Thought I would a post a short review on our GT XL378 now that we have 3 years and 30,000 miles of ownership.
I had done another post at the two year mark and thought I'd update. You can read the 2 year report here: https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...ip-212781.html
The biggest change this year is that I retired in December of 2020. In April we left for a "Round the country" trip of nearly 10,000 miles, getting as far south as St Augustine FL, as far north/east as Bar Harbor ME, Mackinac Island and we have just returned home from Banff Alberta. We did take the summer off to spend time with family while the grandkids were out of school and to wait for the Canadian border to reopen.
So on to the review. Read the 2 year review. NOTHING happened this year in the 15,000 or so miles we put on the coach.
Wait! I lied. I had to replace the passengers camera before heading to Banff. Other than that it has been oil changes and the usual stuff you do to keep any coach maintained.
We (I) did install a Dish Satellite antenna and receiver along with a Splendide Washer/Dryer combo prior to the first trip around the country.
We have not had any issues with appliances, AC's, heaters, tile flooring, or things deciding to detach themselves. The generator has not given us a single issue once we solved the fuel starvation issue.
To say we are happy with our purchase is an under statement. We have over 125 days camping this year and over 15,000 miles with out any down time due to mechanical issues. So far, about the only thing we can really complain about is buying an extended 4 year warranty.
Pretty boring report, but shouldn't they be?
Sounds like a great trip.
Curious as to what the problems you had with your generator? Mine was also giving me issues. But I think I fixed that now. Mine would die out on a sharp turn or a harsh jolt from a pothole in the road!
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2012 Georgetown XL 350TS, Hellwig front/rear sway bars, Sumo Springs, Blue OX True Center steering damper
2013 Ford Explorer LTD toad, Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000, VIP><Tow Brake
Better to have a bad day of camping than a good day at work!
Sounds like a great trip.
Curious as to what the problems you had with your generator? Mine was also giving me issues. But I think I fixed that now. Mine would die out on a sharp turn or a harsh jolt from a pothole in the road!
Initially ours would run for about 15 minutes then start to "surge" then die. 15-20 minutes later it would restart and go through the process again.
I played with oil levels then new fuel pump and filter, air filter never much improvement. The surging made me look at the altitude adjustment on the carb so I fiddled with that to no avail. Finally I began to think it was vapor lock due to heat around the fuel line. I bought some heat shielding from Summit Racing and sleeved the line as far back as I could. That helped a lot. It would run for longer periods but eventually would surge and die. SOOO, I bought a can of Seafoam, a length of fuel tubing and a small gas can. Mixed about 6 oz. of Seafoam to a gallon of gas and let it run, all the while spraying the carb intake with Seafoam spray. Low and behold it ran the whole gallon out! That was maybe a year and a half ago. Hasn't given us a bit of trouble since. Parked or driving, no troubles at all.
Since we typically stay in a Cracker Barrel, Walmart or roadside rest stop on travel days, it sure is nice to have a reliable generator.
By the way, never did the central vac....
Thanks! At first I wished we had purchased a Jeep after getting rid of the HHR, but the MKZ makes such a great toad.
Where you headed?
Hello again Mooney. We left Whitehouse Texas and headed to Denver Co. With several trips to places in Colorado and New Mexico. We are towing a 2018 F150. We are in Denver today for a few days at Chatfield State Park. Our coach pulled it with ease. We are averaging 6.75 per gallon. Even going up Raton Pass we were able to maintain 45 mph. Could hardly tell it was behind us.
Hello again Mooney. We left Whitehouse Texas and headed to Denver Co. With several trips to places in Colorado and New Mexico. We are towing a 2018 F150. We are in Denver today for a few days at Chatfield State Park. Our coach pulled it with ease. We are averaging 6.75 per gallon. Even going up Raton Pass we were able to maintain 45 mph. Could hardly tell it was behind us. Attachment 264858Attachment 264859Attachment 264860
Nice!
Our MKZ is limited to 65 mph being towed. Typically I'm below that at 62 or 63 mph. Can you tow faster? At those speeds we saw as high as 9.1 for a good portion of our east coast trip, ending up with 8.9 due to high winds the last 4 days. On our Canada trip we just finished, we saw 8.6 mpg. Oddly enough we were seeing really good mileage in Canada where the fuel was up to 20% ethanol. I wouldn't swear to it, but I'm pretty sure we were upwards of 9.5 mpg with the combination of the lower speed limits and the ethanol. The Canada trip defiantly had more elevation up and downs! I think a good portion of our fuel mileage is that I keep it below 65 mph and will drive 300-325 miles between stops. I've also gotten into the habit of running higher pressures in the tires (100 psi) for those long trips. Yes, a bit harsher ride, but I think it pays off in the end. Finally, I drive with my thumbs. Tow/haul, cruse control on all the time.
Seems late in the year to be in Denver??? Family?
Dan
Mooney, we drive between 62 and 65. On flat open road we get about 7 or a little better.
We are here visiting friends that we haven't seen for several years.
We were a little concerned about the weather but it is very nice in the mid 60's. Nice evenings around 50*.
It's our last trip to the north of Texas till March.
Mooney, we drive between 62 and 65. On flat open road we get about 7 or a little better.
We are here visiting friends that we haven't seen for several years.
We were a little concerned about the weather but it is very nice in the mid 60's. Nice evenings around 50*.
It's our last trip to the north of Texas till March.
Yeah, we're pretty much done for the year. The couple we met on the way to Florida and who went with us to Banff, want to do Alaska next year. Ever been?
Nice!At those speeds we saw as high as 9.1 for a good portion of our east coast trip, ending up with 8.9 due to high winds the last 4 days. On our Canada trip we just finished, we saw 8.6 mpg. Oddly enough we were seeing really good mileage in Canada where the fuel was up to 20% ethanol. I wouldn't swear to it, but I'm pretty sure we were upwards of 9.5 mpg with the combination of the lower speed limits and the ethanol.
Dan
Unbelievable; no really, unbelievable. And in a GT378 towing yet. Geez, if you weren't towing you might have gotten 12 or 13mpg. I've got a GT378 and am limited to 65 because of toad and typically get maybe around 7mpg at 62-63mph. My previous MH 2 feet shorter than the 378 (with the ford V-10) with the same toad was more aerodynamic and the best I ever got was 8mpg.
Unbelievable; no really, unbelievable. And in a GT378 towing yet. Geez, if you weren't towing you might have gotten 12 or 13mpg. I've got a GT378 and am limited to 65 because of toad and typically get maybe around 7mpg at 62-63mph. My previous MH 2 feet shorter than the 378 (with the ford V-10) with the same toad was more aerodynamic and the best I ever got was 8mpg.
I hear you!
I didn't believe my wife's math, but after checking it (more than once) the numbers were there. Our 2001 Four winds towing would get about 6.8 to 7 mpg. Not sure what the deal is here but we have consistently seen 8+ since day 1. We've never seen anything in the 6 mpg range, ever.
I don't know if the track is perfect, the distance traveled between stops minimizing accelerating up to freeway speeds, tire pressures, or what. It can't all be "downhill with the wind at our back".
Other than an alignment early on, we haven't done anything to the engine or chassis.
Maybe it's the wax. I sure as hell wouldn't post gas mileage numbers on this forum if it weren't true! LOL!
Yeah, we're pretty much done for the year. The couple we met on the way to Florida and who went with us to Banff, want to do Alaska next year. Ever been?
One of the pros to RVing is making new friends that think and enjoy life like we do.
We have not been to Alaska in an RV but sure would be fun.
We are planning a northwestern trip next year but Alaska is not in the plans at this time. If I retire by then, maybe.
Keep the postings coming, I like to hear what others are doing to their RV and where they have gone.
I just want to hear more about getting more than 700 miles on GT378 tank of gas.
Don't know about 700 miles. We usually get fuel when it gets around the 1/4 tank mark. Usually between 450-490 miles. That's if we haven't already filled up for the night.
Unless traffic is bad I never use the gas pedal and instead adjust speed with cruise control. I make as much effort within reason not to see the tach at 4800 rpm on hills. If it means we follow semis up a grade so be it. We're not in a hurry. If there is a group of semis going relative to our speed on the flats, we will get in line and follow. That's pretty much here in CA where the speed limit towing anything is 55mph. Like I said earlier, I do "over inflate" the tires, then monitor the pressures with TPMS so I don't exceed or get to close to max pressures.
I do not know if any performance programing has been done before we bought it, I know I haven't done any. I do know that our transmission will hold the initial bump in RPM from about 2500 at cruise, to 2800 going up hills, at least initially. I've seen other posts that folks have theirs pretty much go straight to 3400 with little or no pause at 2800. It doesn't drop a gear until the speed drops below 58 or so. Then it will go to 3400. Left alone, with a hill steep enough, it will keep changing gears going up to 4800-5000 rpm then finally drop out of cruise.
Linear Mode
