Ram 1500 EcoDiesel

[Hay Dude]

And I think you need to spend some time out of the Michigan woods and drive I-15 or I-80 in Utah or Nevada and see what happens in the real world.

Over Thanksgiving I went to visit some friends living about 200 miles from me. About 135 of those miles were on I-80. Speed limit is 80 mph; since most push the limit a bit I'd estimate most traffic was moving ~ 85 mph. I was driving my diesel dually loaded with a big cabover camper and towing a loaded trailer behind me, estimate about 16,000 lb total weight so I had the cruise set at 70. It made me a bit nervous to have traffic coming up behind me with such a big speed differential. That includes 18 wheelers. I-80 is the major artery for the big rigs crossing the state; 18 wheeler traffic was heavy despite it being Thanksgiving. At 70 mph I did not pass even one 18 wheeler - they were all passing me as if I were standing still. So evidently their "65 mph" governor was disabled!

Yep.
PA Turnpike is 80 west of Harrisburg to the Ohio line and 18 wheelers do 75-85 like it was nothing.

 

[5030]

Last tine I was out your way it was via airplane. Just stating how it is here and what fleet trucks are governed to. Really don't care as I'm out of that business and retired. Again, it's you fuel dime, not mine and I too have a slide in TC and I pull a trailer behind with the side by side on it, but at a sane rate of speed. Never in that big of a hurry anyway.

Like Newton said, 'a body in motion tends to stay in motion' That apples in spades to the difference between a sane rate of speed and an insane rate of speed when impacting a stationary object like a bridge abutment or a utility pole and another vehicle that in not moving and braking distances multiply exponentially as well, especially loaded. At 80, the distance travelled before your brain can command your foot to apply the brakes is quite large in itself. Neither here no there and I really don't give a dam what you do or don't do. I know what I do and that is all that is important to me, my wife and my loved ones.

My final comment is: People whine about high fuel prices but then drive at excessive speeds which does nothing for their overall fuel mileage, the faster your speed is, the more fuel your ICE consumes and conversely the faster the KW's get consumed in an EV. Nothing changes that, it's a matter of physics.

I don't and neither does my wife. What everyone else does isn't relevant to me. I'm the one buying the dinosaur juice. It's my dime 100%.

People in this country are generally wasteful anyway. U guess so long as you can afford to pizz away fuel I'm good with it. I'm not and even if I was, I'd still not, it's a simple matter of I'd rather keep the money in my wallet versus paying for fuel that I wasted. Especially at today's prices.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I can often save some money by going a bit faster.

One common place I go is 450 miles from here, where I drop off and/or pick up cars. If hitting the road somewhat early I can get there, do the paperwork with the sales guy, tie down the vehicle on a trailer, and be back home in time for a slightly late dinner.

If going slower I'd most likely have to stop and sleep, as my limit is generally 16 to 20 hours. Stopping at a motel is a waste of time and money for me. I can't sleep in one anyway. So by driving faster I avoid the cost of a room.

Obviously I have to stop for fuel (110 gallons only goes so far), but that's also the only thing I stop for. No eating while on a trip as it would likely mean stopping twice.

In my case, going 20-25% faster does work quite well.

 

[Renze]

Obviously I have to stop for fuel (110 gallons only goes so far), but that's also the only thing I stop for. No eating while on a trip as it would likely mean stopping twice.

You guys dont have a mandatory tachograph in the trucks, registering drive and rest hours ?

Here in Europe they check if you keep your mandatory rest periods, and dont exceed daily driving hours. Too many people got killed by truckers that fell asleep behind the wheel, so since 1974 an analog tachograph became mandatory, and since 2006 a digital one. Fines are heavy if you dont take breaks.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

You guys dont have a mandatory tachograph in the trucks, registering drive and rest hours ?

That stuff is only for commercial use here.

I can be at 39,000 lbs. total (with a 25K trailer) on a basic drivers license since I only transport out own stuff. No CDL, no stopping at scales, etc.