Forest River Sunseeker E450 2300 MPG
Hi I am looking for my first RV. I am considering purchasing a FR Sunseeker 2300 with an E450. One thing bothered me about what was reported to me by the sales staff - mileage. According to the...
Forum Discussion
I would be very happy with 10 MPG in a class C. However if you really wanted to drive 55 MPH, then 11 MPG might be possible.
I don't know why a E-350 would get worse mileage than a E-450 built to have a heavier weight, and also a higher number rear axle ratio (typically) because the design engineers wanted the E-450 to run at a higher engine RPM for each given road speed, than on a E-350. The engineers predict that the E-350 will have a lower GCVWR, and thus can run at a more efficient and slower engine RPM for a given road speed.
Anyway if you are looking at a 23' or 24' long RV, it should be much lighter than a "Typical" 30' class C with a heavier slide out. This will assist in getting better MPG. But I don't think that 12 MPG is possible with a gas engine today. There is actually 10% or more alcohol in the fuel, and that prevents cars from getting the MPG that they might on pure gas.
The best way to improve the MPG is to slow down. Setting the CC at 55 MPH will save a lot of gas compared to 65 MPG. Also buy a couple of tanks of 92 octane fuel. See if your MPG improves. If you are getting 10 with 87 octane, and 11 with 92 or 91 octane, then it is worth it to spend 5% more on the fuel to get 10% more mileage from each gallon. You will actually spend 5% less over a 1,000 mile trip by buying the higher octane fuel.
Fred.
I don't know why a E-350 would get worse mileage than a E-450 built to have a heavier weight, and also a higher number rear axle ratio (typically) because the design engineers wanted the E-450 to run at a higher engine RPM for each given road speed, than on a E-350. The engineers predict that the E-350 will have a lower GCVWR, and thus can run at a more efficient and slower engine RPM for a given road speed.
Anyway if you are looking at a 23' or 24' long RV, it should be much lighter than a "Typical" 30' class C with a heavier slide out. This will assist in getting better MPG. But I don't think that 12 MPG is possible with a gas engine today. There is actually 10% or more alcohol in the fuel, and that prevents cars from getting the MPG that they might on pure gas.
The best way to improve the MPG is to slow down. Setting the CC at 55 MPH will save a lot of gas compared to 65 MPG. Also buy a couple of tanks of 92 octane fuel. See if your MPG improves. If you are getting 10 with 87 octane, and 11 with 92 or 91 octane, then it is worth it to spend 5% more on the fuel to get 10% more mileage from each gallon. You will actually spend 5% less over a 1,000 mile trip by buying the higher octane fuel.
Fred.
