Camper build using old Hi-Lo

[Hersbird]

Here's my frontal area from 40 yards.

And this is the best of the badlands

[Hersbird]

Ok, we are back. When all said and done NOT counting a 360 mile tank not towing touring Yellowstone, we did 1301.8 miles and used 92.53 gallons for 14.07 mpg average. That is including a 10,900 climb and many other smaller passes where you could no way coast down without lots of engine and traditional braking. Mostly around 60 mph with some sections slower or faster, nothing over 65. The non-towing tank for comparison was 17.3 MPG and the max speed possible in Yellowstone is about 50 mph but mostly 40 with lots of stopping for wildlife.
The best tank was the last with a 275.2 miles at 15.1 MPG losing 3200 feet but also having a large pass in the middle that needed braking on the way down. The indicated on that tank was also 15.1 and before the pass and the 65 mph interstate run it was indicating 16.5 mpg!
Overall I'm happy, I want to still try a belly pan and upgrade my hitch as Slowmover recommended. I'd love to see how well it might do towing it with something that has better economy. The 5.7 Hemi isn't exactly known for getting good mileage.

[aerohead]

Online at RV Lifestyles there have been reports of VW Jetta TDIs pulling 2,500-lb,16' Sport series Airstreams at 62-mph and returning 32 mpg (down from 50-55 mpg solo),so it looks like there's quite a potential for higher numbers.
Thanks for tracking all the data.That 16.5 is pretty tasty!

[Hersbird]

I think we were over 4000# towing and 800# of passengers. At first I thought my minivan might do it but we would have to pare down the stuff and go with a smaller crew. Even the 345 hp v8 got really hot (7/8 to red when it usually runs under 1/2) pulling the Beartooth highway and we did it in the 50-60 degree cool of the morning. Also would definitely need sway control and some aftermarket boost to the rear suspension of the minivan.
Someday when it's just my wife and I we will get a little class B diesel van camper and then drive the whole country.

[slowmover]

The minivan needs a quality hitch receiver and a proper weight distribution hitch set up. It can tow a 34' Airstream. IOW, there's a lot of work yet to do to get the mechanical baseline correct on your vehicle combinations.

Higher coolant temps aren't to be worried about. Use a Scan or Ultra Gauge to monitor the real temp.

[Hersbird]

So we did another trip, again with the Aspen, just to Yellowstone and back. We went 464.9 miles and used 32.173 gallons for an average 14.45 MPG. There was also 100 miles in there of heavy rain which must hurt MPG and somewhere in the last 120 miles we blew a bearing on the rear trailer axle. They might have happened in conjunction with each other, the rain and the failure. Before that last 100 miles the indicated was 15.7 on the 170 miles we had put on it since refilling, even higher before having to cross the continental divide in a place you have to engine and friction brake all the way back down. Now to replace all 4 wheel hubs and bearings just to be safe, It's a 1993 and everything is probably original.

[skyking]

those are nice numbers for a gas rig that is comfortable and roomy, towing a pretty big trailer.

[Hersbird]

This time it was 4 adults and one 10 year old (and a baby in the oven, I'm going to be a grandpa!) I don't think we would get better then 18 MPG with 5 people not towing. My average on Fuelly (I don't log most towing miles, only 1654 miles logged) is 15.4 MPG with 41% city. The average Aspen (there aren't very many) on Fuelly is 12.8 MPG.

[skyking]

That's less than 10% when towing!