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12-14-2017, 01:12 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,423
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Increase in gas mileage
We currently have a 30' 2012 Monaco Lapalma gasser with a toad. We are now wintering in Phoenix, and made the trip from Columbus, OH in early Nov. During the beginning of the trip (columbus to Amarillo), I generally drove between 65 and 70 mph. My DW did some mileage calculations while we were stopped in Amarillo, and found that we were getting 5.1 mpg! After hearing this, I made a conscious effort to keep my speed at 60 mph. Our mileage jumped to 7.2 mpg for the rest of the trip! I couldn't believe that lowering the speed by 5 - 10 mph could increase our mileage by 40%!
From now on, 60 is going to be my top speed! Any other tips for increasing mileage, short of mounting a sail on the roof?
__________________
John Coffey
2018 Winnebago Forza 38F
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12-14-2017, 01:17 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dallas,OR
Posts: 4,584
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Reduce weight and slow down are the two top ways to increase fuel economy. Also be sure your tires are aired up properly.
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Don and Lorri
Resident Dummy.
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12-14-2017, 01:18 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 3,133
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Always drive downhill. And with the wind at your back. Besides, speed kills!
__________________
Bill, Kathi and Zorro; '05 Beaver Patriot Thunder
2012 Sunnybrook Harmony 21FBS (SQEZINN)
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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12-14-2017, 01:42 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 386
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Head wind makes a big difference. We had a head wind onetime so bad we could barely drive over 55mph in our last RV. Thats one of the reasons we went to diesel. With people running 80mph its not safe to run 55mph.
__________________
2021 Dynamax 30FW Xplorer , Blue OX Tow bar, '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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12-14-2017, 01:46 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 3,133
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I'll gladly let you pass at 80, I'm sticking to 55. When your front tire blows at 80, you're headin' to the ditch. Less speed, more time for me to get it under control. What's the hurry, anyway, I'm retired.
__________________
Bill, Kathi and Zorro; '05 Beaver Patriot Thunder
2012 Sunnybrook Harmony 21FBS (SQEZINN)
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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12-14-2017, 01:55 PM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jayc2640
We currently have a 30' 2012 Monaco Lapalma gasser with a toad. We are now wintering in Phoenix, and made the trip from Columbus, OH in early Nov. During the beginning of the trip (columbus to Amarillo), I generally drove between 65 and 70 mph. My DW did some mileage calculations while we were stopped in Amarillo, and found that we were getting 5.1 mpg! After hearing this, I made a conscious effort to keep my speed at 60 mph. Our mileage jumped to 7.2 mpg for the rest of the trip! I couldn't believe that lowering the speed by 5 - 10 mph could increase our mileage by 40%!
From now on, 60 is going to be my top speed! Any other tips for increasing mileage, short of mounting a sail on the roof?
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Maybe not. There are 2 other things that affected your MPG.
1 - Winter gas formulation - you may have gotten it in the north but not the further south you went
2 - Cold temperatures lower your mpg - colder in the north then in the south
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12-14-2017, 01:57 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
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I'v been watching the shoulders of the highways for all the rear ended, slow moving ( 55 MPH ) vehicles. Haven't see any yet. I drive my MH at 55 - 60 MPH and no ones hit me yet.
I sometimes drive 80 MPH in my toad. Haven't rear ended anything yet, and that's since 1970.
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12-14-2017, 01:59 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 3,133
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Winter gas? Cold temps? Trivial when compared to the effect of speed.
__________________
Bill, Kathi and Zorro; '05 Beaver Patriot Thunder
2012 Sunnybrook Harmony 21FBS (SQEZINN)
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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12-14-2017, 02:18 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 7,114
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Headwinds, mountainous terrain, air temperature (winter/summer), altitude, gas formula (i.e. 85 vs 87 octain)
Hold a regular driving pattern over the entire trip, in both directions, then calculate what you see...
However, we agree, 10 mph can make a significant difference. Our 35ft Southwind weighs about 23,000 lbs with toad, the 275hp Ford V10 is averaging about 7.5 mpg throughout an entire 1500 mile round trip, with various altitudes..
I usually hand around 62-65 mph..
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12-14-2017, 02:20 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 386
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I didn't say I run 80mph. I said other people around me are. I normally run with the semis around 65 to 68.
__________________
2021 Dynamax 30FW Xplorer , Blue OX Tow bar, '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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12-14-2017, 02:39 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,454
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Driving 55 in an rv could present a danger of not being seen...hmmm
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12-14-2017, 02:44 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,985
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Slowing down saves fuel, remember in the 70's during the oil embargo? The national speed limit was reduced to 55 MPH as a way for the country to reduce imported fuel. If driving 55 is legal, that's what I do. I'm sure many drivers have tried the excuse of doing 80 MPH to a officer in the defense of keeping up with traffic. Besides, driving 55 is so much more relaxing and that's what this stage of my life is all about, relaxing.
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12-14-2017, 02:45 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,305
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cruzbill
I'll gladly let you pass at 80, I'm sticking to 55. When your front tire blows at 80, you're headin' to the ditch. Less speed, more time for me to get it under control. What's the hurry, anyway, I'm retired.
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I'm with you Cruzbill! I want to have a good look at what I'm passing by, might even stop for a hike around.
Happy Glamping.
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
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12-14-2017, 03:10 PM
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#14
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
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Quote:
I made a conscious effort to keep my speed at 60 mph. Our mileage jumped to 7.2 mpg for the rest of the trip! I couldn't believe that lowering the speed by 5 - 10 mph could increase our mileage by 40%!
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Wind resistance increases with the square of the speed, so a 20% increase in speed (from 60 to 72) produces a 44% increase in the effect of the air mass on the front of the coach. Your engine has to burn a lot of fuel to push that out air of the way. Even weight is insignificant compared to that (unless hauling it uphill). On the level, the only effect of weight is slightly greater tire rolling resistance.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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