Community Forums

meebarb · 03-01-2021, 11:29 AM

F53 guys,
Posted strictly due to curiosity.
While driving home yesterday we were NorthWest of Brenham, TX on Hwy 290 on a pretty flat stretch of 4 lane road. I was driving a little over 60 (not towing) and while doing so a Winnebago Navion approached me from behind. He was moving on pretty good but passed safely while towing a 2 door jeep. A few minutes later and he was out of sight so that got me to thinking. Am I a really slow driver in the Bounder or is my speed pretty much normal for gas powered motorhomes? I've had some diesel pushers pass me on I-10/I-20 and some of those are flying (at least to me it seems that way since there would be no hope of me keeping up with them). I really don't pay them that much attention. Anyway, I know there's tons of variables but what's your comfortable speed in your F53 motorhome? I can't make myself go over 65 even though the motorhome is capable of it and I'm usually around 60 if not towing. And I'm slower than that if towing. All of this is not considering climbing grades etc. Down here where I live an overpass is a mountain to us, LOL.

jharrell · 03-01-2021, 11:38 AM

When I first got my F53 it handled pretty bad and tires where out of balance etc. I stayed around 60mph. Over time I have done various modifications to improve handling and go the tire balance issue worked out and it feels fine now at 70mph one handed even with the Jeep in tow. I did around 63 mph for a while, then 65, now around 68-70 at about 2000 rpm flat ground. It does not seem to effect mileage that much surprisingly and at around 70 I am keeping up with Semis without them constantly passing.

Down South · 03-01-2021, 11:43 AM

62ish is about the norm for me on interstate or other 4-lane roads that have a 65+ mph speed limit.
From doing a lot of reading through the years that speed seems to be the general consensus of many of us.

Coarsegold · 03-01-2021, 11:51 AM

I don't tow but usually go around 65 mph depending on traffic and type of road and of course the posted speed limit.

Couple years ago when in Utah we were going along and then see the speed limit was 80mph, so it was hard to resist and cruised at the limit for a while. It seemed to handle just fine with no issue at all. Need to stay on your toes more for sure!

creativepart · 03-01-2021, 11:56 AM

63 to 64 mph for me on my 2017 F53 26K Chassis 37' Class A.

MPG at that speed is generally 5.8 to 7.0 (wind and hills make the spread happen). Towing a 4,400 lb Lincoln MKX. I count all fuel usage the same including idling, running genset, etc. I've counted every drop of gas and every mile of travel and even with all the above non-driving fuel usage I have averaged 6.4 mpg over 3.5 years and 32,000 miles.

Jyrocharlie · 03-01-2021, 12:01 PM

65's good, you can pull in line with the 18 wheelers going that speed. Sometimes it saves fuel too.

TeJay · 03-01-2021, 12:42 PM

Driving an RV is supposed to be relaxing. We are mostly retired and should not be in a hurry. Sometimes we are needing to get somewhere sooner than normal but in reality driving 67 or 69 MPH really won' get you there that much sooner. We travel between 62 and 65 MPH 99% of the time. If the road is reasonably clear and with a tail wind we'll maybe hit 65. Seldom do we cruise over 65. It's just not worth it.

I'm not concerned with my driving. It's the person who pulls in and out of traffic to maybe beat us by 3 minutes. We are driving a big heavy vehicle that can't stop on a dime and is a bit more difficult to maneuver in tight spots. Why take the chance?

I keep plenty of space between me and the next vehicle. If somebody pulls in front of me beause they want to get off soon I just back off and create more space.

When we were heading to our Daughters home for Christmas last December we had just pulled off highway 49 south and headed East on I-40. We didn't get 20 miles and East bound traffic was stopped. One exit down from us a guy pulled out onto I-40 and cut off a semi pulling a load of fuel. The trucker had no where to go. He swerved to miss the pickup truck lost control, flipped his semi and died in the crash. The pickup driver left the scene but fortunatley was caught later that day. He'll pay dearly for that stupid mistake. We were routed off I-40 and around Ozark which took us a total of 2 plus hours to get to our Daughters. Didn't complain to much. We were better off than the truck driver.

Slow down and enjoy the ride!!!

GypsyR · 03-01-2021, 12:48 PM

I've cruised few times on downhills up to 85 but it quite frankly makes me pretty nervous. Coach didn't seem to mind though. I figure I'm good with 60-65. If I want to go faster I have a Mustang or a motorcycle to do that with.
Does make me look down at the speedo when some 40 footer comes whooshing by me at 90 or so. OK for them I guess but I'm not doing it. If I didn't feel like I was holding up traffic I'd happily do the old school 55 mph.

wildtoad · 03-01-2021, 01:12 PM

We go somewhere between 60-65 most of the time and the ride and noise levels are good. Of course there are those times due to road grade the beast get louder. The bigger DP’s have a true advantage over front end gassers in both ride and noise levels, and I get passed quite a lot by them. Don’t care.

Vintage Iron · 03-01-2021, 01:20 PM

65 to 70 brackets most of my driving. Slower on two lane. 18 k, 27 feet. Usually not towing. Traffic and road conditions are the biggest factors. Overall fuel consumption is 6.7 mpg.

DeWat · 03-01-2021, 01:25 PM

While we drive a pusher, this is just a comment to the OP's question. We normally travel 60 - 65, but pretty much just below the posted interstate speed limit up to 65 (we prefer interstate travel over sightseeing, but that is a "to each, his own" statement) so I can hit the cruise control, sit back, and relax. It seems like most trips, we see a lot of RVs, gas & diesel, Class A & Class C that seems to want to "catch us and pass us" just showing that they can. This may not be the case with all, but I am a comfort driver, and refuse to be influenced by others trying to "strut their stuff." So to the OP, continue to enjoy your drive and safe travels!

EdInArk · 03-01-2021, 01:40 PM

I have done the cheap handling fix and added a Blue Ox Tiger Track track bar. In good weather I tend to cruise around 68 and often use the cruise control to keep from running 70+. We pull a RAV4 on a tow dolly. I try to keep it below 70 just for fuel mileage, but I've caught myself running 75 on the flat just relaxing when not using cruise. It's so big the speed is deceptive for me.

oakcreekeric · 03-01-2021, 01:46 PM

We typically drive between 65-68

edit - we also usually use GPS to set our speed

jomo · 03-01-2021, 07:06 PM

66 for me. I was coming back to L.A. from Vegas a couple years ago and seen a motorhome fly by us. He then rear ended a car that had stopped suddenly in front of him in the left lane. These MH's are hard to stop quickly and that's more of my concern than speed.