The Family Camping Blog

We have been very happy with the ScanGauge, since we started using it in September. One of the features we noted as lacking was the all-important transmission temperature. Well, Linear-Logic has just announced a software upgrade to the ScanGauge that not only adds the transmission temperture, but also a cylinder head temperature readout. While not so important for the iron-head V10 crowd, the cylinder head temperature will be of great benefit to the aluminum-headed engine users. And, of course, the transmission temperature is something that all RV'rs should keep an eye on.

The software upgrade is a very economical $25, and requires you to send the unit to Linear-Logic. According to the website, the upgrade process can take up to 4 weeks. 

Posted to Camping Gear at 08:47 AM |Permalink | Comments (0)
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There are always a lot of discussions on the various RV forums (Outbackers.com, TrailerLife.com, etc.) about gas mileage, how to increase gas mileage, and how much it costs to take trips in these vehicles. Interestingly, it does not really matter if you are talking about a travel trailer, a 5th wheel trailer, a Class C or a Class A motorhome, as all of these vehicles get about the same mileage; 7 to 10 miles per gallon (for gas vehicles - diesels can be a bit higher).

I tracked our gasoline useage on several recent trips. The first trip was 1,700 miles through Northern California and Oregon, to Pasco, Washington. We bought 212.4 gallons of gasoline on this trip, for a grand total of $575.01. That we got 8 miles per gallon surprised me a bit, since we had to traverse the Siskyou Summit at 4,310 feet, and several other passes along the way.

On our last trip, I was able to use our new ScanGauge to measure the fuel economy. This allowed me to be a little more accurate on the fuel consumption, so I decided to measure the affect of speed on the mileage. I would drive normally on the 150 mile trip to the campground - "normally" being around 65mph. On the trip home, over the same route, I would keep the speed down to 60mph. The result was a gain of 0.5 miles per gallon, from 8.8mpg over 150 miles at 65mph, to 9.3 miles per gallon over 150 miles at 60mph. The route was mostly freeway, but included a 1,700 foot pass over the coastal mountain range, and about 10 miles of urban stop-and-go driving.

Is there more to be had? I could slow down to 55mph, but that might be dangerous on the California Highway System! I doubt there is much more to be gained, since at the end of the day the engine is still just trying to push a big box through the air.  

Posted to Camping Tips at 06:07 PM |Permalink | Comments (0)
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Located about 200 miles south of San Francisco, San Simeon State Park is one of the oldest parks in the California State Park system. The campground at San Simeon State Park is a popular overnight stop for tourists visiting nearby Hearst Castle, which is five miles north on Highway 1.

The rocky coastline at San Simeon State Park is common to this area of California. In fact, the more famous Morro Bay, is just 25 miles to the south. Wildlife is abundant here, including sea lions, dophins, whales and numerous varieties of birds.

San Simeon State Park offers two different campgrounds; San Simeon Creek and the more primitive Washburn Campground. From Washburn, where we stayed, the beach is about one mile away. It is an easy hike on the very good trail system that runs throughout the park.

Of course, hiking a mile to reach the beach is quickly forgotten once the kids hit the sand! 

Posted to Backcountry Trips at 01:56 PM |Permalink | Comments (0)
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One of the problems with the E450 chassis is that the dashboard is fairly crude, by modern automotive standards. After six months of calculating my gas mileage by hand, and becoming a bit suspicious about the temperature gauge that never moves, I stumbled across the ScanGauge by Linear-Logic. The ScanGauge plugs into the ODBII Port on many vehicles, including the Ford E450. The ODBII Port is used by mechanics to troubleshoot problems on a vehicle, and it is located under the steering column on the E450.

Installing the ScanGauge is a breeze, and does not require any tools - although I used zip-ties to secure the cable behind the dashboard. The gauge itself sits on top of the steering column, and is not obtrusive. The ScanGauge can display many different parameters, but only a few have any real value (at least to me). In "gauge mode" the ScanGauge displays any four parameters; I chose RPM, MPG, water temperature and intake air temperature. Unfortunately, the ScanGauge does not support transmission temperature. Other ODBII gauges, like the Interceptor from AeroForce Technology, support this, but they are more expensive and do not claim to support the E450.

In addition to "gauge mode", the ScanGauge has a fairly sophisticated "trip computer" mode. It is easy to toggle between the two modes. The trip computer can display many different parameters about your trip, including MPG, Miles, hours, etc. Most useful is the ability to calibrate the ScanGauge to your vehicles gas tank so it can display accurate information about the number of miles left in your tank.

The ScanGauge is a useful device that plugs some holes in the rather utilitarian dashboard of the E450 chassis. I wish it supported transmission temperature, which is something I will have to go have professionally installed.

Posted to Camping Gear at 06:48 AM |Permalink | Comments (1)
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