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Old 01-11-2016, 09:49 AM   #57
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LOL!

There is absolutely no way a diesel motor home is going to AVERAGE 10 mpg. Those who say they are getting into double-digit mpg numbers are either exaggerating or they just don't know any better. Yes, you might average 10+ mpg over a hundred miles or so with a howling tail wind, but you will never achieve a long-term average that high.
As someone who always checks mileage when driving a car or motorhome. I say you are completely wrong. You are not considering the weight of the coach. Some diesel pushers are 24,000 pounds and some are over 50,000 pounds.
I have driven both to shows and from shows. Some of the lighter coaches almost always get over 10 mpg. Many average 11 and 12. Of course this is if you are not going 80 mph. Why do you think the car manufacturers keep making cars lighter and lighter? They streamline them which is the major factor. But they also lighten them. The three major things that affect mileage are Weight, speed, and frontal area.
The old DP's with the 190 HP engine got 13 mpg. Of course it took all afternoon to get over a hill. It did this because the motorhomes were only slightly heavier than the gas coaches.
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Old 01-11-2016, 09:57 AM   #58
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As someone who always checks mileage when driving a car or motorhome. I say you are completely wrong. You are not considering the weight of the coach. Some diesel pushers are 24,000 pounds and some are over 50,000 pounds.

I have driven both to shows and from shows. Some of the lighter coaches almost always get over 10 mpg. Many average 11 and 12. Of course this is if you are not going 80 mph. Why do you think the car manufacturers keep making cars lighter and lighter? They streamline them which is the major factor. But they also lighten them. The three major things that affect mileage are Weight, speed, and frontal area.

The old DP's with the 190 HP engine got 13 mpg. Of course it took all afternoon to get over a hill. It did this because the motorhomes were only slightly heavier than the gas coaches.

Ga traveler is correct. Coach owners with the Cummins ISB and coach weight down 24-26k can regularly see over 10 mpg. They will have to drive below 65 but many of us do that anyway. The Navistar MF7 can give that Milage also.
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Old 01-11-2016, 11:59 AM   #59
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We have a MH with a large block engine that is in the 33,000 pound class rather than the 45,000 class that is more common with engines of the ~12-15 liter class. Driving it is a lot of fun, more like a car than a MH. It's not necessary but it's sure fun.
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Old 01-11-2016, 12:46 PM   #60
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Not that I care about MPG.... but wondering - do we all just go by the Lie-o-meter mpg on the dash ? or do we hand calculate ?

My Ford diesels where infamous for 'optimistic' mpg readouts

Not that I care, but when they showed over 20 mpg,
I'm like then why didn't I get over 400 miles on that tank ?!?!
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Old 01-11-2016, 08:30 PM   #61
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It is basic physics.

Newtons law has a bunch of formula regarding matters of force and gravity but in basic terms it requires a certian amount of energy to move a certian amount of mass regardless of anything else.

Rolling resistance drag and efficiency of the energy conversion from liquid to torque all factor in.

If the engine is in its happy place then less fuel is wasted but the rest still add up.

Ours is 10.5 liter and 300 hp and no clue what mpg is...other things are more important.
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Old 01-12-2016, 06:56 AM   #62
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Not that I care about MPG.... but wondering - do we all just go by the Lie-o-meter mpg on the dash ? or do we hand calculate ?

My Ford diesels where infamous for 'optimistic' mpg readouts

Not that I care, but when they showed over 20 mpg,
I'm like then why didn't I get over 400 miles on that tank ?!?!
I never go by the dash meter. I always go with miles driven, divided by gallons used.
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Old 01-12-2016, 08:49 AM   #63
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Originally Posted by JohnBoyToo View Post
Not that I care about MPG.... but wondering - do we all just go by the Lie-o-meter mpg on the dash ? or do we hand calculate ?

My Ford diesels where infamous for 'optimistic' mpg readouts

Not that I care, but when they showed over 20 mpg,
I'm like then why didn't I get over 400 miles on that tank ?!?!
I just go by the dash display and that seems to coincide with my range. I'm not really concerned with MPG since I really can't do anything about it anyway.
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Old 01-12-2016, 09:15 AM   #64
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I also keep a log of miles driven, gallons used, & MPG. This much more accurate.

Don
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Old 01-12-2016, 09:18 AM   #65
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Horsepower vs mileage

2011 Cummins 340 HP, consistently get 8.5 mpg pulling Chevy Avalanche toad in the mountains and 10.5 without toad. Plenty of torque and power, very happy with it.

Am also aware that fuel mpg is (especially at these low fuel prices) the smallest expense of ownership. The greater costs are depreciation, maintenance/repairs, and insurance/storage in that order.

Cheers!
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Old 01-12-2016, 09:33 AM   #66
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If we look at 7 v 9 mpg, over 5000 miles the diff is less than $400. Chump change over time.
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Old 01-13-2016, 06:46 AM   #67
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If we look at 7 v 9 mpg, over 5000 miles the diff is less than $400. Chump change over time.
UhOh....rational thinking alert!!


Seriously, fuel usage should be a consideration but not a priority. The operator is the single largest variable in MPG and can vary as much as 30% on the same equipment simply because of driver differences.
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Old 01-13-2016, 11:00 AM   #68
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The first thing you need to do is, STOP worrying about fuel mileage. As you already know, you're going to be driving a KLEENEX box. There's no aerodynamics in a rolling gymnasium. And, while having a larger, 500HP engine is great, the additional weight of a larger coach, that comes with that 500HP power plant consumes much of that additional HP.
I usually tell people mine is very aerodynamic "four sheets of plywood flat to the wind"
Do you live in the mountains? if yes then I would worry about the speed or horsepower, if your like us and only go there occasionally I don't care we will enjoy the view.
We view the MH as a point to point vehicle, not a daily driver so I only worry about the mileage when trip planning to make sure a gas station is in range.
Mine is a gasser by the way but I sure am enjoying reading all of comments form the oil burners here.
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