Replacing Class c motorhome body for touring act

[slowmover]

AUTOMETER is the brand for default.

Tach, vac gauge, fuel flow gauge, plus airspeed indicator (see AIRCRAFT SPRUCE) is the ultimate.

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[capturedbyrobots]

Wow! Proud to say its looking like about 9mpg + at 65mph.
On 90 towards missoula. I bet I can get to 10mpg on the flats ....
The van wants to go 6-7mph faster too with the same throttle.
So happy!!!!!

[ron22]

Funny so see someone brag about 9MPG
That said great job. So still planning on replacing it after this trip or going to do some more playing with it?

Other then the sleep and Vac leak what all did you end up doing before this trip?

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by ron22

Funny so see someone brag about 9MPG . . . .

[OP] "I'm getting about 7-8mpg loaded to the hilt."



9-mpg is an almost 20% improvement.

Now, not directed at quoted post, but at a general (prevailing) attitude, let's call it:

"Highest number wins!!"

Wrong

The percentage improvement to the baseline mpg is what this is about.

Highest absolute numbers are meaningless outside of understanding the load. Sort of like HP numbers -- impressing the ignorant -- as subsidized fuel and subsidized roads are what make any of this game possible.

95-mpg in a Civic is okay, fun, I'm certain . . but does that mean the vehicle is loaded to GVWR with pax and payload? If it doesn't its just sort of a jackoff number out there by itself as context is what matters. The only thing that matters.

So, to put this in context, a 20% reduction in fuel burn for a vehicle doing more than the daily run to the cubicle and weekend run to the box store has genuine meaning.

We all enjoy reduced costs. Pat ourselves on the back for meaningless CO2 changes, etc.

But I'd say for someone who has their income, the-main-hours-of-their-day tied up in it, its a really fine achievement.

The absolute number is relative to far too many points handily ignored.

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[ron22]

Slowmover I did not mean anything bad about my 9mpg comment.
I also agree it is a great percentage improvement.

[capturedbyrobots]

I did a big front air dam and small mirrors too.
Didn't have enough coroplast to do the rear tail.
Maybe next tour.
Yeah, I'm amazed how much easier it is to push thru the wind.
I'm sure the vacuum leak was killing mpg too.
I need to do more exact research with the next few weeks to get more exact numbers with a slower speed and no mountains. I was on a pig trail today, 8hrs of sawing at the road...
Missoula to Boise....

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by capturedbyrobots

Didn't have enough coroplast to do the rear tail.
Maybe next tour.

I'd suggest you to make the tail with some harder material, and eventually with a frame, which could allow you to use it as an extra storage area

[malibuguy]

id personally make it a point to get the motor running perfect next. Maybe open up the exhaust on it as well. This is an application that could really benefit from a opened up exhaust. the engine would run cooler, more efficient and make a little more power at given RPMs to help move that beast down the road.

nice work on the sleeper delete!

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by ron22

Funny so see someone brag about 9MPG

I LOL'd.

You no longer fear 2x2s and sheet aluminum. When you're back off tour, pie cut the body on each side, from the rear bumper up to the back of the wheel well. Tapering the rear 2-3' of wall (≤15°) would reduce the rear wake, where it's all base pressure X surface area,

It would be a more subtle change visually than what you've done already, and would augment any boat-tailing you do later.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by malibuguy

id personally make it a point to get the motor running perfect next.

This should actually be a priority, even before aero tricks.