Driving slow on fast freeways?

[VicHanson]

I just drove my camper from Florida to Minnesota and didn't have time to go slow and sight see, so was on freeways most of the way. I can cruise at 60 or 65 with my Isuzu NPR camper but the fuel mileage is terrible, especially if there is a head wind, so I drove 55 mph almost the whole way (2000 miles). If the road was rough or with a head wind I sometimes slowed down to 50. The only problem I had with that is that the semi trucks would come up on my tail very fast and then sometimes couldn't pull over to pass due to traffic. This made me a bit nervous, especially if I hadn't noticed them coming up behind me.

I averaged about 15 1/2 mpg for the 2000 miles, but did have a tail wind at least half of the time. I paid from $2.89 to $3.11 per gallon for diesel, which was 20 to 50 cents higher than the price of regular unleaded!

I was thinking that some kind of a sign on the back that says I am driving 55 mph might be good. Has anyone done anything like this or how do you deal with this situation?

I'm also thinking about trying to seal the space between the camper and the cab to improve the aerodynamics. Of course it still needs to allow for the cab to tilt so not sure how to do this. Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks,
Vic

 

[DaveInDenver]

I was thinking that some kind of a sign on the back that says I am driving 55 mph might be good. Has anyone done anything like this or how do you deal with this situation?

My rear sign looks a bit like this...

Honestly, the only thing I do is turn my four-way flashers on if I'm doing the minimum (e.g. 45MPH on the Interstates uphill here in Colorado). Otherwise, if I'm doing 55-65MPH, nothing special.

 

[Redline]

I'm not sure how well the sign idea will work, as it would seem that "IF" drivers were paying attention and looking ahead, they would be able to perceive and judge that you are driving slow from a greater distance than they would be able to read any sign.

However, I understand your concerned about driving much slower than most of the other traffic on the freeways. I too have driven much slower than traffic on freeways, it was many years ago when I often drove my first diesel pickup 55-60 MPH for the best fuel economy. While I occasionally still like to drive slower for good fuel economy, in most cases I prefer to drive closer to the speed limit, and generally no slower than 63 MPH on a road with a speed limit that is 65-MPH or higher. It just seems safer and smoother.

One advantage to driving a bit slower than most of the traffic on the road is that you rarely have to adjust your cruising speed, which can also help with fuel economy.

 

[FlatlinesUp]

just take your rear view mirrors off and you won't see them and it'll help w/your fuel mileage.... :sombrero:

 

[Paul 3]

Not sure about how effective a sign would be. Depending on how slow you were driving, how fast the guy behind you is coming up on you, and how well he's paying attention you might have to have a rather large sign in order for him to see it in time avoid the current situation you mention. I think DaveInDenver hit it on the head...4-way flashers if you feel you're driving slow enough that it might effect the drivers behind you.

Though I would love to be behind you on the trail looking at that sign wondering "when is this guy gonna punch it"!! :roost:

Cheers,

Paul

 

[Deleted member 9101]

As someone who has driven a truck for a living before... either keep up..or get off...lol. Not trying to be a jerk but its extremely dangerous to be going that slow.

As for the sign, it wont' help and the flashers will just cause more distractions.

 

[scarysharkface]

I did this in my Jeep on a post-Christmas solo trip to Big Bend.

I had a motorcycle on a hitch-carrier, so I traveled from Indiana to Big Bend, Texas, at 55 mph or slightly less on the interstates with nothing bad to report.

Actually, it was nice to hardly ever need to change lanes to pass (although that did happen more than I would have expected at that speed) and hyper-mileing the Jeep gave me a pretty solid 20-ish mpg, if memory serves..

Of course, at the time going that slow was awfully boring. What has occurred to me since, though, is that the interstate highway system (especially that well-worn-by-me section) is incredibly boring at any speed.

Music really helps, as does NPR..

Trip report is here:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=538600

John

 

[scarysharkface]

As someone who has driven a truck for a living before... either keep up..or get off...lol. Not trying to be a jerk but its extremely dangerous to be going that slow.

As for the sign, it wont' help and the flashers will just cause more distractions.

Not trying to be a jerk or anything, but if you can't interact safely with other law-abiding traffic on the highway, maybe you shouldn't be driving.

John

 

[Corey]

Not trying to take this off topic much, but why is it when the speed limit is 60 and you are in the right lane (slow lane) and doing 60 to 62 you get speeders coming up from behind you an riding your rear?

They can go around, yet I often get them within a few feet off my bike rack which sticks out from the hitch.

DO they think I am going to speed up when I am already going two MPH over the speed limit and in the slow lane?

What is wrong with these people?
They often do this when state patrols are out too cruising the highways.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Not trying to take this off topic much, but why is it when the speed limit is 60 and you are in the right lane (slow lane) and doing 60 to 62 you get speeders coming up from behind you an riding your rear?

They can go around, yet I often get them within a few feet off my bike rack which sticks out from the hitch.

DO they think I am going to speed up when I am already going two MPH over the speed limit and in the slow lane?

What is wrong with these people?
They often do this when state patrols are out too cruising the highways.

Also one of my pet peeves!


Vic, welcome to Minnesota!!!

You shouldn't have much to worry about while here, as it's road construction season, and most of the freeway speed limits are set at 45-55 mph!:snorkel:

We have 2 seasons here, winter, and road construction.


I don't think a sign will help, as mentioned, people are to distracted these days.

For wind deflection, how about a fairing on the cab, similar to semi's or 5th wheel's?

That would push the air up and over, without hindering movement between the cab/camper.

HB

 

[thecriscokid]

That is a bit of a pickle. I have been there but in a much smaller '85 VW Westfalia. At least you are a bit more visable due to your size. That feeling of driving through the rear/side view mirror in terror is the main reason I sold that beloved rig. Would some extra lights on the rear help? at least for dust -dawn driving?

 

[KG6BWS]

Just do like I do. I drive the speed I want to drive at, and figure that if someone rearends me, "Hell, I need the money anyways." :sombrero:

As someone who also drives rigs, the flashers wouldnt get you all that much more notice and driving that slow is just going to irritate us. The problem is that when it takes us so long to get up to speed and is so much harder for us to get up grades, a small vehicle slowing us down is excepionally irritating.

Oh, and the sign wouldnt be of much help either. The reason that trucks generally come up on you so fast is that we're hoping we can pass before we lose our speed. My grinder, when I was heading out to the job, weighed 120,000lbs. Once I got up to speed I didnt want to slow down unless it was absolutely necessary. If I came up on a slower vehicle, and had another coming up to pass me, I would back off just enough so that (hopefully) the other vehicle would pass before I had to drop my speed way back. When it takes you 2 or 3 miles just to get up to the speed limit, you really dont want to have to slow down.

 

[Pskhaat]

What is wrong with these people?

Did they hit you, cause you any bodily harm or property damage, directly threaten you as they pass?

 

[YJake]

Same boat here. I drive my brick on wheels to the Smokys every fall and get the best mileage between 60-65mph while on the interstate (The best is actually at about 50-55mph). Now, I know that the limit is 70mph but it's even lower for semi trucks. So, I generally try to get behind one that's driving extra slow and follow him until we part ways.

There's always somebody going as slow as you out there, you just gotta find them!

-Jake

 

[Corey]

Did they hit you, cause you any bodily harm or property damage, directly threaten you as they pass?

No they did not, but anyone who has gone through driver training to get a license knows you should maintain a safe distance behind a driver in front of you and not be a tailgator.
http://www.smartmotorist.com/traffi...afe-following-distance-the-3-second-rule.html

Tailgating causes accidents, and I have almost been rear ended on the freeway when I have had to slow down for rush hour traffic or another emergency.
Tailgating does not get you to your destination any faster than if you were to stay back at a safe distance.
In fact it may irritate the one in front of the tailgating perp to end up doing something.

Not saying I have, but I have heard some very good stories over the years.