Hello :) I posted on this site a month ago about my journey to purchase a class B to live in. I am a female touring musician looking to give up my apartment and take to the road permanently. You were all very helpful with advice, and now I'm moving forward into looking at which to purchase. I have been looking for a 1996-2004 vehicle ( because of price ) - and Winnebago, RoadTrek and Dodge Xplorer seem to be the ones I like best. However, I can't get an accurate estimate on gas MPG. Can anyone recommend a vehicle for MPG? I am going to be putting serous miles on this vehicle - driving all over the united states all year long and the most important thing is gas mileage for a solo musician. Also - can someone tell me how many gallons are in the gas tank of a class b RV? I was looking at a Winnebago Rialta HD 2001 but cant find any info on gas tanks. I need to know what it will cost me to fill a tank. Thanks!

Most "B"s have a 25-ish gallon tank, with some room for expansion. Sprinters have a 26 gallon tank, Promasters/Ducatos have a 24 gallon tank, the exception are some Fords that have a 36 gallon one.MPG-wise, you are looking at 10-16, depending on terrain, traffic, and how heavy one's foot is on the go pedal. I'd estimate a fillup costs around $70 here in Texas, but in CA or other states, it could be in the triple digits.

I had a 1999 Rialta FD and as I remember the tank was around 20 gallons, perhaps less. I also remember getting in the high teens in mpg. I liked the concept of the Rialta but had problems with the bathroom/shower and finding tires. Also, don't expect to go to a VW service center for maintenance. At least that was my experience.And just to pick nits, a Rialta is a Class C.

if your looking for great mpg look at sprinters. they have a small very dependable diesel engine. pushing the 20 mpg and better.

A Rialta is a decent vehicle, but it is harder and harder to find service on them these days. Of course, nothing beats a T1N Sprinter based "B" in the MPG arena (20-22+ MPG), but the NCV3 models are decent too, and come next year, we will have Ford in the game as well with both a gasser and an I-5 offering.For 1996-2004, a T1N Sprinter may be hard to find, so I assumed the usual suspects (Express vans, Econolines, or Dodge RAM Vans.)

Hi girasoledonna I drive a 1989 Dodge Maxi-van. It has a 5.9 liter V8 (360ci). I can get 14-15MPG on the highways doing 50-55MPH. The faster you go beyond that, the more your MPG will suffer. My van is old, ugly, and not as efficient but only cost $3000.You can find the RoadTeks/Pleasureways (similar enough to mine to make the comparison) with a 318ci engine and they can get up to 17MPG. You really are not going to find much more MPG out of a V8 motor after that. You can get a good RoadTek or similar for around $15,000.The Riata's come with V6's so you may squeeze 18-20's out of them. The Diesel versions will get slightly more, but Diesel fuel also costs slightly more so it all really balances out. The Rialta's I've seen online are $20,000 or more.To conclude, 15-20 is your range for MPGs. Engine size is your largest factor. Just to make you think of even more options, here is a non-conformist way of thinking: Buy an older vehicle (but keep it in the EFI era... '89 or newer). Basically, you can spend more on the vehicle to save on future gas costs. Or, spend less on the vehicle and use the money saved to fill up your tanks for years to come. My van and I travel all over the place, between 13-15,000 miles each year (48,000 miles total in 38 months). I spent $3,700 each year on fuel the past three years, so my van + all it's fuel for the past 3 years have cost less than the purchase price of a RoadTek or Pleasureway that you have not even put fuel in yet. The down side is that you have to be willing to 'tinker' on things.

Mileage/Gas Tank Info for Class B to Live In | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

girasoledonna
Explorer
May 15, 2013
Ok so i'm saying no to the Rialta! Thanks "Arizona Kid" for being so forthcoming - sometimes I need to be hit over the head. I'm looking at the Majestic Tourer now - and thinking it might work perfectly - its a great price at 26K with only 55K miles and a 2009 - so hopefully that will work for me! It's also located right along my tour :) Anyway, thanks for all the input here - I'm going to PM the guy with the Majestic and see what he says!
stan909
Explorer
May 14, 2013
Majestic would be good.A member here named Darrah bought one a few months ago and likes it.It has a cassette toilet of 5 glns.The cassette can be emptied into any toilet so you don't need to find a dump station.It has wheels and a handle so it can be rolled.the fridge is 12 volt so a good house battery or maybe 2 is a must.PM Darrah.I'm sure he will be glad to talk to you.The Majestics I have seen are around that price with twice those miles.People will tell you the Ford vans are a little tough to drive with steering being difficult on grooved concrete.This can be fixed with a steering stabilizer.Drive it under as many situations as you can.
Arizona_Kid
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Under powered, drive train problems, hard to, or impossible to find parts, no one wants to service them, and if you do find someone they will not be cheap. There more of a cult Classic, for people who are good mechanics, and can do the work themselves. You can do so much better than a Rialta.
Yes, they are a Class C and most Rialta posts get moved to that forum.
Other people have tried, without hurting Rialta owners feelings, to steer you away, read between the lines of what the other members are telling you.
Roadtrek's Popular only has three seats, and the rear one can be removed, and some sort of storage cabinet put in its place.
girasoledonna
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Tried to PM you but couldnt. can u give me more information on why a rialta is bad? I really like the lay out - its more an apartment dwelling than a vehicle with a bed. Roadktreks also have the extra cargo seats for passengers that a single female just doesnt need.

But I dont want to buy a lemon! What's the issue with rialtas?
girasoledonna
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Arizona Kid - ok! I thought that Rialtas were supposedly very well made - can I ask what your experience was with the Rialta?
Arizona_Kid
Explorer
May 13, 2013
DON'T BUY A RIALTA,!
This comes from someone with 50 years of owning different Vans, and Class B's. You will put much, much more money back into it for repairs, than you will save on gas.
girasoledonna
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Actually I just found a 2009 Majestic Tourer II only 19 feet and looks awesome - 55K on it asking 26K. Seems like a great price for something so new. Thoughts on this vehicle? I've never heard of it before!
girasoledonna
Explorer
May 13, 2013
is it very hard to find someone to work on a rialta?
girasoledonna
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Thanks stan - I dont know if i'm "hooked" on it - as much as I am nearing the time I must depart for my tour and really need to decide on something. I mean, I've been researching now for like 4 months and I do find all of it exhausting - so many options and so many models! Seems like the RV is best for a dweller type vehicle - but right after I wrote all of that I've been looking at Roadtreks all day. LOL. I'm so scared to make the wrong decision! And the roadtreks are only 19 feet some of them which is better for parking. Also, none of these are in NJ so I dont know how to check them out without flying across the country,and I doubt I should buy something without checking it out in person, right?
stan909
Explorer
May 13, 2013
It sounds like you are hooked on the Rialta so you should probably just go for it. Put money away and credit cards for repairs like any vehicle. You will find someone to work on it and the people you meet at your gigs will help with recommendations.

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Mileage/Gas Tank Info for Class B to Live In

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