1995 Kountry Star with 460 and Banks - trip report
Just in case anyone has a similar coach and wants to know the typical fuel consumption :)
I'm part way through our vacation trip x-country and we have the Banks on our 460 but not the transcommand. However we are at 22,000#, 38' and towing a Smart Car and I have been keeping a mileage log because I really like the way the 460+Banks runs and the way it takes most hills. When it gets to 6-8% grades all bets are off because everything stuggles with them.
I have found that if I can anticipate the grade and take her out of OD and keep the revs at 3500 she pulls like a train. If I let the speed die off too much she is really struggling between 3rd with revs that are too slow and 2nd where revs are too high - my old RV had a bolt on OD unit that split the gears and would do much like one on this rig.
Anyway, these are the mileage figures so far - for our weight/length I'm quite happy with them so far.
Indio - Las Vegas via I15 - two really long, steep grades - 7.8mpg
Las Vegas - Bryce Canyon - I15 - SR20 - climbing to 8000' - 6.1mpg
Bryce Canyon - Ogden, UT - SR89 - I15 - descending to 2000' - 9.2mpg
Ogden - Idaho Falls - I15 - pretty level - 10.0mpg
Idaho Falls to North Fork, ID - climbs to 7700' and down - 8.2mpg
North Fork, ID to West Yellowstone via Rexburg - 4000' climbing to 7000' - 7.4mpg
West Yellowstone to Hardin, MT - nice easy drive - 9.1mpg
Hardin, MT to Sturgis, SD - very hilly and fast speeds - 6.2mpg
Sturgis SD to Sioux Falls - easy drive, AC all the way and fast - 7.0mpg
Sioux Falls to Carthage, MO - fast freeway (65mph), AC on - 6.6mpg
Carthage, MO to Memphis, TN - small roads across the Ozarks, AC on - 55mph, hilly - 7.1mpg
Memphis, TN to Nashville, TN - Interstate at 60-65mph - 7.2mpg
Nashville, TN to Lula, MS - Interstate at 60-65mph - no AC - 7.6mpg
Lula, MS - Russellville, AR - small roads, easy drive, no AC - 8.2mpg
Russellville, AR - Amarillo, TX - fast Interstate - 65-70mph and AC - 6.9mpg
Amarillo, TX - Albuquerque, NM - fast Interstate - AC - 60-65mph and strong headwind - 6.1mpg (ouch!)
What is becoming obvious is that the AC takes a toll, as does the Interstate. It encourages faster driving compared to the smaller roads and that's making a big difference to the fuel consumption. Obvious really, but it's nice to keep track of these things as I always thought that the easier driving of the interstate with cruise control would give better consumption but the higher speeds kill the economy.
I am pretty satisfied with those numbers for an 'old' design of engine and a fairly heavy coach. I do believe much of the credit goes to the Banks kit.
I'm part way through our vacation trip x-country and we have the Banks on our 460 but not the transcommand. However we are at 22,000#, 38' and towing a Smart Car and I have been keeping a mileage log because I really like the way the 460+Banks runs and the way it takes most hills. When it gets to 6-8% grades all bets are off because everything stuggles with them.
I have found that if I can anticipate the grade and take her out of OD and keep the revs at 3500 she pulls like a train. If I let the speed die off too much she is really struggling between 3rd with revs that are too slow and 2nd where revs are too high - my old RV had a bolt on OD unit that split the gears and would do much like one on this rig.
Anyway, these are the mileage figures so far - for our weight/length I'm quite happy with them so far.
Indio - Las Vegas via I15 - two really long, steep grades - 7.8mpg
Las Vegas - Bryce Canyon - I15 - SR20 - climbing to 8000' - 6.1mpg
Bryce Canyon - Ogden, UT - SR89 - I15 - descending to 2000' - 9.2mpg
Ogden - Idaho Falls - I15 - pretty level - 10.0mpg
Idaho Falls to North Fork, ID - climbs to 7700' and down - 8.2mpg
North Fork, ID to West Yellowstone via Rexburg - 4000' climbing to 7000' - 7.4mpg
West Yellowstone to Hardin, MT - nice easy drive - 9.1mpg
Hardin, MT to Sturgis, SD - very hilly and fast speeds - 6.2mpg
Sturgis SD to Sioux Falls - easy drive, AC all the way and fast - 7.0mpg
Sioux Falls to Carthage, MO - fast freeway (65mph), AC on - 6.6mpg
Carthage, MO to Memphis, TN - small roads across the Ozarks, AC on - 55mph, hilly - 7.1mpg
Memphis, TN to Nashville, TN - Interstate at 60-65mph - 7.2mpg
Nashville, TN to Lula, MS - Interstate at 60-65mph - no AC - 7.6mpg
Lula, MS - Russellville, AR - small roads, easy drive, no AC - 8.2mpg
Russellville, AR - Amarillo, TX - fast Interstate - 65-70mph and AC - 6.9mpg
Amarillo, TX - Albuquerque, NM - fast Interstate - AC - 60-65mph and strong headwind - 6.1mpg (ouch!)
What is becoming obvious is that the AC takes a toll, as does the Interstate. It encourages faster driving compared to the smaller roads and that's making a big difference to the fuel consumption. Obvious really, but it's nice to keep track of these things as I always thought that the easier driving of the interstate with cruise control would give better consumption but the higher speeds kill the economy.
I am pretty satisfied with those numbers for an 'old' design of engine and a fairly heavy coach. I do believe much of the credit goes to the Banks kit.
