How fast do you drive with camper on? .

[silverbullet555]

Curious how fast y'all drive with camper on.

No speed limits.
Smooth freeway.
No safety concerns.

Dry?
Rain?

I'm mostly interested in how speed impacts the longevity of the camper and rain water intrusion at speed.

[specta]

JimK-NY wrote:
And what is that guy going 48 mph supposed to do? I see there is a passing lane in the other direction. So it might not be long.

Fortunately with a diesel I am not underpowered. A gentle hill like that would be 65 mph in 5th or maybe topped out at 6th gear.

Look for a pullout and let others pass. He passed several of them and drove through two small towns before we came to a passing lane.

He's just plain inconsiderate of others.

The was a down grade. Diesel of gas had nothing to do with his choice for speed.

[mkirsch]

jimh425 wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
And what is that guy going 48 mph supposed to do?

Most of the areas out West have pullovers or shoulders for slow moving vehicles. It isn’t that hard to use them usually.

Fwiw, I pull over or slow down around passing zones if I see someone trying to pass to make it safer for them to pass. They only get one shot with my help though. With a string of cars behind me, I’ll just pull over when I can. Again, I don’t want to contribute to a wreck because I didn’t want to pull over. If I’m not in a hurry, then I don’t think it makes sense to hold other people up.

You're the exception to the rule. Most people who drive slow have no concept of courtesy, are oblivious to the line of cars they're holding up, or are holding up traffic on purpose.

[jimh406]

JimK-NY wrote:
And what is that guy going 48 mph supposed to do?

Most of the areas out West have pullovers or shoulders for slow moving vehicles. It isn’t that hard to use them usually.

Fwiw, I pull over or slow down around passing zones if I see someone trying to pass to make it safer for them to pass. They only get one shot with my help though. With a string of cars behind me, I’ll just pull over when I can. Again, I don’t want to contribute to a wreck because I didn’t want to pull over. If I’m not in a hurry, then I don’t think it makes sense to hold other people up.

[JimK-NY]

And what is that guy going 48 mph supposed to do? I see there is a passing lane in the other direction. So it might not be long.

Fortunately with a diesel I am not underpowered. A gentle hill like that would be 65 mph in 5th or maybe topped out at 6th gear.

[d3500ram]

I really don't worry about speed... it's all about the THE DISTANCE AND HOW MUCH GAS IS IN YER TANK.

[Grit_dog]

specta wrote:




Just don't be this guy. The posted speed liming was 65 mph.
There were 3 more vehicles behine me.

Had to do a double take to make sure that wasn't me (not bloody likely though, lol). But it appears the slo mo is driving a Ford, so the struggle is real!

[gitpicker2009]

I always set the cruise at about 62-65. Above that and the wind resistance kills mileage. I average about 12mpg with an AF1150 on a 4500 Sterling dually.

[specta]

Just don't be this guy. The posted speed liming was 65 mph.
There were 3 more vehicles behine me.

[specta]

JimK-NY wrote:

It makes little sense to compare your gasser with a CTD. I don't drive much with an empty truck but it should do close to 20 mpg @ 65. I don't think I can remember doing 55 for any period of time so I would be guessing at 14 mpg with the camper.

Always nice to see what the other guy is getting. Diesels are impressive.

[JimK-NY]

specta wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
I have gotten over 16 with a tail wind

:E

16.4 is the best I've ever done with my truck empty at 65 mph. I've done it a few times so I know it wasn't just a fluke.

I don't think I've ever traveled very far at 55 even back in the '70s when the speed limit was lowered to 55.

Mine only weighs about 10,500 fully loaded.

It makes little sense to compare your gasser with a CTD. I don't drive much with an empty truck but it should do close to 20 mpg @ 65. I don't think I can remember doing 55 for any period of time so I would be guessing at 14 mpg with the camper.

[specta]

JimK-NY wrote:
I have gotten over 16 with a tail wind

:E

16.4 is the best I've ever done with my truck empty at 65 mph. I've done it a few times so I know it wasn't just a fluke.

I don't think I've ever traveled very far at 55 even back in the '70s when the speed limit was lowered to 55.

Mine only weighs about 10,500 fully loaded.

[JimK-NY]

specta wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:

specta wrote:
Not to drift off topic but gas mileage has never been a concern as to how fast I drive.

I drive at speeds that I am comfortable at and the gas mileage is what it is.

It makes a difference to me. My next trip is planned for about 15k miles. Fuel costs will be close to $4000 at current prices. Cutting back a bit on speed can easily save me 20% or $800. That is in addition to a safer, less stressful trip. Of course I will spent more time driving, but probably not by much. Less stressful driving and better fuel economy means fewer rest stops and fewer fuel stops.

The best gas mileage I have got hauling my camper was 10.8 mpg.
The camper was empty, 180 miles non stop, cruise set at 72 mph.

Not so sure how much better it can get than that without crawling down the road at 55 mph. Something that I will never do.

But then again, $800 is $800. That's still a lot of money to us poor people.

My rig is about 13,000 pounds and I pull my camper with a CTD. I get about 13 mpg at 65 mph. If I drop down to 55, the mileage will improve only a little, maybe to 14 mpg if I am lucky. Increasing the speed is a different issue. At 75 mph I would be lucky to see better than the 11 mpg you got with an empty rig. It is not weight so much as wind resistance. Even a consistent head wind or tail wind makes a difference. I have gotten over 16 with a tail wind and around 10 with a head wind.

[specta]

And for you slow pokes, MOVE IT!!!!

Not everyone has all day to get to their destination.

[specta]

JimK-NY wrote:

specta wrote:
Not to drift off topic but gas mileage has never been a concern as to how fast I drive.

I drive at speeds that I am comfortable at and the gas mileage is what it is.

It makes a difference to me. My next trip is planned for about 15k miles. Fuel costs will be close to $4000 at current prices. Cutting back a bit on speed can easily save me 20% or $800. That is in addition to a safer, less stressful trip. Of course I will spent more time driving, but probably not by much. Less stressful driving and better fuel economy means fewer rest stops and fewer fuel stops.

The best gas mileage I have got hauling my camper was 10.8 mpg.
The camper was empty, 180 miles non stop, cruise set at 72 mph.

Not so sure how much better it can get than that without crawling down the road at 55 mph. Something that I will never do.

But then again, $800 is $800. That's still a lot of money to us poor people.

[specta]

jaycocreek wrote:
With the mighty 460 (7.5) ford,I don't drive over 2000 rpms....:B

My 6.0 likes 2500 rpm.