On Thu, 3 Dec 2015 12:38:51 -0500, Justan Olphart
wrote:

I trained my petal foot to think about safety and fuel economy. That
usually means at or under the speed limit.

===

Perhaps you could post some pictures of your petal foot. :-)

On Thu, 3 Dec 2015 13:12:10 -0500, Keyser Söze wrote:

My wife's new car gets 30+ mpg at
70 mph. I like that.

===

My wife's diesel gets 34 mpg at a steady 90mph on level road. The
engine is only turning a bit over 2,000 RPMs at that speed.

On Thu, 3 Dec 2015 12:50:13 -0500, Justan Olphart
wrote:

I84, I81, I77 is my preferred way to go although I don't like Scranton
very much.

It is better than it was in the olden days when you were on the
turnpike and you had that zig and zag on 22 from Harrisburg to
Allentown.
That was so bad, I was on 81 before it had actually opened.

On Thu, 3 Dec 2015 13:14:34 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

The one trip to and back from Florida in that POS Pace Arrow I had was
via your preferred route. First sign of trouble was picking up a rock
between the rear tires, causing a blowout on the inner one. Spent the
night in a truck repair parking lot while they ordered a new tire.

Then, noticed in the rear mirror that half the side of the RV was
flapping in the wind. A whole section had ripped the screws out of the
wooden blocks that where supposed to hold it in place. I discovered
then that the wooden blocks were simply glued in place and they used
sheetrock screws to hold the side panels to the blocks.

Next, (a problem you probably remember) ... lost the brakes. Brake line
let go on the way to a local KOA. I could smell the fluid.
Monster tow truck showed up to haul it away to that repair place, where
it sat for weeks. Remember helping me clean out the stupid refrigerator
after the propane tank ran out of gas?

Then I discovered the rubber fuel line running from the gas tank to the
genny had been installed so it was chaffing on a section of the frame
that had been cut with a torch but left rough, slag and all.

That was the final nail in the coffin for that POS. Got rid of it fast.

I bought it brand spanking new. Learned my lesson about RV's
manufactured by Fleetwood.

I had a neighbor who went through several "pushers" and I ended up
working on all of them. I was amazed at the junk they build and sell
for six figure prices.
I guess I grew up around real trucks.

On 12/3/15 1:14 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 12/3/2015 12:50 PM, Justan Olphart wrote:
On 12/3/2015 4:46 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 12/3/2015 2:24 AM, wrote:
On Wed, 2 Dec 2015 18:43:58 -0800 (PST), wrote:

On Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 8:47:51 PM UTC-5,
wrote:
On Wed, 2 Dec 2015 17:40:40 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 12/2/2015 4:58 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 2 Dec 2015 08:09:12 -0500, Justan Olphart

wrote:

Did you drive the Honda 90 MPH down US 75?

===

On occasion, more often 80 to 85. The car was always very solid at
that kind of speed - good tires of course, and everything in
balance.

Europeans drive that fast all the time even faster in Germany. The
US, particularly the eastern states, has always been more
sedate. I
see signs of change however. At one time anything over 70 would
get
you a guaranteed ticket on the New York State Thruway. Nowadays a
lot
of people are running 75+.



Problem is most of the east coast roads aren't designed for driving
over
60. Too congested, too many curves without adequate banking, etc.
There are a few places in the south and Florida on I-95 that 75-80
mph
is safe but few places north of there.




Most real interstates are designed for 80. That may not apply to
every
Northeastern road that was upgraded and renamed I-95 tho. Most of the
interstate 95 south of DC is suitable for 80 except the Richmond Toll
road that was renamed and maybe some parts down the East Coast of
Florida.
I75 is pretty much speedy friendly all the way to Atlanta. (far as I
have gone north on it) It pretty much stays out of town all the
way to
FTL although it's is being encroached on in Ft Myers/Naples.
The two counties and state are building roads on both sides of 75 to
pull the local traffic off of it

The biggest things that are making our interstates unsafe at speed
are inattentive drivers (cell phones!) and plain old stupid people.
Many don't follow the basic rule of "slower traffic keep right",
which is a law in SC. Driving should be your first job, not
something you do when texting, talking on your phone, screwing around
with the radio, etc. Our society is not taught that, unfortunately.

I have always scheduled my MdFlorida trips so I do Virginia to the
Georgia line at night. Traffic is always light and it is usually just
me and the truckers. We move right along.
If I left my house in Md (south of DC) at around 2100, I was in North
Carolina shortly after midnight and crossing the Florida State line at
sunup. Going back I left St Pete around 1500 and had a similar
schedule in reverse, crossing the Potomac River Bridge north of
Dahlgren at sunup.


I did many roundtrips from MA to Jupiter, FL driving everything from BMW
740's to 36' Class A motorhomes to pickups hauling boats or trailers. I
once drove the BMW non-stop, other than for gas and grabbing something
to eat. Never again.

The worst part was from MA to just south of Virginia if I took I-95.
Getting through the southern part of CT and then NY, NJ, Delaware and
Maryland was always a nightmare, regardless of what time I left. The
I-84/I-81 route was better but considerably longer. The Carolina's were
usually ok unless you hit road construction that seemed like it was
going on forever. Navigating a big Class A through the winding, narrow
Jersey barriers that were set up was always a thrill. Glad I don't
make that trip anymore.

The last long distance trip I took was last December when
I drove to Mt. Pleasant, SC to see my son and his family over the
Christmas holidays.

I think the most pleasurable trip I took was driving out to Denver,
Colorado in the F-350 diesel hauling a car trailer to pick up a '55 Ford
F-100. The roads west of Illinois were straight as an arrow for miles
upon miles with almost no traffic. I took my time, taking 3 days to get
to Denver. Enjoyed that trip.

I'd much rather do the trip to Florida by boat.


I84, I81, I77 is my preferred way to go although I don't like Scranton
very much.


With your rig I can completely understand why, especially with a toad.

The one trip to and back from Florida in that POS Pace Arrow I had was
via your preferred route. First sign of trouble was picking up a rock
between the rear tires, causing a blowout on the inner one. Spent the
night in a truck repair parking lot while they ordered a new tire.

Then, noticed in the rear mirror that half the side of the RV was
flapping in the wind. A whole section had ripped the screws out of the
wooden blocks that where supposed to hold it in place. I discovered
then that the wooden blocks were simply glued in place and they used
sheetrock screws to hold the side panels to the blocks.

Next, (a problem you probably remember) ... lost the brakes. Brake line
let go on the way to a local KOA. I could smell the fluid.
Monster tow truck showed up to haul it away to that repair place, where
it sat for weeks. Remember helping me clean out the stupid refrigerator
after the propane tank ran out of gas?

Then I discovered the rubber fuel line running from the gas tank to the
genny had been installed so it was chaffing on a section of the frame
that had been cut with a torch but left rough, slag and all.

That was the final nail in the coffin for that POS. Got rid of it fast.

I bought it brand spanking new. Learned my lesson about RV's
manufactured by Fleetwood.


Interesting. I really don't get the appeal of these large camper/RV's.
If you want to enjoy nature and not sleep in a tent, the smaller campers
seem more than adequate. The behemoths you see on the highway are
expensive to buy and expensive to run and maintain, and it would take a
hell of a lot of nights in expensive hotels to justify towing a
$75,000-$100,000 or more RV. And then you have to drive it to where you
are going.

On our recent drive up from Florida, we stayed at a recommended motel in
South Carolina. Brand new, perfectly fine for the night, and...$70.

On Thu, 3 Dec 2015 14:14:03 -0500, Keyser Söze wrote:



Interesting. I really don't get the appeal of these large camper/RV's.
If you want to enjoy nature and not sleep in a tent, the smaller campers
seem more than adequate. The behemoths you see on the highway are
expensive to buy and expensive to run and maintain, and it would take a
hell of a lot of nights in expensive hotels to justify towing a
$75,000-$100,000 or more RV. And then you have to drive it to where you
are going.

On our recent drive up from Florida, we stayed at a recommended motel in
South Carolina. Brand new, perfectly fine for the night, and...$70.



We live a little higher up the food chain on the road, First Class air
fare, Rental crossover and $200+ a night suites. When we compared
notes with our RV driving neighbors, we still came out money ahead
based on their 2-3 trips a year.
If you are like John and go somewhere once or twice a month, the gap
narrows considerably.
If you just weekend off to nearby places and go a lot, the RV might
make a lot of sense.
It looked attractive in Alaska because rooms are few and far between.
They were also expensive for mediocre places. I just wouldn't want to
drive an RV all the way to Alaska.

On Thu, 3 Dec 2015 12:38:51 -0500, Justan Olphart wrote:

On 12/2/2015 4:58 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 2 Dec 2015 08:09:12 -0500, Justan Olphart
wrote:

Did you drive the Honda 90 MPH down US 75?

===

On occasion, more often 80 to 85. The car was always very solid at
that kind of speed - good tires of course, and everything in balance.

Europeans drive that fast all the time even faster in Germany. The
US, particularly the eastern states, has always been more sedate. I
see signs of change however. At one time anything over 70 would get
you a guaranteed ticket on the New York State Thruway. Nowadays a lot
of people are running 75+.


I trained my petal foot to think about safety and fuel economy. That
usually means at or under the speed limit.

That's the way I've gotten with the truck. The motorcycle likes about 75mph.
--

Ban idiots, not guns!

On 12/3/2015 1:04 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 3 Dec 2015 12:38:51 -0500, Justan Olphart
wrote:

On 12/2/2015 4:58 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 2 Dec 2015 08:09:12 -0500, Justan Olphart
wrote:

Did you drive the Honda 90 MPH down US 75?

===

On occasion, more often 80 to 85. The car was always very solid at
that kind of speed - good tires of course, and everything in balance.

Europeans drive that fast all the time even faster in Germany. The
US, particularly the eastern states, has always been more sedate. I
see signs of change however. At one time anything over 70 would get
you a guaranteed ticket on the New York State Thruway. Nowadays a lot
of people are running 75+.


I trained my petal foot to think about safety and fuel economy. That
usually means at or under the speed limit.

Little old ladies in Kias are telling you that you are #1 if you drive
around here.

I have driven around there. Little old ladies in Kias are intimidated by
the sheer mass of my rig.

On Thu, 3 Dec 2015 12:57:26 -0500, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 12/3/2015 12:38 PM, Justan Olphart wrote:
On 12/2/2015 4:58 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 2 Dec 2015 08:09:12 -0500, Justan Olphart
wrote:

Did you drive the Honda 90 MPH down US 75?

===

On occasion, more often 80 to 85. The car was always very solid at
that kind of speed - good tires of course, and everything in balance.

Europeans drive that fast all the time even faster in Germany. The
US, particularly the eastern states, has always been more sedate. I
see signs of change however. At one time anything over 70 would get
you a guaranteed ticket on the New York State Thruway. Nowadays a lot
of people are running 75+.


I trained my petal foot to think about safety and fuel economy. That
usually means at or under the speed limit.

I've driven on the Autobahn in Germany and also on the Autostrata in
Italy. You can't compare Rt I-95 anywhere to either one. This was
back in the 70's though, so maybe things have changed.

German drivers are very disciplined. Italian drivers are more like the fools on I-95
- haul ass and bypass. I think maybe we're letting too many Italians into the
country.
--

Ban idiots, not guns!

On Thu, 03 Dec 2015 14:42:34 -0500, wrote:

On Thu, 3 Dec 2015 14:14:03 -0500, Keyser Söze wrote:



Interesting. I really don't get the appeal of these large camper/RV's.
If you want to enjoy nature and not sleep in a tent, the smaller campers
seem more than adequate. The behemoths you see on the highway are
expensive to buy and expensive to run and maintain, and it would take a
hell of a lot of nights in expensive hotels to justify towing a
$75,000-$100,000 or more RV. And then you have to drive it to where you
are going.

On our recent drive up from Florida, we stayed at a recommended motel in
South Carolina. Brand new, perfectly fine for the night, and...$70.



We live a little higher up the food chain on the road, First Class air
fare, Rental crossover and $200+ a night suites. When we compared
notes with our RV driving neighbors, we still came out money ahead
based on their 2-3 trips a year.
If you are like John and go somewhere once or twice a month, the gap
narrows considerably.
If you just weekend off to nearby places and go a lot, the RV might
make a lot of sense.
It looked attractive in Alaska because rooms are few and far between.
They were also expensive for mediocre places. I just wouldn't want to
drive an RV all the way to Alaska.

That's on the bucket list. Our buddies did it a couple years ago, took three months.
Drove through Canada on the way up, seeing the sights and then through northern USA
on the way back. My problem is the yard. I'd hate to return to a dead front and back
lawn. Getting a person to mow is no problem, but getting someone to water the lawn
is.
--

Ban idiots, not guns!