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slow-canoe · 08-30-2005, 07:39 PM

I am still looking for a Argosy motorhome 24-28 footer, what I would like to know what kind of fuel mileage are others getting if you drive like you have some scence. Still really like the Argosy .

2airishuman · 08-30-2005, 08:44 PM

hi slow-canoe

these were mostly 454 gm powered on p-30 chassis....they did make a really short one 20-22ft? that is really cute too and was on another platform. mostly these moho's will get 8-9mph tops and maybe a tad better if you only drive 55 on the flats and gather speed reeeeeeeeeeeeeeally slowly....but 8-9 is still the average mph.

highly moded drivetrains will get up to speed, pass and climb better but get the same mileage. it's mostly the result of frontal area and the amount of air pushed by the coach face.....

they really are cool coaches and can be had for a small sum but unless you find a garage queen, they can be full of surprises.....rememeber it's a 30 year old house AND a 30 year old car.....so every system is a potential spending issue. now maybe you're very handy with lots of mechanical skills.

on the plus side this was a really common gm chassis so parts are everywhere and not really expensive.....mostly.

cheers
2air'

Porky Pig · 08-30-2005, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slow-canoe

I am still looking for a Argosy motorhome 24-28 footer ...

I spotted this one in Arizona last February ... it was in a small town (really small!) ... so it is probably still there. Looked a bit rough to me.

ALANSD · 08-31-2005, 05:52 AM

the 20' model was the shortest and had a 350. The others with the 454 get 8-9 mpg, although some claim a bit higher. Without much mdification ( carb, exhaust,etc) the 8-9 is realistic.

slow-canoe · 09-06-2005, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porky Pig

I spotted this one in Arizona last February ... it was in a small town (really small!) ... so it is probably still there. Looked a bit rough to me.

Thanks for the heads up on the motor home, a little out of my way being in Ohio. But for curiosty sake what part of Arizona was it in? Still looking but maybe a little closer to home.

Porky Pig · 09-06-2005, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slow-canoe

But for curiosty sake what part of Arizona was it in?

Miami ...

... really ... Miami is located to the southeast of the Phoenix area out on Highway 60 ... near Globe.

Pahaska · 09-06-2005, 02:57 PM

I was towing south through Canton, TX yesterday on the way home, and what did I see at a gas station? A bright green 20-foot Argosy MH. I only had a short look, but it appeared pristine. The paint job looked absolutely flawless. Had there been a block to go around, I would have stopped for a look, but with 29' behind me and Labor Day traffic, I had to keep rolling.

I usually don't get excited about motorhomes, but this one was a doll!

bgurney · 09-11-2005, 11:09 PM

I have a 28 ft argosy, we averaged 7 to 8 miles per gal, going from Tampa to houston and back a couple of weeks ago, and I was towing a trailer with 3 full size full dress motorcycles, close to 3000 lbs counting the trailer. Trip back was hell, had to pass thru all the hurricane aftermath, but that is another story. Engine is a 454, that has about 3000 miles on it.

bimi · 09-12-2005, 03:02 PM

Hi everyone. I just wanted to send out a word on my gas mileage. I have a '71 29' Ambassador and am pulling it with my 1999 2 door 4x4 Tahoe. It's a short truck, but it pulls great. My last trip I averaged 11 mpg which I thought was great! That included being stuck on some interstates that had some real backup due to construction.

I'm excited and wanted to share! 11 mpg!

balrgn · 09-12-2005, 03:05 PM

Just back from NY with our '75, 25' Trade Wind. Averaged 12.5, (750 miles) good portion was Hiway. GMC Siearra Quad Steer with a 5.3 V8

TomW · 09-12-2005, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimi

... I have a '71 29' Ambassador ... I'm excited and wanted to share! 11 mpg!

Quote:

Originally Posted by balrgn

Just back from NY with our '75, 25' Trade Wind. Averaged 12.5 [mpg]...

You people make me sick!

With four people, and gear/food for 10 days, we averaged around 6 mpg with my Suburban & 26' Overlander on our last long distance trip.

But my '84 Burb is a carbuerated 454, and we were towing at 70 mph with the air conditioning on, so I can't say I was trying to conserve gas.

Tom

john hd · 09-12-2005, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomW

You people make me sick!

With four people, and gear/food for 10 days, we averaged around 6 mpg with my Suburban & 26' Overlander on our last long distance trip.

But my '84 Burb is a carbuerated 454, and we were towing at 70 mph with the air conditioning on, so I can't say I was trying to conserve gas.

Tom

hate to pile on here tom. but i got 12+ mpg on my last trip with the silverado.

70 mph, 29 excella in tow, harley in the bed of the truck, and the air on full blast.

i'd bet the 6.0 in the 'rado makes as much or more horses as your 454. 300HP whats yours got?

tuned port fuel injection is a wonderful thing!

john

TomW · 09-12-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john hd

hate to pile on here tom...

I hear you, John

My Silverado performs about the same way when towing the Overlander.

I look at it this way - Gas is [really expensive] per gallon.

But putting two, 4 & 5 year old boys in the third seat of an old Suburban with lotsa road noise, i.e., "Did someone scream something?" PRICELESS!!

Tom

john hd · 09-12-2005, 05:25 PM

tom

nothing says family harmony when travelling like room, lotsa room!

i remember an old chevy station wagon my folks had, we used to ride waaaay in the back. mostly so dad couldn't reach us with the free arm!

john

Chaplain Kent · 09-12-2005, 07:19 PM

We just returned from a 1100 mile trip up one side of the Mississippi and down the other in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Averaged 14.7 MPG highway, city and town road driving. We pull a small utility trailer with our bikes and a load of firewood, and supplies We kept our water tank full due to the questionable water fills in the parks. Diesel price was pretty steady at $2.89.

alfalsetto · 10-07-2005, 10:25 PM

That about the same I get with My 31ft. M/H. I get 13.7 to 14.0 GPM. Thats going up hill or going down or if I'm towing a Jeep back of it. It's the best M/H I ever had. I'll think this is going to be the last one I'll ever have, or want to get.

GlenCoombe · 10-08-2005, 08:18 AM

I've been getting a combined 7.5 with the generator running full time.... figure 8.5 actual and I don't worry too much about speed as I'm on and off the throttle with my stops at every golf course or retail golf shop.
I can't wait to get back home next week. I really want to get the carb overhauled before/after putting an exhaust gas analyzer on the beast. I can smell the rich, raw fuel going to waste with the current setup.
Has anyone got the economy figured out for re-jetting the quad?

swebster · 10-08-2005, 10:14 AM

Glen,
Have you considered just simply a rebuild on the carb? I ask because I was dealing with an over-rich condition on mine; rebuilt the carb, replaced the distributor, ignition, etc. Also added headers and free flow exhaust. I'm now getting an honest 8.5 towing my beetle behind the 345 and 9.4 empty (no TOAD, no water, etc.). I typically drive between 55mph and 60mph on highways.

Been shooting for the magic 10 mpg but don't see it happening without FI or some other BIG ($$$) mods and it doesn't seem worth it now for the 1/2 mpg. Other than considering swithing to diesel someday I think I'm done chasing the MPG on the current platform.

You might just find that a good rebuild and resetting the float could be all that you need. The rebuild kit is cheap and you can do it all on a Saturday. Bring the carb with you to the parts store as the kits a very specific to the serial number of the carb.

You can also expose the idle mixture screws by cutting the base plate and popping out the plugs. Idle mixture always seems rich on these 454's and this can help get things right. There is a good book on this available from Amazon. Something like "Rebuilding the Rochester Quadajet"

GlenCoombe · 10-08-2005, 12:32 PM

Steve, thanks for the info. I think I'll leave the carb work to my paid expert. I'll stay home and make appointments for the next week on the road.
I'm getting ready to take the header collector reducers out and go 3" all the way back. New free flowing mufflers and such. This should solve the constant need to tighten the collector bolts!
I'm better on the phone than on the wrench. I also don't get bloodied on the phone very often

Bob Thompson · 10-08-2005, 01:05 PM

We just returned from a month long trip to Amarillo, Santa Fe, Capital Reef NP and Glen Canyon, Bonneville Salt Flats, Sonoma/Napa, Sequoia NP, and the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Total miles traveled was 6329. We were pulling our '97 Excella 25 with a Toyota Tundra. The first tankful we got 12.7 mpg. I adjusted my tow speed to 58-60 and drove extra conservatively and ranged from 13.6 to 16.5 mpg per tankful for the rest of the trip. Mostly it was right around 15 mpg. This included a lot of mountainous driving. We thought the gas mileage wasn't all that bad and it helped take the sting out of filling up with $3 plus gas.