Community Forums

Izzyblueye · 07-09-2010, 01:59 PM

If you got close to 11 mpg overall. You won the lottery. Curious why don't you use the tow/haul feature? I find it a big plus.

rmmpe · 07-09-2010, 02:21 PM

Beenthere,

I know the engine will handle the RPMs but it sounds like it's coming apart when it shifts down to help control descent. I prefer to shift down and stab the brakes at 3500 RPM when going down a severe hill. The road (I believe it's US 212) from the end of the Chief Joseph highway near Cody, WY to Red Lodge can be very scary if you've never done that kind of driving. It was considerably more demanding than either 1 or 101 along the Pacific coast from CA to WA.

I find the V10 to have enough torque to get the job done when in 8% mountain passes where the posted warnings indicate 15 to 35 MPH safe speeds for the switchbacks and curves.

Keep in mind I was not towing our Edge on this trip (the Phoenix 2350 is easy enough to break down and handled all the roads well enough on our frequent sightseeing drives).

Izzyblueye · 07-10-2010, 04:05 AM

I don't disagree with your method at all. However, in Tow/Haul when I tap the break pedal it automatically downshifts. It will continue to do this until I stop tapping the pedal. These V-10's are engineered for high RPM's and it will not hurt them. I know the pass and road you speak of and have driven it several times. It is a bear, but beautiful. The last trip I made on it, there were a couple of cars down in the rivines, totally demolished.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmmpe

Beenthere,

I know the engine will handle the RPMs but it sounds like it's coming apart when it shifts down to help control descent. I prefer to shift down and stab the brakes at 3500 RPM when going down a severe hill. The road (I believe it's US 212) from the end of the Chief Joseph highway near Cody, WY to Red Lodge can be very scary if you've never done that kind of driving. It was considerably more demanding than either 1 or 101 along the Pacific coast from CA to WA.

I find the V10 to have enough torque to get the job done when in 8% mountain passes where the posted warnings indicate 15 to 35 MPH safe speeds for the switchbacks and curves.

Keep in mind I was not towing our Edge on this trip (the Phoenix 2350 is easy enough to break down and handled all the roads well enough on our frequent sightseeing drives).

rmmpe · 07-10-2010, 05:57 AM

Holy Moly, Batman.
Have you been there recently?

At the intersection of the Chief Joseph and 212 to Red Lodge there is a sign stating the road is not recommended for anything over 40 feet. Then, about 3 miles up the mountain and well into the twisties, you come to a single lane hard left-hander edged by a wall of mountain where new pilings are being driven to widen the road (the old road fell off into a very deep ravine). The guy had to move the piling machine to let my itty-bitty 24-foot, 93-inch wide Phoenix squeak through. The passage he made was 8-feet wide; just enough for the Phoenix but certainly no room for the 102 inch wide, 36 foot Alpine I'd just traded-in. I can't even imagine backing that down through the twisties (there is absolutely no place to turn around).

The East Summit is absolutely beautiful and you think you've reached the top. But you haven't. After another 6 miles of going up you get into the downhill twisties. What a hoot. 20-foot wide 2-lane road, no pull-outs, 1,000 foot deep ravines, no guard rails, super tight switchbacks, no sight of the oncoming or rock falls until it's on your fender, 300 foot long straights and extreme grades.

Next time I'll do it the other way.

The narrative is not for anyone familiar with it but for those who aren't and want a real challenge.

Last advice for the timid: bring some extra shorts.

klondike · 07-11-2010, 12:06 PM

Hi RV peoples, I can tell you that our 2010 Winnebago Aspect 28 got 7.2 mpg on its maiden voyage to B.C. from Ontario. It now gets closer to 9 mpg on a good flat road. We feel very lucky to get this. The E-450 V-10 may be a thing of the past, the 5.4 V-8 now has sufficiant torque and 300 HP so I have heard?

woodworker414 · 07-31-2010, 05:44 PM

We have a 2003 Gulf Stream and if I keep my foot out of it on the flat lands of Il on the way to the son's house we can get around 10mpg, as long as there isn't a head wind. But I don't think that is to bad, with taking my house with me, an a cg is a lot cheaper than a motel, plus I know who has slept in the bed last and who cleans the C.
Bill

DBOL · 07-31-2010, 06:39 PM

We went over the Bear Tooth and also Teton pass and mine way of looking at it ,you got to be crazy any thing longer than a Volkswagon!Been there done that thru with it!

We did this last two weeks and where near where Bear attack's where Wed.