Yahoo Message Number: 88155 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88155)
http://www.kutv.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_5107.shtml (http://www.kutv.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_5107.shtml)
Rich O.
Yahoo Message Number: 88172 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88172)
Older Magna w/no tag. This is why I buy Michelins and why you need to replace every 7 years, especially on the front.
Rich 2002 Magna
Yahoo Message Number: 88177 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88177)
My home state is Utah, so this was all over the local news.
It is a very sad accident with devastating results - a family losing both parents on the first day of their trip to Disneyland.
I always look at these accidents and try to put myself in the same situation, wondering what one could do to change the outcome. Some details about the accident do seem strange. The local St George newspaper has much better coverage, including some video of the aftermath.
Photo Gallery Here (http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=G3&Dato=20130524&Kategori=PHOTOGALLERIES10&Lopenr=305240804&Ref=PH)
Video News Story (http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20130524/NEWS01/305240009/Two-die-motor-home-crash)
The highway patrolman was quoted:
Yahoo Message Number: 88179 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88179)
Very sad.....prayers for the family.
It is a 99 Magna. Had one almost like it for 8 1/2 years.
Tammy T
2006 Affinity 6611
Yahoo Message Number: 88180 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88180)
The thread on this topic was shut down over on Open Roads Forum after the moderator thought some of the speculation about what happened in this sad accident was insensitive. Horrible to hear a family lost two members.
While maintenance may or may not have been an issue, it should be a reminder to all of us to check the condition of our tires, including tire pressures.
Per
95 Affinity
Yahoo Message Number: 88196 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88196)
My wife and I recently took an RV driving course at LazyDays in Tucson. First to speed the instructor stated that 55 to 62 is the sweet spot mileage wise for a diesel pusher. Second he stated that LazyDays did a real world experiment where two identical coaches travelled from Florida to San Francisco. One went 55 the whole way and the other whatever the speed limit was up to 75. At the end of the test the coach going 55 got to San Francisco first because the faster coach required 3 additional fuel stops. That is a lot of wasted money to at the end of the day lose time. As to a blow-out and I never knew this. If a tire blows out you MUST immediately accelerate in order to get control of the coach and only then slow down in a controlled fashion. LazyDays has a Dept. Of Transportation video posted demonstrating why this is so. The idea of accelerating after a blow-out is counterintuitive at least to me but the video and explanation are sound and I think about this every time I drive.
Bottom line is slow down and enjoy the trip that is what this life-style is all about and then do every thing you can to be safe. As our instructor said, "Don't let anyone or any situation cause you to endanger yourself or your coach. Better laughed or even cursed at than mourned for". These were wise words I had never heard before and I past them on. Take care all and safe travels.
Al Kirkendall
2009 Veranda 300
Serial # 52197
Yahoo Message Number: 88201 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88201)
55 MPH is too slow for us. Not only because it takes forever to get anywhere, but also the coach will stay in 5th gear most of the time, negating any fuel savings. Sweet spot is at 65 MPH, which is at max HP. If not in a hurry, we cruise about 62 MPH. We run 8-9 MPG barring headwinds or hilly terrain.
Per Korslund
95 Affinity 5259
Yahoo Message Number: 88202 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88202)
Ditto to the sweet spot being 62 MPH..
Just 1-2 miles an hour faster and the MPG crashes.
Russ
05 Intrigue
11883
Yahoo Message Number: 88203 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88203)
How do you arrive at the sweet spot? Is it a function of the RPM where maximum torque is achieved...and not exceeding that RPM? I haven't had my coach long enough to test cause and affect. I think my Cummins 400 ISL has peak torque of 1200 ft lbs at 1300 rpm. So would my sweet spot be 1300 rpm?
Dan
2006 Allure with tag
#31344
From: "russg@..."
Sender: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 30 May 2013 11:46:42 -0500
To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com
ReplyTo: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: How fast is too fast"
Ditto to the sweet spot being 62 MPH..
Just 1-2 miles an hour faster and the MPG crashes.
Russ
05 Intrigue
11883
Yahoo Message Number: 88207 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88207)
Dan, the sweet spot was found via recorded fuel consumption on long legs.. using cruise control.
It was mirrored on the Silverleaf, (fuel consumption rates) as well.
After a while one can feel it in the seat of one's pants.
Drag coefficient and torque / RPM (combined) is hard to quantify with our coaches.
But the numbers do show up at the end of the day..
Russ
05 Intrigue
11883
._,___
Yahoo Message Number: 88208 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88208)
Hi Dan,
Coaches can be a bit different between years and models, based upon different engines (CAT vs Cummins, or even 2004 ISL370 vs newer ISL425, etc.). Different years could also have different gearing in the rear ends too.
If you have Silverleaf, set it to display the rolling MPG. Take sometime to call Cummins with your coaches engine number, and ask them for the specific RPM to Torque peak, and RPM to HP peak, ranges.
Then over a few full tanks, watch your RPM to Torque and HP, and get a feel for the rolling MPG at different RPM's on a flat highway.
We find out ISL370, returns the best MPG at also just about 62MPG. But we find for hill climbing, we bump up the RPM's to and it can hold the grade a bit better. We loaf along at about 1650RPM at 62MPH, then climb to between 1850-2000RPM for hill climbing, dropping gears as needed.
One other side comment on the speeding up with a blowout to retain control comment. I think this was for steer wheel blowouts only (could be wrong). For rear blow outs, just ease off the gas and coast to the side of the road, avoid braking if you can. That is how I understand the blowout driving strategy. If front, and you do punch it to get control, then the same thing, ease off on the gas, and coast without braking if you can.
Best to all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017 40' Tag
Yahoo Message Number: 88209 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88209)
For me, the sweet spot is where the engine feels most comfortable, and has nothing to do with mileage. For our engine, that is at the max HP point--at 1,600 RPM or 65 MPH in 6th gear. Max torque is much lower at 1,200 RPM.
Per
95 Affinity
Yahoo Message Number: 88215 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88215)
I have to agree, but have found by dropping weight, carrying less water and stuff, pulling less, a smaller CR-v, that I can now travel at 68 and get appox the same Milage as I did at 63. Finding a good tail wind and staying away from headwinds is the most important thing. I mean a hilly road is a hilly road. I do wish I had a flow meter like my CR-v in the coach. Its really an art to save fuel. I'm learning that moderate acceleration to 40 where I get into 4th gear and then moderate acceleration above that works best for the CR-V . I imagine the same to 5 th gear an onto 6th gives the best results for the coach. I know stop and go driving eats fuel, causes the transmission to over heat and frustrates the co-pilot. We were stacked up in city traffic for over an hour the other day due to a motor cycle accident. Seemed like I burned a 1/4 tank of fuel to travel 7 miles.
Here's an illustration. We were driving between Junction Texas and Ozona last week when an 45 ft 08 Intrigue with a Cummins ISM 500 over took us, we were running 67 Into a moderate cross wind. We were playing road side tag and I chose to skip one, so just barley beat him to The Ft Stockton Good Sam park. We got to talking and found out he was averaging about 6.5 mpg to my 8.3 at the time. I realize he weighs 6,000 lbs more than I do and is towing a 1000 lbs more. But I have read reviews of Safari's and others using the ISM that got even better milage than I do staying AROUND 60 to 63 MPH. I realize fuel isn't near the most taxing item on the travel expense list unless your driving straight through over long distances, but, its fun to figure out how to reduce costs. Maybe driving from Three in the morning until 9 or so when there is little wind is an idea for some. I do, however, prefer daylight with the sun above the windshield and not in my eyes. I guess that's why I prefer North and south to east and west. .
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731
Yahoo Message Number: 88217 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88217)
Thomas I have been asking that question for years, and yours is the first logical answer I have received. North South it is.
I have tried both but never considered your perspective.
How do you get to Miami from San Diego, going North and South?
Bob Wexler
SOB
Yahoo Message Number: 88220 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88220)
We'll I cheat, I go west when the wind isn't blowing and go east, north and South when it is. In this part of the world then wind blow mostly from the west or south west. The only time we get a norther or wind from the east is when its either to cold to travel to the north or just plain nasty when the when blow from the east. When we go to Oregon I wait for a calm day and drive to Tucson, visit friends and then drive North to Phoenix. If I'm on a schedule I then drive north by north west to Las Vegas and Reno. Then I hop over the Sierras to Sacramento. When I'm in a hurry I take I 5 North to Eugene or Portland. On the way back its to Florence then south along the coast to Santa Rosa, my former Home then put up my sail and catch the wind to LODI or I-5 and then South to visit friends. Put up the sail up again and catch the wind from Palm Desert all the way to El Paso. On a good windy day I can make 9.2 mpg at a ground speed of 70 mph. Just like going to Houston or Dallas from El Paso, wait for the Western prevailing wind. Every once in a while I get double crossed. In March going from Houston to Frederickburg I got caught buy a 40 mph Norther, and my milage dropped below 7.0 mpg at 55 to 60 mph on HWY 290. There, I couldn't deploy my sail and tack against the wind; or is it tac?
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731
Yahoo Message Number: 88221 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88221)
Concerning the St. George accident I have a question. It seems that I've always heard, maybe it was simply a sales pitch, that independent front suspensions provide greater control of the coach if it experiences a catastrophic front tire failure.
Sadly we'll never know all the circumstances of the accident that initiated this thread but I would appreciate the wisdom of this group concerning the safety or danger of alternative suspensions.
We replaced the Good Years on the front at three years with Michelins strictly for personal confidence.
G Brown
2007 Allure 31447
Yahoo Message Number: 88223 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88223)
Dan
My C-9 develops max to torque at 1200 rpm and CAT techs have said torque is more important than hp especially with pulling underload. They have suggested not exceeding 13 to 1400 rpms when trying to pull those long western grades.
Dan 2006 Allure 31348
Yahoo Message Number: 88224 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88224)
Smitty
On my C-9, I was bumping rpms un to around 2000 rpms when pulling long grades and I was generating excessive exhaust temp error codes. I was told to keep the rpms down and concentrate on maximizing torque.
Dan 2006 Allure 31348
Yahoo Message Number: 88225 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88225)
At those low RPM's Cat is famous for then water circulation and cooling fan speed become the issue. So if you see the temps starting to climb shift down as Allison recommends because it needs the temps of the engine to stay with in the transmission limits as the engine and transmission share the same radiator and in some cases an external Hayden supplementary radiator was added for those special occasions when the fan isn't turning at full high. I believe the Affinities and Magnas from 05 and 06 were particularly susceptible to over heating and earlier Magnas with the C-10 also had issues. 05 and 06 Intrigues with C-13 had the problem, too.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731
Yahoo Message Number: 88228 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88228)
Issues issues, we all have issues. ISL owners wind their engines up tight, Cat wants their engine to growl. I guess it doesn't matter as long as we get over the hill, with out frying the pistons or burning up the transmission. PS. Sounds like some one from Cat over tuned your C-9 a bit. They can do that, so watch out. A couple Allure owners I know with C-9's had Cat techs at Cat rallies turn up their engines a bit!
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731
Yahoo Message Number: 88229 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88229)
Hi Dan - Did not know you had a C-9, why I mentioned calling Cummins with your engine number. I would follow the advice of CAT for your specific engine in regards to the sweet spot on RPM for torque and HP.
So many variables between years and models, and sometime within the same year and model with optional engines. (Some 2005 Intrigues came with ISL400's, some were optioned out with Big Cat Blocks, as one example.)
I stand by my suggestion to go play with a few full tanks, and experiment watching the Silverleaf rolling MPG...
Sorry I did not catch that your coach had a C-9.
Have some fun:)!
Smitty
04 Allure 31017 ISL370 Tag
Yahoo Message Number: 88230 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88230)
Thanks Thomas - Great point that another major variable on MPG is 'total weight'... Agree 100% that less is best for better MPG.
Our toad is a CRV too, and I've always joked that is has never found a small hill it will not downshift for:)! If not careful, our 2007 will easily return low 20's MPG. With a bit of care right foot application, and dropping speeds down to around the 65-67MPH range, very easy to get high 20's on the freeways.
So many things can effect MPG, but one constant is the 'punching of the hole' in the air at highway speeds... Tail winds help:)!
Best to all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
Yahoo Message Number: 88231 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88231)
What about max RPM when descending on the C-9? I have concerns because I have gone to 2380 rpm when using the Pacbrake.
Currently in West Yellowstone, Mt
Buddy Bordes Inspire 360 C-9 51887
Yahoo Message Number: 88236 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88236)
It is a fairly simple matter to do calculations to determine the speed of a vehicle in an accident from skid marks, etc. You can be sure the police have done those. Whether that info will ever be made public is another matter.
Rich 2002 Magna
Yahoo Message Number: 88237 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88237)
The news video I saw, said there were NO skid marks.
That led to speculation about the driver falling asleep or experiencing a medical issue, contributing to the accident.
Bob Wexler
SOB
Yahoo Message Number: 88238 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88238)
Stop and go driving we get about 20 to 22 mpg at 4000 ft altitude. On the interstate about 29 at 70 mph. Driving the high ways between 60 and 65 gives us 30 + , between 55 and 60 about 33 according to the computer and unlike the Silverleaf the computer in the CR-v is always right, so far. Its also amazing how much your milage will improve by inflating your tires to 35 lbs from 28 or 29, but then the ride is like a pickup. I wanted a new Odessey, but the Cr-v does for us about 95% of what the Cr-v and costs a bunch less to operate. I do miss being able to haul 6 to 8 people though at rallies, etc and the rear air-conditioner vents. TWI 2012 CRV
Yahoo Message Number: 88294 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88294)
I have told that there is very little danger of damaging the engine due to the safe guards built into the Allison. I routinely hit that for a brief period but it then comes back down to about 2250 where it seems to settle.
Yahoo Message Number: 88295 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88295)
Per
I think there is a difference when cruising on the relatively level terrain and when climbing long grades. In my C-9 I also run about 1500-1600 rpms on the level: but, I have to really drop it down when climbing. As I said before I was bumping rpms up to 2000 rpm but getting excessive exhaust temp error codes and told to drop the rpms to closer to max torque which is around 1200 rpms. I now try and keep it around 13-1400 rpms and I have noticed that it seems to like the result but I sure do climb a lot slower than I like. Those tags add a lot of weight.
Dan 2006 Allure 31348 (traveling in the truck slow lane)
Yahoo Message Number: 88300 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88300)
On my ISC and ISl 400 the up shift point with the exhaust brake in one case and the engine brake in the other was 2600 rpm. When I descended Wolf Creek Pass in the past before putting the coach on a diet and changing to the CR-v, I would be in second gear right at 2550 most of the way and having to tap the brakes now and then. I would even get a warning yellow light forcing me to upshift, apply the throttle for a few seconds to increase oil circulation, and then continue. >Going down the grape vine or descending either side of Eisenhower tunnel on I-70 in Colorado or that beautiful stretch heading east on I 70 in Utah cause me no issues even though I might be turning 2500 in 3rd or 4th. I imagine the ISX owners the limit is probably more like 2450. I' ve seen my engine up shift at full throttle at or approaching 2200 rpm and ISX 600's on test drives at 2050 so the limits of big blocks to medium blocks isn't that much different. So 2250 should be no cause for worry. Just don't touch the throttle until you up shift.
There was an instance when the accumulator section of the injection pump was allowing diesel to enter the oil system of the engine, thus thinning it. So, when I went to use the engine brake it wasn't very helpful and I had to use my service brakes till I could get to Cummins for repairs. Since I have changed from Rotella to Valvoline my down the road oil pressure is back over 40 lbs and when I descend grades the oil pressure approaches 65 lbs. So when the coach shifts down to second going down at 9 or 10% grade you feel as if you are dragging a large anchor; there is so much braking force with out touching the brakes. I'll try Wolf Creek and maybe Slumgullion pass this summer and let you know if there is a change in the results.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731 and Allure 30255