Should you travel with a full tank of Gas?

Gas motorhomes have an 80-gallon fuel tank. Since you would be a fool to have less than 1/4 tank, that means the difference between a full tank and a low tank is 60 gallons. If I remember right, gas is about 6 pounds per gallon, so we are talking about 360 pounds. If you have a 20,000 pound motorhome,a full tank would be about 1.5% of total weight. So you could get 1.5% better mileage, right? Oh wait, like Wolfe10 correctly said, mileage difference due to weight is really only a factor when you go uphill, so you would have to multiply that 1.5% by the percentage you go uphill. If worst case you go uphill 50% of the time (doubtful), you would have a 0.75% difference in mileage--which of course would decrease as you use the gas in the tank. I think your time would be better spent making sure your tire inflation is correct, and going easy on the throttle!

I really dislike motoring in and out of gas stations towing my toad. By using the 3/8 to full range I can cut in half the number of times I need to pull in to gas up, as opposed to 3/8 to 5/8 range

Ever sat in those 5 hr traffic jams on I95 coming out of Ga into SC?? LOL..I always keep mine 1/2 full! :) And the best part is, I don't get the sticker shock of an empty fill-up! :)

While traveling we top it off every day as we pull into the campground

I absolutely hate being low on gas so I always fill up whenever the tank gets less than half which is pretty much a good day's run for me.

I always want to have enough to run the genny when need be.

So this means that you are a " The glass is half full or The glass is half empty" type of person? :h

JimR

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I travel with minimum water and empty waste tanks . Less weight is better .
Fuel is purchased based on route and price - I fill up only if future places and prices are higher .
If weather is a problem , then I stock up on everything to get thru the event .

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Technically I suppose there would be some small effect. We always travel on the top half of the tank and usually the top 1/3. Same as our water tank. Always full to the gunnels...or at least everytime the opportunity presents itself to fill.

LennyH wrote:
Let me know what you think about traveling with a full tank of gas. Does it course you Miles per gal. to go down or is the unit designed and the MPG that is listed for that unit allow for a full tank of gas.

I like travelling with a full tank of gas...it gets me much farther than travelling with an empty tank of gas :)

But, seriously, no, it won't impact your MPG...at least not enough that you'd be able to measure it....

LennyH wrote:
Let me know what you think about traveling with a full tank of gas. Does it course you Miles per gal. to go down or is the unit designed and the MPG that is listed for that unit allow for a full tank of gas.

What do you think?


LennyH

Good point. Travel on minimum fuel stopping at every fuel stop.

Do not bring water either as it adds weight.

empty all your storage areas

do not bring a toad bring one bicycle - you all can share

Of course my fuel tank is always as full as possible, my water tank is full, My storage areas are stuffed to the gills and my only concern is enjoying the next camp ground.

But if you prefer to concentrate on saving 2 cents per mile go for it.