Hi everyone on the Grey Nomads we hope you are having a blast on the road and escaping the dreary winter!! We are a family of 4 (not quite Grey but definitely loving being Nomads) and have just finished removing our 1979 Millard hardtop, and we will beheading off up north chasing the sun to Exmouth next week, and we can't wait! Sorry this is a boring fuel related question, but we are towing with our 105 series Landcruiser (Manual 5 speed 4.2 non turbo diesel) and wondering if anyone had any tips for reducing our fuel consumption along the way, eg. best speed and gear to stick to etc? By the way we have roof racks too.. Also as the van is quite high and not tapered back at the front for streamlining like modern vans so it does catch a lot of wind and drag so any fuel saving tips great appreciated (more money for beers hehe!!)
Thank all and much love from Dunsborough!! Steve & Vic xx
-- Edited by dunsyvanlife on Thursday 20th of June 2019 12:21:52 PM
Welcome to the gang Steve and Vic, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I am full time on the road and definitely grey so am proudly a Grey Nomad.
I mainly use my Tacho and get the best revs working for me. I have a 6 speed auto Colorado twin cab ute as listed in my signature below. I find controlling things myself by having auto turned off and selective shift on works better for me. I sit on 93kmh in 5th gear max and use cruise control when safe to do so. I vary rarely go over the 93kmh and usually sit 5kmh under any other speed limits. By doing so the tacho sits just under 2000rpm or less and economy is not much different to when the aluminium teepee is not on that 2" steel ball on back. Head winds and steep hills make a slight difference though.
OH! The aluminium teepee is 2.7t and Collie loaded all the time. All my weights are under their max so all good there too. Well, maybe I'm not under weight
This all helps keep my economy side of things happy so I am a happy camper.
I reckon you tug will handle things well. Nice clean looking rig by the way.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
__________________
Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Hey @dougwe thanks so much for the kind words and useful info!! Glad you like the look of the rig it's been a fair bit of work (ok a labour of love really) but I'm sure it will be an epic trip.. Stay safe and thanks for the reply!!
I think that Doug above, has hit the nail on the head, with slower speeds
I have the motorhome, in my Avatar. This also has a large frontal wind resistance.
While plodding around the very quiet back roads at 85 KPH, I get very good fuel consumption of nearly 10 KPL
While doing 95 KPH, I get reasonable fuel consumption of at least 8.5 KPL
While doing 110 KPL (or if in strong headwind) it can drop down to 7 KPL
Exmouth is usually very crowded at this time of year, especially in a few weeks time, when the school holidays start It pays to be booked in, to wherever you are stopping
If you have never been there, two years ago, there were two fresh water taps, on the perimeter of the Tourist Info car park
With your Toyota and the manual gearbox you would be most wise NOT to tow in 5th gear as doing that has resulted in many expensive gearbox repairs in the past.
Leave it in 4th gear and if you travel about 90kmph you should get reasonable fuel economy.
Wish we were off to Exmouth instead of at work ..have a good trip.
I think that Doug above, has hit the nail on the head, with slower speeds
I have the motorhome, in my Avatar. This also has a large frontal wind resistance.
While plodding around the very quiet back roads at 85 KPH, I get very good fuel consumption of nearly 10 KPL
While doing 95 KPH, I get reasonable fuel consumption of at least 8.5 KPL
While doing 110 KPL (or if in strong headwind) it can drop down to 7 KPL
Exmouth is usually very crowded at this time of year, especially in a few weeks time, when the school holidays start It pays to be booked in, to wherever you are stopping
If you have never been there, two years ago, there were two fresh water taps, on the perimeter of the Tourist Info car park
Hi Tony Bev thanks for the input and your warm welcome, much appreciated!! Yes indeed it does get busy, we have been quite a few times and have been lucky enough to secure powered sites at all stops so we are good to go!! I will be keeping the speed at about 95kph as that seems to be a pretty sweet spot from reading around the forum.
With your Toyota and the manual gearbox you would be most wise NOT to tow in 5th gear as doing that has resulted in many expensive gearbox repairs in the past.
Leave it in 4th gear and if you travel about 90kmph you should get reasonable fuel economy.
Wish we were off to Exmouth instead of at work ..have a good trip.
AL
Hi AL thanks for the wise words. I actually had no idea about staying in 4th when towing, good to know thank you!!
Yes we are very excited about the trip, hope you get to do a run somewhere warm and sunny soon!!
and have just finished removing our 1979 Millard hardtop, and we will beheading off up north chasing the sun to Exmouth next week, and we can't wait! Sorry this is a boring fuel related question, but we are towing with our 105 series Landcruiser (Manual 5 speed 4.2 non turbo diesel) and wondering if anyone had any tips for reducing our fuel consumption along the way, eg. best speed and gear to stick to etc? By the way we have roof racks too.. Also as the van is quite high and not tapered back at the front for streamlining like modern vans so it does catch a lot of wind and drag so any fuel saving tips great appreciated (more money for beers hehe!!) 
