Forum Discussion

legolas's avatar
legolas
Explorer
Dec 19, 2016

What MPG 32' Class A Gas V10

I need some educated help on the question of MPG for a 32' Class A with a V10. I currently have a 30ft TT and pull it w/ a 2008 2 Silverado 2500 HD 360 5 spd. I generally get 9 mpg towing the TT. I am considering purchasing a 32' Class A with a V-10 5 spd transmission, the GVWR is 22K and the GCWR is 26K.....I have been under the assumption that 5 to 6 MPG is what I can expect from the rig and I assume this would include a toad similar to a Honda CRV. I am within days of making my final decision on the purchase but am hung up on the increased cost of fuel for the MH vs the TT. My calculations for 5 MPG show a .8 percent increase in fuel costs...example, on my 2014 trip to Sedona and back with stops in Texas and New Mexico including a side trip to Taos and Santa Fe i spent 1794 on fuel...using the factor of 1.8 for a MH that would translate into a fuel cost of 3229.....I am not certain that I would give up the TT for the MH to incur those additional fuel costs for the same trip.

I would appreciate the benefit of your experience in this area.

Thanks in advance.
Class A

44 Replies

Sort By
  • JoeH's avatar
    JoeH
    Explorer III
    Jan 04, 2017
    In over 100,000 miles on our old v-10 I averaged 8.2 mpg- that was a 36 ft Pave Arrow Vision, usually pulling a Tracker toad. I kept it to about 62 mph... any faster and it would drop to about 7 mpg.
  • Jayco-noslide's avatar
    Jayco-noslide
    Explorer
    Jan 03, 2017
    It's not the monthly payments, it's the difference between what you pay and what you get when you're done with it. What you really get, not an inflated trade-in. This amount is BIG in most cases.
  • bigred1cav's avatar
    bigred1cav
    Explorer
    Jan 02, 2017
    Depends on where on I 65 going south I get about 8 pulling a toad. In WVa I get about 5. I have gotten 12 on flat stretches in Midwest. 35 ft 2000 Pace Arrow running Gen to power AC or Furnace. Ford ac and heater worthless.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    Jan 02, 2017
    Racine96 wrote:
    I don't intend to be mean, but most people I know with Class A, B, C or pulling a TT of FW get anywhere from 6-11 mpg. I have not heard of anyone getting any mpg to brag about. Wish you well.


    That's one thing I noticed on Ford Truck Forum.
    Owners of V10 don't brag about bad mpg.
    They brag how well their truck look sitting in the garage, while they drive econobox.
  • Racine96's avatar
    Racine96
    Explorer
    Jan 02, 2017
    I don't intend to be mean, but most people I know with Class A, B, C or pulling a TT of FW get anywhere from 6-11 mpg. I have not heard of anyone getting any mpg to brag about. Wish you well.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    Jan 01, 2017
    Racine96 wrote:
    Who gets on rving expecting good mpg?

    I do. When boys left the nest, we switched from 5 mpg motorhome to luxury Truck Camper.
    With new truck coming soon, we expect to make 12-15 mpg.
    That should give us option going from West to East, than to Alaska without loosing the house on fuel payments.
    I mean this is our budget -can't compare to guys who have few millions disposable cash.
  • JaxDad's avatar
    JaxDad
    Explorer III
    Dec 29, 2016
    rgatijnet1 wrote:
    JaxDad wrote:
    Some people will swear by having a toad, some people swear AT the toad.

    I'm in the later group, the PITA of having that thing back there, never mind the cost, is well worth skipping it in favour of better cheaper alternatives in MY case, YMMV.

    as an example, for me on a trip to Florida (I towed a friends car on a dolly as a favour) it took about 1.2 mpg extra to drag the car (Honda Civic) along. I get almost exactly 8 mpg with no toad. I got 6.8 mpg pulling his car.

    On a round trip from Toronto to Florida that means the difference between 375 gallons (solo) and 440 gallon ns pulling the toad. At an average price of $2.35 / gallon that 65 gallons costs ~$150. I can rent a car for $25 / day or take taxis for half of that.

    It just (in my case) makes ZERO sense.


    I may be wrong but I assume that you also own an automobile/truck for transportation when you are home. What does that vehicle cost you for loan payments, insurance, and depreciation while it is sitting unused when you are in the motor home? Again, your choice but not taking your existing vehicle with you does not mean that you are saving a lot of money. On a typical 3-4 month trip out West for us, we will put more miles on the toad than we do on the motor home.


    Yup, I have a pair of 5k. lb.. SUV's, an 8k. lb. pickup,and a 500 lb. scooter and I don't owe a penny on any of them and if I'm not driving them they cost me next to nothing in insurance.

    The first three aren't toad material, the fourth one goes on a hitch mounted carrier.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Dec 29, 2016
    rgatijnet1 wrote:

    I may be wrong but I assume that you also own an automobile/truck for transportation when you are home. What does that vehicle cost you for loan payments, insurance, and depreciation while it is sitting unused when you are in the motor home? Again, your choice but not taking your existing vehicle with you does not mean that you are saving a lot of money. On a typical 3-4 month trip out West for us, we will put more miles on the toad than we do on the motor home.


    I would think that the insurance, depreciation, and loan payments are pretty much identical to what one would pay if the toad isn't sitting at home. If anything, depreciation should be slightly less as there's less wear and tear on the vehicle. I don't see where that enters into the equation at all, any more than one's mortgage or rent, property tax, etc. payments have a bearing on the relative cost of a state park vs. an RV resort.
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Dec 29, 2016
    JaxDad wrote:
    Some people will swear by having a toad, some people swear AT the toad.

    I'm in the later group, the PITA of having that thing back there, never mind the cost, is well worth skipping it in favour of better cheaper alternatives in MY case, YMMV.

    as an example, for me on a trip to Florida (I towed a friends car on a dolly as a favour) it took about 1.2 mpg extra to drag the car (Honda Civic) along. I get almost exactly 8 mpg with no toad. I got 6.8 mpg pulling his car.

    On a round trip from Toronto to Florida that means the difference between 375 gallons (solo) and 440 gallon ns pulling the toad. At an average price of $2.35 / gallon that 65 gallons costs ~$150. I can rent a car for $25 / day or take taxis for half of that.

    It just (in my case) makes ZERO sense.


    I may be wrong but I assume that you also own an automobile/truck for transportation when you are home. What does that vehicle cost you for loan payments, insurance, and depreciation while it is sitting unused when you are in the motor home? Again, your choice but not taking your existing vehicle with you does not mean that you are saving a lot of money. On a typical 3-4 month trip out West for us, we will put more miles on the toad than we do on the motor home.

About Motorhome Group

38,720 PostsLatest Activity: May 13, 2025