driving speed

[nma33]

How fast do you fellow class Aer's drive? If you have good road conditions and are towing, how fast would you go? I am new to class A's, Very comfortable driving, My last trip I was averaging about 61mph towing. Looking for some insight from o you more experienced folks. I have Precept 35UN, gas, Ford V10, and towing a dolly with a Ford Fusion on it.
Thanks!

[Gjac]

A lot of folks post that speeds just under 65 gives them the best mpg. I would think that the best mpg is at what ever speed keeps you in the highest gear and at the lowest rpm would give you the best mpg. It will be different for each MH based on transmission gears, rear end gears, wt, and eng performance. For me with a 4 speed trans, 15k lbs wt, and 300HP, 45 mph is when it gets into high gear. So for me 50 to 55 mph is the best mpg(Slightly higher than 45 to keep it from downshifting into 3rd). I'm old so I still use a vacuum gage to know when the transmission is ready to down shift and I know if I keep it above 10 in of Hg I get my best MPG. If I drive secondary roads I will average 9-10MPG at this speed. My average at all speeds has been 8.7 mpg over 80k miles including generator usage. Headers, FF muffler, syn oil, advancing the timing,etc did not increase mpg at all. By installing a vacuum gage and using it my mpg increased by 10%.

[JetAonly]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
You have to love these threads. If someone starts a post about fuel mileage affecting his decision to buy an RV, he gets jumped on and told if he can't afford the fuel, then he shouldn't consider RVing.
Then a thread like this comes along and many mention that they drive slow to save a few pennies on fuel. :B
I personally think that SOME just do not feel that they have the physical abilities to drive the speed limit so they use fuel mileage as an excuse to drive much slower. Nothing wrong with that but if you really are so concerned about fuel cost, than an Class A is not the way to go. :B

You may be right. I was thinking they are the same people who pull up to the express check out lane that says there is a 10 item limit, with a full grocery cart.

[koda55]

I drive at 64 MPH. That is my best mpg. Yes, I can afford to go a lot faster, but why should I. My wife and I are retired. If we don't make it to our next spot on time, so what. We just find a place to spend the night. Ran that rat race having to get from point A to point B when I was on leave in the military. Now its about taking our time and enjoying life.

[lonfu]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
You have to love these threads. If someone starts a post about fuel mileage affecting his decision to buy an RV, he gets jumped on and told if he can't afford the fuel, then he shouldn't consider RVing.
Then a thread like this comes along and many mention that they drive slow to save a few pennies on fuel. :B
I personally think that SOME just do not feel that they have the physical abilities to drive the speed limit so they use fuel mileage as an excuse to drive much slower. Nothing wrong with that but if you really are so concerned about fuel cost, than an Class A is not the way to go. :B

I'm on my 4th class A moho, and you are right! I'd rather get 770 miles out of my 70 gallon tank rather than 490 miles. I hate standing in a gas station filling up my tank, I'd rather be driving.

I've had 100+ vehicles in the past 45 years. Currently when I travel in my 96 Eldo I usually run at 80mph. It is a comfortable speed for that car. Any faster and the gas mileage drops and the cops start chasing my butt with their hands out for big bucks! The fastest I've ever driven is 160mph. The car was designed for 200mph but it cruised nicely at the 160mph. My toad, an elantra seems to like 70mph any faster and it rides like a 85 Toyota 4x4 with solid front axles. I have found each vehicle that I have and have had in the past, seems to have a speed that it cruises best at. My moho seems to be 48mph. I can go faster but the ride gets noticeably harder and we feel "beat up" when we arrive at our destination. Also with "cross winds" and "big truck rock" seams to scare the passengers and make them feel unsafe. Wife and dog both seem to really appreciate the slower speed and I don't have to clean up any dog vomit. I've noticed that both myself and our old dog seem to last longer between pee stops too!

Besides, the reason I take my moho is to see the scenery and explore the landscape, other wise I'd just fly. Fuel cost can be important, but for me it is how much the wife complains, the dog pukes, how often my huge prostate makes me stop for a pee and that I get to see the scenery. If I want to get someplace fast I fly or drive my old caddy.

[Busskipper]

This may help some.

We try to stay under 65 say 62 and have found the best MPG's there - the Sweet spot for power on my Coach seems to be about 1750 RPM's.

So,

[dcbrewer]

I would always run around 65 or 70, the last trip, I ran 60 to 65 and I think it was a better drive at the lower speeds. A lot less stress.

[rgatijnet1]

You have to love these threads. If someone starts a post about fuel mileage affecting his decision to buy an RV, he gets jumped on and told if he can't afford the fuel, then he shouldn't consider RVing.
Then a thread like this comes along and many mention that they drive slow to save a few pennies on fuel. :B
I personally think that SOME just do not feel that they have the physical abilities to drive the speed limit so they use fuel mileage as an excuse to drive much slower. Nothing wrong with that but if you really are so concerned about fuel cost, than an Class A is not the way to go. :B

[bigred1cav]

If you're in a hurry fly. MH is for relaxing fun not semi driver road dope kill a family speed and sleeping at the wheel.

Take your time at about 2500 rpm get best mileage and less danger.

[gonesouth]

I travelled about 50 in my 88P-30 My 98 Marquis liked to run at 75. Depends on coach, driver, and the road.

[D_E_Bishop]

nma33 wrote:
Thanks! I rarely pass someone unless they are going way too slow, We also enjoy the scenery, After all we have this huge windshield, might as well get the pleasure out of it! Another question, Do you put a "car in tow" sign on your towed vehicle?

No, my license plate says RV PSHR.

Besides the average person can tell, big old towbar hooking the two together or a big old trailer or dolly.

[barmcd]

lonfu wrote:
I try to keep my rig about 1800 rpm, that equates to about 48 mph. p30 1998 454 class A with toad. Usually get about 11 mpg. this is my fourth rig and have found that it is a lot easier on us if everyone passes us rather than me trying pass folks. In the past 36 years only have been stopped once by a local yokel. Cross winds were at about 35mph and I was doing my normal 48mph. Side road with no curb and big drainage ditch on each side. He said he had a bugaboo about slow moving farm equipment. When I pointed these facts out to the officer who was standing in the ditch, he wished us a good day and was on his way. When some one pulls out to pass I get to the right and slow down. I have found that it is much easier for folks to pass me while I'm at 48 than it is at 55mph. Every couple of years or so I get an inexperienced trucker that doesn't get it and will blast his horn, but most I've talked to appreciate my slower speed so they can get by.

48 mph? Do you drive that slow on two lane roads too?

[lonfu]

I try to keep my rig about 1800 rpm, that equates to about 48 mph. p30 1998 454 class A with toad. Usually get about 11 mpg. this is my fourth rig and have found that it is a lot easier on us if everyone passes us rather than me trying pass folks. In the past 36 years only have been stopped once by a local yokel. Cross winds were at about 35mph and I was doing my normal 48mph. Side road with no curb and big drainage ditch on each side. He said he had a bugaboo about slow moving farm equipment. When I pointed these facts out to the officer who was standing in the ditch, he wished us a good day and was on his way. When some one pulls out to pass I get to the right and slow down. I have found that it is much easier for folks to pass me while I'm at 48 than it is at 55mph. Every couple of years or so I get an inexperienced trucker that doesn't get it and will blast his horn, but most I've talked to appreciate my slower speed so they can get by.

[jwmII]

58-62 M.P.H.

[Mr_Mark1]

At 55 mph, we run 1,200 rpm's.

Just recently on a trip down I-40 going through TX into OK, we had 35 mph sustained winds with gust up to 65 mph blowing east. We were driving east! Yay!

I drove 55 mph and the wind pushed me for two days and 750 miles. Where we should normally get 6.5-6.8 mpg, we average 9.0 mpg over those miles. Glad I wasn't driving west, we would have probably gotten 4.0.

MM.