zero Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 I (we) just got back from camping on three different Great Lakes. Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior. While at the Lake Superior state campground - my "next-door-neighbor" had a 2012 Toyota. Truck and slide-on camper. He said he bought the camper especially stripped to lower weight and hopefully get better gas mileage. No propane, no water, no stove, no AC. Camper weighs 900 lbs. before loading. Basically just an expensive box and a bed, and storage. Total outfit cost well over $40,000. Truck has a 4 liter V6 and 5 speed automatic. Gas mileage? The owner says he gets 12 MPG when driving 65-70 MPH and 14.5 MPG when doing 55 MPH. Doesn't sound like much of an improvement to me - as compared to the older, better equipped 20-21 foot Toyotas from the 80s to early 90s. My 1991 HD Dodge diesel truck, with 4WD, extended cab, and 1600 lb. camper on the back can get 17 MPG @ 70 MPH. I used to wonder what kind of gains might be had by taking an older Toyota RV body and sticking it on a new-tech truck. Seems not much? Later on I came across two 78 Chinooks near Newberry (Michigan UP). Both are daily drivers for the owners and not used as dedicated campers. Also went to the Oswald bear-rescue place and looked at two more Toyota RVs. A Winnebago and a Dolphin. The Dolphin is no longer driven and is used as a park-office. The owner of both told me that even though both the RVs have four-cylinder engines - the Winnebago drives better and gets much better gas mileage then the Dolphin. So he stopped driving the Dolphin. He says he gets 18 MPG with the Winnebago which I do not believe. But, who knows? For us - driving up to the UP and fighting strong winds the whole way - we got 13 MPG @ 55-60 MPH. Coming home with the wind at our backs - @ 55-60 MPH we got one tank at 13.99 MPH and another at 15.1 MPG. That with our 1988 Minicruiser with a 2.4 engine and new valve-job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whyverne14 Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Cool, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shibs Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Jdemaris, Thanks for sharing, I have similar experience with mpg, I can get 14.5 mpg (till dpf cycle hits) on my duramax towing my HR 8000 lb camper, that is if I keep it around 65 mph. That camper is that on top of the TRD? I curious what they used for edge banding, looks like they have screws every 10 inches or so. can you pls list the camp grounds you stayed at and would recommend. I am probably heading out that way if time permits before the white stuff comes down ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bufbooth Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 I was up in Northern Wisconsin on a motorcycle trip (9/13-9/15) and ran across three Toyota motorhomes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 can you pls list the camp grounds you stayed at and would recommend. I am probably heading out that way if time permits before the white stuff comes down ;-) Note that all these campgrounds during the summer are jammed full when anywhere near a lake shore. Now? Near empty now and we had our choice of spots. Michigan has a "passport" fee besides the usual camping fee. Michigan residents often get a yearly discount that costs $11 total for the entire year. If you have out-of-state license plates the passport fee is an extra $9 per day wherever you stay. That IF they get around to charging you. When we registered at the Lake Superior place - we paid the $13 camping fee and were told a park ranger would come by sometime to get our passport fee. He/she never did. We camped at Wilderness State Campground just a few miles from the Mackinac Bridge on the lower peninsula. Has campsites directly on the Lake Michigan shoreline and also more away from it in the woods. 10,000 acres of park and 26 miles of shoreline. Costs around $22 per night totalif you do not have Michigan license plates. Nice place to stay if you want to tour the historic colonial fort by the bridge or go to Mackinac Island. 903 Wilderness Park Drive Recreation Passport Required: Yes Carp Lake, MI 49718 Approximate Size: 10512 (Acres) Phone Number: (231) 436-5381 http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=509&type=SPRK Also a Lake Superior state campground. Again - we were on the shore of Lake Superior and had our choice of spots. $13 per night plus the $9 Michigan passport fee that we never got charged. This is on the upper side of the Mackinac bridge in the eastern UP near Grand Marais. Muskallonge Lake State Park Phone Number: (906) 658-3338 Entrance Fee: $.00 Recreation Passport Required: Yes Camping Fee: $13.00 http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=668&type=SFCG Portage Bay State Forest campground on Lake Michigan near Fayette. http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=667&type=SFCGFayette Historic State Park Phone Number: (906) 644-2603 Entrance Fee: $.00 Recreation Passport Required: Yes Hoeft State Park on Lake Huron. Lower peninsula near Rogers City. Hoeft State Park is a heavily wooded park with a mile of sandy, Lake Huron shoreline. A paved non-motorized trail connects the park to Huron Sunrise Trail which stretches to Rogers City riding along the beach next to Lake Huron and ends at the world's largest open pit limestone mine. http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?type=SPRK&id=456 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 I forget to mention . . crossing that Mackinac Bridge (round trip) is $20 for any motorhome. Kind of pricey. $5 per axle for each crossing. If you had an old Toyota TV with a tag-axle, it would be a $30 round trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shibs Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Jd, thanks a bunch for the detailed list. I have passport added to my tags always, very convenient to visit the parks. Yes, the bridge is pricey, reminds me of NY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob C Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Out of state visitors can get the Michigan Passport for $30/yr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted October 1, 2014 Author Share Posted October 1, 2014 Jd, thanks a bunch for the detailed list. I have passport added to my tags always, very convenient to visit the parks. Yes, the bridge is pricey, reminds me of NY No surprise. The Mac Bridge was built by New Yorkers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdfrost64 Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 just say u have pass they never look ,haven't bought one sence they started it. i's a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shibs Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 "Truck and slide-on camper. He said he bought the camper especially stripped to lower weight and hopefully get better gas mileage. No propane, no water, no stove, no AC. Camper weighs 900 lbs. before loading. Basically just an expensive box and a bed, and storage. Total outfit cost well over $40,000" Yeap, those rigs are not your regular rvs, it is the 4wd off road capability that has people buying light aluminum structures. here is my rig, FWC Grandby with nearly every options sits on top my duramax, no toilet though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobBeery Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Please buy the passport. I don't want toyhouse owners (including me) to get a rep for dodging rules. If you don't want to pay, OK, just don't use the park. P.S. I live at Traverse City Mich and have enjoyed camping at both the Wilderness and Muskallonge Lake parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdfrost64 Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 tell me this then Michigan says they made the pass port to rise more money for michigans parks . then why did they close some of them. they have cons clean the parks. there is little up keep to the parks . so were is the money going then. and plus they don,t even take the time to check if you even have one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdfrost64 Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 plus they keep jacking up camping fees every year and putting nothing back into the parks.i camp a lot at interlochen . only thing I see is the park get worse. getting to the point of not wanting to camp at half the parks anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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