jtfcons
Washington State (The dry side)
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Joined: 06/02/2004
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Beavis wrote:My expierence tells me your plan will fail.
I tried 55 mph but checking the tach told me that I was in 5th gear,
mileage sucks in fifth gear. Check it out.
I think he's on to something here. IMO, I would shoot for just under 60 to keep it in 6th gear and a more optimum torque range. We did a 3000 mile trip to Grand Canyon in May 08 and tried hard to keep under 60. Mileage was improved on a couple of the legs I checked. I had also installed a brake switch before trip. This is the modification that allows coasting if you choose while still having exhaust brake on when you need it by briefly pressing brake treadle. I enjoyed not having the 4th gear downshift happen when on a short inclines.
John & Sharon, 2 Daughters, 2 Sons-in-law, 5 GK
Scottish Terriers (Bonnie & Chloe)
1997 HR Imp., 38CDS, 1 Slide
325 Cummins C8.3Mech., MD3060, EBw/Cst.Sw.,
Toad-98Tracker 4X4 or 03GMC Envoy 4X4, Excallibar TB, Pressure Pro TPMS, Henderson Mot. Ctrl. Units
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opnyn8d
Michigan
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Joined: 03/24/2003
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Kenbert, several government studies have proven that it is the speed differential that matters in highway safety. In other words, it is the difference in speed between vehicles that is the main factor causing crashes, not the actual speed of one vehicle or the other. So not moving with the traffic flow is what causes accidents, whether you are going faster or slower than the general speed of vehicles around you.
Also, the vehicle causing traffic flow disruption is not always the one involved in the accident. Someone changes lanes to get around a slow vehicle, causing traffic in the new lane to have to adjust for the lane changer, which causes others to slow down or change lanes, and the turbulence increases until someone makes a wrong move, and an innocent driver ends up getting hit while the cause of the whole problem rolls blithely on. This is especially true when the slow vehicle insists on sitting in the center lanes, causing traffic disruption on both sides. So a lack of rearended MHs does not mean slow RVs, or other vehicles, don't create accidents. Plus, every vehicle affected by the flow disruption has to brake and/or accelerate, causing a drop in fuel efficiency for 10 or 20 vehicles for every 1 vehicle that isn't following the traffic flow.
That said, there is no need for some RVers to be flying along in the left lane at 75 or 80. We belong in the right lane, moving at whatever moderate speed traffic will bear. If someone else wants to tear along in the right lane, it is their fault if they get held up, and they should get over in the left lane where they belong if they are in a hurry.
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kenbert
Long Island,NY
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Joined: 06/11/2007
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opnyn8d wrote:Kenbert, several government studies have proven that it is the speed differential that matters in highway safety. In other words, it is the difference in speed between vehicles that is the main factor causing crashes, not the actual speed of one vehicle or the other. So not moving with the traffic flow is what causes accidents, whether you are going faster or slower than the general speed of vehicles around you.
Also, the vehicle causing traffic flow disruption is not always the one involved in the accident. Someone changes lanes to get around a slow vehicle, causing traffic in the new lane to have to adjust for the lane changer, which causes others to slow down or change lanes, and the turbulence increases until someone makes a wrong move, and an innocent driver ends up getting hit while the cause of the whole problem rolls blithely on. This is especially true when the slow vehicle insists on sitting in the center lanes, causing traffic disruption on both sides. So a lack of rearended MHs does not mean slow RV's, or other vehicles, don't create accidents. Plus, every vehicle affected by the flow disruption has to brake and/or accelerate, causing a drop in fuel efficiency for 10 or 20 vehicles for every 1 vehicle that isn't following the traffic flow.
That said, there is no need for some RVers to be flying along in the left lane at 75 or 80. We belong in the right lane, moving at whatever moderate speed traffic will bear. If someone else wants to tear along in the right lane, it is their fault if they get held up, and they should get over in the left lane where they belong if they are in a hurry.
If you read my responses you would have seen that I was talking about the RIGHT lane and that lane only. Not the middle or left lanes which is where I agree with you. The right lane is for slower traffic and as you said the one tearing along in the right lane is their fault not the rv doing 55mph.
Please understand I am just responding to the ones that use phrases like an accident waiting to happen, or if you go that slow you will get run over, or stay off the highways in my area if you go that slow, etc, etc. So if you like going fast stay out of the right lane.
Ken
95 Georgie boy Encounter 37ft 5.9 cummins DP
Saturn SC2
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eddiek
seattle, wa
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Joined: 07/11/2004
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I really think that trying to keep the MH at between 60 and 65 is the best for fuel milage.
[b]Eddie K.
[b]Ed@HoneyandShars.com[/b]
Note: Due to invalid formatting, all formatting has been ignored.
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Stickler
Central Oklahoma
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Joined: 09/20/2003
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The indication from the Monaco engineer was that these particular rigs had 4:30 rear ends along with the standard G670 275/80R22.5H tires that come on this class of rig. He did mention that they were also testing a similar class Safari with a Cat engine and saw similar results. I'm not sure why they are testing a Cat as it is my understanding that Cat will stop producing engines for the Motorhome market by sometime in 2009. It does sound like some of their research has been proven by some of you in your own experiences.
Good discussion and sounds like this maybe another way to cut fuel consumption. Where I'm not necessarily strapped for money to pay for fuel it just isn't in my nature not to try and figure out how to reduce consumption particularly when it takes upwards of $450 to fill my 100 gallon tank.
Roger
2007 40PRQ Quad Slide
HR Endeavor
2006 Acura MDX Toad (4 Down)
Central Oklahoma
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Stickler
Central Oklahoma
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Oh by the way I had the rig out today on the Highway and someone mentioned their rig shifted at close to 60 into 6th but then you could back off to 55 or 56 and it would hold in sixth gear. This was my experience today.
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texasbaskets
Frisco, TX
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Joined: 10/06/2003
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If you've kept your interest thus far, here is a good read that explains some things about specifying different components and driving the engine within its map, which is simply what Monaco did.
It's been done in commercial trucking for decades. There is no one size fits all solution when it comes to equipment.
Cheers...  
Highway Star Magazine Article.
Michael, Kay, Hans (our Mini-Schnauzer co-pilot) and Prissy (Hans' Malti-Poo co-pilot)
'05 Coachmen SportsCoach SE 372DS a.k.a. "Mana's Cabana"
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thunderstruckhd
Ft.lauderdale,Florida
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Joined: 04/24/2007
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retired logger wrote:thunderstruckhd wrote:My time is worth more then a few bucks for fuel...
Well some folks here are not as flush as you indicated you were...Any saving a person can come up with is a big plus for the person and the environment I might add..
No where in my post did I elude to my financial status. Where did I indicate that ??? Most of the fuel savings talked about here amount to not much more then "a few bucks" for the average trip. All I said was I feel my time is worth more, I can make more money, but time is not a renewable commodity. I think your response/ comment is totally unneeded and uncalled for. My response did not criticize anybody, or have a "personal" tone to it. You like so many on this site are petty and judgmental...
2006 Allegro Bus, 42QDP, Tag axle, 400ISL.
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Pusher
Albuquerque, NM
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Joined: 12/17/2004
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I have an older P30w/454 and carb. I was getting 6 mpg 7 years ago when I installed a Jacobs Ignition system. Went to 7.5 mpg. 3 years ago I pulled the engine, overhauled it and installed a low speed hi torque cam. The unit runs best at 62 mph. I tried 55 but it did not have the power in the hills. I also installed a Gear Vendors OD unit and that dropped the rpm from 2900 to 2300 rpm at 60 mph. Gas mileage went to 8.5 over a 12k trip towing a L300 saturn.
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Tenn Stud
Northeast, TN
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Joined: 11/16/2004
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Someone smarter than I needs to explain to me how one can get better mileage turning a higher engine RPM and running at a slower speed. I cannot get into 6 gear until I reach 61 mph. I will not believe that running in 5th gear will increase the fuel mileage. That might be possible if one would change the differential gear ratio. Or running a gasoline rig, Or even if you are underpowered and running at full throttle
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