garyb1st
Well-known member
If interested, here's Tom's old thread. http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,120964.msg1104135.html#msg1104135
Just returned from a round trip to the midwest. Overall, added about 6,500 miles to the Pace Arrow. Since most of our miles would be in the Midwest, I was looking forward to improved mileage on the Pace Arrow. That didn't happen.
For the first 5,783 miles we averaged 6.1 mpg. With a .6 gph generator adjustment for the 87 hours we ran the generator, the mileage is about 6.45. Honestly, I was hoping for something north of 7 mpg. What I didn't expect was the significant winds and rain for most of our trip after we got to South Dakota.
Now I'm not sure if rain impacts mileage, but headwinds, and from what I read even sidewinds can reduce mileage by 10%. And the winds on this trip were relentless. On the return, the worst winds were in northern North Dakota and Montana. The tall grass alongside the highways was my yardstick. And for much of the return, they were bent over pretty good. From what I read, the prevailing winds are generally west to east. So headwinds or sidewinds for most of the return.
The other thing I never paid much attention to on previous trips were the rolling hills. And maybe there were more than on previous trips since we were avoiding the Interstates. But attempting to keep the heavy Pace in overdrive was a real problem. Normally I like to cruise around 56 to 60. Unfortunately with even the slightest hill, it would downshift. Usually the big Vortec will not upshift into overdrive until I'm over 55 mph. But on a slight uphill grade, if I'm not cruising at 65 to 70, it will not downshift and then not upshift until I'm over the crest. That got me thinking that maybe I should increase my average speed to about 65 mph. So I did, after we were west of Minot ND. My initial thoughts are that keeping the Pace over 60 - 65 mph probably will not impact overall mileage that much. However, if the constant upshifting and downshifting are negatively impacting the Allison, then maybe it makes sense. Also, driving 55 mph on a two lane highway that has a 70 mph speed limit also can be problematic.
While I haven't figured the mileage on the last fill, I expect it to be exceptional. From Carson City NV to home is about 420 miles. I filled in Carson City and while the low gas warning appeared on the dash after maybe 410 miles, the remaining miles suggested another 120 to empty. That would put me just over 7 mpg without the generator running. We couldn't get it to run on the long warm, up to 98?, drive home. So with the dash air running for most of the return, I'd say it wasn't too bad. However, one major consideration.
The return trip from Carson City involved two major road work areas that overall amounted to maybe 30 to 45 minutes of slow or no go driving. With significant mountains between Carson City NV and Crowley Lake, CA, and maybe an overall altitude difference of 4 to 5,000 feet, mileage was looking pretty bleak when we stopped at Crowley Lake. I was thinking it could have been as low as 4 mpg and was hoping for maybe 5. I'll never know.
But finally, THE GOOD NEWS. I've finally figured out the key to better gas mileage. On the return from Crowley Lake, CA, altitude about 7,000' to our home in SOCAL, about 700', I must have averaged close to 9+ mpg. So FWIW, driving down hill with no wind is the key to great mileage.
Just returned from a round trip to the midwest. Overall, added about 6,500 miles to the Pace Arrow. Since most of our miles would be in the Midwest, I was looking forward to improved mileage on the Pace Arrow. That didn't happen.
For the first 5,783 miles we averaged 6.1 mpg. With a .6 gph generator adjustment for the 87 hours we ran the generator, the mileage is about 6.45. Honestly, I was hoping for something north of 7 mpg. What I didn't expect was the significant winds and rain for most of our trip after we got to South Dakota.
Now I'm not sure if rain impacts mileage, but headwinds, and from what I read even sidewinds can reduce mileage by 10%. And the winds on this trip were relentless. On the return, the worst winds were in northern North Dakota and Montana. The tall grass alongside the highways was my yardstick. And for much of the return, they were bent over pretty good. From what I read, the prevailing winds are generally west to east. So headwinds or sidewinds for most of the return.
The other thing I never paid much attention to on previous trips were the rolling hills. And maybe there were more than on previous trips since we were avoiding the Interstates. But attempting to keep the heavy Pace in overdrive was a real problem. Normally I like to cruise around 56 to 60. Unfortunately with even the slightest hill, it would downshift. Usually the big Vortec will not upshift into overdrive until I'm over 55 mph. But on a slight uphill grade, if I'm not cruising at 65 to 70, it will not downshift and then not upshift until I'm over the crest. That got me thinking that maybe I should increase my average speed to about 65 mph. So I did, after we were west of Minot ND. My initial thoughts are that keeping the Pace over 60 - 65 mph probably will not impact overall mileage that much. However, if the constant upshifting and downshifting are negatively impacting the Allison, then maybe it makes sense. Also, driving 55 mph on a two lane highway that has a 70 mph speed limit also can be problematic.
While I haven't figured the mileage on the last fill, I expect it to be exceptional. From Carson City NV to home is about 420 miles. I filled in Carson City and while the low gas warning appeared on the dash after maybe 410 miles, the remaining miles suggested another 120 to empty. That would put me just over 7 mpg without the generator running. We couldn't get it to run on the long warm, up to 98?, drive home. So with the dash air running for most of the return, I'd say it wasn't too bad. However, one major consideration.
The return trip from Carson City involved two major road work areas that overall amounted to maybe 30 to 45 minutes of slow or no go driving. With significant mountains between Carson City NV and Crowley Lake, CA, and maybe an overall altitude difference of 4 to 5,000 feet, mileage was looking pretty bleak when we stopped at Crowley Lake. I was thinking it could have been as low as 4 mpg and was hoping for maybe 5. I'll never know.
But finally, THE GOOD NEWS. I've finally figured out the key to better gas mileage. On the return from Crowley Lake, CA, altitude about 7,000' to our home in SOCAL, about 700', I must have averaged close to 9+ mpg. So FWIW, driving down hill with no wind is the key to great mileage.
