coachmen freedom express 192rbs

SoundGuy wrote:
I typically see ~ 15 miles to the US gallon around town, ~ 22 mpg highway when not towing, maybe a couple mpg less if the terrain is hilly and/or it's quite windy, and typically between 10.5 to 12.5 mpg when towing our 192RBS - rarely if ever below 10 mpg but not much greater if it's hilly and/or windy, well into the 12s if the roads are relatively flat and relatively calm, an overall average perhaps of ~ 11.5 mpg, which is pretty good relatively speaking. In comparison, how does your Ridgeline do? :@

Last Train wrote:
Regarding mileage . . . First of all the Gen 1 (2006-2014 models) Ridgeline (ours is a 2011 model) never was known for its fuel efficiency - especially in its later years when competitive vehicles surpassed it in technology. With that background, in a non- towing regime around town we typically get 16-18mpg. On interstates - like our trip to the Appalachains for Thanksgiving - we get 19-22mpg varying with terrain, of course.

When towing it's roughly 1/2 that we get around town without towing.

Thanks for your detailed reply. Now that there's just 2 of us I do from time to time give some thought as to whether I really need my Silverado vs a somewhat smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle like the Honda Ridgeline. My wife has an '06 Civic and with the usual regular maintenance required for any vehicle all we do is put gas in it (not much) and drive it - dead reliable. :B However, the question remains - what would I gain? Honda claims 26/19 mpg for the current generation of Ridgeline and if I could actually believe it that 25% improvement over my Silverado might in itself be sufficient justification, especially here in Canada where our fuel costs average 30% higher than in the US. Fuel cost when towing isn't my concern but rather the significant annual cost for fuel when not towing - thousands $$$$$ every year. :E I really like driving a 1/2 ton, the interior space it provides, and of course how easily it tows our 192RBS. :B However, your fuel mileage numbers tell me what I've always believed - your V6 Ridgeline is working a lot harder than my V8 Silverado pulling a 192RBS, despite the fact that some of that extra 5.3L GM engine grunt is being used to push along a much heavier vehicle. EPA numbers for the Ridgeline (not towing) are to me the main attraction but in the real world I question whether it really comes anywhere near close to those numbers. :h

SoundGuy wrote:
Also curious - with my 192RBS averaging ~ 4800 lbs loaded & ready to camp I typically run ~ 625 lbs of gross tongue weight so I'm wondering if you're running ~ 4600 lbs GVW how (and why) you keep the tongue weight down so low, ~ 11%. :h

Last Train wrote:
We have kept our tongue weights in that spectrum simply because it has unfailingly worked very well.

The fact you're able to tow without weight distribution has me mystified as there's no way I could with my Silverado ... 625 lbs of gross tongue weight just unloads the truck's front steer axle far too much. :E I typically average ~ 13% gross tongue weight but in fact have tried everything I can to increase that just a bit more, the problem being that fully loaded fridge at the far rear of the trailer really counters my efforts. A full black tank on the way home also exacerbates the situation, 'though by that time the fridge contains far less so that does help. In your case, running just 10 to 11% gross tongue weight is awfully low, especially without the use of weight distribution. So - we have essentially the same trailer, typically averaging about the same gross weight (4600 to 4800 lbs) yet you're running significantly less gross tongue weight. Loading as I do I don't see any way I could run that little even if I wanted to and 2) if I did I have little doubt I'd be all over the road when towing at highway speed. I'm mystified. :W