happyjack2
Winchester VA
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Joined: 05/06/2007
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Gene, Good to see you posting. Every time I see some area having a natural disaster ( flooding in the mid-west etc. ), I wonder if my fellow B+ owners still have their little homes on wheels intact.
I reserved a site for this years R-Vision rally but I will cancel it due to the company I work for was bought by a foreign owner and major changes are occurring in July and August. If I had been downsized by now we would go to the rally but since I am still employed and hopefully still needed I'm regretfully missing this one.
Bill & Maggie
LT USNR Ret.
2003 Trail Lite 211 B+
Chevy 6.0L
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happyjack2
Winchester VA
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Joined: 05/06/2007
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I was curious about my gas mileage ( never checked all last year after we bought ) and on this trip from Winchester to Erie we got 14+ on the first leg to Pittsburgh. I had told people that had asked before that I guessed about 12. I've have slowed down to 60 on the interstates but even driving at the speed limit and over last year, I was always passed by everything else on the road.
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Gene in NE
Omaha, NE
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Joined: 09/15/2003
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happyjack2 - You are getting better mileage of 14 with your 6.0 liter engine versus my 12.1 with my 5.7 liter engine. I always caution people on making judgements on mileage comparison's for one or two tankfuls. I have kept track of every gallon of gas ever burned in my unit and can show where mine has varied from a low of 8.77 to a high of 17.78. The low was pulling a trailer going into a strong headwind and the destination being one mile higher in elevation. The high was returning from the same location, with a 35 mile per hour tailwind and ending 5,000 ft lower. Wind seems to make the most difference.
2002 Trail-Lite B Plus 211-S w/5.7 Chevy
Gene
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happyjack2
Winchester VA
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Filled up at home after the return trip and got 13.5. That included the leg from Pittsburgh to Erie then back to Winchester. I took a short cut back which knocks off 30 miles but it is a very hilly two lane instead of interstate. Might have had some winds also since it was beautiful in upper PA but rain showers south of the Mason-Dixon line. Also the gas in PA was at a "quickly mart" and not a name brand station. Might have got some ethanol. I just need a baseline so when some one asks I have an answer and for planning if we ever get to take a long trip again.
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TrueLarry
Clifton Park, NY
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Joined: 07/14/2008
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I have been reading most of this thread for a few days now and it is genuinely helpful in giving me knowledge about what works and what doesn't. We are searching for a B+ or small C RV and have been weighing the pros and cons of the various models. I am particularly interested in TonyTiger's switch from the Trail Lite to the Four Winds Siesta. We have been looking at the Four Winds Siesta and other than the GFI issue raised by Tony I haven't been able to find any comparison comments. I'm wondering about the number of problems encountered with the Four Winds - comparable to the Trail Lite, more, less, etc. - and also what do you like and not like as much about it. Also just a comment or two on drivability versus the Trail Lite. Thanks to all the contributors for helping educate me. I am eagerly awaiting responses.
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fly boy 1
Colonie N.Y.
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Joined: 07/14/2008
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Just returned fr. 850 mi. trip to Virginia with our 2004 23.5 ft Trail Lite B plus.This was our first trip with this rv it has 19,000 mi. on the odomoter i averaged 15 mpg @58 mph both ways.It has a 6.0 chev. for power.
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ron.dittmer
Near Chicago
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Joined: 02/26/2007
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fly boy 1 wrote:Just returned from 850 mile trip to Virginia with our 2004 23.5 ft Trail Lite B plus. This was our first trip with this rv it has 19,000 miles on the odometer. I averaged 15 mpg @ 58 mph both ways. It has a 6.0 Chevy for power. Great MPG. Very nice!
I've been wondering how the fuel efficiency "Really" compares between the short model B+'s built on the classic Ford & GM chassis, to the same RV length Sprinter based RV's. I'm thinking if the classics were driven the same speed as the Sprinters generally are, weighed down (carrying less gear) to a comparable curb weight as the Sprinters because of their lighter ccc, and don't tow a vehicle as the Sprinters don't tow, then maybe the classics aren't very different in MPG. It also seems the GM's do a little better than the Fords with MPG.
It would be great if there was a study done amongst friends with the various RV's, caravanning together across the country on a 6,000 mile vacation.
* This post was
edited 07/14/08 03:41pm by ron.dittmer *
Bought new in June 2007, Phoenix Cruiser-2350
Fits inside our garage.
Dingy towing a red Toyota MR2 Spyder
See The Inside by clicking on "View Profile" and scroll down
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burlmart
Baton Rouge
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Joined: 03/28/2005
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Our Trail Lite 213 w/ 6 liter Chevy has a best mpg of 12 and an avg of somewhere under 11, mostly flat at freeway speeds of 70. Will try to get you our mpg figure from recent 300 mi return from Destin on a tank of mid octane.
TrueLarry, our TL is 3.5 yrs old, 27,500 mi., and except for two alignments and a GM factory seatbelt recall, has not been back for dealer repair. I can do simple stuff, but any major electrical or mechanical issue would send me to dealer. So, I guess you can say we have had a very reliable rig from R-Vision.
Some of my earliest complaints were of overhead rattling. With removal of the big TV, using radio more, and just growing familiar to the rig over time, the rattling is no longer on my radar. My sense is that TL put together some pretty good rigs, and other B+ posts of the past also bear this out.
2005 Trail Lite 213
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cheeze1
Morristown, NJ
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Joined: 08/21/2003
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My '05 213 averages from 10 around town to 13+ on the highway. After some growing pains, and a bonehead inattention to a water leak when the rig was built, resulting in a soaked floor under the 'protective' plastic cover, our big baby has performed well. I love the Chevy chassis, and it's actually the first vehicle I've owned with 300 hp. I also dumped the heavy tv and rebuilt the box, and in the process of adding speakers to the stereo, had the good fortune to remove the cab headliner and with the liberal use of Great Stuff and silicone sealer, eliminated a LOT of rattles, as in other areas of the coach. It's not silent, but the silverware seems to take the edge off. The Four Winds versions are quite similar, but I cannot attest to the quality aside from the few posts I've seen from owners who seem to like theirs as well..
Chas, Morristown, NJ
Trail Lite 213
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Gene in NE
Omaha, NE
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Joined: 09/15/2003
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TrueLarry wrote:I have been reading most of this thread for a few days now and it is genuinely helpful in giving me knowledge about what works and what doesn't...I am particularly interested in TonyTiger's switch from the Trail Lite to the Four Winds Siesta. We have been looking at the Four Winds Siesta and other than the GFI issue raised by Tony I haven't been able to find any comparison comments...Also just a comment or two on drivability versus the Trail Lite. Thanks to all the contributors for helping educate me. I am eagerly awaiting responses. You might try doing a Private Message (PM) to TonyTiger and get his attention back to this topic. He has been very active in the past, but his latest postings are on page 179 of this topic. Just click on his name and a drop down reveals the private message link. (you have to be logged in). I am going to guess that all the Chevy chassis will drive about the same. He could address the differences in construction or quality. We have been very happy with ours and are leaving again tomorrow for a 1,000 mile trip. Our overall gas mileage has been 12.1 for 27,213 miles with a high of 17.8 and a low of 8.8.
fly boy1 - Your mpg figures are great, competes with the diesel sprinters and you have much more room and CCC. The 6.0 liter engines usually do better than my 5.7 
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