Improve MPG the Nifty way !!!

[thegoodlookingbloke]

Here is my MPG trick which I have used for many years on my Bedford CF Coachbuilt, Its a big 6 berth and is petrol and is a thirsty beast, but no matter whether your motorhome is big or small, petrol or diesel, here's how you can improve your MPG.........

When driving on a Motorway or dual carriageway, keep a lookout for a large lorry going your way, I usually find a Tesco lorry, they will normally be travelling at 60 mph, let it overtake you and then pull into its slipstream bieng careful to make sure that you have the correct braking distance, if you drop back you will get the buffeting unstable air, but in front of this is the slipstream and when you settle there you will find you can come off the gas noticably and will be using less fuel.

It sounds dangerous but the braking distance is not a problem providing you keep just in front of the buffeting.

 

[maingate]

I also do this on motorways.

In my case I slowly pull up behind them and I can feel the point at which the tow begins. I back off the throttle a bit and stay there. I am a reasonable distance from the HGV and I feel safe, even though I have to concentrate on the back end of the truck.

It works best when the HGV has a big fat body. :drive:

 

[ivecotrucker]

That Tesco truck in front has got air brakes all round, have you ??. If he 'sticks them on' you'll never stop in time if you are close enough to be in his low pressure wake. Max Tesco will be either 52 or 56 mph.

 

[Deleted member 3011]

Isn't Mother Nature really adaptable - evolving fast enough to find yet another was to enhance natural selection and improve the gene pool.

Still, many Continentals do the same thing in Morocco - and of course it is standard procedures in cycling races where spectacular pile-ups are part of the action. Quite common to see 5 or 6 motorhomes racing along 10 metres apart at 100kmph. They will get home and brag about the wonderful scenery they saw during their trip - which I guess is why many of them have desert scenes painted on the back of the vehicle.

My method of dealing with slipstreaming parasites is to just slowly decelerate until they finally get the message that they are a dangerous distraction and not wanted. Amazing thing is that you can often get down to nearly walking pace before they realise that the free ride is over.

 

[Teutone]

That Tesco truck in front has got air brakes all round, have you ??. If he 'sticks them on' you'll never stop in time if you are close enough to be in his low pressure wake. Max Tesco will be either 52 or 56 mph.

I used to slipstream HGV's when I was young and had a slow Merc 207D with a caravan behind it.
It would do hardly 60mph, so truck had ideal speed for a tow.

It works but you have to be too close to be in a safe braking distance IMHO and the constant attention you have to pay put me off in the end so I stopped doing it.

I fully agree with Ivecotrucker, if a modern truck slams the brakes on in an emergengy, you will be surprised how quickly it slows down.

Given that mos Vans are not the place you want to be in a crash as they don't need to pass a crash test like cars, I keep my distance. Sod the mpg, you know that you own a thirsty vehicle in the first place.

If you want to improve your mpg, drive sensibly. just my 2p

 

[kimbowbill]

Thought this was illegal, police fining people who drive too close, ironic that i have a thread going at the moment on police driving too close :scared:

 

[Tbear]

To stay that close for that long and to concentrate that hard. I,ll skip the migraine and pay the extra couple of quid for the journey. Might even enjoy the journey then. I know on this site we are into saving a few quid but I thought we where more into having fun.

Richard

 

[Techno100]

I'd rather pay a few ££ for a better view

 

[marydot]

Our son drives HGV's, and if you get behind him, which he hates, he will slow down, speed up, slow down without using the brakes and various other tactics which will drive you mad. Remember the sticker - If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you? No-one likes to have someone too close, who they can't even see.

Marydot

 

[Bigpeetee]

When I was young and a little unaware of the dangers, I would slip stream coaches or trucks, there weren't the same speed restrictions as nowadays and my trips up and down the motorway were less expensive.

That is until I once had to slam on hard, it was scary watching the rear of the truck take up all of my view then see at close detail the rusting bolt heads on the back.

Luckily for me I didn't hit, but it was a dramatic lesson in driving.

Didn't do it again!!!

Now in my MH, where there isn't a rear window, I get so frustrated by people driving so close on my tail, my only saving grace is I've got a tow bar/motorcycle carrier at the rear, so they'd hit that first.

Those that survive youth hopefully get wiser.

 

[thegoodlookingbloke]

Slipstream

Yes, I knew this would ruffle a few feathers.:scared: but if you are not up to the job, don't do it.

But if you are on the ball and are expierienced driver with good reactions and know your safetey zone and feel comfortable :drive: give it a go.

There will always be people who can't diferentiate between tailgaiting and safe slipstreaming. It's all in the distance. :wave:

 

[Teutone]

Yes, I knew this would ruffle a few feathers.:scared: but if you are not up to the job, don't do it.

But if you are on the ball and are expierienced driver with good reactions and know your safetey zone and feel comfortable :drive: give it a go.

There will always be people who can't diferentiate between tailgaiting and safe slipstreaming. It's all in the distance. :wave:

In principle I agree with you.

But look at the amount of traffic these days. You drive down the M25, sitting in a traffic jam thinking "what on earth has caused that accident on a dead straight road?"

I can tell you what, driving too close! It all works, driving 2-3 car length apartwith 70+ mph (or some idiots even less..) as long there is nothing unforeseen happening. It just takes one small incident and it snowballs down the queue till one gets caught out and BOOM!

And I am talking from personal experience. Driving home in rush hour going down Dartford Tunnel. You know the drill, DON'T leave any gaps! Car in front of me needed to slam the brakes on (maybe the one on front of him did it first, couldn't see through his limoblack windows!!). Saw the brake lights coming on and the car diving down so I knew this wasn't just a gentle dab on the brakes.

Guess what, I couldn't stop and smashed right into him with my foot full on the brake pedal. One car lenght more gap and I would probably made it without contact. Since this I leave a little bit more space in front of me but looking at it, it might still be not enough. But if you leave REALLY enough space, I can gurantee you that some idiot will pull in to take the space.

 

[Viktor]

Sorry it's not a good idea because your alertness with vary with time and you cannot avoid lapses of concentration into thinking of other things than the road ahead.....this is why a lot of people suddenly find themselves in a multiple accident.....not tailgaiting....simply losing concentration.

 

[Northerner]

Sorry it's not a good idea because your alertness with vary with time and you cannot avoid lapses of concentration into thinking of other things than the road ahead.....this is why a lot of people suddenly find themselves in a multiple accident.....not tailgaiting....simply losing concentration.

Yes, and it's not just him and his wife who may be killed or injured but all the others in what may be the resulting pile-up. And as for the cost to the country of motorways being closed for several hours and people's lives and work being disrupted?

But what the hell? Who cares if it saves a few pence in diesel fuel?

 

[Geraldine]

I did alittle of getting behind Lorrys on the way back from Cornwall,Some of the big trucks pulled me up those hills!! but like everyone else I got bored and realised the danger I was putting us in should the truck suddenly come to a stop. I worked out our savings are when we wild camp and not paying site fees,we have found some lovely sites just by pulling of the main roads.

 

[Teutone]

just another thought....

How many MH owner have actually TRIED an emergeny stop with their vehicles????

I mean FULL on the pedal everything in the back flying around type of thing?

So does one really know how long it takes to stop? I guess 80% of MH do not know......

 

[Northerner]

just another thought....

How many MH owner have actually TRIED an emergeny stop with their vehicles????

I mean FULL on the pedal everything in the back flying around type of thing?

So does one really know how long it takes to stop? I guess 80% of MH do not know......

I know! Especially when my wife's stirring the Lancashire hotpot on the stove. You don't want a load of that down the back of your neck!

 

[Smaug]

Another problem with slipstreaming is that trucks tend to travel in convoys because of their limiters & tachos so you can end up with a truck in front & one behind slipstreaming you. Then you REALLY don't want to be the meat in a 40 ton sandwich. The only strength in an M/H is the chassis & most truck beds are higher than that, so your chassis goes under the trucks & your beautiful matchwood, alloy & plastic body will just concertina with you in it.

I have travelled hundreds of miles along motorways with truckers where we help each other pull out to overtake, sometimes slipstreaming, sometimes one ahead then the other. But I am very aware that close following needs far more concentration than normal driving & that far too many close followers seem to switch off their brains & daydream. That's where the real dangers are.

Motorways are the safest roads we have, but when it does go wrong it goes really badly wrong!

 

[ricc]

personally i avoid following any large vehicles... driving safely on the motorway you need to be able to see the traffic conditions and even the signs way ahead , the more visibility youve got the easier and less stressful it is. if you react to the traffic conditions with the throttle pedal the brakes become redundant... that is the key to safe economical driving..... brakes turn diesel into waste heat.