Off Highway MPG

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2mbb

2mbb

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I recently got back from a trip to death valley. Me in my FJ-60 and a buddy in his supercharged FZJ-80. On the last leg of the trip we both started at Scotty's castle with full tanks, took the road to race track, down Lipponcot grade, up Saline Valley road and over Steel Pass to Eureka Dunes, then out to Big Pine. In all it was 45 miles on asphalt and 105 off-highway (according to my map software). Most of the off highway driving was pretty easy stuff--just some washboard--with stretchs of Lipponcot and Steel Pass where I needed to put it in 4Lo. But I did stay in 4Hi for most of the off-highway driving (I don't know what my buddy did). We were both loaded with gear, but I was probably a little more so.

Back at Big Pine we compared fuel usage. His FZJ-80 used 15 gallons (10 mpg) and I used 22 gallons (7 mpg). I was surpirsed at the difference? Is the 80 series that much more efficient? Does this sound correct?

When it's all freeway driving I can get 12 - 15mpg at 65mph.

Thanks in advance for your insight.
 
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Hell no, that makes NO SENSE to me, and Im really pissed at you that you get so muc better MPG's than I do:D
Seriously, I was always of the impression that the off road mileage was FAR WORSE that straight driving. If thats the case...Ill be golden in mine. I get about 200 Miles on one tank of gas which is about 15 MPG.
Im running down to DV next weekend for the annual BLOTCH gathering, and we have a 6 hr trip from reno to olancha...I got the rig all snapped out with some O2's ERG, full fluids, wires plugs etc. so Im hoping it does a little better...well see though.
HOw was the trip? What were the conditions like? Got any pics? How bout a good story to tell?
I frickin CANT WAIT for the trip...Ive been planning on it for a YEAR...since the day I left infact, last year.
I know you had an awsome time!!! DV RULES:beer:

Chicago
 
Chicago: I did have a typo in my original message--I got 7mpg on the off road saga, but normally get 15 when I'm doing steady freeway driving. It was my buddy in his stupid 80 series that got the good off highway mileage. I didn't see him fill up in Big Pine (with his supercharger there is no way I can keep up with him on the freeway), so he probably lied about how much fuel he used.

Death Valley was great. I'm ready to go back. We were there for five days and didn't get to see or go everywhere we wanted to. We got some rain on the first day (it was snowing at Wildrose and higher elevations, but my passengers didn't want to stay). The rest of the week was overcast except for one day. This was probably for the best because it kept the temperatures down.

During our driving in Saline Valley, the figher jets would take mock-straifing runs, coming out of nowhere and flying right over us. Our defense dollars at work--it was pretty cool.

Three Pics: a cool powerwagon at Ballart, my LC in Eureka Valley, and the two land cruisers in Marble Canyon.

Have a good trip.
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Im glad you had a blast down there, and 7 mpg actually sound what Id expect, though a little low. Im really curious as to what Mine's going to get next week after all the upgrades and stuff, but Im not expectiong much better results than what you got. Those engines seem to be great runners, but not good for the economy or power.
Thanks fro the pics...they get me psyched...
Ill be posting pics with a write up when I get back.

Chicago
 
Those BFG ATs worked out for you pretty well? Any flats? Did you air down?
Just curious.

Chicago
 
Chicago: No flats for either of us. I was running at 25 psig (aired down from 35 but probably still a little too high). I have another thread about the washboard on some of the roads and the general recommendation is to air down and speed up. The rangers at Furnace creek were full of warnings about sharp rocks on the road to Race Track, and I had a hard time getting them to tell me whether lipponcot grade was open and drivable, but I guess they have to deal with a lot of ya-hoo's and have to be very careful with their advice.
 
For true off road use (not back roads but trails) I use 5 mpg for figuring when considering Cruisers.

Edit... Modified Cruisers that is. Tires in the 38 plus range running 8-12 psi

For more stock cruisers 6-8 seems pretty normal.

For mini trucks with factory 4 cylinder engines 8-10 mpg.

This has worked out pretty well overall for making sure that we have enough fuel for everyone without hauling a lot more than we need.


Mark...
 
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5 MPG!!!! OUCH! I guess that would be a pretty good estimate though. Im bringing a fill up's worth of Fuel...Well fill the tank in Bishop, camp in the Olancha dunes for the night, hit breakfast at the local diner there, then top off in Olancha and fill the spare tanks and the trip begins.
Last year, we rented an H2...It was a gas pig much like the cruisers...It was a DREAM on the washboard...seriously. We smoked the guyz with solid axels. One good thing about IFS.

Chicago
 
2mbb said:
Chicago: No flats for either of us. I was running at 25 psig (aired down from 35 but probably still a little too high).
Click to expand...

yap I usually usea 20 PSI off asphals and 12 for rocks and mud ..
 
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