Members On the road, where are you now?

[samcrimm]

Sounds like a PARTY!

Originally Posted by Bob86ZZ4

Heading out of St. Paul, MN, tomorrow. Going west on I-94 through Fargo, ND, then continuing west until we get to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Going to be staying at the Blackwell Island campground there. Check in Friday, Aug. 19. Staying until the following Tuesday or Wednesday. Then heading back to MN. Going to take a more southern return route through Mt. Rushmore, Black Hills. Probably going to hide in Walmarts or rest stops, or warehouse/industrial parks other nights. Since most of the driving we'll be putting miles on and I don't like to check into a campground later in the evening and bother people with the noise. Our friend/neighbor is competing in the Ironman triathlon at Coeur d'Alene. So we're bringing his wife and their 5 children, and their Honda Pilot, with us. He's flying out and then riding back with us. We like to have a crowd in our camper. The kids are pretty good kids too. Ages 1.5 to 12 years.

[hot rod]

The Walmart in Rapid City allows overnite camping (we saw folks that looked like they were settled in for the week during Rally) plus there are tons of campgrounds between there and sturgis that should be cheap and empty now that bike week is over. Be sure to check out Needles Highway in the toad.

[Mntom]

Besides the Needles, make sure you go on 16A. Not with your motorhome, but if you have a toad.

[Bob86ZZ4]

Thanks guys, we've been to that area for Corvette events so I've driven those roads. This time it will be for our friends and their kids to see the landscape and monuments. We're bringing their Honda Pilot in our enclosed trailer.

[bushpilot]

were trying to head out ourselves - anticipated being in the northern shenandoah valley area by tomorrow.

raining terribly here, trying to wait out the rain....since...get this....the coach is waxed / clean

[petrel]

We just came back just north of that route on 2 through MT and ND. Picked up 94 just before Fargo. Ran the turnpikes the rest of the way, like an idiot. Nothing like paying to drive 45mph through construction to really make you hate yourself!

By the way, CdA is only about six hours from the Ice Fields Highway in AB. If you haven't already made that trip, it is a worthwhile adventure.

[Frontrunner]

We're heading out tomorrow morning for a dog show in Wisconsin. I'm with Don, it's raining here as well and we have more rain the forecast the next few days. I work pretty hard to keep the Renegade in the garage all clean and ready to roll. That road spray makes a mess of everything. It really hurts the first few miles....or if I run into Ed S and he points out how dirty my rig is....

[bushpilot]

we ended up playing it safe & ran north and picked p i20 just west of shreveport....
we were pretty dry until we hit Mississippi and then it didn't quit until we were north of knoxville.

we did well, getting 10.1 mpg and refueled in birmingham....we ran pretty hard from brimmingham til just outside Front Royal where we refueled and had the coach / jeep washed (and hand dried) for a reasonable $60....even running 75+ we netted a reasonable 9 mpg over the 690 miles...i was impressed we only consumed 75 gallons (knowing we still had 45+ gallons left).

[petrel]

That is some great fuel economy!

[samcrimm]

Originally Posted by petrel

That is some great fuel economy!

He's done something to his engine to get that kind of mileage........ I just haven't figured out what yet. I have 435hp and run 65 via the GPS on the cruise and the best I got was coming back from Fla and that was 8mpg, most time I am getting 7.25 to 7.5.

Sam

[bushpilot]

Originally Posted by petrel

That is some great fuel economy!

its pretty typical for us, 9.9mpg has been the norm for a long time (cruise set at 72mph, which is the highest i can set my w/ the factory tune).

I don't think we've ever experienced anything under 8.1 or 8.3 (running pretty hard (75 - 80 mph).

I've seen as high as 13.3 but that was a lengthy run from blacksburg virginia to destin (some interstate to atlanta & then back roads in the fog) ....i don't think we got over 65 mph tops, and for the most part we probably didn't get over 60 mph

[bushpilot]

Originally Posted by samcrimm

He's done something to his engine to get that kind of mileage........ I just haven't figured out what yet. I have 435hp and run 65 via the GPS on the cruise and the best I got was coming back from Fla and that was 8mpg, most time I am getting 7.25 to 7.5.

Sam

I wish, and anyone is welcome to ride along w/ me as validation.

I always hand calculate the mpg (miles / gallons), and my cruise setting is GPS verified (by the speedo it reads 70 or 73 mph, but by the gps its 71 / 72).

I wonder if our single rear axle has an advantage?

[petrel]

Mine runs from 5.25 to 7.5. Fuel quality seems to have nearly as much influence as speed. I've had everything serviced, no problems noted.

I'm guessing that it is just geared to pull a big heavy stacker, not a jeep.

[bushpilot]

Originally Posted by petrel

Mine runs from 5.25 to 7.5. Fuel quality seems to have nearly as much influence as speed. I've had everything serviced, no problems noted.

I'm guessing that it is just geared to pull a big heavy stacker, not a jeep.

Pulling a stacker w/ our single axle would not be good, it would certainly put it outside of GCWR.

We recently pulled an 11k lb race trailer (i know its not a stacker) and our mpg wasn't effected....we maintained our steady 10 mpg.

that is....until i ruined it by racing a MB/Sprinter Camper Van & Trailer combo up the Oklahoma interstate hills.....that had us down to 8 mpg.

IMO the coach rode and tracked better (less wandering) w/ the 11k extra lbs.

[samcrimm]

Originally Posted by bushpilot

I wish, and anyone is welcome to ride along w/ me as validation.

I always hand calculate the mpg (miles / gallons), and my cruise setting is GPS verified (by the speedo it reads 70 or 73 mph, but by the gps its 71 / 72).

I wonder if our single rear axle has an advantage?

I also have a single axle and 15 less HP, and I weight around 34800 with full water fuel and the Jeep behind me. We are a big box and nothing very aero about it.

Sam

[bushpilot]

Originally Posted by samcrimm

I also have a single axle and 15 less HP, and I weight around 34800 with full water fuel and the Jeep behind me. We are a big box and nothing very aero about it.

Sam

i should probably start another thread...HERE

[38Chevy454]

Just returned this past weekend from a trip to Bonneville Salt Flats for Speedweek, then some camping in CO on the way home. Dry camping at Bonneville, the residential frig did fine and ran the generator for A/C every evening to cool the coach down and charge batteries back up. Drove about 2100 miles in total. From I-80 around Park City took off onto UT Hwy 40 across heading east and dropped down into Grand Junction. Hwy 40 is a very pretty drive. From GJ took CO Hwy 50 to Canon City, and then mostly I-25 back home from there. Drove Hwy 50 over Monarch pass at 11,312 ft. No issues on the mountain grades maintaining the speed limit, and nice to just let the engine brake do its thing on way down. Saw some really pretty scenery in the mountains. Flat-towed my 52 GMC hot rod pickup behind the coach the whole trip.

I will say that while the mountain driving is not any problem, it is more relaxing for me as driver on the interstate. I can put 600-700 miles on interstate, but the mountain days 350-400 is plenty.

[bushpilot]

we're back in the northern shenandoah valley (front royal, va) area - had a nice drive up yesterday be here for a few days taking care of some biz

[Bob86ZZ4]

The weather is turning cold up here in MN. I might be able to get another camping trip in before too cold. Trying to get down to Frontenac State Park.

[Bob86ZZ4]

Made it to Frontenac State Park. Just goin to stay overnight. Buck and I are going for a trail run.