wanting to trade up to a diesel pusher

[carl1949]

Ok. I want to discuss something that affects all of us that RV. Fuel prices! We presently own a nice 2002 33' fifth wheel and tow it with a F350 Ford diesel that will be completely paid for within the next year. We want to upgrade to a preowned Beaver or Country Coach sometime in the next year. Naturally I am concerned about fuel prices (especially future prices) and how that could not only affect the cost of traveling in a large motor home, but also it's value. We would need to go into considerable debt to obtain a unit like we want. We are financially able to do this without any problem with the payments...thankfully. However...I am still concerned. What do you large diesel motor home users experience on your mileage? I presently can get 9-11 mpg towing at 65 mph. I know I can count on you all to give me some honest and helpful advice. It is said "there is wisdom in a multitude of councelors". Thanking you in advance for your input. Carl

[carl1949]

Ok. I want to discuss something that affects all of us that RV. Fuel prices! We presently own a nice 2002 33' fifth wheel and tow it with a F350 Ford diesel that will be completely paid for within the next year. We want to upgrade to a preowned Beaver or Country Coach sometime in the next year. Naturally I am concerned about fuel prices (especially future prices) and how that could not only affect the cost of traveling in a large motor home, but also it's value. We would need to go into considerable debt to obtain a unit like we want. We are financially able to do this without any problem with the payments...thankfully. However...I am still concerned. What do you large diesel motor home users experience on your mileage? I presently can get 9-11 mpg towing at 65 mph. I know I can count on you all to give me some honest and helpful advice. It is said "there is wisdom in a multitude of councelors". Thanking you in advance for your input. Carl

[paz]

Carl, another factor to consider is mileage after you get to your destination while sightseeing, shopping for groceries, etc. Assuming you plan to tow a car behing your motor home, you can get a toad that gets good fuel mileage and come out ahead.

Even though our gasser only gets 7-8 mpg, our Vue toad gets 20-24 mpg after we get where we are going. We do a lot of sightseeing and I figure even with 7-8 mpg on the road and 20-24 while at our destination, our overall fuel usage is less than if we towed a 5th wheel at 9-11 mpg and did our sightseeing and shopping in a truck at 14-18 mpg. You can get a number of toads with considerably better fuel mileage than the Vue and a diesel pusher should get better mileage than our gasser, so you could come out even farther ahead (unless, of course, you rarely leave the campsite after you arrive at your destination).

[Route 66]

So far, my overall MPG is about 7 mpg. On the open road, I get about 8.5 mpg.

Fuel costs have not caused me to change my travel plans, as it's part of the "cost of doing business".

Naturally, I would prefer lower fuel costs, but more importantly, I want experience this lifestyle, so I continue on.

[carl1949]

These are very legimate issues. I do get tired of driving my BIG F350 crew cab around our destinations trying to find someplace where we can park it. Something small and fuel efficient would be nice!

[Dave O]

My mileage (at 60mph) is in the lo 8's on a cummins ISL 400-2. Fulltimer in 06 40' Windsor weighing 35,500 with 3600 CRV toad.

Hope this helps. MPH will be the largest factor. Figures are IAW Silverleaf monitor of the engine.

Dave O

[HarveyP]

I can usually count on getting the 9-11 that you mentioned in our 35 foot pulling a Suzuki sidekick. I hold speeds in the 62 to 67 range. With wind and hills, I have seen it fall to 7, but I have also had a couple of tanks at 13mpg. I am glad we moved to a diesel and have really enjoyed the last 14000 miles! Harvey

[carl1949]

Thanks Harvey. That is interesting! I know that I am going to have to slow down...even with my 5th wheel. I'll never do it again, but one time we came home (near Houston) from Santa Fe and traveled at 75 mph most of the way! Now that is dumb. Good thing we didn't have a blow out!!!!! That stretch of I-10 is one of the better Interstates, but it was still DUMB .

[mike brez]

The FRED is advertising 12MPG

[Route 66]

The FRED is only a pusher when you're backing up.

[AFChap]

We are 40', and tow a 4,100 lb toad (it gets 20-27 mpg). Our weight is close to 31,000 lb w/o including the toad. Our 2003 model 8.3L Cummins ISC lifetime avg is 6.9 mpg. Now that it has over 30k on it, and we are retired, fulltiming, and driving at a more liesurely pace, the avg for the past year was 7.3 mpg. We do see 8 mpg sometimes. Also saw 6.9 a couple of weeks ago when we had to travel against a very strong headwind.

[carl1949]

The FRED...whats this?

[paz]

The FRED is Freightliner's FRont Engine Diesel. It is being used quite heavily by Tiffin. There are probably others, but I am more familiar with Tiffin.

The FRED has a GVWR of 26,000, which isn't as much as most diesel pushers and it doesn't have air bag suspension or as much basement storage as pushers. At only $10-12k more than a Workhorse W22 or W24 gasser, it's kind of a "poor man's" diesel.

[Pusherman]

Newmar also has a model on the FRED chassis (sorry don't remember which one).