Fuel economy

[bingomaster05]

Reading the recent posts on bio fuel, made me wonder what kind of fuel
mileage the various unit get. Do the FC's with the Cat do better than
the 6V or 8V Detroits? Do pushers do better than the FC's? What about
Toads..how much does it affect MPG. I would imagine that with Bluebirds
being so heavy, the higher power engines might actually be more
efficent. With the ever rising fuel costs, you have to wonder how it
will affect the future of RVing in general. Thanks in advance.

Dan Thomas
Wannabe
Central PA

[Jack and Liz Pearce]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bingomaster05"
wrote:
>
> Reading the recent posts on bio fuel, made me wonder what kind of fuel
> mileage the various unit get. Do the FC's with the Cat do better than
> the 6V or 8V Detroits? Do pushers do better than the FC's? What
about
> Toads..how much does it affect MPG. I would imagine that with
Bluebirds
> being so heavy, the higher power engines might actually be more
> efficent. With the ever rising fuel costs, you have to wonder how it
> will affect the future of RVing in general. Thanks in advance.
>
> Dan Thomas
> Wannabe
> Central PA

Howdy, Dan.
From Buena Vista, CO to Livingston, TX, our 1993 Wanderlodge 8V92
averaged 5.6 miles per gallon of diesel fuel.

Regards,
Jack and Liz Pearce
Fulltiming in a 1993 WL
Rainbow's End, Livingston, TX

[Jon]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bingomaster05"
wrote:
>
> Reading the recent posts on bio fuel, made me wonder what kind of
fuel
> mileage the various unit get. Do the FC's with the Cat do better
than
> the 6V or 8V Detroits? Do pushers do better than the FC's? What
about
> Toads..how much does it affect MPG. I would imagine that with
Bluebirds
> being so heavy, the higher power engines might actually be more
> efficent. With the ever rising fuel costs, you have to wonder how
it
> will affect the future of RVing in general. Thanks in advance.
>
> Dan Thomas
> Wannabe
> Central PA



Dan I think the future of these big units will be only for the guys
who have those extra retirement bucks. Our diesel fuel prices up
here in Washington are almost 3.60 a gallon and probably going up
further as I type.

My coach get an honest 10 mpg and that because I have a lighter coach
than most people here and I try to keep my speed down to gain that
mileage. I have been thinking about installing higher gears to gain
another another mile or so on my fuel but is it worth it? I don't
know?

I think the RV industry will survive but I think you will see people
going back in smaller coaches that are light and efficient. With
today's technology I would think that they could manufacture RV's
that get much better mileage than we get in our units and still have
the comfort of a plush RV.
>

Jon
Rebel Bird
Bremerton

[Ross]

Hi,
Here is an interesting concept that may change the future of heavy rigs.
http://www.manufacturing.net/ArvinMerito...enuid\
=264

Ross MacKillop

2006 450

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" wrote:
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bingomaster05"
> wrote:
> >
> > Reading the recent posts on bio fuel, made me wonder what kind of
> fuel
> > mileage the various unit get. Do the FC's with the Cat do better
> than
> > the 6V or 8V Detroits? Do pushers do better than the FC's? What
> about
> > Toads..how much does it affect MPG. I would imagine that with
> Bluebirds
> > being so heavy, the higher power engines might actually be more
> > efficent. With the ever rising fuel costs, you have to wonder how
> it
> > will affect the future of RVing in general. Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Dan Thomas
> > Wannabe
> > Central PA
>
>
>
> Dan I think the future of these big units will be only for the guys
> who have those extra retirement bucks. Our diesel fuel prices up
> here in Washington are almost 3.60 a gallon and probably going up
> further as I type.
>
> My coach get an honest 10 mpg and that because I have a lighter coach
> than most people here and I try to keep my speed down to gain that
> mileage. I have been thinking about installing higher gears to gain
> another another mile or so on my fuel but is it worth it? I don't
> know?
>
> I think the RV industry will survive but I think you will see people
> going back in smaller coaches that are light and efficient. With
> today's technology I would think that they could manufacture RV's
> that get much better mileage than we get in our units and still have
> the comfort of a plush RV.
> >
>
> Jon
> Rebel Bird
> Bremerton
>

[bubblerboy64]

America travels to live and lives to travel. It will be interesting
to see what happens in the next ten years. Could get a bit bumpy.
The Rv industry has weathered thru some tuff times before but this
is different. I hope the boys at the helms of these companies have
their thinking caps on because change is coming like it or not. I
would really like to know what the plans are. If it's just keep on
keeping on doing the same as last year they may as well close the
doors. I've been looking to see something smaller and innovative in
the Class "A"s and I have not. Any of you guys know of anything a
happenin within the industry you can share with us? It's been
bigger and fancier for years and that ain't going to cut it for the
future.

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC











>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bingomaster05"
> wrote:
> >
> > Reading the recent posts on bio fuel, made me wonder what kind
of
> fuel
> > mileage the various unit get. Do the FC's with the Cat do
better
> than
> > the 6V or 8V Detroits? Do pushers do better than the FC's?
What
> about
> > Toads..how much does it affect MPG. I would imagine that with
> Bluebirds
> > being so heavy, the higher power engines might actually be more
> > efficent. With the ever rising fuel costs, you have to wonder
how
> it
> > will affect the future of RVing in general. Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Dan Thomas
> > Wannabe
> > Central PA
>
>
>
> Dan I think the future of these big units will be only for the
guys
> who have those extra retirement bucks. Our diesel fuel prices up
> here in Washington are almost 3.60 a gallon and probably going up
> further as I type.
>
> My coach get an honest 10 mpg and that because I have a lighter
coach
> than most people here and I try to keep my speed down to gain that
> mileage. I have been thinking about installing higher gears to
gain
> another another mile or so on my fuel but is it worth it? I don't
> know?
>
> I think the RV industry will survive but I think you will see
people
> going back in smaller coaches that are light and efficient. With
> today's technology I would think that they could manufacture RV's
> that get much better mileage than we get in our units and still
have
> the comfort of a plush RV.
> >
>
> Jon
> Rebel Bird
> Bremerton
>

[Ross]

This may be of interest -
http://www.green-energy-news.com/arch/nr...70006.html

Also the new Onan generator /inverter systems would integrate well
with this. Smaller generators --- less weight- now add solar roof
panels - Always hope.

Ross MacKillop
2006 450 LXi
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> America travels to live and lives to travel. It will be interesting
> to see what happens in the next ten years. Could get a bit bumpy.
.....................................
Any of you guys know of anything
> happenin within the industry you can share with us? It's been
> bigger and fancier for years and that ain't going to cut it for the
> future.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>
>

[Pete Masterson]

42' PT with DD Series 60. It's very hard to sort out the net mpg for
over the road from other demands for fuel. But my records show that
I've gotten a low of about 4.5 mpg with the generator running with 3
ACs and cruising at 70+ mpg across Wyo. At the other end of the
spectrum, I've gotten 6.7 mpg cruising at 55 mph with no ACs while
running down the coast of California (where the speed limit is 55 and
it was a time of year when only a little chassis heat was necessary.)

What makes calculating actual mpg difficult is that when we're parked
in a campsite, the AquaHot will burn up to 1/2 gal per hour for
domestic hot water and/or heating (while the burner is operating).
It's very hard to calculate exactly how much fuel is used by the A-H.

Likewise, the generator burns 1/2 to 3/4 gal per hour depending on
load. Its often on during summer months when we're going over the
road, but less frequently in the winter.

For planning purposes, I figure about 5 mpg and that's a fairly
reasonable expected average. I could probably drive slower or take
other measures to squeeze a bit more mpg out of the 'bird ... but
fuel use tends to fall into one of those "if you really need to ask,
you probably can't afford it" areas.

In general, similar size (hp) engines in similar size (weight and
aerodynamic load) vehicles will get fairly near the same efficiency.
Newer engine (designs) tend to be more efficient than older designs
-- and well maintained engines are likely to run more efficiently, too.

The key factor with the biggest impact is how heavy your foot is on
the throttle. But trying to cross Wyoming or Kansas at 55 mph is (for
me) a mind numbing and therefore unlikely experience.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Lockhart Texas



On Nov 9, 2007, at 8:18 AM, Jack and Liz Pearce wrote:

>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bingomaster05"
> wrote:
>>
>> Reading the recent posts on bio fuel, made me wonder what kind of
>> fuel
>> mileage the various unit get. Do the FC's with the Cat do better
>> than
>> the 6V or 8V Detroits? Do pushers do better than the FC's? What
> about
>> Toads..how much does it affect MPG. I would imagine that with
> Bluebirds
>> being so heavy, the higher power engines might actually be more
>> efficent. With the ever rising fuel costs, you have to wonder how it
>> will affect the future of RVing in general. Thanks in advance.

[willwander08]

Interesting article regarding the potential for hybrid Class 8.

I am new to the world of Wanderlodge and RVs in general. We just purchased a
1983 FC
35.

Our Bird is equipped with the four position magnetic transmission retarder. A
couple days
ago I was wondering if there would be a way to refit it an direct some to that
energy to a
battery bank. I am no engineer. I wonder if anybody else looked into this?

Bill in NH 1983 FC 35

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ross" wrote:
>
> This may be of interest -
> http://www.green-energy-news.com/arch/nr...70006.html
>
> Also the new Onan generator /inverter systems would integrate well
> with this. Smaller generators --- less weight- now add solar roof
> panels - Always hope.
>
> Ross MacKillop
> 2006 450 LXi
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
> wrote:
> >
> > America travels to live and lives to travel. It will be interesting
> > to see what happens in the next ten years. Could get a bit bumpy.
> .....................................
> Any of you guys know of anything
> > happenin within the industry you can share with us? It's been
> > bigger and fancier for years and that ain't going to cut it for the
> > future.
> >
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
> >
>

[Gardner Yeaw]

I wonder if we could retrofit a steam engine into one of the old
pushers. Then we might be able to run on wood!

Gardner
78FC33

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" wrote:
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bingomaster05"
> wrote:
> >
> > Reading the recent posts on bio fuel, made me wonder what kind
of
> fuel
> > mileage the various unit get. Do the FC's with the Cat do
better
> than
> > the 6V or 8V Detroits? Do pushers do better than the FC's?
What
> about
> > Toads..how much does it affect MPG. I would imagine that with
> Bluebirds
> > being so heavy, the higher power engines might actually be more
> > efficent. With the ever rising fuel costs, you have to wonder
how
> it
> > will affect the future of RVing in general. Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Dan Thomas
> > Wannabe
> > Central PA
>
>
>
> Dan I think the future of these big units will be only for the
guys
> who have those extra retirement bucks. Our diesel fuel prices up
> here in Washington are almost 3.60 a gallon and probably going up
> further as I type.
>
> My coach get an honest 10 mpg and that because I have a lighter
coach
> than most people here and I try to keep my speed down to gain that
> mileage. I have been thinking about installing higher gears to
gain
> another another mile or so on my fuel but is it worth it? I don't
> know?
>
> I think the RV industry will survive but I think you will see
people
> going back in smaller coaches that are light and efficient. With
> today's technology I would think that they could manufacture RV's
> that get much better mileage than we get in our units and still
have
> the comfort of a plush RV.
> >
>
> Jon
> Rebel Bird
> Bremerton
>

[Eric Johnson]

Hello Dan,
We've averaged 8 mpg over the past 40,000 miles. Most of those miles we towed a
Jeep
on relatively flat land while running a generator and two A/C's. Our normal
cruising speed
is 60-65 mph which is pretty much limited by gearing and engine rpm.

I think the FC's do better than the larger, newer coaches by about 3-4 mpg, but
it largely
comes as a result of being smaller, weighing less and going slower.

We personally like a smaller coach and the the features of an FC. We made our
choice
based on other reasons than mileage. Fuel is a significant expense, but it is
small
compared to some of the other expenses (tires, maintenance, repairs) you may
encounter.
Good luck with your decision.

Regards, Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bingomaster05"
wrote:
>
> Reading the recent posts on bio fuel, made me wonder what kind of fuel
> mileage the various unit get. Do the FC's with the Cat do better than
> the 6V or 8V Detroits? Do pushers do better than the FC's? What about
> Toads..how much does it affect MPG. I would imagine that with Bluebirds
> being so heavy, the higher power engines might actually be more
> efficent. With the ever rising fuel costs, you have to wonder how it
> will affect the future of RVing in general. Thanks in advance.
>
> Dan Thomas
> Wannabe
> Central PA
>