Forwarded message.
-Tom
Hi Craig,
Like you, I looked forward to changing a few things in search of more
miles per gallon. Well, I succeeded, but I succeeded too well.
Our GMC Suburban with a 6.2L diesel naturally aspirated engine is a bear and
a stump puller at or below 40 mph - with or without our '67 22' Safari in
tow. For comparison purposes, I had the Suburban weighed (7080#s) and our
'67 22' Airstream weighed (4220#s) at a Weighing Scale in Colorado Springs
two summers ago.
Without the Airstream in tow, our GMC fuel mileage is 20-21 mpg. With the
trailer in tow, it is 15-16 mpg. Currently, here in eastern NYS (September
2003), the price of diesel fuel is 10 cents a gallon less than the cheapest
unleaded gasoline. How long will that advantage last? Next month will
probably see the opposite pricing.
The rub with this Suburban is it's somewhat responsive to tromping on the
accelerator pedal at speeds higher than 40 mph. From brake release with our
'67 22' in tow, I'm one of the 18 wheelers that require several miles of
level highway to reach posted speed limits.
And, as with a heavily loaded 18 wheeler, I'll never pass anyone going up a
hill. But, like the turtle; slow and steady reaches the top and keeps on
chugging with no flinching or working up a sweat. Persistence. Persistence.
In some ways, that's okay because it forces me to have a relaxed attitude
about accelerating from a stop sign or at any speed above 45 miles per hour.
In other ways, this configuration has features I definately do want and many
that I especially like. The operative phrase is "trade offs." For me, this
configuration of truck and trailer suits us for rally hopping and
caravanning; plus it's outstanding for long distance urgent solo runs (to
Mom's house in Florida).
Another positive aspect we've experienced is at higher elevations (ex:
Colorado Springs at 8,000'), where the benefit of a diesel engine is
obvious. There is no falling off of power as happens with a gasoline engine.
Our chances for keeping up with or passing gasoline powered vehicles in
normal traffic patterns increases. I know the soft growl of our diesel's
dual exhausts has no relationship whatsoever to the power curve, but it
feels like there's more power at higher altitudes. That's probably because
gasoline engine vehicles have less power.
Now for a change in perspective. When we play Snowbird and go to Florida,
Texas, Arizona or deep into old Mexico, we use our serious hauler (Ford 3/4
ton Van w/460CID V8) with our bigger Airstream. With our Van, the
accelerator pedal response is immediate and dramatically obvious, with or
without the trailer in tow and throughout the range of highway speed limits.
The downside is 10 miles per gallon on average with or without the
Airstream. Obviously, mpg is even less (8 mpg) when climbing the Raton Pass
between New Mexico and Colorado.
Craig, you'll have fun playing with the options and trying out different tow
vehicles with your Airstream(s). All of us do it at one time or another.
Terry