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Old 07-25-2006, 04:45 PM   #1
Montana Sky
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Need some ideas!!!

I am trying to make plans to attend the fall rally in Goshen in Sept. In order to make this happen I would really like to hear from you diesel folks out there what your fuel cost is for approx. 2200 miles of towing?? I know some of your rigs are heavier or lighter than mine, but please feel free to post your findings. I am looking for an average cost... Thanks in advance~
 
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Old 07-25-2006, 04:56 PM   #2
Gonfishin
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Montana Sky, alot depends on driving speeds, terrain and headwind. On average I would say I get about 11 mpg pulling my 3670 running 65 mph. I just returned home from a 1000 mile round trip and averaged 11.5 mpg. I have however averaged far less on a trip to texas in Jan with a 15 to 20 mph headwind. When I figure feul expense before a trip I figure 10 mpg just to be on the safe side.
Rick.
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Old 07-25-2006, 05:10 PM   #3
txkrumm
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Steve and I made a round trip from Montana to Virginia and back in May when we picked up our Monty. We used 403 gallons of fuel there and back; averaged 17.7 not towing and 13.3 towing. What killed our average was the hills of the applachia mountains. At one point while we were pulling the camper up a steep grade, steve looks down and sees his computer is telling him we were getting 2 miles a gallon! Diesel fuel back home runs 2.89-3.10 a gallon. Cheapest we paid was 2.69, most 3.09.
Good luck!
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Old 07-25-2006, 06:14 PM   #4
DHenry
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I would budget about $800.00 for the gas. The way I figured it is 10MPG @ $3.25 per gallon. If you get better MPG and pricing you will have a little left over for a nice dinner out when you get home. Have fun.
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Old 07-25-2006, 10:09 PM   #5
H. John Kohl
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In May I did 4000 miles NY to FL and back to NY via TN, KY, and OH. I averaged 11.2 on the trip with about 500 non towing. So the 10 MPG is a good average guess. If I pulled in western Maryland and the 8 mile 7% grades I would drop down to about 9 if I horsed it. When weighted I was combined 22800lbs.
Good luck and Safe towing.
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Old 07-25-2006, 10:47 PM   #6
Montana Sky
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Well I guess it helps if I plan for coming home as well. LOL! It looks like 2200 to Goshen from here, and then another 2200 miles home. With that, 4400miles/12mpg = 367 gallons. 367x$3.25 = $1,193 in fuel. Does that seem about right?? I usually average 14 mpg while towing around this area. I used 12mpg as I will have the continential divide in Montana and a few pass' in Idaho which will really suck up the fuel. I should be able to gain some of that back once I get passed Wall, SD as the road becomes pretty flat and the MPG should increase.
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Old 07-26-2006, 03:50 AM   #7
Glenn and Lorraine
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I think your $3.25 is a bit hi for diesel. I have found diesel to be less than $3 bucks a gallon. The highest prices are in Washington where it is in the 3.20s and the lowest is Virginia and South Carolina where it's in the 2.70s. Most all the other states are from 285 to 3 bucks.

You can get a better idea of the national prices by checking the Flying J Diesel Fuel Prices
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Old 07-26-2006, 07:53 AM   #8
Montana Sky
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Glenn,
You are right!! WE HAVE THE HIGHEST PRICE ON DIESEL IN THE COUNTRY!! I am happy to see the prices are getting cheaper as I would be heading east. =) If I can keep the fuel cost at $1,100 or under, it would sure make me happy.
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Old 07-26-2006, 10:25 AM   #9
awaywego
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When we travel I figure averaging 10 MPG and fuel at $3.00/ gal.
This will average about right and makes the numbers easy to work in the this old mans head.
Anything better is bonus anything less is usually only for a short distance.
Good luck
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Old 07-26-2006, 12:28 PM   #10
txkrumm
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Close to 1200 sounds right. We went 2200 one way, 4400 round trip, cost us little under 1100. That's at 65-68 MPH with cruise set.
good luck
tara
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Old 07-26-2006, 12:34 PM   #11
Montana Sky
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Tara,
As our tow vehicles are almost the same, and we tow at the same speeds. I am happy to hear my budget is not really out of line. Thanks!
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Old 07-26-2006, 12:47 PM   #12
Broome101
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Know that's alot of fuel. 2200 miles each way.
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Old 07-26-2006, 01:26 PM   #13
ronnilu
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Dave - we just returned from an 11,000 mile round trip from Calif. to Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, etc. & back home. It appears we put on about 3,000 of those miles touring and exploring, but overall mileage came to 12.7 mpg. That was uphill, downhill, grades, flats, headwinds, etc. We drive an '03 GMC longbed Duramax diesel with the 5 spd Allison, no add-ons. We pulled an '06 3295RK fully loaded (you never know what you might need on a 3 1/2 month trip!) that usually included a full tank of fresh water for those times we weren't going to be in a campground. You just have to deal with the regional fuel price differences, but I think a good guesstimate would be about 12 mpg with your rig. Enjoy that trip - we did! Mike
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Old 07-26-2006, 01:41 PM   #14
Montana Sky
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Mike and Ronni,
Now I am jealous!! 11,000 miles across this great nation of ours, and with a Montana in tow! Could life get any better?? Glad that you had an enjoyable time, I am really looking forward to this 4400 mile trip. =)
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Old 07-26-2006, 01:55 PM   #15
Mudchief
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Montana Sky I use the same figures as awaywego and I always come under that price. Anyway like I have told Dave before you can't put a price on having a good time.
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Old 07-26-2006, 05:45 PM   #16
jimr
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Just returned from 1155 mile round trip from Boise ID to Mammoth Lakes CA. all towing 3000 RK. Spent $285 on fuel and averaged 12.6 MPG. Ran at 65 MPH except over a couple of passes of 7600 and 8000 ft elevation where I droped down to 50 to 55. Highest I paid for fuel was $3.29 in Hawthorne NV. Did not have to by any fuel in CA thank God.
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Old 07-26-2006, 07:53 PM   #17
Fordzilla
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Montana Sky, look us up when it gets closer to the rally. We (SANDREASON & I) and our wifes are planning ot make the trip to Goshen as well. You will probably be coming thru our neck of the woods along the way. Maybe we could get a convoy going and I can draft behind you and Steve and my mileage would be 12-14 We averaged 12 pulling down to the mexican border and back last fall. But that was all pretty much flat ground. Diesel here in NW Iowa is 3.09/Gal now and I only look for it to go up until after labor day weekend.
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Old 07-26-2006, 08:26 PM   #18
Montana Sky
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Ron,
I will be coming(hopefully)through Iowa on I-80 into IL in early Sept. If I do end up making the rally, I will be leaving out of Joliet, IL. on I-80. We will have to meet between Morris, IL and Joliet. There are a few large truck stops between those two towns where we can get ourselves a convoy rolling.
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Old 07-26-2006, 09:33 PM   #19
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We are tentatively planning to leave on Monday the 18th or Tuesday the 19th and driving to Davenport and stay overnight. I have heard I-80 is all tore up thru Chicago from a few trucker friends of mine and am hoping some of it is done by September.
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Old 07-27-2006, 06:49 AM   #20
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Not sure what date we are leaving for Goshen, but we will be traveling up through Wyoming to SD to visit Rushmore, then down through Fordzilla country and take I80 until I39 in Illinois, then will head south to Hwy 24 and take it through IL/IN until we decide to head north again. Last year when we went to IN the construction on I80 south of Chicago was terrible and when we started home we dropped down to 24, then I39 back up to I80. That probably seems like a round about way to go, but the traffic on the highways was less that the interstate and we moved right along. Maybe Bob Pasternak, Fordzilla, or another member in the midwest could suggest another way to drop south of the construction if you want to avoid it. We'd also appreciate some input on those lines. I grew up in that country, but when you're a kid you don't pay much attention to highway #'s.
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