Real life MPG numbers wanted.

[redthies]

What will the typical camper rig be in 20-30 years time? Horse drawn?

I'm thinking nuclear powered hover-camper!

[mtwoodcutter]

My first post to the forum. MPG info is of great interest to me - thanks to everyone for sharing. Drove my '94 F250 pre-powerstroke (7.3L IDI diesel, 4x4, 4.10 gears) from Montana to Inuvik and through AK last year with about a 1k lb early 70s Alaskan camper and another 1k pounds worth of people, food, tools, parts, etc. Hand calculated over 6k miles was 16.5 mpg. I was hoping to break 17, but it didn't happen. The truck is stock, but I ran Stanadyne performance fuel additive.

[mudmony]

over the years, my experience with diesels has not been that much difference, but always kept fuel records
89 f250 with cab over, 7.3, 12.8...275k miles buried in 04
95 f250 with cab over, 7.3 powerstroke, 11.5...325k still used daily
2000 f250 with cab over, 7.3 powerstroke, 12.3...275k still used daily
2004 2500 duramax, empty 15.9...245k....still used daily

[redthies]

95 f250 with cab over, 7.3 powerstroke, 11.5...325k

I'm heading down south on I5 to Oregon tomorrow with my 97 F350 cc 7.3 auto (272,000 miles) with 3" lift, 35s and a 3000 lb cab over. I'm hoping to do better than 11.5! I'll post up on Tuesday with the numbers...

[redthies]

12 at best... Damn!

[ib14a69]

Left olympia to plain wa last week for the overland rally in my mega cab dually 4x4 with 5.9 cummins, 990 artic fox camper pj 14k tilt trailer, 89 fj62, a quad and lots of tools and other supplies. I was about 21k lbs in all. Pulled into the camping site about hrs away at 14.1 mpgs

[redthies]

I was about 21k lbs in all. Pulled into the camping site at 14.1 mpgs

Is the 14.1 hand calculated or on the overhead computer? If its for real, it makes me want to do the 12 v 5 speed swap soon!

[ib14a69]

14.1 was with 3.73 gears 2006 5.9 cummins with an auto. Only 33k on motor

[jronwood]

Just did 2000 miles with this set up, trailer creates camperlike drag (can see it on leading edge of tarp). Flat calm 65 mph, at 2100 rpm (4:10's) around 11.???. Then tried 70 mph, 10.????. Then whilest in UP Mich. at 50mph on straight backroad got 15mph. Coming home went 75, 10.??, so no real surprises except really going slowish at 65 didnt help much, just put her down and go! The 15 did surprise me but we were just plodding along and in no hurry. This is a F-350 4x4 stock, CC/CC 120K 7.3 with 4:10's auto. I do have duals and 19.5's but they didnt change gearing. I love being able to bring WHATEVER you want. Trailer was likely 6K+

Jronwood

pics 067.jpg

[jefe4x4]

2001.5 Dodge (see specs below) with small hard side Lance gets 14-15 mpg going 62 mph with no head wind or steep hills. 10,400 pounds wet. The mpg actually gets better when I go slower on dirt roads, probably for lack of wind resistance and a 6 speed manual with 3.54's.

With no camper on the truck barely squeaks out 19.5 mpg. I have never broken 20 mpg empty. I have no 'wire' boost or any other upgrades (except a big air cleaner). Recently, I added a little extra pipe to the waste gate tube on the turbo so the turbo kicks in sooner. I think this has helped with the mpg (but maybe not the heat) but I've not had it on a long trip yet. First of October jeanie and I will find out on the "VOLCANO TOUR' of the US west coast taking a couple weeks and camping as close to the cones and as primativo as possible. We're going for the same reason we went to Yellowstone a few years ago. "BEFORE IT BLOWS!"
I'm going up Imogene Pass here:

I worked on the front end of the truck to make it more off-road worthy, cutting part of the useless bumper and fender off, and adding some 4340 ChoMol tubing to the bumperettes and installing a radiator saver.


regards, as always, jefe