TDInewguy
Minneapolis, MN
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Joined: 02/15/2006
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I was pleasantly surprised with my fuel economy on my maiden voyage...
I've got a 2002 Itasca Horizon 39QD that I just bought. I made a overnight work trip from Minneapolis to Des Moines and back. It was just about a 600 Mile trip and I averaged 8.5MPG.
I was not towing anything, but I was travelling 72-74mph pretty much the whole time. This was right around 2000rpm's
The MH has 27,000 miles on it and I just had an oil change done, so that's clean.
I've got the original Michelin XRV tires on it, which will need replacing soon... so I have been looking into the super singles on the rear to help with the rolling resistance and MPG's.
Another thing I am considering is putting a freer flowing muffler to help with the backpressure. I have talked with Mike at Brazels performance and he says the OEM muffler is pretty restrictive so I will see a decent increase in power and MPG's with a muffler change.
Anyone care to guess what MPG it would turn if I drove it 60-65mph?
SSSStefan
2002 Itasca Horizon 39QD with the Fatboy tires on the back!
2005 VW Passat TDI wagon - tow vehicle for the pup!
2005 Fleetwood Allegiance - popup camper
1966 GTO - super cool car as seen on Driven1
The most important thing you will ever do - Click!
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pacific-sun
British Columbia, Canada
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Joined: 09/17/2007
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I averaged 10 mpg running at 55 to 60 over 4000 miles, new air filter oil change and not towing.... works for me!
Dave.
Why DO today what you can put off 'til tomorrow..
1998 38ft Beaver Contessa DP 1 slide
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TDInewguy
Minneapolis, MN
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The other thing is this MH does really have a good amount of power. Going 70-75 it still has plenty of snort to keep going.
Coming from driving both a 8.1L workhorse on a 37' triple slide, then a 40' Monaco Windsor with an ISC and now a 39' with the 3126, I have to say this combo is a peppy one. The ISC was kind of doggy compared to the CAT, but I think part of that was the Monaco was about 10,000 lbs heavier.
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urmine351
fort smith, arkansas
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Joined: 02/18/2006
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I just got back from a trip from arkansas to vermont and back 3967 miles, towing a honda element, gas mileage was 8.7 for the trip.
1996 Safari Serengity, 3126 Cat,Allison 6 speed, 38' DPNS, 2005 Honda Element,vip tow brake. doran tire, Magellan750Nav,
and 1 good looking wife, and missy and Alex(died 11-03-06) and AJ, born 09-06-06 my carins. and Max, teacup yorkie
FMCA # F374886
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urmine351
fort smith, arkansas
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I set my cruise on 58.
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Economical Handyman
S. California
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Joined: 02/19/2004
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A friend of mine installed a performance muffler and air cleaner and his mileage did not improve. But his C7 ran terrible, till he got it into a shop for some kind of adjustment.?? Never gained any MPG.
Keep us informed on your "super-single" savings, will be interesting.
DeWayne & Judy
04 3810 Dutch Star
ISL 370 9.3 mpg
Frank's autoformer
01 Sahara Jeep-toad
Blue Ox Aventa II
F 374382
This is not the "GOLDEN-YEARS", it is the "RUSTY-YEARS" !
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TDInewguy
Minneapolis, MN
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On the super single front - I have been in talks with Michelin and I think there is going to be some $$ put on the table from Michelin to help me buy them.
The real difference in price is buying the rims, once they are paid for the net net price is just about the same as duals. I'll report back once I have more data.
I also know that the local Boyer truck shop (the place to go for service locally) said something about adjusting the valves soon and I could pick up some more MPG's with that.
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hopefulbob
Wichita, KS USA
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Joined: 08/05/2003
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8.5 mpg sounds about right for the conditions you describe.
I had a 3126 in a 38' DP, drove it about 25,000 miles, including a trip to AK. Was towing a Jeep Liberty for almost all of this travel at 65 mph.
Averaged 9.0 mpg or slightly less when towing in flat country. Mileage was better than 9 mpg with a strong tailwind and worse with a headwind. (got 10.3 mpg once when towing across KS from W to E with a howling tailwind!) OTOH, mileage dropped to 7.0 mpg on several occasions in the mountains of British Columbia and Colorado.
A toad will make little mileage difference when towing on the flat.
You'll do better if you slow it down 5 mph or so. Modificatios are "iffy", at best.
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Deen
Vancouver, WA
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Joined: 12/07/2000
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Newmar tested the super single some years back. They never changed over to them. Most truckers around here still use the dualy configuration although I do see them on a few pups. Won't find the tires easily either. I will be changing my tires soon, and will have to buy new alum rims for the front (wrong width for the 305's that I need in front) and should replace the rear steel wheels with alum also. Last estimate was over $6,000 for all of it althogh the young lady doing the estimate had never done it before and priced out 6 alum wheels rather than 4 alum and 2 steel (for the inner duals). She just didn't know the inner duals were steel wheels.
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Economical Handyman
S. California
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Joined: 02/19/2004
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TDInewguy wrote:On the super single front - I have been in talks with Michelin and I think there is going to be some $$ put on the table from Michelin to help me buy them.
The real difference in price is buying the rims, once they are paid for the net net price is just about the same as duals. I'll report back once I have more data.
I also know that the local Boyer truck shop (the place to go for service locally) said something about adjusting the valves soon and I could pick up some more MPG's with that.
You are going to put "super-singles" on the front? Or all the way around? Are the rims going to be polished aluminum?
Use the search box on the valve adjustment or PM Wolfe 10. I was thinking it was around 45,000 miles, but I could be wrong. Brett would be the one to contact.
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