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Old 03-05-2008, 03:43 AM   #1
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I have a 2007 Suncruiser 38J on the W24 Workhorse chassis. We are fulltimers so we are pretty loaded. I have weighed our rig and we are just over 23,000 pounds. We also tow a 3,700 pound Grand Vitara. Our mileage has ranged in the 6.0 to 6.5 range over the first 10,000 miles or so.

We had the opportunity to drive the Natchez Trace Parkway lately. This is a beautiful road that traces the old Indian and trapper route across Mississippi. We drove 320 miles of it. The road is mostly flat and there is an enforced speed limit of 50 mph. I had just filled up the motorhome before driving this road and then deliberately filled up when exiting so that I could see what my mpg was at 50 mph. I normally drive 62-63 and have been pushed up to 65-67 on occasions. My mileage was 8.37 mpg at 50 mph! This is nearly a 40% improvement in mileage! I wish I could drive 50 mph all the time. That would sure offset the increased gas prices. I thought that I would post this to show actual numbers for driving at different speeds.
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Old 03-05-2008, 03:43 AM   #2
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I have a 2007 Suncruiser 38J on the W24 Workhorse chassis. We are fulltimers so we are pretty loaded. I have weighed our rig and we are just over 23,000 pounds. We also tow a 3,700 pound Grand Vitara. Our mileage has ranged in the 6.0 to 6.5 range over the first 10,000 miles or so.

We had the opportunity to drive the Natchez Trace Parkway lately. This is a beautiful road that traces the old Indian and trapper route across Mississippi. We drove 320 miles of it. The road is mostly flat and there is an enforced speed limit of 50 mph. I had just filled up the motorhome before driving this road and then deliberately filled up when exiting so that I could see what my mpg was at 50 mph. I normally drive 62-63 and have been pushed up to 65-67 on occasions. My mileage was 8.37 mpg at 50 mph! This is nearly a 40% improvement in mileage! I wish I could drive 50 mph all the time. That would sure offset the increased gas prices. I thought that I would post this to show actual numbers for driving at different speeds.
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Old 03-05-2008, 03:49 AM   #3
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Wind is my biggest factor! That along with my speed play a big factor. America isn't ready to slow down!
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Old 03-05-2008, 05:59 AM   #4
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Stay off the interstates and you can drive 50mph.

And you'll see a lot more!!

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Old 03-05-2008, 01:37 PM   #5
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I had read an article back in the 80's I think, that said something to the effect that anything over 45 mph is when the mileage really starts to drop off.

We drive 52 according to gps, and 57 according to the MH. We get 11 to 13 mpg with our diesel pusher. We pull a 18' trailer 2 atv's and a Jeep
Wrangler.

Since we are full time, we don't care when we get there as long as we make it.

Besides the speed limit for pulling trailers is 55 anyhow.
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Old 03-06-2008, 03:50 AM   #6
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There is no reason you can't drive 50 mph on 4 lane highways, so do it. I personally hang on 58 mph, unless traffic backs up on two lane roads. Then I will pull off for a minute and let the faster traffic around.
This whole country needs to slow down, we are going down hill fast enough.
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Old 03-06-2008, 04:09 AM   #7
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Coming to Florida with a 25 to 30 MPH headwind I was able to clock 7.12 MPG at 65 MPH locked in cruise for 219.0 miles. Turning over ~2300 RPMs. 2 rest stops.

On the following day with no headwind and cruising at 60 MPH I observed for a brief while my IP MPG average displayed 8.8 MPG. For the most part my AVG MPG readout was hovering at or about 8.4 MPG. I was turning over approximately 2135-2145 RPMs.

Not towing BTW.
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Old 03-06-2008, 04:14 AM   #8
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DriVer:Not towing BTW. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Bummer! I wanted to see the new VUE.
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Old 03-06-2008, 10:02 AM   #9
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I wish I knew what I was doing wrong. Im lucky if I get 5.5 mpg
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Old 03-06-2008, 11:14 AM   #10
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We've been fulltiming for 6 months and 5400 miles. Like Doug, we have our W22 loaded down, pull a Grand Vitara, and are in NO big hurry to get from point A to point B, so we drive 58-63mph.

I've been tracking the fuel closely and our average is 6.88 mpg. I thought I could get at least 7.5 mpg by driving slower than my working days but can't get there, at least driving West of the Great Plains. We'll be in the Great Plains and the East for the next 6 months so maybe we can get some better mpg's.

To get the best mileage, I would drive 55 mph all the time if the road was totally flat. But in the hills and mountains of the West, 55 is too slow for the gearing and it bogs the rpm's down, then you're out of overdrive and you've got your foot in the throttle.

My conclusions for "What Kills our MPG" are:
" Hauling all the weight up the hills and not getting it all back on the down side because we have to apply the brakes to keep the speed legal and safe.
" Start/stop driving is about 4 to 4.5 mpg's.
" Head winds (even if just 5 mph) knocks off 0.5 to 1 mpg.
" 2000 ft elevation drop or rise will add/subtract 1 mpg of the average.

One more thing, if you are going to measure mpg accurately with just one fill-up, you have to fill the Workhorse fuel tank right to the top of the filler neck where you can see the gas setting in the neck. This will take a few minutes longer. Anything less will give you a false reading since the tank is so flat on top. I can add 2-4 gal more when the pump valve trips off and the rig is very level.

Happy Trails,
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Old 03-06-2008, 02:41 PM   #11
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There are a million things that affect MPG. One thing that is prevalent is mathematics and calculations. Some other prime factors are headwinds,excessive speed, too much tow load, and terrain. You are probably doing the best you can with in your general terrain.
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Old 03-09-2008, 03:39 PM   #12
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[ One thing that is prevalent is mathematics and calculations.]

Just how can math and calculations change MPG?
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Old 03-09-2008, 03:53 PM   #13
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HAMGUY: Think about it, mathematics and calculations are involved in anything having to do with figuring MPG.
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Old 03-10-2008, 04:53 AM   #14
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Is there anything to an old theory that a new engine gets worse? Our V10 (4000 miles) on a heavy loaded 2008 35J, with a Grand Cherokee TOAD is about 6.5 MPG running 60mph. The 01 35U V10 got 7-7.5 mpg. Steve
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Old 03-10-2008, 07:51 AM   #15
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We got a measured and calculated 8.1 MPG on our maiden trip when we drove the Dolphin from Dallas to Denver (no tow'd).
Towing the HHR has us in the upper 7 to low 8 MPG range, although the engine computer will occasionally register 9-9.2 average on level with no wind at 60. Worst case, the computer registered between 3 and 4 ascending a couple of Colorado mountain passes. Scary!
I have no complaints when I compare to our old 1978 Minnie Winnie Class C on a Dodge chassis. At less than half the weight, it was a rare trip to get over 8 mpg from it.
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Old 03-10-2008, 08:04 AM   #16
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Generally speaking engines usually get somewhat better mileage as they get some miles on them. I run a V-10 and run about the same speed as you do. I almost always get 7.0-7.5 mpg. A head wind will put me on the lower end. Pulling a toad seems to have no effect. A lead foot will really make a big difference. I found that out the hard way, as will rapid acceleration from a stop or an on ramp.
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Old 03-10-2008, 08:15 AM   #17
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The worst ?tool? to ever plague the RV owner is the "INSTANTANEOUS" MPG analyzer. They tell you nothing unless you can mentally integrate the readings over time to get a truly valid reading.

Of course, filling the tank at each fill and dividing the miles driven by the total gas pumped will give you the exactly the same result without any mental gymnastics.

I recommend putting a piece of Duct tape over that portion of the display and not worry about it.

You DO realize that MPG is an after-the-fact data point and you can't change it. I have tracked my gas useage since I bought the rig and have seen the value range from 6.1 to 8.8. My average over 40000 miles is about 7.3 mostly mountain driving towing a '01 Nissan Maxima.
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