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Our Prius RV

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by PA Prius, Jul 1, 2007.

  1. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

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    Okay, not quite an RV, but our family of four is in the middle of an 8,000 mile four week PA to CA to PA camping trip. Half the nights camping, half in hotels. We are in Stockton, CA tonight. So far-- 3,680 miles and 75.211 gallons of gas = 48.9 mpg. For more details see my post at--

    http://www.priusonline.com/viewtopic.php?t=11065

    PA P
     
    #1 PA Prius, Jul 1, 2007
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  2. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Are you using a tent for the nights you're camping?
     
    #2 Godiva, Jul 1, 2007
  3. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jul 1 2007, 01:53 AM) [snapback]470927[/snapback]</div>
    Two tents. They are on the roof along with four sleeping bags and pads, hiking boots. The rest is inside the car.

    PA P
     
    #3 PA Prius, Jul 1, 2007
  4. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PA Prius @ Jul 1 2007, 02:23 AM) [snapback]470936[/snapback]</div>
    You're on vacation. You should relax more. You should not be two tents.
     
    #4 Doc Willie, Jul 1, 2007
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  5. Phoenix-D

    Phoenix-D New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PA Prius @ Jun 30 2007, 11:23 PM) [snapback]470936[/snapback]</div>
    you're getting 48 MPG with two tents strapped to the top? Wow.
     
    #5 Phoenix-D, Jul 1, 2007
  6. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    Good on you, PA Prius!

    Here's my Prius RV:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    #6 darelldd, Jul 1, 2007
  7. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doc Willie @ Jul 1 2007, 10:36 AM) [snapback]471055[/snapback]</div>
    You got an audible groan, and a "bu dum dum" from Dear Hubbs for that one :)
     
    #7 Rae Vynn, Jul 1, 2007
  8. h2photo

    h2photo Member

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    we're alson on a roadtrip. Route 66, the Prius makes for one awesome little travel machine! (not so good on those 6miles climbs though)
     
    #8 h2photo, Jul 3, 2007
  9. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

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    darelldd, what kind of mpg do you get with that rig? We parked along side another Prius at Yosemite that had a luggage box on top. He said he was getting 33 mpg, although I don't know how fast he was driving or how much weight he was carrying.

    PA P
     
    #9 PA Prius, Jul 4, 2007
  10. DanP

    DanP Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(h2photo @ Jul 3 2007, 04:45 PM) [snapback]472608[/snapback]</div>
    We're preparing for a trip to Anacortes and bought a Yakima Skybox Pro 16 for the trip. Yesterday we went for a 200 mile round trip to San Diego that we often take (the empty Skybox was installed). Generally, we get about 51 mpg on that trip. With the Skybox installed we got 44.6 mpg. I can live with that.
     
    #10 DanP, Jul 4, 2007
  11. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

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    Right, 44.6 is not bad. I could have also mentioned-- the guy I saw at Yosemite with the box on top getting 33 mpg said he was getting even less with the air deflector on the front of his rack since the front of his box extended well out over the deflector. I was curious about that with my own box and deflector. However, what we have done for our trip is pack everything in dry bags and lay them right on the roof (on a pad), so they are tucked in behind the air deflector. I'm sure this is allowing us to get our 49 mpg.

    PA P
     
    #11 PA Prius, Jul 5, 2007
  12. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

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    Has anyone else done this? We just completed a 28 hour marathon drive from Cody, WY to just east of Chicago. It was bearable, but I wouldn't want to do it every day!

    Our current trip actual mpg is 49.5 after 6736 miles.

    PA P
     
    #12 PA Prius, Jul 12, 2007
  13. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    I'm about to make the jump to hyperspace and land in Wisconsin for
    Hybridfest, and expect I'll be using the in-car sleeping rig. I'll
    also be disappointed if I don't average well over 60 MPG on that run..
    .
    _H*
     
    #13 hobbit, Jul 12, 2007
  14. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

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    Nice sleeping rig, hobbit! But that likely wouldn't have worked for our family of four!

    We completed our trip this afternoon. For anyone who is interested, here are the final numbers--

    Miles driven - 7,494
    Gallons of gas consumed - 150.675
    Average mpg (actual) - 49.74
    Average mpg (MFD) - 50.3
    Total miles on our '04 - 72,800

    I was also happy that oil consumption was not detectable.

    Bumper sticker seen that I wish I had-- Treading Lightly. It was on an SUV!?!

    It was a great trip. The Prius performed flawlessly. I'd do it again tomorrow if I could!

    PA P
     
    #14 PA Prius, Jul 14, 2007
  15. DanP

    DanP Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanP @ Jul 4 2007, 05:18 PM) [snapback]473210[/snapback]</div>
    We have returned from our trip, having travelled 3,100 miles. The Skybox was on the roof the whole time. According to our gas receipts and the odometer, we averaged 42.0 mpg for the trip. I could certainly feel the wind resistance effects of the box--not that we were blown around at all, but it felt like a chute when going downhill. Where I would normally coast or even brake to maintain speed, I had to use the accelerator. Next week I leave for the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, but travelling alone this time and therefore without the cargo box. The terrain will be different, but I'll be interested to see how she does without her backpack.

    Here's the requisite sunset picture taken at Salt Point (CA) on our way back from cruising the San Juans.
    [attachmentid=10252]
     

    Attached Files:

    #15 DanP, Jul 29, 2007
  16. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PA Prius @ Jul 4 2007, 04:29 PM) [snapback]473192[/snapback]</div>
    My average with both setups was about 43-44mpg, thought it is tough to compare as they were very different trips. One highway with much elevation gain and then loss. The other relatively flat, but on slower, twisty roads with much accel and braking. Regardless, I'd call it over 40mpg in both instances. Better than any SUV that can comfortably haul the same amount, certainly.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PA Prius @ Jul 4 2007, 09:51 PM) [snapback]473324[/snapback]</div>
    Having the defector back behind the nose of the box really isn't gonna make any significant difference. And it will still more likely to help than hinder - however small. The air is so screwed up between the box and the roof, that leaving that part open is unlikely to give you anything like the laminar flow you want. The fairing will shove it to the sides and around the rear rack and the rest of the box. I use a fairing with a kayak and box on top and get better than 40mpg, so at 33npg, he's mostly likely just driving way the hell too fast.
     
    #16 darelldd, Jul 29, 2007
  17. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanP @ Jul 29 2007, 07:51 PM) [snapback]487265[/snapback]</div>
    I hope you at least waved as you went by :)
     
    #17 Rae Vynn, Jul 30, 2007
  18. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Rather than fire off a new thread, I'll just piggyback this onto
    here: I've *finally* finished my whole trip log from Hybridfest,
    with some subsequent tarrying at AutoBeYours to totally roll in
    Prius parts and then take a leisurely wander through some mountains.
    Not as much elevation as some folks here, but still fun.
    .
    It's in two parts, and starts here.
    .
    _H*
     
    #18 hobbit, Aug 7, 2007
  19. Railrider

    Railrider New Member

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    Just found this site, bought a Prius two weeks ago, made it into a really great RV. Full size toilet seat, refrigerator, microwave coming, good enough sleeping seat that goes all the way back. Going on my first trip next week to Wash. DC to the Restore Sanity rally. Anyone else going? Pictures of my RV will go on my site soon.... railriders.net or write me [email protected], Railriderron
     
    #19 Railrider, Oct 23, 2010
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