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Two days of towing the Tahoe

Yahoo Message Number: 257
Saturday was not a good day. Rain and wind and lots of it. US
immigration was very slow and it took 50 minutes to cross the Ambassador
bridge.

We decided to gas early because the ScanGauge II indicated 6.3 mpg - a
lot less than I was expecting. When we filled up the pump at the
Beaverdam OH (I-75 Ex 135) Flying J shut off at .1 gallons over what the
ScanGauge indicated we used. So the 6.3 was very accurate. Got blow
around a bit but the almost 6000 lbs we were towing seemed like a bit of
an anchor and at times it felt like it was tugging us.

Today was a TOTALLY DIFFERENT story. The instant MPG and the day's
average MPG were both much better. We gassed up after 160 miles at FJ
at Ex 171 in KY (160 miles on the tank) and this was 7.7 MPG actual and
on ScanGauge. MUCH HAPPIER WITH THAT :) Given the 6.3 we did not
want to even attempt to get to GA Ex 320 from Beaverdam. From 171 to
our stop this afternoon at Sweetwater Tn it is indicated 7.3 which,
given the hills in KY and the mountains in N. Tenn was pretty good.

Sure was different from our two diesels. Missed the Exhaust brake but
it was not as bad as I expected. Annoying thing was turning 4600 rpm
when climbing - doing 65 or so - sure can scream. The fellow parked
next to us in an 05 Winnie Adventurer 8.1L Workhorse W24 (38 ft with 3
big slides) claims he went up and over at 65 and never turned more than
3500 rpm. Guess he doesn't have a ScanGauge :). He tows an Aura and
claims it only weights 2500 lbs so he doesn't need a supplementary brake
system as Penn only requires it over 3000 lbs. GM shows his Aura XR as
3600 lbs. :)

Anyway, much happier at the end of the second day than the first. Day
one also had a terrible squeek from the side door. Just awful. We
shuffled some items in the basement bin and it disappeared today and
things were much better.

Now on to Camping World at the TN/GA border in the morning and then to
Exit 127 in GA for a stay at a nice little place called Twin Oaks. Then
Tuesday into FLA and away from the cold - but forecast for Tampa Bay is
rain and wind - but WARM rain. :) It was 30 when we got up this AM and
it is expected to be 37 here in the morning (cold front coming in).

D

Re: Two days of towing the Tahoe

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 258
Glad to hear things have gotten better as you go Don. I'm impressed with
the mileage you're getting hauling that big Tahoe behind you. I would
have expected about 5 mpg.

Quote
Sure was different from our two diesels. Missed the Exhaust brake but
it was not as bad as I expected.

With about half the torque and a lot less hp, I reckon you would notice
a difference in the hills. My diesel didn't have an exhaust brake so
I've never used one of them. If I ever get another one I'll have one though.

Quote
Annoying thing was turning 4600 rpm
when climbing - doing 65 or so - sure can scream.

Geez, it was turning that high, eh? That would sound like it was
screaming. You much have kicked down to about third gear to get it up
that high. It is loud up front.

Quote
next to us in an 05 Winnie Adventurer 8.1L Workhorse W24 (38 ft with 3
big slides) claims he went up and over at 65 and never turned more than
3500 rpm. Guess he doesn't have a ScanGauge :).

How does the scangauge tie in to read the rpm? I wonder which is more
accurate.

Quote
Anyway, much happier at the end of the second day than the first.

Good news.

Quote
one also had a terrible squeek from the side door. Just awful.

Don't you love chasing squeaks? I've got a couple I need to run down and
fix. My overhead powered vent above the front bed whistles so bad it
drive me nuts, but I stuffed an insulating pillow in it and that helped.
I'm hoping when I put the cover of it, it will go away.

Quote
rain and wind - but WARM rain. :) It was 30 when we got up this AM and
it is expected to be 37 here in the morning (cold front coming in).

They're calling for 38 here in Raleigh, NC, but that's because of the
same front. We've gone from summer directly to winter this week. Then
again we'll be in the low 70's during the day this week.

Have a safe trip the rest of the way. Glad to hear it's going well now.

Take care,
Greg

Re: Two days of towing the Tahoe

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 259
Greg, ScanGauge II can be set up to show a variety of things. My standard screen shows MPH, RPM, Instant MPG and Voltage. Periodically I hit the trip screen and I can get my highest RPM today and yesterday. Really worth the $170 bucks or so my son paid for it. Connected to the OBD II connector in minutes as well.

Also provides gallons used and this tied in perfect for our two fills at Flying J's.

Don

Greg Gimlick wrote: