Real MPG stats?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by kalynzoo:
We currently have a 38ft Adventurer (gas workhorse)and pull a Saturn Vue (3k lb).We really like the Adventurer, and I have no intention of keeping it 200,000 miles, so the gas engine works fine for me. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

FYI, the Saturn Vue weighs closer to 4000#s or even a little more than 4000#s.

FYI, the GM 8.1L is rated to go 200,000 miles.

-Tom
 
Diesel may give you more MPG, but it cost more per gallon. Seems like a wash. A month ago I went to Disney World from New Jersey and averaged 8.2 MPG. Best tank was 10.6 and worst tank was 7.2. The way I look at it is like this... I spent $800 on gas. That is approximatly 266 gallons at $3/gal. Even if the price were $2/gal, which we will never see again, the total fuel cost would be $533. Am I really not going to take my kids to Disney for a trip they will never forget over a difference of $267 ??? I didn't buy an RV to commute with so I don't get upset when I average 8mpg.
 
We have a 2006 Journey 36 footer with the Cummins 300. Towing our Honda Civic and having the rig loaded with a normal vacation load, we get between 7.5 and 9.5 mpg depending on speed and wind. My comfortable cruising speed is around 68mph on roads with 70mph and I normally see around 8 mpg.

Was honestly hoping for more being that we opted for the smaller diesel engine, but cant complain. I know folks that only get 13mpg in their SUV's and they arent driving their vacation home with them!!
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We get anywhere from 7 to 9 while towing a GMC Envoy behind our Horizon. Speed has a lot to do with MPG in a diesel. You could see an extra mile per gallon if you dropped from driving 70-72 down to driving 65. Don't let fuel economy be your deciding factor, you will likely not put many miles on unless you plan to travel a lot.
 
We have a 1999 Ford V10 under a 30' 1998 Itasca MH, pulling a Vibe on a KarKaddy dolly. Over the last 3 years & 21,390 mile we have traveled to Nova Scotia & CA (over lots of mountains). We have averaged 8.42 MPG. I hold my interstate speed to 62 mph & on other roads the legal speed limit.

Individual tank mileage doesn't mean much because no two fuel stations will have the same terrain grade. A MH lean one way or the other will make as much as 2 gallons difference in a fill up plus each fuel nozzle will have different cut off pressures.

Dave
 
We have a 36 foot 2003 Journey with a 330 HP Cat. Our mileage ranges from 6.5 to 7.5 mpg depending on whether we are pulling our Tahoe and whether we run our generator or not. Pulling our Tahoe and staying on the generator we get the 6.5 mph. I am sure our travel speed influences it but we have not had it long enough to tell yet. I have been traveling about 60 mph on the interstates. Might improve my mileage a bit if I brought it down to 50 or 55.
 
We have an 01 Adventurer 32V on the Ford F53 chassis. It has a 310 hp V10 and 4 speed trans. When pulling our Jeep 4 down or our Buick Lesabre on a dolly we average 8 mpg. Solo we average 9 mpg.

Even on our 12,000 mile trip pulling the Jeep to Alaska last summer we averaged 8 mpg. We travel fairly light in comparison to some at 18,600 lbs on the coach and another 3,750 lbs for the Jeep. We usually drive at speeds of 55 - 62 mph.

Don't feel bad about $3.00 a gallon gas. In a couple of out of the way places in Canada last summer gas was $1.49 per litre. I believe that calculates to $5.24 per gallon
 
I sure agree with DLBatz on obtaining tank by tank fuel mileage. However, over a period of many trips one gets a good idea of his norm fuel mileage. Now I do not get with my 310 hp, Ford 4 speed, what most of you are getting. My norm is 7.5 - 8.1 depending on head winds mostly. I pull a Malibu and have never driven the coach any distance with out the toad, so my numbers are always with tow and no content in the tanks. The available power is exceptional all the time, so I am satisfied. My highway speeds are alway under 62 in the slow lane, except an occasional pass.
 
'03 Sightseer 30B, Workhorse 8.1. On a 11,000 mi. trip this summer we got 8.1 overall, but tonight on the way back from the Tampa RV show to Homestead,FL the dash was reading 9.2 and my scan gauge read 9.0 for the trip. No wind and south FL is very flat.
Greg
 
RJEV: After reading these posts I don't know how "real" the feedback is. Not to come off to harsh but there's some wild claims in this thread.
First, facts: it's heavy duty (Diesel) vs. mid-duty (gas). The Meridian sits, empty, heavier than the GVWR of most 'W' chassis. The C7 is 860 lb tq vs. 450 on the 8.1. The Meridian rated to tow 10k; most 'W' chassis are 5k. The C7 is mated to a 3500 Allison; most 'W' are 1000/2000 series tranny's. My 350hp C7 is currently, with 4k miles, running 8.4 mpg, towing 2500lbs (trailer + dirt bikes).
I could go on. Determine your needs and purchase a rig accordingly. Needs are items you must have at your budget.
Falsehoods:
1. Ride. Sorry, Tom-NC, my Freightliner with airbags rides better than the 'W' chassis anyday of the week. I've driven three 'W's: '04 Holiday Rambler, '06 Southwind, and '06 Winnie Adventurer. Meridian's ride is better - hands-down.
2. Some of the gas mileage claims are a little high. Most 8.1's in the GMC/Chevy 2500-3500 series trucks are runnin 9-11 mpg hwy. They weigh, empty, 1/3 most of the motorhomes listed on here.
3. My C7 takes 19 qts of oil, not "35" Remember: Diesel oil change intervals are 2-3x gaser. That's not mentioned anywhere in this thread. (e.g.: Cat recommends a 11,000 mile oil change for my motor). Oh, and BTW: The 8.1L is a 9-12 qt oil change. Not "6" as stated in an eariler thread.

NET/NET is this: what's your intent. Many of the 'W' chassis are great motorhomes and fulfill 80% of the rv population's requiremets. Heck, I've even encouraged some of my co-workers to go the workhorse route. Made sense for them. DP made sense for me. Yes, I paid more. Yes, diesel is more at the pump and in some aspects of maintenance. In the end I will be towing some significant weight (> 5k lbs) so I NEEDED a DP. And I've been BLESSED to have the finances to purchase one.
 
Good luck on your purchase whatever it is.

After my first year of ownership here are some things I found,

1) In the overall scheme operational cost is about the same for gas vs diesel for most RVers

2) Most diesel coaches are more initial money

3) Airbags ride better than springs, FRED is springs

We are returning from first Florida winter vacation albeit to soon I am afraid. We spent 8 days driving (75 total hours) and 24 days parked. I would worry as much about the chassis as I would about the coach. Also do not break the bank, I would rather buy a 75K MH and drive 55mph than spend 125k to drive faster and get an extra 2 mph. I would rather spend the 50k when I go camping.
 
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