1800 Miles/25 Hours/120 Gallon and $490

After a really spirited drive I left the 100 degree heat in Texas, drove thru Snow and Im back in Montana. The drive was really a blast and the Jeep never missed a beat thru the passes or hills. My worst mileage was 15.5 from Dumbass(Dumas),TX to Raton,NM(Bad cross wind) and best mileage was 22.9 from Raton,NM to Cheyenne,WY. I always get killer gas milage from Raton to Cheyenne, I think its because after you cross the mountains at the stateline(NM/CO) its pretty much downhill or level ground. I get the same mileage when going back too. I had the cruise control set between 7-10 mph over the speed limit the entire trip and was easy on the go pedal when not using cruise control. Once in Montana there were a few streches that I know are rural that I opened it up to over 130.(Also knowing every Sheriff and under Sheriff in the state and State Hiway Patrol being my customer, I had nothing to worry about :king: ) The Jeep has been faster but it really does float above 135MPH. I ran into a few flurries and rain thru one of the passes in Montana and the Jeep felt just as good as my Honda Ridgeline or F350 did. I was very pleased that the Jeep easily climbed the Mountains and Hills, other than watching gas mileage drop slightly I didnt notice the climbs. Tomorrow I will go to look for a small enclosed trailer and install a hitch, then Im going to trail rate this rig down long dirt roads and up unpaved/unmaintained mountain roads. I should have some good pictures thru the summer.

John

 

Sounds like it was a very fun road trip. I had the pleasure of spending some time driving in Montana a few years ago, at the time I had a 4.7HO Grand Cherokee and spent many a mile at well over 100mph. They have some of the best roads there for spirited driving, and I also spent some time climbing back mountain roads.

In the SRT I love driving up long steep hills and stepping on it, it is amazingly effortless and you'd never know there was any "gravitational" resistance. I'll have to take a road trip back to Montana one of these days and give the beast some good exercise.

 

You did well as it figs out to 15.0 mpg avg @ avg 72.0 mph and 4.08 avg for the gas.

 

HAha, I knew somebody was going to break down the numbers and should have guessed it was going to be you. The time and miles driven are the only accurate numbers, I kinda rounded the gallons and reciepts. I usually average about 68mph through the trip, I imagine the quicker fuel stops(less fuel in Jeeps vs other vehicles) and the ability to not loose speed going over hills and mountains helped.

:thanks:

 

Damn John, how did you get such good mileage? I get around 13mpg cruising 80.

 

Chris, I ran my CMR tune from San Antonio to Cheyenne(1075 Miles) and ran the stock tune from Cheyenne to Great Falls. I didnt notice much difference at all between the 2 tunes. When driving I usually have the cruise set and when I dont I have a very light foot. Local driving I only get 11mpg, thats with my heavy boots:future:

 

What speed did you maintain on the highway? I am thinking the mpg at 70 is waaay better than at 80:dumb:

 

Glad you made it back SAFELY this time. Making long hauls can be fun but I dont know how you do it by yourself I would bet bored. When we drive from Waco,TX to Daytona,FL for bike week we always try to best our previous years time but have not taken the trip in the Jeep. With the 5.7 Hemi truck loaded with 2 of us, tools and luggage plus a 900lb custom chopper we made it last year in under 16 hours. I made it from Texas to Alabama but had to move over to the passenger seat for some sleep. The worst part of the trip is Louisiana and the horrible I-10

 

WTF?

Man, I would have made the 2 hour trek to Raton had I known you would be passing through. lol

 

Cool report John. You gotta love that high altitude for fuel economy. Sucks for making power, but it sure has lots less drag on the vehicle...especially a brick like the Jeep.

 

not just a brick... lol

Try living at High Elevation (5500' to start)... lol

 

Chris I drove 72-85 the entire way. Speed limits West of Texas go to 75MPH and the state roadways in Texas and Montana are 65 mph.

Ron, I fly home once a month but next drive home I will go thru your neck of th woods and we can do dinner.

Wade, I make it only because I have Sirius,IPOD and Verizon wireless card to keep a eye on road construction and conditions. Usually when driving home, the thought of tapping a piece of ass is motivation to drive straight thru :censored:

 

Nice... Since I am in Albuquerque, and you do come through here, you will have a place to sleep, shower, and eat...