Lots of towing. Thoughts on maintenance.
- Thread starter Bendcruiser
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Here in CO we run 87 as that is the "middle" of the range at most gas stations. (Low is 85 and high is 91.)
Wow, @Bendcruiser, you were pushing your luck a bit getting down to that range in that part of the country.
We'll be arriving in the area a week from tomorrow with our Lance in tow. Staying at Big Pine RV near LaPine for the weekend. Then dropping the trailer at a storage lot so we can spend a few days in Eugene with my Dad and fly my wife back to Denver to stay on top of some things here. In the latter part of August we have reservations at Bend/Sisters RV and Collier SP. Then home for a couple weeks and back again in September.
We're may be leaving our Lance in Bend over the winter so as not to need to tow it back to Denver and then back to the PNW next Spring.
I know some of you have made long trips towing your trailers with your LC. But I would prefer to limit the amount of towing I have to do. Just more cost and headache to move it to/from the PNW every year.
Wow, @Bendcruiser, you were pushing your luck a bit getting down to that range in that part of the country.
We'll be arriving in the area a week from tomorrow with our Lance in tow. Staying at Big Pine RV near LaPine for the weekend. Then dropping the trailer at a storage lot so we can spend a few days in Eugene with my Dad and fly my wife back to Denver to stay on top of some things here. In the latter part of August we have reservations at Bend/Sisters RV and Collier SP. Then home for a couple weeks and back again in September.
We're may be leaving our Lance in Bend over the winter so as not to need to tow it back to Denver and then back to the PNW next Spring.
I know some of you have made long trips towing your trailers with your LC. But I would prefer to limit the amount of towing I have to do. Just more cost and headache to move it to/from the PNW every year.
BTW, back to the topic of maintenance, I haven't done anything with the transmission yet but will likely do that at 60K. I don't think I do as much towing as some but I prefer to err on the safe side.
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Mine is 2015 LC. Here’s a few pics from the trip.
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More pics
Bendcruiser, those pics look so relaxing. Very much the green treatment away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind.
I just got into Big Bear this evening with my camper. Tons of tight mountain switchbacks and steeper grades. Temps were pushing 100*F in the lower grades. For an LX, it was definitely the situation where one wants to use what the engine is calibrated for, i.e. 91 octane (LC's can use 87. May or may not benefit from using 91). I was in 2nd gear for most of the serious climbing into Big Bear city. Plenty of power, but it was just the right gear for burst of acceleration and then decel into switchbacks. A newer 8-speed 200-series would be awesome to have up in this environment, with more low gears to select between. Poor little jeeps on 35s coming up here for off-roading couldn't get out of their own way, with a 200-series bruiser breathing down there backs with a 7k+ trailer in tow. At least 1 pulled off to let me through.
Of course all this climbing takes a toll on mpgs. Tank average, coming from San Diego.
Back to topic, after this trip, I'm due for service on all fluids. I intend to change diffs, transfer case, tranny, coolant, AHC fluid.
I just got into Big Bear this evening with my camper. Tons of tight mountain switchbacks and steeper grades. Temps were pushing 100*F in the lower grades. For an LX, it was definitely the situation where one wants to use what the engine is calibrated for, i.e. 91 octane (LC's can use 87. May or may not benefit from using 91). I was in 2nd gear for most of the serious climbing into Big Bear city. Plenty of power, but it was just the right gear for burst of acceleration and then decel into switchbacks. A newer 8-speed 200-series would be awesome to have up in this environment, with more low gears to select between. Poor little jeeps on 35s coming up here for off-roading couldn't get out of their own way, with a 200-series bruiser breathing down there backs with a 7k+ trailer in tow. At least 1 pulled off to let me through.
Of course all this climbing takes a toll on mpgs. Tank average, coming from San Diego.
Back to topic, after this trip, I'm due for service on all fluids. I intend to change diffs, transfer case, tranny, coolant, AHC fluid.
LOL! Jeeps pulling off to let you by. That is a good one. 7.6 mpg. That’s to be expected with lots of climbing. I’ll try to keep some stats on our tow to Oregon next week.
Nice pics @Bendcruiser!
Nice pics @Bendcruiser!
Maybe the Nittos are just too sticky but I'm happy to get 7.6MPG when towing on the highway, nevermind the mountains
^Hah. This is my lowest by far. Usually 10-11. Sometimes into the 9s going faster. All uncorrected for tire diameter. But with lots of switchbacks and climbing 6800ft, it's expected. Love that even with the engine being pushed hard in hot hot weather, we're coddled in 4-zone climate, seat coolers, and movie with 5.1 sound. Passing open air Jeeps!
Weird. I wonder if the Airstream makes that much of a difference in wind resistance?
I seem to get about 7.5 on the highway, uncorrected. I got as low as 6.5 coming back from the Michigan UP over the 4th... which is odd because it's pretty flat with very mild hills, though I was solidly doing 70mph. I saw around 9-9.5mpg coming back from Rockford which is an hour west of us, again mostly flat but I was probably going 60-65. Pretty willing to bet I won't average more than 7.5 on the upcoming trip from Chicago to Telluride.
I seem to get about 7.5 on the highway, uncorrected. I got as low as 6.5 coming back from the Michigan UP over the 4th... which is odd because it's pretty flat with very mild hills, though I was solidly doing 70mph. I saw around 9-9.5mpg coming back from Rockford which is an hour west of us, again mostly flat but I was probably going 60-65. Pretty willing to bet I won't average more than 7.5 on the upcoming trip from Chicago to Telluride.
^I absolutely believe the AS profile gives it an aerodynamic advantage. Both in the forward direction and against cross winds. But not so much that it results in hugely more mpg.
I would attribute your low mpg mostly to the speeds you like the travel at. I travel largely in CA, which has a speed limit of 55 for articulated vehicles. So I primarily travel between 58-65 mph. Air resistance goes up by the square of speed so mpg goes down precipitously at higher speeds. Combine that with some aggressive overlanding mods (snorkel, armor, rack) you have and I'm not completely surprised.
It's another thing I go back and forth with. Armor and other things would be cool, but they truly create compromises. Costing more than the initial purchase and install in terms of efficiency losses and higher fueling costs. This coming from a guy towing a giant parachute behind him to travel right? I always find it funny when people try to justify vacation cost savings via RV or trailers. The fuel/maintenance/etc. are not exactly cheap either.
We do it because we enjoy it.
I would attribute your low mpg mostly to the speeds you like the travel at. I travel largely in CA, which has a speed limit of 55 for articulated vehicles. So I primarily travel between 58-65 mph. Air resistance goes up by the square of speed so mpg goes down precipitously at higher speeds. Combine that with some aggressive overlanding mods (snorkel, armor, rack) you have and I'm not completely surprised.
It's another thing I go back and forth with. Armor and other things would be cool, but they truly create compromises. Costing more than the initial purchase and install in terms of efficiency losses and higher fueling costs. This coming from a guy towing a giant parachute behind him to travel right? I always find it funny when people try to justify vacation cost savings via RV or trailers. The fuel/maintenance/etc. are not exactly cheap either.
We do it because we enjoy it.
As for the impact of speed on MPG, that has been my experience as well. I get about 11 MPG on the flats and no wind with my Lance. But I am running speeds similar to yours. Even in interstates with speed limits of 75 and 80, we keep it about 60-65 depending on the grade. We just stay in the right hand lane and relax. On a long day it may cost me 60-80 miles in distance but heck, I’m retired now. Not in a hurry. 
As for the cost savings of RVing. They do offset. But we also look at our trailer as an inexpensive “second home” that is also “portable”. Next weekend we’ll spend 3 nights near Bend, OR in a decent RV park with plenty of pine trees, full hookups, WiFi and cable TV and the cost of 3 nights is less than the cost of one night for a simple hotel room in Bend. We have friends who have purchased property or a home in the mountains or whatever which is great when you want to return to the same place each time and develop those memories. But then there is a forest fire or a pine beetle epidemic or whatever and their property is not what it once was. And with the trailer, we can spend a few days near Crater Lake, then a few days just south of Bend, then a few days on the north side and closer to Mount Hood, then a few days at the Oregon coast or whatever. That flexibility is as important as the cost savings for us.
And, finally, I will say that we love having the Land Cruiser to go exploring once we have the trailer set up as a base camp. It limited the size of the “second home on wheels”. Our trailer is not some monstrous 5th wheeler. But that’s OK. We’ve learned how to live in it and are very comfortable for as much as 3 weeks straight. The combination of a comfortable trailer that is towable by the LC is perfect for us.
As for the cost savings of RVing. They do offset. But we also look at our trailer as an inexpensive “second home” that is also “portable”. Next weekend we’ll spend 3 nights near Bend, OR in a decent RV park with plenty of pine trees, full hookups, WiFi and cable TV and the cost of 3 nights is less than the cost of one night for a simple hotel room in Bend. We have friends who have purchased property or a home in the mountains or whatever which is great when you want to return to the same place each time and develop those memories. But then there is a forest fire or a pine beetle epidemic or whatever and their property is not what it once was. And with the trailer, we can spend a few days near Crater Lake, then a few days just south of Bend, then a few days on the north side and closer to Mount Hood, then a few days at the Oregon coast or whatever. That flexibility is as important as the cost savings for us.
And, finally, I will say that we love having the Land Cruiser to go exploring once we have the trailer set up as a base camp. It limited the size of the “second home on wheels”. Our trailer is not some monstrous 5th wheeler. But that’s OK. We’ve learned how to live in it and are very comfortable for as much as 3 weeks straight. The combination of a comfortable trailer that is towable by the LC is perfect for us.
^We got our travel trailer for much the same reasons you state. Compared to a vacation home, or even a time share, RVing represented a cost opportunity. Plus, we can stay at places that often don't have housing. In the comfort of our own space with full kitchen, as I get tired of eating out regularly. Uproot at anytime, and chase weather or interests as our travels evolve. We're in San Diego. So our RV is even a weekend beach house when we want it to be. Right on the sand to spend long days on the beach. It'd be cost prohibitive any other way.
I was more comparing to the typical vacation travel where it's a road trip with stays at hotels/motels. Or even a flight away. Compared to this mode of vacation, RVing is not cheaper. Gas costs can be upwards of 100-300% more. Takes more time to get to farther places. If not boondocking and staying at campgrounds, it's $40-80 per night. Then of course, considering the procurement and maintenance costs of the RV.
I was more comparing to the typical vacation travel where it's a road trip with stays at hotels/motels. Or even a flight away. Compared to this mode of vacation, RVing is not cheaper. Gas costs can be upwards of 100-300% more. Takes more time to get to farther places. If not boondocking and staying at campgrounds, it's $40-80 per night. Then of course, considering the procurement and maintenance costs of the RV.
I remember my first RV experience back in the early 50s my dad took us all up to the Rocky Mountains we had a tent and we got up in the morning and broke the ice to wash our faces and start breakfast and then he said well you know instead of fixing breakfast our cousins are in their RV about 100 yards away why don’t we go over and see how they’re doing the next time we went out camping we were in our own RV he really knew had to affect my mother‘s decision making . From the age of 10 I have been in a RV in every national park in the United States we camped out and fished and hunted so much that the Marine Corps seem like a three star vacation experience. I am into the four and five star hotels now pretty much burned out on the RV life. But you guys continue to enjoy I love the stories
. From the age of 10 I have been in a RV in every national park in the United States we camped out and fished and hunted so much that the Marine Corps seem like a three star vacation experience. I am into the four and five star hotels now pretty much burned out on the RV life. But you guys continue to enjoy I love the stories
All in it's not necessarily cheaper, but if you like to visit the national parks/forest doing it in an RV is much more convenient, IMO.
All that said, if I didn't have a trailer, I wouldn't get to wake up to views like this:
- In many parks there are limited accommodations which book up months in advance. So far we've had no issues finding camping spots in peak seasons in Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, etc.
- I can setup/breakdown in about 10 minutes. Much easier with a family of 5 than getting checked in/out of a hotel.
- For long trips like the 18 days we're doing this summer we can cook our own meals instead of eating out the whole trip
- We can sleep almost anywhere. Driving across the country and tired, just pull into a Walmart or a gas station truck stop and spend the night for free
- Emergency bathroom break in Wyoming
- It's like sleeping at home. Ok, not as comfy as my bed at home, but I am one of those people where the first night or two in a hotel I sleep awful until I get used to it, but with the trailer it feels familiar and I sleep better.
All that said, if I didn't have a trailer, I wouldn't get to wake up to views like this:
What Geoff said. Hard to find a condo (e.g. with its own kitchen) where you step out the door and are welcomed with this. Of course not all camping settings are like that. But even at the RV park we stayed at a couple week ago we were back up to the Colorado River with a firepit and easy chairs right out our door. Cable TV, wifi, etc. when we needed it. All for $50.
Now when we go to AZ in the winter I think we'll continue to do a couple weeks in a condo as the trailer will be stored in Oregon. But I can now consider being in Oregon for 2-3 months mostly living out of our trailer and going all over the place with our portable "condo".
But then, we didn't do RV'ing when I was growing up. (I was in Scouts and all we had when camping was a plastic tarp for a tent and a corresponding one for a ground cloth. No car camping. No gas stoves (or gas lighter fluid). No mosquito netting. One trip a month, every month, year round for 5 years. (Oregon) So being in a trailer like we have is the Ritz! It also means that my wife will join me. 
Now when we go to AZ in the winter I think we'll continue to do a couple weeks in a condo as the trailer will be stored in Oregon. But I can now consider being in Oregon for 2-3 months mostly living out of our trailer and going all over the place with our portable "condo".
But then, we didn't do RV'ing when I was growing up. (I was in Scouts and all we had when camping was a plastic tarp for a tent and a corresponding one for a ground cloth. No car camping. No gas stoves (or gas lighter fluid). No mosquito netting. One trip a month, every month, year round for 5 years. (Oregon) So being in a trailer like we have is the Ritz!
It also means that my wife will join me.
Just some data points from our tow from Grand Junction to the Bend, OR area last week.
- Just under 1,000 miles
- Left Fruita, CO at 2PM. Stayed one night in Provo, UT. Arrived in Burns, OR at 5PM the next day. Then drove to Crescent, OR (hour south of Bend) after a 2-day stay in Burns and a visit to the Steens Mountains
- Avg speed - 62. Plenty of 65-70 but also a number of winding roads that kept us slower.
- Trailer weight - 5800#. LC weight 7600# (with weight distribution applied)
- Avg MPG - 9.5
My old trailer was about 5000# loaded. Fun stats from the vehicle computer from my trip from Chicago to the LCDC, Moab, Grand Canyon, Zion, and then back home last summer. Note with the larger tires my speedometer is 3-5% lower so all of these are actually slightly low:
- 4463 miles total (an unofficial 3722 miles of that was with the trailer in tow)
- 36.2 mph average
- 8.8 mpg
- 507 gallons of fuel @ about $2.79/gallon = ~$1,414
- 123 hours in the car
- Potential to listen to “Holiday Road” on repeat 3354 times
Good stats! My average speed probably showed on the high side because it was almost all interstate or 65mph highway. I have somewhat larger tires (285/65) as well and I did not factor that in. In fact, I just took the info off of the trip data in the LC. BTW, I expect gas will be a bit higher for your drive to LCDC!
I did 70+ on the highway, but much of the remaining 800 miles was slow - wheeling, idling, driving through town, etc. And really even in the 3700 miles of trailer pulling, probably 20% of that was off highway for me anyway. If I hadn't seen the average speed listed I would've sworn I still averaged 45-50mph.
I expect my mileage will be roughly the same this trip, but fuel costs are up. It'll be interesting to see though...
I expect my mileage will be roughly the same this trip, but fuel costs are up. It'll be interesting to see though...
