1995 Kountry Star with 460 and Banks - trip report

[havasu]

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.

[havasu]

Another update to fuel consumption - driving quickly on an Interstate sure takes it's toll on fuel consumption plus the AC and then an awful headwind for 200 miles.
I guess that's about as low as it will go however.

[havasu]

Updated with some more numbers - will fill up again tomorrow but as we are on I-40 with the AC on all the time and 65-70mph to keep up with traffic, I am expecting us to be around 7mpg

Interesting that if I take a hill at 60mph (2200rpm) then I slow down to 50mph at the top but if I take it at 65mph then I can maintain that speed all the way to the top - definitely a 'power band' with the Banks

Sorry Gjac, I purchased the rig with the Banks installed so no experience without it - my previous older rig was a 454 Carb so apples and oranges.

Maybe someone else has mileage info on a 22k# rig without Banks?

[Gjac]

What was your mileage before the Banks install? Those are nice numbers for such a heavy MH.

[havasu]

Just updated the post with some more consumption figures

[FuzzyKnight]

Used Gear Vendors are like Chickens teeth!!!

[havasu]

I would certainly be in favor of the system - I didn't think it would make a huge difference but it did and is worth the cost, especially if you can do (the fairly simple) work to install it yourself.

The gear vendor OD would make a phenomenal addition to the rig too - will have to keep my eyes open for a used one.

[Geocritter]

havasu,
thanks for the trip report. I've been thinking about installing a Banks system on my 1994 Class A MH. I just purchased my rig a few months ago and though it runs great, it was a ton of deferred maintenance that I'm taking care of before I begin my Grand North American Tour in late November. Between the Banks component cost and the additional work needed to install it myself, I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it this year. I'm thinking more and more that it would be a good idea.
Steve

[FuzzyKnight]

Cool.
I would also consider a Gear Vendors if I were you. I would not own a coach with out one.