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Old 10-01-2022, 04:42 PM   #1
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Journey Fuel mileage (MPG) towing?

I am sure this topic has been discussed numerous times, but here goes. We currently have a 2019 Adventurer 36Z. The MPG while towing is pretty bad (towing a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited). I am curious from any Journey owners, particularly 40R models, what kind of mileage you get, both with and without towing. We are thinking of upgrading to a Journey 40R, but not really sure if it is worth the extra cost. I know fuel savings (in any) would not make up the difference, but I also know there are other advantages to the diesel that could also factor in.
Thank you for the help.
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Old 10-02-2022, 04:36 AM   #2
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I have no true idea on MPG in my 07 37' Meridian (sister to journey) as there are way to many factors. I have rv'd for years and just do not care what the MPG is. I purchased all my rigs to use and enjoy the country if fuel was $3 or $5 a gallon made no difference. Which brings to point diesel fuel is somewhere around $1 more than gas. So you need to figure that into your cost figures.I MPG was 6 or 10 whats the difference.

Some other factors to me that effect MPG. I run the generator all the time when traveling, that changes the MPG. One big factor is the wind, head wind or tail wind. Seems no matter what I always have a head wind to deal with.

I know you were wanting MPG answers and I am sure you will get alot. But for me its all about enjoying the country. Get the rig you want start the engine set back and enjoy.
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Old 10-02-2022, 05:36 AM   #3
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Get it tuned up and enjoy it . You didn't buy a RV to save money
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Old 10-02-2022, 08:06 AM   #4
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What are you getting with your Adventurer? I get 6.2 mpg towing and this includes all idling and generator operation - not just driving. I’ve kept rigorous track of every gallon put in the RV for 5-years+.

Why have I done that? I have no idea but now I feel I must do this without fail.
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Old 10-02-2022, 11:38 AM   #5
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Quote:
I run the generator all the time when traveling

Maybe a dumb question, maybe not.
When the alternator and generator are both running, which one is charging the batteries? Is there a relay or switch that prefers one over the other?
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Old 10-02-2022, 01:38 PM   #6
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Not a dumb question but… it doesn’t matter. You can connect multiple charging sources to your batteries at the same time. The more discharged your batteries are the more charging they can accept and as they near full charge the internal resistance inside the battery increases and limits the amount of charging they can accept. (That is true for lead acid and AGM batteries not Lithium.)
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Old 10-02-2022, 07:15 PM   #7
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My last trip was 5.25 MPG.
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Old 10-03-2022, 04:17 AM   #8
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There are so many variables no two people can compare fuel mileage.Caterpillar says the difference can be as much as 20% driving the same MH on the same course.

I think you'll find this very interesting: Understanding coach/RV performance
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Old 10-03-2022, 08:01 PM   #9
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I think the speed that you travel in your diesel will have a lot to do with the MPG. I really like my 34' 2006 Journey with my CAT C7 engine.


As far as size goes, do you feel that you need more room or are you getting it for other reasons?
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Old 10-04-2022, 07:24 PM   #10
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"be happy" i have to agree i swear no matter where i go i am always driving into the wind.
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Old 10-05-2022, 02:45 PM   #11
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We just hit over 5K on our 2022 Adventurer, the last 3K hauling the Bronco. I have kept the fuel mileage data since the beginning on Trip 1 and reset Trip 2 with every fill up.
Traveled all kinds of terrain as we worked our way to the coast through Angel Fire at 8200 feet, Durango, and Moab.
We run the generator most times we drive...it's been hotter than hell!...and set the cruise at 65 when we can easily maintain that speed.
Over all for the 5K is 7.5 mpg, and that seems to be around where every tank ends up. You go up hills, you have to come down hills!
Towing the Bronco does not seem to make a significant difference.
I'll double check the numbers to make sure my memory is not failing me...
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Old 10-05-2022, 02:48 PM   #12
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I have a 2005 Adventurer and pull a dolly with a 2007 Toyota Camry. I get 7.1 MPG pulling the car and dolly but get about 8.2 without the dolly and car. I have a Workhorse 8.1 and usually lock the cruise in at 60. If I drive faster than that I expect less mileage.
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Old 10-05-2022, 03:21 PM   #13
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Only exaggerated a tiny bit. The 7.2 is the 241 miles from Barstow to Paso Robles...the 7.4 is overall.
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Old 10-09-2022, 04:15 PM   #14
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A wise man once told me, "If you are concerned about fuel economy, do not buy an RV, a boat, or an airplane."
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Old 10-09-2022, 04:39 PM   #15
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We have a 2002 Journey 36DL with a tow dolly + Honda Civic that we always tow. Our average mileage for the 330HP Cat diesel was 8.7 MPG prior to 2022. This year we joined HH + BW where we used the 7.5KW Onan ≈50 hours and the mileage was 8.2± .0.2. I rigorously check mileage at each fillup and always top off the tank ( by 3 click shutoffs). I would estimate the 2022 total average at 8.3 mpg. FYI - 80% of our driving is I- ?? interstates at 60mph with a GPS multiple year average at 50mph.
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Old 10-09-2022, 04:47 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MadMaxWinny View Post
A wise man once told me, "If you are concerned about fuel economy, do not buy an RV, a boat, or an airplane."

I agree, except my sailboat sipped diesel at 1 gph under power but my airplane was14 gph. The overall annual cost of each is(was) ≈$5K overall on how I use(d) them.
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Old 10-09-2022, 04:47 PM   #17
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I have a 2004 Itasca Meridian 34h. On relatively flat land for one trip which was about 800 miles, I did 10.2 miles per gallon. Recently I made a trip with modest hills, in southwestern New York, and I got 8.6 miles per gallon.

I was not towing anything so I cannot give you a good towing figures. The engine is a caterpillar c7, derated to 330 horsepower.

For the trip where I got 8.6 miles per gallon I was intentionally driving with a lead foot. The one with 10.2 miles per gallon I drove more normally.

My mileage figures were from a scan gauge d, and matched with the onboard engine processor said through the display panel on the dash. They also align with my approximate estimates based upon the fuel tank levels. But to be honest, with a 90 gallon fuel tank and trips that are only a couple of hundred miles, it's hard to do an accurate estimate. So I rely on the onboard electronics, and the ScanGauge D.
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Old 10-09-2022, 07:09 PM   #18
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18,000 miles in 2021 WBGO Adventurer 29B with 7.3 V8. Average 65 mph on the interstate. All types of terrain. We average 7.4 mpg towing and 8.5 mpg without the toad. Using generator has had insignificant impact on mileage.
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Old 10-09-2022, 07:21 PM   #19
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For generator usage, I have an Onan 7.5 KW generator. According to Onan and to my testing at full power which it seldom will run at, it consumes 0.96 gallons per hour. I simply round up and figure it is a gallon per hour.

Running the heat pump for cooling or for heating is about a half power load with the refrigerator turned on, but the hot water heater turned off.
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Old 10-10-2022, 06:30 AM   #20
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I don't think MPG should be a consideration unless your looking at 5MPG or less then you might want consider something better.

2013 36M towing a toyota landcruiser weighing in at over 5K with off road tires.
GCVW last measured is 35880.

I have logged all fuel for over 35K miles, 30K of which included towing.

Average MPG is 8.17.

I have not compensated for generator usage but it is only .01 hours per mile so that won't improve the MPG very much.

I drive 60MPH or slightly higher trying to stay in 6th as much as possible.

Many miles are on secondary roads and some mountain driving.
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