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MetalGator's avatar
MetalGator
Nomad
Nov 20, 2017

8.1 MPG on 37' Gasser

We recently purchased a 2018 Miramar 35.3. It has the Ford V10 with the 6 speed transmission. I finally remembered to hit the trip odometer when I fueled on a recent trip. When I fueled again, I manually checked my mileage. On the 200+ mile trip, I got 8.1 MPG while towing our Jeep Wrangler. I was not running the generator and I was driving about 65-67 mph on flat terrain. The engine has just over 3000 miles on it. I was pleasantly surprised at this. I thought I would get 6.5-7mpg. I don't worry about milage but thought this was pretty good. When I used to tow my 30' trailer I would only get about 9.5-10mpg in the truck.

Burch
Class A
  • tropical36's avatar
    tropical36
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2017
    MetalGator wrote:
    We recently purchased a 2018 Miramar 35.3. It has the Ford V10 with the 6 speed transmission. I finally remembered to hit the trip odometer when I fueled on a recent trip. When I fueled again, I manually checked my mileage. On the 200+ mile trip, I got 8.1 MPG while towing our Jeep Wrangler. I was not running the generator and I was driving about 65-67 mph on flat terrain. The engine has just over 3000 miles on it. I was pleasantly surprised at this. I thought I would get 6.5-7mpg. I don't worry about milage but thought this was pretty good. When I used to tow my 30' trailer I would only get about 9.5-10mpg in the truck.

    Burch

    Actual mileage is most accurate using an on-board computer readout over a period of years and driving over all kinds of terrain.
    If one is not built in from the factory, then something like a SILVERLEAF total coach monitor, is very popular. Using one of these will most likely put you closer to the numbers you first surmised.
    The best way to decrease fuel consumption is to slow down and save on everything else in the process. Another way, is to stay a Wally World on occasion, which translates into money saved to buy fuel.
  • MetalGator's avatar
    MetalGator
    Nomad
    Nov 20, 2017
    90% of my driving will be in flat Florida. I will never make it to the rockies unless the wife wins the lottery and I can quit my job and have time to travel that far. I know it will take several tank fulls to get an average but I was a little surprised at the 8+. I was excepting 6 or 7. I know coming home I got worse milage as I had a minor emergency as I needed to get home quick and I was driving between 70-75mph on the way home.
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Nov 20, 2017
    As mentioned it takes several tanks of fuel to determine what to expect as an AVERAGE fuel mileage. The amount of ethanol in the fuel makes a huge difference and since there is no way of knowing how much ethanol is in each fill-up, that leaves us to guess as to our actual mileage. If you look at the label on the fuel pump it will say "UP TO 10% ethanol". This means that you could have close to 1% or a maximum of 10% ethanol, or anywhere in between.
  • frankdamp's avatar
    frankdamp
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2017
    We had a 32' Class A gasser, a 2002 model with the V-10 and a 5-speed transmission. We got 8 mpg at sea-level and usually 7.9 driving through the mountains. It was a big improvement on our 26' 1985 Class C with a carb-equipped 460, which got 6 mpg at sea level and around 4.5 at altitude.
  • wildtoad's avatar
    wildtoad
    Explorer II
    Nov 20, 2017
    31 footer towing a Sonic. Over the 9,500 miles I’ve put on it so far, I think I’ve had one instance of an 8.x the rest have been 7.x. I’m not thrilled with the MPG but then again It is what it is.
  • gutfelt's avatar
    gutfelt
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2017
    Gjac wrote:
    You really need more than one fill up to see what your real MPG will be, but 8.1 MPG is a good start.


    flat ground 8.1 towing is great when you hit the west mountain passes it will be 6.1 ;; mileage wont increase as more miles added as some like to think
    that's old school mentality
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Nov 20, 2017
    You really need more than one fill up to see what your real MPG will be, but 8.1 MPG is a good start.
  • Mr_Mark1's avatar
    Mr_Mark1
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2017
    Burch, as your engine breaks in, your mpg's should increase a little more.

    Our magic mileage number seemed to be about 20,000 miles on our diesel engine (we have 41,000 now) when I noticed an increase in mpg. We are getting about 6.8-7.0 mpg weighing 55,500 lbs. which I think is not too bad.

    Like with any coach, hills and stop and go traffic kill our 'good' average. On long straight interstates, I can inch our mpg's up to 7.5 as we turn about 1,100-1,200 rpm's in six gear going 55-60 miles per hour.

    Happy Camping,
    MM.

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