Typical Class C GAS mileage

[Joe_T_]

All,

I am sure this question has been asked many times. But, I could not find anything using 'SEARCH' that was pertinent.

We considered a Class A. But, maneuverability and gas mileage considerations has changed my mind.

Our purpose for this vehicle will be affordable travel around the US and Canada. We will travel a month or so, go home and stay a month or so, then travel again. We plan to visit all of the US National Parks possible and many historical sites.

There are four priorities for this future vehicle:

1.) As large of water and waste water tanks as possible
2.) A generator
3.) At least one slide in the living area
4.) LEVELERS!!!

We plan to stay no more than one or two nights in any one spot. Most likely many nights will be spent at Truck stops, WalMart, etc., in addition to the parks. So simple setup and takedown are very important (LEVELERS and any other suggestions are appreciated).

We are considering purchasing a used Class C of 30' - 32', 5 - 10 years old. Most likely it will be a Ford chassis with the V10. It will probably be a Winnebago, but who knows. I want something that has depreciated significantly, but 'lightly used' for its age.

I am interested in what your true Class C gas mileage history has been. Also, any advice/guidance on our plan is appreciated.

Thank you in advance,
Joe T.

[ron_dittmer]

Desert Captain wrote:
While I agree that fuel economy and RV's are oxymorons it is foolish {fuelish?}, to not consistently check your mileage. Knowing your mileage is like taking the pulse of your engine and drive train. If something is starting to go wrong often it will show up in a significant decrease in your mileage.

Since it requires all of about 20 seconds to do the math or simply look at your DIC why would anyone not bother to check mpg? :h

Agreed!

I used to document by writing down the fill-ups and tracking miles driven for the duration of the trip. That is about as accurate as I can think of to determine trip-averaging. It is good information to know, just like it's good to know all other expenditures in life. Doing life with blind spending practices is where many people get into financial trouble.

About 3-4 years ago, I installed a ScanGauge-II of which I set it to display average MPG, real-time MPG, MPH, and TPS. TPS is the throttle position sensor of which it's number displayed trains me to understand how much I am pressing down on the gas pedal. The readings help me to drive smarter. So why not drive smarter? I have more fun with that than driving blind and dishing out excessive $$$ at the pump. It is both sound economic practice and better for the environment.

With $20T in national debt, too bad the feds don't have a Scanguage-II type of devise to help them spend smarter.

[Desert_Captain]

While I agree that fuel economy and RV's are oxymorons it is foolish {fuelish?}, to not consistently check your mileage. Knowing your mileage is like taking the pulse of your engine and drive train. If something is starting to go wrong often it will show up in a significant decrease in your mileage.

Since it requires all of about 20 seconds to do the math or simply look at your DIC why would anyone not bother to check mpg? :h

[j-d]

ron.dittmer wrote:
I appreciate knowing my fuel ecnomy but after the 3rd year I don't feel a need to track it since I now know, towing and not. It is simple economics to know what it is.

Boats get even worse "mileage" but the fuel is still about the least expensive aspect of ownership. RV's are Boats with Wheels.

With any machine, it's good to have a baseline figure. Our first C had a carburetor and usually about 7 mpg. One trip looked more like 4, and I found a blown power valve in the Motorcraft/Holley carb. I'd calculate, get 6.8, 7.3 etc etc but that 4 was far enough out of the ballpark to do some investigation.

[ron_dittmer]

suprz wrote:
We get around an average of 8 - 9mpg but I don't really check. I'm on vacation, and I don't care... I wisdom all year for this yearly trip.. Life's too short to worry about mpg ??

I appreciate knowing my fuel ecnomy but after the 3rd year I don't feel a need to track it since I now know, towing and not. It is simple economics to know what it is.

[Wiz]

Also if you do stay overnight at a Walmart be sure to check with the store and police to ensure local regulations allow it. For example it's illegal anywhere in Maine. The state campground lobby got a state law passed.

[suprz]

We get around an average of 8 - 9mpg but I don't really check. I'm on vacation, and I don't care... I wisdom all year for this yearly trip.. Life's too short to worry about mpg ??

[Snowman9000]

Yeah but it only uses 5 speeds on any given shifting sequence. It uses a different 4th gear ratio, 1.10:1 instead of 1:1, in extreme cold weather. This is done to aid in getting the engine and trans warmed up. It will never shift through 6 ratios.

The new 6 speed has all 6 available. It has a lower 1st, two overdrives rather than one, and some efficiency engineering.

[ron_dittmer]

pnichols wrote:

ron.dittmer wrote:
Our 2007 Ford E350 with the 6.8L-V10 engine has the 5-speed TorqShift transmission which was installed in all E350/E450s from 2006 to 2016.

Ron,

Our 2005 (built in the fall of 2004) E450 based Itasca Class C has the Ford 5R110 5-speed (6 actual ratios, internally) computer controlled transmission in it, so I think that Ford probably started using it from 2005 models onward - at least in E450 cutaways.

pnichols,

Thanks for the correction.

Ron

[pnichols]

ron.dittmer wrote:
Our 2007 Ford E350 with the 6.8L-V10 engine has the 5-speed TorqShift transmission which was installed in all E350/E450s from 2006 to 2016.

Ron,

Our 2005 (built in the fall of 2004) E450 based Itasca Class C has the Ford 5R110 5-speed (6 actual ratios, internally) computer controlled transmission in it, so I think that Ford probably started using it from 2005 models onward - at least in E450 cutaways.

By the way, when our original 5R110 transmission unexpectedly failed at just over 61K miles, I had a heavy duty remanufactured version of it installed. For some reason this HD version from day one seems to shift much smoother and positively than the original did.

[ron_dittmer]

I could say we get 13 mpg on the highway, but I prefer to provide "TRIP AVERAGE" figures with consideration to origin, destination, and other factors.

- we live near Chicago so we travel far to nearly every destination, most often driving across the Great Plains
- our practiced cruising speed is ~65mph
- we run our generator as needed to charge our batteries and such which reduces the calculated figure
- we most often tow a vehicle and use that one once at our destinations, making our RV driving mostly on the highway

So....
Our 2007 Phoenix Cruiser 24' long B+ (2007 E350-V10) with tow vehicle, our TRIP AVERAGE is....
~10.5 not towing
~9.5 towing


Our 2007 Ford E350 with the 6.8L-V10 engine has the 5-speed TorqShift transmission which was installed in all E350/E450s from 2006 to 2016. Starting this year 2017, Ford installs a new 6-speed transmission in their DRW cut-away E350/E450. It offers better performance & behavior, and "Maybe" a ~10% improvement in fuel economy. If it is all true, I'd love that transmission.

[johnwalkerpa1]

Joe T. wrote:
All,



I am interested in what your true Class C gas mileage history has been. Also, any advice/guidance on our plan is appreciated.

Thank you in advance,
Joe T.

There are many variables but (for that length Class C) experience has shown me that the following generally holds true:

1. Hope for 8
2. Don't be surprised at 6 at high speed or in the mountains.
3. Budget your gas expenses at 7

Sometimes you'll be pleasantly surprised on low speed, level trips and get 9-10 but not often.

In my personal experience, weight (meaning fully loaded, full tanks and towing, versus running light) makes little difference....speed and terrain does...

[PSW]

Instead of mileage (which can vary as most have said depending on a lot of factors), you might also think in terms of fuel cost. If I was planning I would assume thirty to forty cents a mile for gasoline to determine what my trip costs will be. Of course, gas prices go up and down and vary greatly around the US. $2.05 down the street from my house today, I get about 9 miles to gallon so that is 23 cents a mile. I would figure a lot more than that for the variables over the next several years of travel. I suspect a cost of nearer thirty cents than the top of 40 cents would be appropriate, but I remember a few years ago when 40 would have been way too low.

So, take a guess and figure out how much a dream trip will cost at say 35 cents a mile. Just one way to think about this subject.

Paul

[oldcoach]

I have a 32 foot Jayco. It has the large Ford engine in it. We get about 9 mpg at 55-65. Just a little less than 9 mpg when running the generator as we drive. (Hot SC summer days)

We had a 27 foot Coachmen with a Chevy engine and got about the same.

[Snowman9000]

Joe,

It's a LONG thread, but have a look at this discussion about buying an ex-rental. Many satisfied owners of them are here.

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26035008.cfm

[Joe_T_]

Once again, thanks to all who have read and replied to my original post. It is an education. Please continue to tell me about your experiences.

We have no intention of becoming a 'Full Timer.' However, our experience in our old 5th wheel included a lot of SoCal Mojave desert outings with our dirt bikes. Ain't nutin' level in the MoJave. Hence, levelers.

We are just looking for an affordable travel machine. Depreciation is a major concern. I can't justify purchasing a new Jayco 26XD for ~$90K (list price) and then five - ten years later selling it for $30K. That is not reasonable for our needs.

Also, I got the "5-speed" automatic transmission data from the Jayco webpage for their 26XD. I thought that was strange since it appears all other sites listing 2016 Ford V-10 chassis had 6-speed transmissions.

Again, the main purpose for an RV is to have a place to overnight CHEAPLY in transit then set-up 'camp' at the destination. CAMP will have everything - full hook-ups. We will probably tow either my current GMC Canyon 5-speed manual or purchase a used itty-bitty car for towing.

Regards,
Joe T.