mpg recorder ideas ? (1 Viewer)

[Jaws]

I am gonna be doing an extended test on a gadget that is supposed to improve MPG on our run to Beni and home,, Not getting a whole lot for it but I will get to keep the widget no matter what the outcome.

I shall be doing the run there without it fitted and the return run with

I will have to keep a record of mileage done between fills and of course how much diesel goes in the tank at each fill

I do not want to use the iPad and a pen and paper is not really reliable either ( sounds funny but paper gets lost and damaged etc etc )
Same goes for using a fone app .. Woman is gonna be doing the 'book keeping' and simply hates using a fone for anything except fone calls ( Cannot even get her to open texts she gets !! )

Ages ago I remember a little hand held widget that you could enter the info in.. It was very low tech but other than that I cannot remember much about it..

Anyone got any ideas ??

 

[funflair]

Get over the paper phobia, if woman isn't keen on phones she won't be too happy with a widget me thinks.

Write the miles on the till receipt and back it up in a book with other comments regarding weather conditions etc as these also affect consumption. When you have done it both ways you need to reverse the procedure i.e go with and home without.

Martin

 

[PeteH]

Look on the "Truckers" Web sites?. I am sure that when I was driving some guys had like little hand-held "computers" that could record such things including MPG? and Tacho Details?

Pete

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[keith]

Yes John you have to do it twice ..... after all coming home is all uphill

 

[jezport]

I am gonna be doing an extended test on a gadget that is supposed to improve MPG on our run to Beni and home,, Not getting a whole lot for it but I will get to keep the widget no matter what the outcome.

Tell us more?

 

[Allanm]

Try one of these.....

Or maybe this....

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Don Quixote]

Get over the paper phobia, if woman isn't keen on phones she won't be too happy with a widget me thinks.

Write the miles on the till receipt and back it up in a book with other comments regarding weather conditions etc as these also affect consumption. When you have done it both ways you need to reverse the procedure i.e go with and home without.

Martin

Been using this method most of my life "write the miles on the till receipt and back it up in a book" or in our case we now use a "app" on the iPad called Road Trip HD and enter every detail of our trips away. We know to the last cent what we have spent and what MPG/KPL we are getting.

 

[buttons]

I think you are just setting the screen. When are you putting them up for sale.

 

[Cleve]

It's alright for you, I don't even have the woman to use ...... head down.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Photo4x4]

I do not want to use the iPad and a pen and paper is not really reliable either ( sounds funny but paper gets lost and damaged etc etc )

Not so sure about that. The Domesday Book was completed in 1086 and it can still be read today (and without batteries or electric power). On the other hand try reading your 3" floppy discs now!

KH

 

[Eddystone]

Get over the paper phobia, if woman isn't keen on phones she won't be too happy with a widget me thinks.

I agree.
Set up a small notebook and rule up each page, when you need to, with date, odo reading, where purchased, quantity and cost.
Keep it, with a pencil and a rubber, in the glove box.
Start the book from the other end and keep a simple diary on a daily basis with weather, temperature, route, traffic conditions, etc.
It just depends on how much data you think you need to do justice to the comparison.

 

[Jaws]

I think you are just setting the screen. When are you putting them up for sale.

As far as I am aware they will never go on sale to the general public mate
They are being produced by a small company that supplies fleet vans only..
To be honest I did ask if an order of a few dozen might be possible.. and was told no chance..
Only going to registered transport companies

What this is about is they have been supplying for a while.
Some firms are happy and some firms not so happy
I have been asked to do the test as a totally independent witness and the data produced will possibly be used in a case going to court
They were looking for someone with a heavy van and the tag axle was also a factor.. apparently it more closely relates to the sort of loads transport firms use 'small vans' for

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jaws]

The doomsday book has never been in my van or my hands
been doing this kinda thing for 8 years now.. Up until now merely for personal interest
Every year SOMETHING always seems to happen to the pad !!

 

[namwaldog]

We have an A5 hard-backed spiral bound notebook with large elastic band for relevant page marker. Biro goes down spiral, book in glovebox. Clear plastic CD 'envelope' stuck to back inside cover for receipts. Driver fills up, passenger records mileage, litres & cost.
Book is used to record anything you want about the trip.

Sods law says that gadget, phone, app etc will malfunction when you are about 90% of the way through the test.

"I have been asked to do the test as a totally independent witness and the data produced will possibly be used in a case going to court

Police refer to the book as 'Notes made at the time' when giving evidence.

 

[Pilote87]

Many years ago I was given a "Motorist's Record Book" and the first entry for a continuous record started in September 2000 with a Synergie we had. The log for our first motorhome was August 2005 and I could, if I wished summate all my spreadsheets so I would know how much I have spent on fuel for our motorhomes since then. I won't as I don't want to be horrified.

I keep all the info in the book and then transfer it to the spreadsheet periodically, when I think about it.

I don't know if this type of book is still avilable, but some sort of cash book could well do the job.

J

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Photo4x4]

Police refer to the book as 'Notes made at the time' when giving evidence.

Contemporaneous is the expression...

KH

 

[tonyidle]

I use an old A5 Filofax binder. Make A5 pages to my own spec on the PC, print & punch them. Punches are AFAIK still available. The binder is a robust zipped one I keep in the dash centre pocket. It also includes a Filofax calculator that fits the binder rings. As well as fuel / mileage /journey records I keep on odd page with van servicing info (oil / filters types etc).

 

[buttons]

As far as I am aware they will never go on sale to the general public mate
They are being produced by a small company that supplies fleet vans only..
To be honest I did ask if an order of a few dozen might be possible.. and was told no chance..
Only going to registered transport companies

What this is about is they have been supplying for a while.
Some firms are happy and some firms not so happy
I have been asked to do the test as a totally independent witness and the data produced will possibly be used in a case going to court
They were looking for someone with a heavy van and the tag axle was also a factor.. apparently it more closely relates to the sort of loads transport firms use 'small vans' for

Now I am interested. Could you put two by for me please.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DP+JAY]

We use the book from Jims shop
Is it called destinations or something like that?

 

[hilldweller]

It's oh so simple, get FuelLog on a phone. Even your dog could use it. Free. Multiple vehicles.

 

[pappajohn]

Hope they are keeping you sweet John.
You really could make a mess of their product with false records if you wanted.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jaws]

Hope they are keeping you sweet John.
You really could make a mess of their product with false records if you wanted.

I have done similar testing for a certain major GPS manufacturer a few years ago.
It has stood me in good steed as they still look after me to this day.
I suspect there may be a register somewhere of folk who might be willing to assist in such tests, though I have absolutely no idea !

But yes, it really is important that the records are kept spot on.

After reading all the replies I have come to the conclusion that good old paper and pen is the only way to go.
I shall keep two copies though, just in case !!

 

[Photo4x4]

I shall keep two copies though, just in case !!

Ah, old technology can help you there as well - carbon paper.

KH

 

[namwaldog]

Write the details on a £50 note you'll not lose it then!!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[hilldweller]

Ah, old technology can help you there as well - carbon paper.

KH

I found some recently during a clear out, could not bring myself to bin it.

 

[Jaws]

We use the book from Jims shop
Is it called destinations or something like that?

Yes we have one.. it is getting close to full now and I will have to buy another next year

 

[DP+JAY]

Yes we have one.. it is getting close to full now and I will have to buy another next year

That's your wife's Christmas present sorted then!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Puddleduck]

Paper and pen and a back up, then an email home (or text to your phone) with all the data as and when you remember!

 

[Jaws]

Paper and pen and a back up, then an email home (or text to your phone) with all the data as and when you remember!

I am too tight to send a text from Spain !
But I will be storing it on the lappy as and when I can

 

[Puddleduck]

Send an email to someone from a free wifi connection to someone who will store it for you - just as an extra backup. That way the pen and paper will never go wrong!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}