fantastic, the rig handled well and I felt the ISL supported us well 98.5% of the time. A few hills, and one passing situation, I would have felt safer with more power. The 2 Stage Jake Compression was great on the multiple mountains we climbed down. A few times I down shifted into 2nd Gear on High Stage Jake, for 15-25 MPH twisty downgrades.
Best to everyone, be safe, have fun,
Smitty