Trip report - Just the facts
07-03-2003, 07:29 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Mountains of Colorado
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Trip report - Just the facts
Trip: Stuart, FL to Santa Maria, CA, and back<br><br>Route: <br>1. west bound through Colorado via I-70<br>2. east bound through Texas via I-40<br><br>Conditions:<br>1. 75% Interstate, 24.9% two lane, .1% 4wd<br>2. A/C turned on 99% of time<br>3. Drove at speed limit + 5 mph except 75 mph zones where we drove at 77 to 78 mph<br><br>Results:<br>1. Total miles: 7036<br>2. Total gals: 369.1<br>3. Total fuel cost: $544<br>4. Avg. MPG: 19.1 ;D ;D ;D<br><br>Observation:<br>1. Altitude does not effect mpg at all. Average for the three tanks used from Denver to Santa Maria was 20.1 mpg<br>2. Mountains did not slow it down at all. Easily maintained 6th!<br>3. Why can't they make a tire recap that will not peel off the big rigs?<br><br>The Boss Hog<br>(truckin' doesn't get any better ;D)<br><br>
07-03-2003, 07:49 AM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Waxahachie, Tx.
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
THose are nice figures Boss Hog. Hope the trip was enjoyable. They can make retreads that won't peel off the big rigs, but like everything else - some folks buy the cheap stuff, and others don't always check and maintain tire pressure at proper levels. We see a lot of the thrown carcasses here in the Dallas area on the interstates.
07-03-2003, 08:02 AM
#3
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: McKinney, TEXAS
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
That is great mileage Boss Hog. <br>When are you going to take a long trip? ;D ;D.<br>How was ride/comfort quality on the trip? Any vehicle can become uncomfortable after a long time on the road, but I am wondering with the 3rd gen. if it takes longer to reach that point. After all that time in the saddle, did you come up with a list of "Gee, I wish they had done ...."?<br><br>
<br><br>That sure is the truth. I believe they are called "gators". Have to dodge them every day on the way to work. Don't know how folks can ride motorcycles on the interstates around here with all the garbage laying around on them.<br><br>
We see a lot of the thrown carcasses here in the Dallas area on the interstates.
07-03-2003, 08:28 AM
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Mountains of Colorado
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
Hotdram,<br> In all honesty (not just because I own one), I have to say it is the most comfortable, long distance vehicle of any sort I have ever driven. The ride is stiff without being harsh. I do not like cars that wallow around corners. You sit up like you would in a comfortable chair instead of feeling like you are sitting on the floor. The 4x4 tracted straight and true down the road. You sit up high enough to be able to see the traffic ahead and be able to see over guard rails. The back seat provide room for all the things (snacks, cold water, camera, books-on-tape, etc.) that we like to have available and we carried our lugage and camping gear in the bed. The sheepskin made a big difference in comfort. I also have it on the door armrest and the center "consold". <br> I know this isn't the use Dodge had in mind when they put a Cummins in the truck, but for us, it works great!<br><br>Happy trails to all<br><br>The Boss Hog<br>(haze-grey and underway ;D )
07-03-2003, 10:35 AM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: McKinney, TEXAS
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
Boss Hog,<br>Thanks for the info. We took my '02 to the Georgia coast in March. I debated about whether to take our Honda CR-V or not. I like the visibility of the truck but the ride makes it not the best cruiser. After that trip, I decided that the next time we "shift colors" we will use her vehicle ('specially since the CR-V was replaced with a Lexus RX-300).<br><br>Rob (also haze gray and underway, maybe next one will be the deck gray one)
07-03-2003, 11:39 AM
#6
Proprietor of Fiver's Inn and Hospitality Center
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
Boss Man,<br>You should have stayed up in the Sierras with Uncle Phil. Nice and cool. It is hot down here now. Glad the trip went well. Sounds like Bessie did good and behaved. Welcome home.
07-03-2003, 01:53 PM
#7
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Mountains of Colorado
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
Thanks FloridaBob,<br><br> It is hard to believe that a 4x4 diesel truck could be that comfortable as a long distance vehicle, but it was ;D. Speaking of cool mountains, it was 106 degrees 
when I started up the I-15 grade west of Las Vegas. I must admit, while flying up that grade, "Smoke" got up to 200 degrees from her normal 195 but I don't think it hurt her any ;D.<br><br>Latter, <br>The Boss Hog<br>(back home again)
when I started up the I-15 grade west of Las Vegas. I must admit, while flying up that grade, "Smoke" got up to 200 degrees from her normal 195 but I don't think it hurt her any ;D.<br><br>Latter, <br>The Boss Hog<br>(back home again)
Trending Topics
07-03-2003, 08:00 PM
#8
Registered User
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
WOW! You guys all think that those figures are great, and they probably are for trucks. They are shockingly high to me though! That same trip would have only used 143 gallons in my TDI diesel, and $215 in fuel costs..(1.50/gal). I hope you were towing something all that way!? Seems like an awfully expensive way to travel. <br><br>Regardless, I still need and will get a HO sometime soon, I have caught the bug. Definitely won't take it on road trips unless I have to though. I can't justify consuming that much more of our natural resources, and causing so much more pollution/emissions comparatively, just to feel cool in the truck...
07-03-2003, 08:10 PM
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NC
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
Lightman,<br>While we all appreciate those reasons for not driving a CTD on long trips, I am sure that we all feel confident that if you get behind the wheel of a 3G HO, that opinion will change pretty quick. ;D The ride, stability, and quality are way up compared to the 2G's.
07-03-2003, 08:42 PM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
"WOW! You guys all think that those figures are great, and they probably are for trucks. They are shockingly high to me though! That same trip would have only used 143 gallons in my TDI diesel, and $215 in fuel costs..(1.50/gal). I hope you were towing something all that way!? Seems like an awfully expensive way to travel."
Hey - these are TRUCKS, frequently used to PULL heavy stuff like 12,000 lb RVs looooong distances and over tall mountains - NOT tea-kettles on wheels that would fold in sheer terror at the sight of a serious load and a small grade...
The FACT that they are ALSO pretty nice and comfy when used by themselves over the same terrain is just a "fringe benefit"!
;D ;D
Hey - these are TRUCKS, frequently used to PULL heavy stuff like 12,000 lb RVs looooong distances and over tall mountains - NOT tea-kettles on wheels that would fold in sheer terror at the sight of a serious load and a small grade...
The FACT that they are ALSO pretty nice and comfy when used by themselves over the same terrain is just a "fringe benefit"!
;D ;D
07-03-2003, 09:23 PM
#11
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: FL
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
well Gary my "tea kettle" has 200k on it and has been mostly flawless, (a/c puked, one front wheel brg and two sets of brakes, many tires) giving me 50mpg most of the time. I hope my G3 CTD is that good. <br>BTW my Passat is much more comfortable than the truck. Just can't carry plywood and 2x4's in it. It will take any mountain grade and not drop one mph. And still give me awesome fuel mileage.<br>Boss Hogg musta been empty to get 19mpg. <br>my mileage sucks when I pull my trailer
07-03-2003, 09:57 PM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
"It will take any mountain grade and not drop one mph. And still give me awesome fuel mileage."<br><br>UMMmmm - how does it do under those conditions with 12,000 lbs strapped on the back? ;D ;D ;D<br><br>Hey, my wife's Mazda 323 does great out on the road too, but ain't much of a towing vehicle - and to suggest a comparison between the two would be sorta pointless - some of us really can't afford 2 fine diesel powered vehicles - so if we plan heavy-duty travel, we kinda have to tailor our needs to ONE vehicle that can adequately handle ALL the needed scenarios - the trucks won't get mileage like your passenger cars - and those cars sure wouldn't be much good hauling a wagon load of hay outta the field, either... ;D ;D ;D<br>
07-04-2003, 08:07 AM
#13
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Mountains of Colorado
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
[quote author=spots link=board=17;threadid=16637;start=0#156354 date=1057285432]<br>Boss Hogg musta been empty to get 19mpg. <br>my mileage sucks when I pull my trailer <br>[/quote]<br><br>Spots,<br> I was not towing anything but the bed of the truck was full of camping gear. We own some property in the souther Colorado mountains and the "road" into it takes a 4wd. That was one of the reasons for taking the truck. Not a lot of weight but the gear takes up a lot more room than could be hauled in a VW. <br> I have a boat that with trailer and gear grosses about 8000. Driving reasonablely I get about 13 mpg on the computer. This compares to 9 mpg pulling the same boat with my pervious truck, a 2001 GMC 1500 4x4 4.10 5.3 V8. Thats why I'm happy with the milage both towing and empty.<br><br>The Boss Hog<br>(still burning #2)
07-04-2003, 10:14 AM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
[quote author=Lightman link=board=17;threadid=16637;start=0#156334 date=1057280454]<br>WOW! You guys all think that those figures are great, and they probably are for trucks. They are shockingly high to me though! That same trip would have only used 143 gallons in my TDI diesel, and $215 in fuel costs..(1.50/gal). I hope you were towing something all that way!? Seems like an awfully expensive way to travel. <br><br>Regardless, I still need and will get a HO sometime soon, I have caught the bug. Definitely won't take it on road trips unless I have to though. I can't justify consuming that much more of our natural resources, and causing so much more pollution/emissions comparatively, just to feel cool in the truck... <br>[/quote]<br><br>A bit self-righteous, don't you think? :
07-04-2003, 10:15 AM
#15
Re:Trip report - Just the facts
I removed one post from this discussion because it became a personal assault and not worthy of discussion. Please keep your remarks "civil" and not aimed at "flaming" any one else's point of view.<br><br> We will not always agree on every issue, but we WILL be respectful of each others opinion.