Colorado road trip report

[Jim_Chow]

Just returned from a 11 day road trip to Colorado using Gunnison as the base. This was my second road trip in my 03 LX, the first w/ the added weight of the sahara bar and kaymar rear bar. Two adults, baby (and all the baby stuff), large dog/crate, photo gear, etc. Total distance was 1727 miles off the odometer, 89.7 gal of 91 octane burned (19.25 mpg).

Here's how things boiled down:
Tucson->Gallup, NM through the Apache-Sitgreaves NF to Show Low (329 mi, 18.28 mpg)
Gallup->Montrose, CO via Durango/Silverton/Ouray (301 mi, 18.47 mpg)
Montrose->Gunnison, up Schoffield Pass, up Cottonwood Pass, down to Tincup, up the Ohio Creek valley/Ohio Creek & Kebler passes, back to Montrose (481 mi, 19.3 mpg).
Montrose->Gallup via Telluride/Cortez (275 mi, 20.4 mpg)
Gallup->Holbrook->Tucson via Show Low (341 mi, 20.05 mpg)

Notes: Despite some of those passes being long & steep and over 10K ft altitude (namely the ones climbing out of Durango to Silverton), the 100 breezed up the passes. I could easily pass other vehicles in the uphill passing lanes. I used the t-case in low for a few short sections on the climb up to Emerald Lake/Schoffield Pass near Crested Butte, AHC in high over some rocks. Snow was blowing horizontal on the top of 12 Kft+ Cottonwood pass, 37 degrees for the high.

The only issue I had in terms of equipment failure was the 3-pin white ARB connector for the sahara bar's left turning signal would work/fail intermittently. Since the parking light portion of it worked, I ruled out a ground. The signal would work if I grasped both halves of the connector and jiggled it around, so I suspect the female side of the connector is bad. If worse comes to worse, I'll cut the connector out and solder it directly.

 

[LXPearl]

Great mileage. I have always done well in the Rockies, but you did great.

 

[e9999]

excellent mileage indeed. Been wondering about this altitude / special gas thing ...

 

[Jim_Chow]

I've only tested the 87 vs 91 octane at 2500 ft in the hills where I live, and the 91 gave me ~1.5 mpg better (better acceleration=less accelerator needed), so I stick w/ 91 everywhere. Besides, where I went in CO, the regular grade was only 85 octane yet was still the same differential in price as the 87 you find at lower altitudes, so you're not getting your money's worth. On trips, I've found that when driving on hilly terrain (not mountains, but rolling hills), it's best not to use the cruise control, as it slows you down too much on the downhills. Then when the uphill comes, it tries to hold the speed, then guns the engine to maintain the speed; best to gradually accelerate on the downhill to gain momentum, then hold the accelerator steady on the uphill, even if it means your speed drops a little below the target speed by the top. The 2UZ is excellent in the mountains, breezes up the climbs with little effort.

 

[CrusrDug]

I notice better mileage on trips fully loaded too. Definitely not 19+ mpg!! For me though, it seems wierd that a fully loaded truck on the highway gets better than a unloaded truck with half and half.

 

[Jim_Chow]

I notice better mileage on trips fully loaded too. Definitely not 19+ mpg!! For me though, it seems wierd that a fully loaded truck on the highway gets better than a unloaded truck with half and half.

A long time ago, I read that it only takes a Porsche 924 (yeah, a long time ago!) only requires 13 hp to maintain 60mph. The moral of the story is, you burn a lot more gas accelerating from a dead stop at a traffic signal than cruising at a constant speed on the highway, as long as you don't cruise so fast (like 90mph!) to make wind resistance the dominating factor. Weight isn't that major of a factor unless you're climbing in a low gear w/ high engine rpm's. I typically drive around 70mph, wife drives 75mph on the interstates. On local highways such as those you find in the Rockies and around the Four Corners, speeds are a tad lower (sometimes due to slow pokes), like 60-70mph than on the interstates. Even when speeding up to pass at 75-80mph, you probably still use way less fuel than when accelerating from a dead stop to 50mph on city streets. As an added bonus, the engine undergoes little stress when cruising at a constant speed/rpm's.

 

[CrusrDug]

70 in CA feels like 50 mph. Drives me nuts as people pass me when I'm doing 70. What's your mileage around town? If it only drops to say 17mpg, that's still much better than the 13-14 I get. Maybe this new 275hp engine is a little more thirsty.

 

[2badfjs]

you had camera gear, but there are no pics

thats ok, i live here, dont need any ;p

glad your family had a safe trip

 

[Jim_Chow]

you had camera gear, but there are no pics

thats ok, i live here, dont need any ;p

glad your family had a safe trip

Since we have an 8-month old boy, I've mostly been shooting portraits on 6x6. I did manage to shoot a few 6x17 pans (undeveloped). I'll have to wait until the kid is old enough to carry his own pack. Here's a link to my webpage of shots over past years when that's all I did. Most of the landscapes are on 4x5 http://home.comcast.net/~dr_jchow/

CrusrDug, I get 15.5mpg for 100% city driving (i.e., traffic lights every 1/2 mi or more) or around 16.9mpg for mixed city/highway (there's really no freeway here except I-10, and I only take that when leaving town).

 

[tabraha]

Awesome pics and nice gear too! Sounds like a great trip.

 

[SINCITY100]

Here's a link to my webpage of shots over past years when that's all I did. Most of the landscapes are on 4x5 http://home.comcast.net/~dr_jchow/

Ahh...So you are that James Chow I refer to the luminous site frequently , and it is a great source of information.

You have some very nice work + articles .. And I thought I backpacked some heavy equipment around As an avid nature and wildlife photographer myself, I would love to see some more of your landscape shots

Peace !

 

[hoser]

Those are some awesome pictures, Jim!

 

[tabraha]

Ahh...So you are that James Chow I refer to the luminous site frequently , and it is a great source of information.

You have some very nice work + articles .. And I thought I backpacked some heavy equipment around As an avid nature and wildlife photographer myself, I would love to see some more of your landscape shots

Peace !

I didn't put that together till you said it. I visit luminous alot as well. Great articles that rekindled me back into being a shutterbug.

Tad