4800lbs trailer verse 3800lbs trailer

wincrasher65 wrote:
There are a lot of variables to what you are asking. I've had a lot of different RV's in my lifetime. Right now I have a B van and love it. If you are just recreating, a smaller RV can add to your fun, costs less to use and can be a lot less work.

To your query, the answer is it depends.

If the 5000 lbs weight of your current trailer is at the max rating for your vehicle, then a lighter trailer should make a difference in mpg. It's still 1000 lbs of weight to carry around, and yes, makes a difference on a gas engine. Their best economy is going to be at 80% engine output, so if your tow vehicle is maxed out, then reducing speed may get you to that sweet spot. With a lighter trailer, then maybe you could go a bit faster for the same economy.

As others have stated, aerodynamics may yield more impact. A pointed nose, or rounded cap trailer may give less wind resistance that a slab nosed trailer. I've had a rounded, a pointed, and a slant. The slant was not any difference than the slab. In fact, that trailer was lighter, but more difficult to tow than a heavier, rounded nose trailer I had at the time. Wind tunnel test show that the rear end treatment may have a lot more impact to aerodynamic efficiency, but you don't see any trailer manufacturers doing much with the rear cap. You do see some rear trailer wings and deflectors on some semi-trucks though.

Buying a new or different RV to get better mpg is going to be difficult to get a payback, since the outlay is so much and resale generally so poor. So think long and hard on that one. If you have other reasons to change out your RV, then justify it that way, as a difference in mpg will take a boatload of miles to make up for the expenditure.

I'd say the sooner you decide to downsize the better. Eventually, these giant RV's will become dinosaurs that nobody wants. Even if your RV is fully paid for, it's still prying $100 bills out of your wallet just to take it out. Most folks with big gas guzzling RV end up letting them sit around and don't get their full use out of them. People with the small trailers and the vans, you see them out all the time, going somewhere. It may be just psychology, but I think that if it doesn't seem so costly to use it, then you probably will use it more.

I have no delusions that taking out my RV doesn't cost a lot. Nevertheless I enjoy taking it out and have no plans to downsize or discontinue using my RV as much as possible.
I understand a smaller RV maybe cheaper to operate but currently I have no interest in a smaller RV.
Possibly in the future my opinion may change but for now I enjoy the large RV that I have.
No I do not enjoy the overall cost, but more importantly I do enjoy the overall experience of my large RV. Currently I am not willing to sacrifice size for savings.