I returned home August 11 without any significant incidents.
The weather was fantastic for the entire trip, with only a couple days of rain, and only a few more with clouds. I did not require any air conditioning, either driving or stopping until I got to Iowa, where I found 2 days of rain, hot & humid, without a breath of breeze. Then the blue skies and cooler temperatures returned.
Here are some statistics on the trip, obtained from the truck’s trip computer and my fuel log.
- Total Miles Driven: 6,976
- Total Hours Driven: 175 (This is really engine run time and includes stop lights, etc.)
- Calculated Average Speed: 40 mph
- Fuel Economy for the trip: 11.04 mpg
- Average Premium Fuel Price: $4.799
- Lowest Premium Fuel Price Paid: $3.69 (Sam’s Club North Oak KC)
- Highest Fuel Price Paid: $5.86 (Fernley Nevada – Mid-grade – Premium was over $6)
- Total number of gas stops: 29
Although gas prices were high in the west, the trip average was not that bad. I get enough better gas mileage on premium that it mostly offsets the higher cost.
My truck has an adaptive speed control that maintains a fixed distance behind the vehicle in front of me. I discovered that if I “draft” a semi by 100-200 feet, I gain .5 – 1.0 in gas mileage depending on headwind. (as measured on the trip computer)
Here are the final routes of the trip:
Have a great Rest-Of-The-Summer everyone!