RV Buddy
Refuge
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Joined: 10/10/2008
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Hi I am looking for some advice,
I am new here and this is my first post. I have used the search feature to look this question up but I haven't found what I am looking for in an old post. But I have found a lot of good information that I can use.
I am going to drive from Springfield, MA to Brownsville, TX hauling a 13,000# 5th Wheel trailer. I would like to save a little fuel by choosing a route that would have the least amount of grade.
Using MS Street and Trips and Google Map I have seen a few way to take this drive. So I was wondering if anyone else takes grade into account when taking a long drive.
Any suggestion to how or where I could find information like this?
Thanks,
Jon
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2oldman
WA
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Joined: 04/15/2001
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Sometimes a paper map can be valuable in spotting mountain ranges.
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johnrbd
Hanford, CA
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Joined: 09/12/2005
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When we did our 12000-mile trip around the country last year, I wasn't concerned about grades. We traveled mainly on Interstates. Also, from this trip plus trip to WA, to Las Vegas and another to Yuma/Casa Grande, AZ, found mileage changed minutely. Avg 9.3 on each and every trip.
On another trip to LV I noticed heavy tailwind-barely needed to touch accelerator. That trip we got 11.0 going out, but 9.3 coming back (little or no wind other than Tehachapi Pass).
If you are concerned, head south, around Appalachians then west.
Veh is 05 Silverado 2500HD w/8.1 gas/Allison/4.10, ext cab.
By the way, the best scenery was thru the mountains. I wanted trade that for a little possible savings of mpg. Remember, when you go up a hill you also have to come down hill.
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djgarcia95928
Northern, Ca. , USA
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Joined: 07/26/2002
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I am going to drive from Springfield, MA to Brownsville, TX hauling a 13,000# 5th Wheel trailer. I would like to save a little fuel by choosing a route that would have the least amount of grade.
Assuming you don't already have a large fuel tank, you might want to consider having a 60 gal. fuel tank installed to replace your stock tank(which is usually smaller) so you will have more options to buy cheaper fuel. E-mail me privately if you want info on where to buy a good tank.
Dick
djgarcia@earthlink.net
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rv2go
Somewhere between Knoxville, TN and the coast.
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Joined: 12/26/2000
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Pick up I-81 and travel it thru VA an TN to Knoxville, TN.
Take I-75 to Chattanooga TN.
Take I-59 to I-12 near New Orlens, LA
Take I-12 west to I-10
Take I-10 to Houston, TX
In Houston take US 59 to Victoria, Tx
In Victoria pick up 77 to Brownsville.
This is the route I take, only I start in Knoxville. There are no bad grades along this route.
Winnebago Journey
TN Lic. RV 2 GO
1995 2dr. Hard Top Geo Tracker
www.rv2go.us
I'm here #4335
Travel Photos
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johnna
Southwest, Utah
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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We never consider grades when considering fuel requirements. Any small savings made going on flat boring land can easily be eaten up by a head wind which is not predictable. My advise is to take the more interesting route.
****************************************************** 
2004 Ford 350 Super Duty 2W Dirve Long Bed PU
2008 327RLT Montana Mountaineer 35 ft. 5th wheel
2005 Alaska and other Trip Logs
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AGBAT
Las Cruces, NM, USA
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Joined: 04/12/2004
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I take miles into consideration almost never grade. If the miles were the same, I would take the route with the least elevation change, but I will take a back road over an interstate to save miles. Unless there is something particular I want to see on the longer route, I figure the miles I save equals fuel saved. I generally drive around 55-60 on interstates or back roads so for me less miles means less time driving also.
F-250 PSD, 30ft Prowler, 18ft Bass Boat, 2 big dogs,
Boondocking at Rio Costilla, NM
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1MTNEST
St. Albert, Alberta
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Joined: 11/02/2004
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I you calculate what you use going up the hill and compare it to what you use coasting down the other side, you will probably find that it does not harm your mileage a much as you think. I'm quite sure that for every hill you climb, you will come down the other side. Take the road least boring and enjoy.
2007 Holiday Rambler Endeavor
40 SKQ 4 slides
ISL400 Cummins
Jeep Liberty Ltd/Blue Oxe, Even Brake
Life is not measured by the breaths you take, it's measured by the moments that take your breath away.
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randy&shereen
Jackson, MI
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Joined: 01/26/2005
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I only see about a mile per gallon difference lower (6.8 average) when driving in mountian area of Tennessee, West Virgina, and Virgina compared to 8.0 on the flatlands of Ohio. All depends on winds and if you are easy or hard on the gas. I would not change a route because of a hill.  Randy
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT CREW CAB LONG BOX (7380#)
8.1 Big block Gas/Allison 4:10 4x4
2004 Newmar Kountry Star 34 BLWB 3 Slides (15620#)
Pin Wt 2560# (16.3%) Total combination Wt=23,000#
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Gary Franks
Pacific Northwest
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Joined: 02/24/2008
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To pre-determine the grades that I will encounter I look at two sources:
1) Google Earth in 3D. I can preview my route and "see" the grades. I can spot check the elevation at any point.
2) My Garmin with Topo maps (on the PC and in the device) will show me a "profile" of my route. It's a graph that goes up and down (it looks like the stock market graph).
I don't review this info for fuel economy (I've given up on that), I review it for choosing the most scenic route.
'05 Fleetwood Bounder Diesel 39Z | Datastorm F2 Satellite Internet | Toad1: '03 Lincoln Town Car | Toad2: '08 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited 4WD
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