Fuel Mileage And Speed Claims

[zero]

I read reports from all over the world in regard to smaller RVs. Here are a few. No way to verify but interesting reading (at least to me).

2007 Hi-Lux 4WD with pop-up roof. (in Australia). 5 speed man trans. 3 liter D4D diesel. 55 liter, 12 volt refrigerator. Microwave. Dual batteries. Dual-burner stove, dual fuel tanks 20 gallon (US) main and 10 gallon (US) extra., 10 gallon (US) fresh water tank. Dual 2 ¾ lb. propane tanks (1.5 gallons total). 1 double bed 6.5 feet X 5 feet 8 inche, and one single bed 6 feet by 2 ½ feet, awning,

Fuel mileage 14.7 MPG (US gallons) or 17.6 MPG (Canadian gallons) @ 55 MPH.

Built on the Dodge Sprinter chassis, a platform with a proven track record in Europe, Winnebago's all-new Class C motorhome was created specifically for the American market. The Itasca Navion uses a Mercedes-Benz 2.7-liter turbocharged I-5 that develops 154 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. For 1500 miles, we put the Itasca Navion through its paces. In steady operation across the Mojave Desert at 75 mph, with the dash A/C on high, we averaged a respectable 14 mpg.

2002 Dakota 3.9V6 and carry a Sunlite (Apache) 6.9 on the back. I had to install a set of SuperSprings to level off the back.
Acceleration to 50 mph is about the same. Gas mileage went from about 19 to 12mpg. If I drive at 55-60 mph, the mileage taint too bad, but get a heavy foot and you swear the needle moves as you drive.

1984 Toyota and slide-in camper. My friend had a 1978 7' Six Pac camper on his 1984 Toyota extra cab truck with the 2.4L fuel injected motor, his truck was a 5 speed manual, He usually stayed at around 55 to 60 mph and was able to get 15 to 17 mpg with it. Of course on the steep grades he could only do about 40 mph

I recently picked up a 21' Class C Toyota-based motorhome. It is a '92 with a 3.0 liter V-6 and overdrive automatic trans. My mileage so far has been 15.5, 17.2, and 15.6 mpg. This is on mostly flat freeways in western Oregon, at around 50 mph.

Hey just found your post and I am in the same boat as you. I purchased a 1988 Toyota Odyssey 21 foot motorhome with 22RE automatic. People I bought it from said it got 14-17 MPG, however I get 11. I had a full tune-up at the dealership and the injectors cleaned, now my mileage is: 11

1994 1994 Dodge Scotty Serro Motorhome Class C (Gas mileage compared to Toyota) based on Dodge D100 with 318 V8. 21 foot. 16 mpg going 50mph, 13 mpg going 60mph, 12 mpg going 70mph, In town I get 10 mpg.

1984 Lesharo with 3.8 Dodge minivan engine i just drove 180miles at 6000 to 7000 ft in the high desert, and had a 20 to 25 mph crosswind.. my 3.8L Chry conversion got 15.1 mpg at an avg of 65mph, under these conditions (topped up tank before heading into Colorado tomorrow. have to go over Read Mtn Pass at 10,800ft)... i hope to go back to Albuquerque with a tail wind, where i'll be pushing 20 mpg! of course, unless the wind changes again... ah, spring in the southwest!...

1986 Astro Allegro, 22 feet, 4.3 liter V6. I got 14.3 mpg from Minnesota to Montana driving at 70-75 MPH all the way back. At 60 MPH I should get maybe 16-17 mpg. On the way back from Minnesota I pulled it out of overdrive because the V-6 motor didn't have enough horse power to handle a headwind or any hills with a small grade. It ran great in drive all the way back at 70-75 mph, although the motor was running at a higher RPM I managed 14.5 mpg. I'm going to tell you what is common in Astro vans.Same base model."Most" have a 3.42 rear end gear that is 7.5 10 bolt.If you doing any towing or hilly driving alot of guys either swap in 3.72's or 4.10's.The 700R4's do not like heat at all.

[FredNewell]

Good stuff. Realistic 12-14 mpg seems to be the norm.

[linda s]

Mileage in the motorhomes I own

18ft Sunrader 22re auto- 16.5 at 60 mph

18 ft Sunrader Nissan v6 auto- 15mpg at 70

Astro based Tiger XL 4.3 V6 auto- 15mpg at 70 not a pop top

These seem to be optimal speeds for all of these. Going slower doesn't improve the mileage but going faster will bring it down substantially

Linda S

[jerlwe]

Linda, is the sunrader a 4 speed or 5 speed?

[linda s]

I marked them. All automatic and the auto is always a 4 speed

Linda

Oh and I never use overdrive so that would be in 3rd gear on the Toyota Sunrader only. The others overdrive is used

[zero]

Here are a few of mine.

1988 Toyota Minicruiser with 2.4 engine and three speed auto trans in 3rd, 4.10 rear. Overall average of 14.5 MPG when driven at 60 MPH or less and a 600 foot altitude.

Same 1988 Toyota Minicruiser with a 4.56 rear and driven in 4th OD. Basically fuel mileage unchanged but more nicer to drive.

1978 Toyota Chinook with a 2.2 engine. pop-up roof 4.11 dually rear, and four speed manual trans. Gotten 21 MPG @ 60 MPH and an average of 18 MPG. 1800 feet elevation.

1986 Winnebago Lesharo with a 2.2 gas engine. 4 speed automatic with lock-up, front wheel drive. 14.5 MPG @ 65 MPH. 1800 feet elevation. MPGs dropped to 12 at 5000 feet elevation.

1986 Chevy 4WD Blazer with Hallmark RV body and 6.2 liter turbo diesel engine. Pop-up roof. 4L60 4-speed auto trans with lockup. 3.73 ration axles. 15 MPG @ 65 MPH at 1800 feet elevation and lots of hills.

1994 Ford F250, extended cab, 4WD, long bed with 7.3 IDI turbo diesel (International Harvester). High-roof, 11 foot 2200 lbs. camper. Altitude of 600 feet, flat roads @ 65 MPH averages 14.2 MPG.

1992 Dodge W250, extended cab. 4WD, long bed, with 5.9 Cummins intercooled-turbo DI diesel. 10.5 foot slide-on camper with pop-up roof. 17 MPG @ 75 MPH at 600 feet elevation.

1983 Chevy Blazer 4WD with 6.2 diesel, 3.08 axles, and TH400 trans. Pulled a 2500 lb. high fixed-roof camper-trailer all over NY and Canada for 3000 miles. Averaged 13.2 MPG at speeds of 65 MPH.

1973 Champion Class A with 318 V8 Dodge commercial engine, Torque-Flite auto trans (3 speed no lockup),and 4.33 rear. Seems it got 6 MPG at any speed and topped out at around 65 MPH. I changed the engine to a non-commercial with higher compression, custom intake manifold, headers, custom camshaft, etc. and it still got 6 MPG.

[passman]

1986 21ft Sunrader 22re auto- 15.5 - 16 at 60 mph, it will go faster but I won't. I never use overdrive and it weighs 5640lbs with half tank of gas, empty water tanks and fully packed for camping without driver or passenger

[shibs]

I have not driven my Winnie enough to comment on mpg.

my duramax diesel gets 20 mpg at 70 mph unloaded with my chunky u know what in it.

same vehicle towing a Holiday rambler 30 ft camper get 14 mpg at 65 mph if I buy good diesel, truck+camper = 16000 lbs approx

Is there a wind tunnel test for the Toyota cabover camper?

[Totem]

My 1998 5.9 cummins ram 2500 usually gets 20-21 MPG on highway and more like 18 when in town or towing. I have towed 2 snowmobiles and gotten 20 in it.

The leads me to believe a Scotty Serro would be a good buy if diesel (12 valve if possible, as the 24 were problematic)

[zero]

If I had money to burn and wanted a compact camper -similar in size to a 21 foot Toyota - I'd get a Tiger Malayan LT 4X4 with a Ford diesel. 19 feet long. 16 MPG on a cruise at 70 MPH. Also available with a Dodge/Cummins or a Chevy/Isuzu/Duramax. Also with gas engines. Base price of $140,000. Then an extra $10,000 for diesel, another $5,000 for extended cab. and yet another $5000 on all diesel appliances like heat and cooktop. By the way, I am not claiming the Ford is any better then the GM or Dodge. I just happen to have respect for the only stand-alone USA auto company left and Ford designed their own engine, from the ground up. Did that during tough times while GM was whining for more tax dollars (never to be paid back) and Dodge was being taken over by Fiat.

Maybe if I live to age 100, I can buy one used for less money.

[Totem]

I almost and the only reason i didn't was because it sold out from under me, bought a 1998 Safari brand RV on a ford powerstroke 7.3 class 3. It was 30 feet and huge with tons of nice features. I love my 21 sunrader though as it can go where that thing couldnt, namely a parking spot meant for a car.

[zero]

The compact size is what appeals to me both with the Toyotas and the smallest version of the new Provan Tigers. I suspect a 30 foot Ford-based RV with a 7.3 liter IH (Navigating the Stars) engine would be a fuel hog. Great rugged engines but not something to brag about when it comes to fuel mileage. My F250 4WD pickup truck with a 7.3 gets a best of around 16 MPG when empty. My Dodge with a 5.9 will get 20 MPG empty. My first HD diesel pickup was a 1984 Ford F250 with the smaller IH 6.9 diesel engine and that thing got a best of 13 MPG. 11 MPG was more the usual though. 4.10 axles and C6 trans did not help.