FredNewell Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 My experience with class c Ford motorhome with 460 v8 was positive, but 7 mpg. The model year was 1978. With a 1982 class c chevy with 350 v8, also positive, but 8.5 mpg. I consider the reliability of the Ford/Chev heavy van chassis to be good. If they could get 11 mpg, I'd be tempted to trade the Toyota at times. Simply because of size. A buddy sold off his Dodge chassis Chinook that he claimed got 12 mpg, but 11 average on the highway. I missed that one. I think he got $6k for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 My experience with class c Ford motorhome with 460 v8 was positive, but 7 mpg. The model year was 1978. With a 1982 class c chevy with 350 v8, also positive, but 8.5 mpg. I consider the reliability of the Ford/Chev heavy van chassis to be good. If they could get 11 mpg, I'd be tempted to trade the Toyota at times. Simply because of size. A buddy sold off his Dodge chassis Chinook that he claimed got 12 mpg, but 11 average on the highway. I missed that one. I think he got $6k for it. The year makes some difference. My first "camper" was a retro-fitted 1977 Chevy G10 van. 350 V8 and TH350 trans. On a long trip to Florida from New York it averaged 11 MPG. A friend followed me with his 1983 Ford conversion van with a 351 and he got 9 MPG. Same friend now has a heavier 1995 E250 Ford Conversion van with a 351 engine and much more goodies inside then my van ever had. He gets 14- 15 MPG on long trips. Same guy also has big Class C based on a Ford E350 and a model year I think. 460 engine. Gets 8-9 MPG on long trips and flat highways. I recently saw two new Tiger Class C RVs. Both built in sort-of a Toyota RV style but on US full-size diesel trucks. Well - not sure if "US" is a proper title. One on a Dodge chassis (owned by Italians). and one on a Chevy. Cummins and Isuzu Duramax. The guy with the Cummins powered Tiger told me he gets 13-14 MPG on the Michigan interstate doing 75 MPH. Might be true. My 92 Dodge gets 17 MPG with a camper on the back doing 75 MPH but mine has a pop-up roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lostcoast2014 Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 (edited) jdemaris, thanks again for your great information - it is giving me a lot to think about. I just had the Minnie Winnie mentioned earlier checked out by a mechanic and it had a bad transmission oil leak so I passed on it. I am seeing a few other Ford/Chevy chassis mh's online in the same 21 ft size range and there is even a 1997 Four Winds on eBay in southern California that is getting my interest. My challenge is that I live in a very remote area and so checking out the nice looking/sounding rigs means driving 5-11 hours each way… There have been two really nice Toyota motorhomes on Craigslist that were sold before I could arrange to drive down to take a look at them. Oh well, the price for living in a beautiful wilderness.. Edited October 22, 2014 by Lostcoast2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Super cheap V6 in Corning just posted. http://redding.craigslist.org/rvs/4725782879.html Yes I know. Not an easy drive from your location Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 . My challenge is that I live in a very remote area and so checking out the nice looking/sounding rigs means driving 5-11 hours each way… Yes, I know how that goes. Just about anytime I see something that peaks my interest, it's WAY far away. I also find that items for sale are rarely as described so I get less inclined as time goes on to travel to look at anything. That is, unless it's dirt cheap. Then, even if it IS something I want, there's the issue of getting it back without making a second long trip. I had been looking for a Chinook to fix up for over two years in NY. The closest I saw was in Rockland Maine. Since it was a Chinook from Louisiana and broke-down in Maine (no rust) - I figured for a $500 price tag I couldn't go wrong. Put the camper on the truck, hooked up the trailer, got the wife, kid, and dog - and off we went. Got to camp in a Maine campground for free since it was closed for the winter. Quite a haul, especially through the mountains of Vermont. Yeah, odd color but good running rig. It was only "brokedown" due to a cracked windshield. As a side-benefit, our little kid got to see the Atlantic ocean for the first time in Demariscotta, Maine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totem Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 No way man, Burnt Orange is not an odd color.... its an awesome color. Love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lostcoast2014 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 Super cheap V6 in Corning just posted. http://redding.craigslist.org/rvs/4725782879.html Yes I know. Not an easy drive from your location Linda S I need to act faster - I called and it was sold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totem Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 I love this guys add: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-Toyota-Sunrader-RV-camper-1-ton-/121464743699?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1c47dce713&item=121464743699&pt=RVs_Campers "To match this car you'll have to grow a Burt Reynolds mustache and dust off those Tom Cruise sunglasses you've got in your closet." lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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