Truck and Trailer

[slowmover]

Yeah, the little things add up. It isn't that one hitch type will produce more power so much that reduced steering wheel corrections translates to lower HP demand over a given distance. When the constant average demand drops.

And the other problems as you note are easily more significant. Bearing preset, brake drag, alignment, and tire pressure are the real culprits. Reduction of steering inputs -- number, degree and duration -- is cited by Cummins, Kenworth and others as measurable.

Topping the grade at 70 is a feat. But starting at 70 is difficult. I'd be inclined to allow 75 at the base of the grade.

We could change each of the things mentioned and measure the HP demand change. We won't but I think we can agree that a problem of these types will drag the rig down faster than if optimal.


from the AIRphone

[tjdonahoe]

I try to drive at 62 , as I 'm not on the clock and no log book, some days we only travel 200 miles as we do a lot of look- seeing, so you guys better hope there is a passing lane going up that hill.........

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

I try to drive at 62 , as I 'm not on the clock and no log book, some days we only travel 200 miles as we do a lot of look- seeing, so you guys better hope there is a passing lane going up that hill.........

Yea, well, I drive 65, so I'll be blow'in your doors off at 3MPH.

[tjdonahoe]

Is all I can say is that you won't be passing a virgin! Some days I get passed 4 times by the same fellow....

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

Is all I can say is that you won't be passing a virgin! Some days I get passed 4 times by the same fellow....

I know that's right, and you pass him four times when he's at the gas pump.

[J. Morgan]

In my older age I stop every 200 miles or so and as a rule I will tow no more than about 700 miles in one stretch.

I wont post here what I did when I was young and in a big hurry.




1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

In my older age I stop every 200 miles or so and as a rule I will tow no more than about 700 miles in one stretch.

I wont post here what I did when I was young and in a big hurry.




1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow

Yes, I understand, J. I wish I could drive 200 miles in one setting, but cannot today. More like 150 (really 3 hours) is max for me.

And, we like to go no more than 400 miles a day now, but have in the past put in some 750-800 mile days with the trailer. Retired now, so no need to do that any more.

I won't talk about what all I did when I was young, because either no one would believe me, or I would be put on some "list".

[tjdonahoe]

Yea ! No body will admit to why, one drove so far when younger, when older you realize it ain't going to spoil!! I better go plow some snow, we got more cold and snow coming our way...

[slowmover]

Safety training is to stop every two hours or about 100 miles for a fifteen minute break. Every four hours or at about the 200 mile mark for about an hour.

The daily refueling at that four hour point with lunch at that place or nearby is what works well.

300 miles or three o'clock with the above and the daily trip plan writes itself.


from the AIRphone

[SteveH]

That's about what we do when traveling. A break in the morning, then a lunch break, and then another brake in the afternoon, but we probably don't take an hour at lunch when we are actually on the road going somewhere.

As you know, it's a long way in miles to almost anywhere from where we live.

[slowmover]

Yup, it's a thousand miles to anywhere it seems. So while the trip plan is vital it needs to accommodate a longer first pair of days. My rule is then to be parked before dark and not to have exceeded 10 hours at the wheel.

I do 11 or 12 at work depending on what rule set we're under and it gets old. Anything over 600 mikes is like hitting a wall.

So, for personal travel I'd like to see no more than 450 miles and under 10 hours of drive time, not total time. I can usually look over the route with alternatives and come up with an acceptable compromise on miles/hours with breaks and refuel.

I play with miles as a goal but it really depends on whether I'll be in metro area traffic. Construction, etc can be known in advance on big roads so it takes more work.

It generally is not worth it to push hard one day and be tired the next three days. Hopefully none of us has to travel that far to get to a nice area.


from the AIRphone

[SteveH]

Yes, people in other parts of the country don't understand why we drive what they consider to be fast, and why so far. Even where I am, unless I go to Mexico, which isn't happening these days, it's 500 or more miles just about any direction I go just to get out of the state. And, once you get out of the state, you feel more like your on a trip.

Where we go in Colorado a lot, it's a very hard two day drive, and an easy three, so we do it in two and a half, the first day concentrating on getting out of Texas, or close. It's 615 miles for us to the state line up thru the Panhandle.

[slowmover]

What route do you all like out of RR? Angle up towards US-287 at?

If I run up to Childress at US-287 then Texline on the NM border is 791 miles.



from the AIRphone

[SteveH]

RR? Not sure what you mean, but when we go to Colorado, we've been almost every way imaginable, but the shortest and fastest is to go to Raton and then up to Walsenburg, and then cut across to South Fork on 160 I believe it is.

To get there we go to Junction and take 83 North to Winters, then cut across on 70 to Sweetwater, then 84 all the way to Littlefield, and then 385 North. Minimum traffic, minimum towns, and good road all the way.

Last year coming back from Idaho we came down 287 to IH27, but that was because we were running with no trailer brakes, and I didn't want to go thru Denver. Anyway, not taking IH27 any more because it's concrete and has gotten very rough.

[tjdonahoe]

Got the snow moved, waiting for more of it..You guys are making me tired, driving 700 miles in 10 hours, getting to the campground by3, whew!! Last spring right after the tornado's hit Omaha, a friend and I drove to Johnson City Tennessee ,to pick up my new trailer, right at 76 hours driving, stopped twice on the way back for 6 hours or so,I remember leaving Omaha early and it was midnight when I pulled in the driveway at home, and it was pouring rain from Sheridan ,no more, until next time???

[slowmover]

For me to get to Texline would be during day two and near the end of it


from the AIRphone

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by slowmover

For me to get to Texline would be during day two and near the end of it


from the AIRphone

Well yes, you have 150+ miles farther to go than do I. Again, what's RR?

[slowmover]

Round Rock

[SteveH]

We're closer to San Antonio....about 20 miles North.

[slowmover]

My mistake. There are a good number of AIR contributors along IH35. NB or San Marcos is 170-180 from here.