What is your mpg

[tedgard01]

First, let me say, I would love to have a nice DP. Second, let me say, we are all in our own situations and lifestyle. Just because a DP or FRED are great RV's to own, they are certainly not the best choice for everyone.

An example, I know a guy that bought a very nice 40' or longer DP a year or so ago. He paid ~$500K, and put ~$100K down.

I have a nice, pre-owned 33' gasses that I bought last year. It cost me ~50K, or ~ 33% off NADA low retail. I could afford to simply pay cash.

Pros;
He has the ability to pull a larger toad (his is a Cadillac Escalade , sp?)
He has a very nice and comfortable air ride.
His coach looks very impressive and rich.
He can cruse along at 75, even with his toad, and take the hills with ease.
The DP will have a better resale value.
His engine will last far longer than my gasser (but I could upgrade my coach 10 times over that time for the difference in cost).

Cons;
Cost was 10 times as much as my gasser.
He pays ~ .40 more than I due per gallon of fuel.
He gets 5.5 mpg driving at 70 mph, where I get 7.5 mpg driving at the same speed. It will cost me $1,200 for the same trip that he pays $3,500 for in fuel cost alone.
His maintenance cost are very expensive, compared to mine.

Here is one of those times that a man needs to know there limitations. I had health problems and knew that I would only be expecting 5 to 7 years of RVing before declines in quality of life that would put limits on things. Regardless, $500K is way out of my budget range anyway.

He did not have any concern for the future, monetary or health wise. Over the last year that all changed. He got sick and lost his company. He will pay $80K just to give the RV back to the bank.

Think before you get over your head. Enjoy what you can afford, whatever that is.

[DavCor]

Tedgard01,
Your post is dead on, and provides the best advice to any would be coach buyer. With the criteria you have given, I should have bought a gaser, as I'm sure my body will give out long before the coach does. When that happens, the estate will probably have to pay to the bank the difference in sale and value price.

[ltfishin]

34ft MH, 454 gas, 5,000 mile trip. 6.7 mpg

[Alcazar]

5500 miles over 10 states, wind and grades, speeds 65-68. Spent $1917.00 for 558.8 gallons of gas = 0.29 per mile. about 9.5mpg.
On speeds driven.....some folks think 55 or 60 is a good speed for an RV. Sure it is if you are thinking of mpg. Consider this...Interstate speeds of 70, 75 even 80 on I-15 in Utah. Will you still go 55 or 60? Not me. I don't want to get rearended. BTW....the trucks go that fast too! Picture yourself tooling across South Dakota at 55 or 60 on a windy day on I-90 and big rigs passing you at 75+. Scary thought. Been there done that and No Thank you.

[DavCor]

Just came off a 6 month trip around the mid-west and east coast. Drove 6500 miles, on both flat lands and mountains. Fuel usage by computer dash display and by hand (diesel used per miles driven) were within .2 of each other.
Average fuel usage: 11.00 mpg
Low: 10.9 mpg
High: 11.2 mpg
That said, I totally agree that fuel/gas usage is NOT the way to determine which type of rig you wish to purchase. Amount of actual usage, miles you think you might actually drive per trip, and how often do you expect to use the coach is a far better way to figure what you need, and not necessarily what your heart wants.

[HHg]

I've only put a little over 5000 miles on my Phaeton 40QBH. My Freightliner cluster says I'm getting 9.5. That is always with our CRV toad, and a pretty constant 62-65 mph. I'm quite happy with these numbers.

Hhg

[Dr4Film]

Have you double checked it against paper/pencil & simple math?

If so then you are doing really well at those speeds.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[CampDaven]

QUOTE="tedgard01;1670005"]

Cons; Cost was 10 times as much as my gasser.
He pays ~ .40 more than I due per gallon of fuel.
He gets 5.5 mpg driving at 70 mph, where I get 7.5 mpg driving at the same speed. [/QUOTE]

There are other economical alternatives.

Here is my report to the OP:

Thor Serrano 31X.
Front engine diesel.
20,500 chassis GVW.
Towing 4000lb Wrangler.
10.5 to 12.3 MPG.

[Budski]

Originally Posted by djbmsu

This is a pic of our Freightliner info board after using almost 50 gallons of fuel in our 2011 Allegro Red .
I drive between 60 and 62 miles per hr towing a 3,700 # Equinox. This trip was from Fla to N C. In almost 22,000 miles we are avg 10.5 mpg.

What route did you take to travel 22,000 miles form Florida to NC ha ha

[Dogpatch]

I travelled with my 40' DP through 2 mountain passes towing my 5000lb 4x4. In BC, speed limit on average is 90kph or roughly 55mph. Got home and calculated my mileage at 9.3 mpg. I'm okay with that.

[tedgard01]

With input from others on this site it looks like I will go ahead and buy a Honda CRV to replace my 2005 Ford Escape.

This gives me one more reasons to not exceed 65 mph. The owners manual said that it can not be towed over 65 mph.

I am enjoying my ride, regardless what type RV it is, or how fast (or how slow) I go.....

[HHg]

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

Have you double checked it against paper/pencil & simple math?

If so then you are doing really well at those speeds.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

I'm one of those who could care less as to the mpg's, so no, I've not taken the time to keep a manual log of my diesel purchases, and the corresponding miles driven and then do the division. I'll use what my Freightliner display says.

Hhg

[Teacher's Pet]

89,466 miles since new in December 2005
576 hours on Onan generator
Tow 4,000 pound Ford Explorer Sport Trac 99% of time.
350 Cat C-7
7.12 MPG including Onan.

[Ramblin]

Originally Posted by Budski

What route did you take to travel 22,000 miles form Florida to NC ha ha

Obviously, the SCENIC route.