Bad, And I Mean Bad, MPG

[Bad, And I Mean Bad, MPG]

I had a gasser Ford 460 with a 3 speed auto on a Oshkosh chassis. It came with a gear venders overdrive system. Fully overloaded heading into the mid Atlantic states I would average about 9 to 9.5 MPG. When we headed up into the mountains of the northeast fully overloaded we got about 6 to 6.4. Has a lot to due with driving habits, type of fuel, wind conditions and total wt. I believe that without the gear venders overdrive that we would of had to figure GPM not MPG.

Recently we traded up our gasser to a 22,550 lb. diesel. I'm hoping the MPG figures improves a little with the diesel.

[NC to ME - 1st trip!]

if you haven't commited yourself to a route already, and being a retired 18 wheeler driver who lives in the catskills of NY; I would travel by way of I-495 in DC to I-270MD to RT15 MD to Rt 15 PA to I-81PA to I-84PA thru NY and into Ct. at that point I would take I-691(exit27, stay on I-691 until end and follow signs to RT-9 so.) to Ct state Rt-9 so. to I-95 no CT..Reasons being: miss all eastern seaborard traffic, see great country, avoid expensive tolls and bumper to bumper traffic from the time you would enter NJ untill you get past Boston. I would of stayed on I-84 till I-90MA, but you mentioned that your planning on a visit to Mystic Ct.. I would also consider stopping at Old Orchard Beach ME as its a nice seacoast town with 3 campgrounds located within walking distance to town & boardwalk, with fresh lobsters and clams. And one more thing; when you get to the PA NY border, as you go across the delaware river, you will see the 1st exit in NY.That will give you an oppertunity to stop in NJ for reasonable price fuel. When travaling in this region you will see a moument up on the top of high point mountain; that is where the 3 states (NY,NJ & PA meet at 1 point, big rig friendly, and a number of cheap fuel stops, all off exit 1 in ny. After that fuel will become pricey.