Van Driving Style

[akrvbob]

So that was you..............
Bob

 

[SoulRaven]

Like most of you I drive slower and more conservatively than average, I don't often pass anyone else but I'm often passed.

But the biggest difference is in the mountains going downhill. My big van eats brakes in mt. passes so I almost always gear down to 2nd. To keep from over-revving it I hold it down to 25-35 and when it speeds up a I hit the brakes hard till I'm too slow and then get off them.

That really bothers the little cars behind me!! But they are just going to have to get used to it, I've burned up too many brakes, no more!!
Bob

Can you get heavier duty brake pads? 

I'm big and heavy but never had a problem eating brakes.

 

[akrvbob]

Off Grid, how much time have you spent in the mountain passes of Colorado? Drop 4000 feet in 5 miles of switchbacks and you'll either drop the gear or replace the brakes at the bottom.

 

[highdesertranger]

I advise against all the fancy smancy heavy duty brake pads. they wear your rotors and drums out faster. go with oem spec pads and shoes. just take it easy, no reason to speed down hill. highdesertranger

 

[oldogre]

I drive slow too, I also pratice hypermiling, didn't know there was a term for it til I stumbled across it on web one day, sometimes I can get as high as 29 mpg on the instant mpg thingie on console when on highway,  2003 gmc safari van, same as astro basic

I just want to make clear, I do not impede traffic or anything just basically drive and observe so I can make most of my miles per dollar.  just threw it out there since I came across a term for it, but not a hyperfreak, just hyperfrugal. oh and frugal, lol, cheap?  

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I tell people we're crossing America at 50 MPH. Altho I do drive a little faster than that, it ends up being an average.

Driving a large van, I also watch my braking...both in town and rolling off mountains.

Some folks like cruise control. I've had some rides with it on them but never used them. I don't know why, except that I like the feeling of doing the driving and being in control.
I don't clock my MPGs anymore. I'm happy enough with the result at the next fillup and feel I'm getting about as good as its gonna get.

Sure am happy that gas is a bit cheaper these days.

 

[SoulRaven]

Off Grid, how much time have you spent in the mountain passes of Colorado? Drop 4000 feet in 5 miles of switchbacks and you'll either drop the gear or replace the brakes at the bottom.

I don't do Colorado too often, but I do the Cascades, Olympics, and Coast Range quite a bit, with many switchbacks and steep roads.

Like you, in the past, I've had rigs that ate brakes, but switching types of brake pads solved the problems.  They aren't all created equal, and they prefer to sell the ones that won't last.

 

[SoulRaven]

I tell people we're crossing America at 50 MPH. Altho I do drive a little faster than that, it ends up being an average.

[snipped]

I don't clock my MPGs anymore. I'm happy enough with the result at the next fillup and feel I'm getting about as good as its gonna get.

Sure am happy that gas is a bit cheaper these days.

I generally use the 50 MPH rule when figuring out how long it will take me to get somewhere, and it's usually pretty accurate.

I've never understood the logic of some people who seem to put gas mileage ahead of comfort.  Reminds me of some friends who try to eat "healthy", so they can live longer.  They hate every meal.  Why?  So you can live your life in misery and live a little longer in misery?  I'll take a little shorter life and enjoy every meal...