Cody47
Madison, SD
Senior Member
Joined: 10/05/2002
View Profile
 Offline
|
We slowed down to about 57 - 58 (1500 rpm on a 2008 Cummins ISL) and immediately began to get about 9+ mpg towing a 3500 lb toad. At 68, we got 7 (if lucky). This represents about a 28% improvement. With diesel at $4.50 a gallon, this is like saving about $1.30 a gallon. If I burn 40 gallons a day, this will save me over $50 a day.
Truckers have also figured this out. In fact, talking with a trucker as he put $1,000 in the tank (OUCH!) revealed that his firm had just restricted their top speed (electronically limited) to 62. Guess it is a sign of the times.
That said, whenever I am on a two lane road, I will run the speed limit to prevent backing traffic up.
Cody47
2008 Winnebago Tour 40TD
http://fulltime-rv.blogspot.com/
|
ladymc53
Canyon Lake, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 04/20/2007
View Profile
|
That is excellent information. I've noticed that almost all the truckers have slowed a BUNCH. The occasional faster trucker is the exception rather than the rule from what I'VE seen at least. Since we had a long drive to get where we are (almost 12 hrs.) speed was of the essence and I was on 70-75 almost all the way. Now that I won't be towing for many months but will still be driving the truck to get where I want to go, I'll be slowing to 55, which is my usual speed. However, as an aside, we plan on having our van delivered to us by a friend in Arkansas so we can drive it to toodle around in rather than use the truck. We'll be moving to this area after our house sells, so the van being here will happen just sooner rather than later. If he can't deliver it I'll be flying back and driving it here - our son is a flight attendant and I can get discounted rates, so the savings will be greater to have the van rather than not. Thanks for the heads up!
Bill & Linda
Ladymc & Shuttlebird
2008 Silver Dodge Diesel Dually 3500 - "The Silver Bullet"
Towing 1998 35 ft. Newmar 5th wheel
20K Husky Hitch & Blue Ox Bedsaver
Handheld Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS AND Sat. in dash mounted GPS in the truck
READY TO ROLL!
|
JanLiz
Villas, Cape May County, NJ
Senior Member
Joined: 01/30/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
That's what I'm planning to do on my next trip. Would be nice if there were a bumper sticker stating that is why we are slowing down, safely of course.
Thanks!
Jan & Liz
2005 FW Expedition 38N Cat 300
2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
The Great Outdoors, Titusville, FL
Villas, Cape May County, NJ
Rupinski Blog
|
hershey
Albuquerque,(fulltime) NM, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/04/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Slowing down for most RVers is obvious choice to saving fuel cost. But there are still many of the 2 weeks a year and long weekenders will have a difficult time in just kicking back at 55 to 62 mph. Long way to go and not much time to get there will prevail.
hershey - albuquerque, nm
Someday Finally Got Here
My wife does all the driving - I just get to hold the steering wheel.
Expedition - Suzuki Grand Viagra
NASCAR 20 - - 99
|
xctraveler
Rochester, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 10/28/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
I talked with some truckers a month ago while waiting in a repair shop in Springfield MO. They were all being governed down to between 64 and 68 at that time and NOT HAPPY. They are paid by the mile and these were fleet drivers so fuel was not coming out of their pocket.
We have slowed to 62 when the limit is over 60 and find that we are less tired and can drive longer so a one day run is about the same distance or greater. We keep right and let whoever wants to pass. On two lane roads we look for pullouts to clear the faster traffic that stacks up behind us, I feel safer and will not push my limits to keep from annoying someone who wants to go faster.
Paul
Trucking down the road in a 2004 Southwind 36E on Workhorse Chassis with a 2005 Toyota RAV4 AWD stick shift tow'd with US Gear Brake System. Check out my journal
FMCA 352081
|
|
|
stevelv
FullTimers at Last!
Senior Member
Joined: 05/24/2006
View Profile
|
I found another trick - time your journey so that the prevailing wind is behind you 
Makes a good 1+ mpg difference
RV Park Finder
Fulltimers
2002 Beaver Santiam 38DST + Banks + 99 Jeep GC
DH,DW,Jake and Indie
|
Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
Senior Member
Joined: 07/22/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Planes are slowing air speed as well.
I am wondering if the time difference between 55 and 65 or even 75 is really as much as the math would indicate. Like many newer cars the Blazer computer will give you your average speed and I have noticed it is hard to get it to read within 5-10 of the speed I am shooting for and think I am making. 10 miles of 55 MPH construction with a flagman from time to time stopping traffic, an accident where all lanes are open but people are staring like crazy, a major rain storm knocking out visibility, etc, etc.
I think I will pay closer attention to the cruise setting vs average speed. If one could go from 6 MPG to 8 MPG you could even reduce your number of fuel stops on the long fast runs and that could save time. I have noticed MH fuel stops really seem to take a lot of time vs. for the car. Sometimes I pass up several station just because of access in or back out to the main road. Get a slow pump and it can take a long time to just pump 50 gallons plus you can have to restart 2 times due to using a CC.
Has anyone started gathering this kind of data that at $2 a gallon we just did not think about very much that you can share?
|
Mr.Mark
California/Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 09/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I can really tell a difference when slowing down. On my recent trip from Las Vegas to New Orleans to Atlanta (just arrving today) I traveled at about 55-60 and stuck with it the whole time. I filled up today at a Pilot station just before Atlanta and drove 793 miles and got 8.2 mpg's. (the wind was to my advantage the last 200 miles).
I have many receipts where my mileage has been 5.5, 6, 6.5 and 7 but I was traveling faster. Slowing down has surely proved that I can get better mileage. But, if I'm in a hurry, it's hard to hold the speed back!
MM.
Mr.Mark 
2008 Monaco Dynasty, 42ft., 4 slides, 425 hp clean-air Cummins diesel
2007 Honda CR-V EXL, AWD, w/Nav and the M&G braking system
|
maryshus
san antonio, texas
Senior Member
Joined: 01/02/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Just traveled from San Antonio to Cascade Idaho. 2300 miles. Got 9.75 to 10+ all the way. Kept between 55 and 60. 37'Coachmen and 3500lb toad. Used cruise as much as possible. We were pretty pleased.
|
OH One
Waycross, Ga. ,
Senior Member
Joined: 03/02/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
We just got back from 2800mi. San Antonio trip. I set the cruise on 58-60mph. We made good time and the driving was very easy. I was pulling a 06 Chev. Z-71 with a 07 HR with ISL 400 and the trip average was 8.6mpg. The hardest part was driving through Lousaina I-10, it was a shakey experiance. I did notice others were also driving slower.
|
|
|
