2011 Thor 29.1 Review, Poor MPG

[Kidoo]

http://www.motorhome.com/rv-reviews/motorhome-reviews/thor-a-c-e-road-test/

Hi, I saw this review and was amazed by the poor MPG on a small class A. It does not seem to make any difference if the RV is small or big.
It shows 7.1 MPG, gees, my nephew drives a 45 ft. semi and he gets a bonus when he averages over 6.2, he gets the bonus every time.

I think it is too bad that there is no competition in Class A Gaz Engine now, no effort is made by Ford to reduce MPG, people just take it for granted, there no other choice anyway. I would take a little less power for a little more MPG.

I am shopping for a class A, but the MPG is a killer, especially that I put on around 20,000 miles a year.

[Effy]

mike brez wrote:
I don't even think they made a 2001 Ace 😉

LOL, I noticed that too.

[mike_brez]

I don't even think they made a 2001 Ace 😉

[Effy]

Just put larger tires on the rear so you're always travelling downhill. 😉

[peaches_cream]

Just make sure you are traveling "downwind" on every trip and you will increase your mileage considerably. Just set in one spot until the wind blows in the favorable direction. :S

[Effy]

I avg 9 mpg on my ACE. 7.1 seems really low.

[OhhWell]

Kidoo wrote:
I tought/dreamed I would see better MPG on this smaller Thor class A. It is a newer model and presume it should use more effiecient technologie.
When I talk to some seller, many claim they do 9 to 10 with their small RV, even 11 to 12 with the last guy I talked to, he has an 8.1. I guess there is no issue, pay the gaz or stay home!! and hope fuel price stay calm for the next years.

That seems to be a commonly shot down dream. They pretty much all still have the same flat front end these days so as to maximize interior room. I got about 7.5mpg with my gas powered truck pulling a TT and now I get about 7 with our gas class A.

There were more aerodynamic MHs in the past but then came the slides and the want for more interior room and storage. I'm sure that they could probably build a somewhat egg shaped MH now with a slide but probably at such a high cost that a potential buyer wouldn't care much about the price of gas anyhow.

[Kidoo]

Hummm, time share.. sure not saving any money in this business.

[ArchHoagland]

I get 7.1 averaged over 60,000 miles.

I saw over 9mpg on one 300 mile trip but I had a really good tailwind.

If MPG is going to be a concern for you maybe you should buy a timeshare instead...lol

[Kidoo]

I tought/dreamed I would see better MPG on this smaller Thor class A. It is a newer model and presume it should use more effiecient technologie.
When I talk to some seller, many claim they do 9 to 10 with their small RV, even 11 to 12 with the last guy I talked to, he has an 8.1. I guess there is no issue, pay the gaz or stay home!! and hope fuel price stay calm for the next years.

[jondrew]

If I recall correctly, my 86 Pace Arrow got 7 or 8 on a good day with its 454. I think my 71 Chevelle got the same with its 454. Mileage is completely independent of weight and aerodynamics with that engine.

[chuckftboy]

When I tow the Jeep, I only average 6 MPG and thought that was good. I would be excited to average 7. My Jeep is 1/6th the weight and only averages 14 MPG.

[Dale_Traveling]

7.1 MPG isn't that bad. Go back 10 or 15 years when there was competition and check the mileage data. Owners would have jumped for joy to reach 7 MPG combined with the HP and torque we now have. Pushing 20,000 pound 11' x 9' X 30+' box that has air conditioners, satellite domes, awnings, jacks, tank dump valves and who knows what else sticking up, out and down and I'm pretty amazed I get the mileage I do. Throw 3000 pounds on the back end and I only lose maybe a 1/2 mile per gallon! Any other vehicle and the numbers would be half the normal average, if you're lucky.

For what we as owners/drivers are demanding of our power trains Ford and GM, when they were supplying, are producing a reliable, powerful, easy to maintain and affordable foundation for our rigs. What I can't image is how our fathers got us to Florida, California or what ever for summer vacation in a 1968 something or other we road in the back of with no AC, no DVD players, no XM radio,,,

[Kidoo]

I would not mind paying if I had some share with the oil industry! I just say that they could come up with a more efficient engine in a small RV, like they do in Europe.

I remember a few years ago, my 2002, 2 cycle snowmobile was sucking around 6 MPG. Then came the 4 cycle engine, I bought a 2008 and was doing around 15 MPG. Then pure magic, in a short time, they came up with a much more Horse power 2 cycle engine and now get around 16 to 18 MPG with a 2009 SkiDoo. Except for a better ride comfort and performance, no big weight difference between the 3 models with weight, wind resistance, track or skis.

They did it when they where pushed by the new antipolution rules. I am sure they could do better but they will not until they loose money or they loose the market.

[OpenRangePullen]

What did you expect, RVs aren't exactly light and aerodynamic. Thats actually good mileage for a V10 C-class.

[Executive45]

You could take a Prius and have Jeff Michaels "Pimp" it out for you...best of both worlds and you'd be the only one out there driving a coach that looked like an egg....:B

I average 8 mpg with my coach @62 mph, py\ut about 25-30k / yr and am satisfied with that...I don;t mind paying for comfort and convenience....Dennid