Community Forums

UFO Pilot · 02-07-2012, 03:59 PM

I went thru the "Smith System of Defensive Driving" course once a year for many years. Whatever speed I drive, I will always maintain my "Space Cushion" and "Leave Myself an Out".

Shardan1 · 02-07-2012, 04:12 PM

I noticed that most of those who run 58-62mph are Gas coaches. When we had our gas coach, we did the same thing. Otherwise, it could pass anything but a gas station. But with our DP, we usually run up to the speed limit, but not over 70MPH. Set the cruise and go. Fuel mileage varies very little from 55 to 70, maybe 1/4 mile to the gallon. But, as Bee said earlier in this post, If we were worried about fuel mileage, we wouldn't be driving a 40 foot bus. In our case 45 foot.

wrongwayknt · 02-07-2012, 06:22 PM

your fuel mileage dosen't vary between 55 and 70 mph? In a 45 foot coach, a 15 mph difference, especially from 55 to 70 makes no difference in your fuel consumption?...that is pretty impressiv!. Is it stock? I know I see a significant difference in my Duramax Pick-up (2009 4x4 crewcab) between 60 and 70 mph...

Superslif · 02-07-2012, 06:35 PM

With my 24' tt / SUV I get 12 - 12.5 towing if I keep it at about 58 MPH. Anything over 60 and I fall into the 10 range. I always have a reservation at the campground so there is no need to rush. How many times have I seen road debris in the road like a truck tire, muffler, 2 x 4 in the lane where 10 mph less gave me enough time to adjust.

njs42 · 02-07-2012, 08:26 PM

My Dolphin LX gasser loafs at 70 mph towing, I drive slower not to save fuel it is just the more relaxed pace we enjoy, no hurry, no deadlines, no inflexible schedule, and our tow car manual says not to tow over 65mph so we do not. We are retired.

I used to drive very fast and for very long periods of time then get back in and do it over again and called it fun. It was fun. Anyone care to know what a 92 in a 55 zone ticket cost in Arizona in 1976? I can laugh now.

Although there is not a rule to go by, lots of people who drive faster have some place to go in a specific time frame, they are younger, married, small kids etc, weekends off a few weeks a year to cram a lot of fun in; so they go faster to get there stay as long as they can and drive faster to get home. As we read some folks just like to drive faster for whatever reason.

Not me not aymore and I like this better. Had a lot of fun then; having a lot now.

Piledrive · 02-07-2012, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimM68

I try really hard to stay at 65 or less...

Being fairly young and still heavy of foot, this is hard to do. My knight is perfectly stable and comfortable up to 80 and beyond.

The old folks who insist on driving 55 amuse me...
Unless they are right in front of me.

Just a suggestion young man, have you checked on the Manufacturers limits on speed for the tires you sit on? My Toyo's say 75 Max, only if not over loaded or improperly inflated.

Don

wa8yxm · 02-08-2012, 07:49 AM

My coach holds it's MPG fairly well up to around 59/60 MPH, I tend to drive 55, 60 if I'm in a hurry, faster only if it's a long downhill grade (And when that happens the MPG really goes up.. of course I'm not touching the accelerator)

I recall some years ago reading about plans for a 14mpg motor home.. This 38' class A, with Towed (At that time) was showing 13.8 on the average MPG meter crossing Texas.

Level ground for the most part and the downhills were matched by the uphills so they balanced out.. I wonder if the 100mph tail wind (I mean DIRECTLY astern) had anything to do with it. yes, Tumble weeds were blowing straight down the road and passing me like I was parked.

Shardan1 · 02-08-2012, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrongwayknt

your fuel mileage dosen't vary between 55 and 70 mph? In a 45 foot coach, a 15 mph difference, especially from 55 to 70 makes no difference in your fuel consumption?...that is pretty impressiv!. Is it stock? I know I see a significant difference in my Duramax Pick-up (2009 4x4 crewcab) between 60 and 70 mph...

We own other diesel vehicles:
03 E350 Ambulance(work truck) 10mpg - 60 or 70mph same mileage
03 F250 p/u 16mpg empty highwway- 12mpg pulling trailer.
The only time it really got worse in the F250 was in a 40 mph head wind.
Still not as bad as my old gas in the same condition it would get 5mpg.
Again, when the fuel mileage is so low, the percentage it drops is so low it's almost non existant.

lonestarace · 02-08-2012, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD

Hi D M,
Posted speed limit is >60 I drive at 60. Posted speed limit is <60 I drive the posted speed limit.

X2!

B Bob · 02-08-2012, 10:04 PM

Don - IMHO you are absolutely not a hazard going 55 at any time in a class A. In many States including CA there is a 55 limit when towing a car. I normally drive around 62 mph. We recently caravaned with 8 motor homes in CA, NV, and AZ. We went 55. Another big advantage of going 55 is that big square buses like you drive get lots better fuel mileage.

One of the things I have always loved about motor homing is that when I close the door and get into the drivers seat I am on vacation. So are you. Drive as fast or as slow as you want to. Within the law of course.

catonine · 02-09-2012, 06:53 AM

One of my goals in life was to live to be an old man and be able to drive down the road at 35-40 mph, signal light on, [moderator edit] the young folks off. I can almost hear them saying, I wish that old turd would get out of the way. Well, I made it to the old man part and do, I am sure, at times make some folks upset. But my speed is slightly more as I try to drive between 55- 60 as it gives best fuel economy at that speed for me. Plus, I am no longer in a hurry to get any where, I just enjoy the trip. Life goes by way to fast now adays anyway.

Rock342 · 02-09-2012, 02:05 PM

In AZ cruise at 65-75 in the 75 zones... 55 in Cali... I always seem to be towing something.

I'm one of those people that still works a full time job, so my weekends and vacations are precious time.

I watch my tires like a hawk and hope I never experience a front tire blowout. Of course there are no guarantees in life... previous owner of my coach had a front passenger tire blow out @ 75 MPH. Ride of his life, so he tells me.

Dunner · 02-10-2012, 10:03 PM

My 33' 5er always pushed my Dodge diesel at 72 MPH. She somehow knew where the sweet spot was. It used to upset me when she would only be able to manage 65 due to a head wind. It felt like they moved the Republic of Kalifornic's expansion joint into AZ. I had them up to 85 a couple times and it was quite smooth. Didn't feel right, so I backed her off.

With my MH, I had a tail wind coming into Phx on I-10 one time and it felt like I was on glass. With the high cost of gas, I think I will keep my MH at 65 or whatever feels good. I tend to get sleepy at speeds below that. I still have speed in my blood from the days I had my Vette. I had it over 130 a couple of times. Unlike a MH, the faster it went, the more it stuck to the road.

UltraKen · 02-12-2012, 06:32 AM

I drive the coach between 58 and 62 on Interstates and never exceed 58 on secondaries. I, of course, will adjust to lower speeds when conditions warrant.

I stay in the right lane on 4 lane roads, but if the left is empty I move over if there is a car/truck in the on-ramp. On 6 lane or greater roads I stay in the second lane from the right to avoid the on-ramp traffic.

I also use defensive driving tactics, extending following distance to at least 5 seconds behind the vehicle in front of me whenever possible. Stopping distances for a 20,000+ lb vehicle is much greater than for a 4 or 5000 lb car.

I use my rearview monitor all the time.