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chinrv's avatar
chinrv
Explorer
May 06, 2013

Ford V10 Actual Trip MPG

Last week we took our 2001 E450 Isata on a quick trip from Colorado to Minnesota and back, 5 days. Actual mpg on the way out:9.3 @75MPH; 9.4mpg @75MPH; 9.7@70MPH. Another 250 miles and 3+ days sitting in a parking lot (Dog Show), cold, rainy, snowy running the generator A LOT to keep the batteries charged to run the furnace(dry camping):6.6mpg.
Return trip, same gas stops: 9.0mpg@70MPH; 7.8mpg in VERY WINDY conditions (not 75MPH); 8.5mpg, still pretty windy. Total miles on our MH right now is 195,512; used 1/2 qt. oil on the way out and more than a 1/2 qt. back home. Fresh filter and oil change before the trip (all Motorcraft). Generator now reads 887 hours. So, as mentioned on other posts, MPG really varies a lot depending on conditions, but you are driving a house.
Class C

39 Replies

  • derosacamp's avatar
    derosacamp
    Explorer
    May 27, 2013
    Can't resist chiming in on this one; my 2006 E450 29' Gulfstream averaged 9mpg last summer driving 55-60mph in New England, nothing in tow and empty water tanks.
    Used to have a sailboat with a 2 cylinder diesel and we measured fuel consumption with a calender!
  • TyroneandGladys's avatar
    TyroneandGladys
    Explorer
    May 24, 2013
    Rough rule of thumb is you will gain ten percent in MPG by driving 55 instead of 65. If you are driving a rv that gets 10 mpg at 65 that means you will use 50 gallons of fuel to travel 500 miles. Now drop your speed to 55 and you will only use 45.45 gallons a difference of 4.55 gallons. At $4.00 a gallon you saved $18.20 It will take you an additional 1.4 hours to drive the 500 miles at 55 instead of 65. So is it worth it every one is different.
  • jsmart's avatar
    jsmart
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    I've been tracking our mileage in a 2004 Jayco Granite Ridge 2900 class C, pulling a 2009 Jeep Wrangler X toad. We average 6.8 mpg on trips of approx. 200 - 300 miles at a time in the Pacific Northwest. Some hills/passes (i.e., Snoqualmie, Stevens) and have used our generator on several occassions (once for 5 hours continuous). I generally keep up with the freeway speeds of 65 mph.
  • BillMFl's avatar
    BillMFl
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    Harvard wrote:
    Mich F wrote:
    Harvard wrote:
    I do not have a Scan Guage ... do you suppose I too would get better mileage if I had a Scan Guage? :)


    Is that supposed to be some kind of dig at my 10.3 MPG average per scan gauge? The newer MH is right around 8MPG on the two short trips I've been on so far. A little under and a little over 8, according to that same scan gauge.


    I consider 10 Miles Per an Imperial Gallon to be a good day on our 2004 E450 V10 28 Foot square box. That is about 8 Miles per USG.

    As I said, I do not have a Scan Guage BUT reading some of the details it appears a Scan Guage offers both and instantaneous reading and an average reading. An average reading would be closer to the real mileage, I think.

    I did not consider the advantgage of having an instantaneous reading to control my speed as noted by Dakzuki so I have come away the wiser. No harm meant. :)



    Is an IMPERIAL gallon blessed by the Pope or the Queen? I can omly get that boring US gallon stuff around here. :)
  • philandterri's avatar
    philandterri
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    Travelled 7900 miles from FL to CA.OR,WA,WY,NE.IA then onto NY. 2008 Tioga Ranger 31w 450 Ford towing a 2003 Honda CRV. Average mileage 7.13 with cruise control set at 60MPH.
  • Harvard's avatar
    Harvard
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    Mich F wrote:
    Keep in mind that most of my driving is done in Fl., where more often than not the highest elevation is a highway overpass, other than the occasional bridge.


    Very good point, around here (and westward) we are going up and down hills every few miles. And, on two lane highways where you do not like to be a pain (on the up hill) to faster traffic.

    You would think for every up there is a down but the problem is you spend more time on the ups (with the gas pedal depressed heavily) then you spend on the downs. :)
  • Mich_F's avatar
    Mich_F
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    Harvard wrote:
    Mich F wrote:
    Harvard wrote:
    I do not have a Scan Guage ... do you suppose I too would get better mileage if I had a Scan Guage? :)


    Is that supposed to be some kind of dig at my 10.3 MPG average per scan gauge? The newer MH is right around 8MPG on the two short trips I've been on so far. A little under and a little over 8, according to that same scan gauge.


    I consider 10 Miles Per an Imperial Gallon to be a good day on our 2004 E450 V10 28 Foot square box. That is about 8 Miles per USG.

    As I said, I do not have a Scan Guage BUT reading some of the details it appears a Scan Guage offers both and instantaneous reading and an average reading. An average reading would be closer to the real mileage, I think.

    I did not consider the advantgage of having an instantaneous reading to control my speed as noted by Dakzuki so I have come away the wiser. No harm meant. :)


    That 10.3MPG was the average for each trip, in U.S. gallons. Now this was for a 24' overall ~ 9,000# MH. The 32 1/2' newer MH, probably somewhere around 11,000#, has been getting around 8MPG on two trips of about 180 miles each, round trip.
    I'm going off tomorrow for another 4 day weekend a little farther away from home and am curious to see if there will be much difference in MPG. I've found going across Alligator Alley in Fl (where I'm heading tomorrow) can do a job on MPG.
    Keep in mind that most of my driving is done in Fl., where more often than not the highest elevation is a highway overpass, other than the occasional bridge.
  • Harvard's avatar
    Harvard
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    Mich F wrote:
    Harvard wrote:
    I do not have a Scan Guage ... do you suppose I too would get better mileage if I had a Scan Guage? :)


    Is that supposed to be some kind of dig at my 10.3 MPG average per scan gauge? The newer MH is right around 8MPG on the two short trips I've been on so far. A little under and a little over 8, according to that same scan gauge.


    I consider 10 Miles Per an Imperial Gallon to be a good day on our 2004 E450 V10 28 Foot square box. That is about 8 Miles per USG.

    As I said, I do not have a Scan Guage BUT reading some of the details it appears a Scan Guage offers both and instantaneous reading and an average reading. An average reading would be closer to the real mileage, I think.

    I did not consider the advantgage of having an instantaneous reading to control my speed as noted by Dakzuki so I have come away the wiser. No harm meant. :)
  • Mich_F's avatar
    Mich_F
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    Harvard wrote:
    I do not have a Scan Guage ... do you suppose I too would get better mileage if I had a Scan Guage? :)


    Is that supposed to be some kind of dig at my 10.3 MPG average per scan gauge? The newer MH is right around 8MPG on the two short trips I've been on so far. A little under and a little over 8, according to that same scan gauge.
    I always assumed a scan gauge was more accurate than a pad and paper keeping track of gallons and miles, but perhaps I'm wrong. :R
  • Florence's avatar
    Florence
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    Thank you so much for answering quickly.

    If I may... I've remembered another question. The guy is asking 42K, NADA value is around 63K. Is it a good deal? How the real prices compare to NADA value?

    Thanks!

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