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Old 06-23-2013, 05:48 PM   #1
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Your best mileage, class A diesel.

Just curious, I hit some great mileage on my last trip and created quite a stir. Are there other members getting better than 9 mpg (national average) in their class a diesel. If so, what mileage did you get and what driving habits possibly attributed to the mileage.
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Old 06-23-2013, 06:06 PM   #2
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My average is 8.7 but on a tank while running through WY I got 9.4. This is with a ISC hauling 32,000lbs.
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Old 06-23-2013, 06:12 PM   #3
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Fueled coming out of Montana went across ND to MN to WI with about a 40 mph tail wind and got 12mpg. Never seen it since, I usually run into a head wind and get 7.5 to 8.5. As they say, you got horses you got to feed them hay. Jim
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Old 06-23-2013, 06:13 PM   #4
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I think my DP is a freak. The previous owner swore up and down that he got 12mpg. I didn't believe him, and I've never seen twelve (I have a heavy foot), I believe it is possible.

The best I have seen is 11.15 mpg. That was in a 2500 mile trip to Orlando and back. The key on that trip was I had favorable wind conditions both going and returning.

I don't always check my fuel economy, but the worst I have seen on any given trip was 8.9mpg. That was fighting a monsterous headwind and running the generator.

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Old 06-23-2013, 06:17 PM   #5
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In as much as this is a topic of interest to most Class A owners, I do not think one can generalize this. Yes, it depends on one's driving habit, driving conditions, air pressure in the tires; to name a few, but it also, to a greater degree, is a function of type of Class A; for example, a King Aire with 600 hp dp would get substantially less miles per gallon than a 300 hp, 35' dp.
It is great that you are getting 9+ mpg on your Class A. I wish I could say the same about my Essex with 500 hp, over 40K lbs. and I do not expect that either!

Respectfully,
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Old 06-23-2013, 06:52 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by srh View Post
In as much as this is a topic of interest to most Class A owners, I do not think one can generalize this. Yes, it depends on one's driving habit, driving conditions, air pressure in the tires; to name a few, but it also, to a greater degree, is a function of type of Class A; for example, a King Aire with 600 hp dp would get substantially less miles per gallon than a 300 hp, 35' dp.
It is great that you are getting 9+ mpg on your Class A. I wish I could say the same about my Essex with 500 hp, over 40K lbs. and I do not expect that either!
X2, fuel economy in both diesel and gas powered vehicles is largely a function of weight. It's a physics problem; it takes energy to get something moving at a particular speed and the energy required is directly proportional to weight. Add to that all the factors noted above and what results is a complex problem.

Here's a link to a very good paper by Caterpillar relating some of the key parameters that govern fuel economy in Class A RV's: http://weisstravels.com/resources/CA...er+reduced.pdf
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Old 06-23-2013, 08:16 PM   #7
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Very Informative Article!

Quote:
Originally Posted by docj View Post
.

Here's a link to a very good paper by Caterpillar relating some of the key parameters that govern fuel economy in Class A RV's: http://weisstravels.com/resources/CA...er+reduced.pdf
Thanks for providing this very informative article!

Regards,
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Old 06-23-2013, 08:50 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by docj View Post
X2, fuel economy in both diesel and gas powered vehicles is largely a function of weight. It's a physics problem; it takes energy to get something moving at a particular speed and the energy required is directly proportional to weight. Add to that all the factors noted above and what results is a complex problem.

Here's a link to a very good paper by Caterpillar relating some of the key parameters that govern fuel economy in Class A RV's: http://weisstravels.com/resources/CA...er+reduced.pdf
X2, yes thanks, most is over my head but very informative.
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Old 06-23-2013, 09:00 PM   #9
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Mass and velocity

My college Mechanical Engineering professor said mpg was only related to mass and velocity.

I had a 95 HR Endeavor 35 FT (26,000lb) with a 230HP 5.9 Cummins pulling a toad and I consistently got 10-12 mpg. The smaller motors work harder but seem to get better mpg.

Same toad, pulled by my 2002 40 ft (30,000lb+) Monaco w 330 HP I got 8-10 mpg.

Same toad, pulled by new 43ft 2013 Entegra (40,000 lb) w 450 HP Cummins I get 7-8 mpg.

I'd be curious to know what the Prevost folks get with a big Detroit Diesel and their weights. My guess is the mileage bottoms out around 6-7 mpg.

Of course winds and hills are big factors but I can edge my mpg up 1-2mpg but just driving slower at 62-65mph.
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Old 06-23-2013, 09:03 PM   #10
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I sure wish I had one of those freak DPs that got high mileage.

Over 50,000 miles, through all kinds of terrain, towing a Ford Explorer... I averaged just over 7.3 mpg. That's in a 40DP w/400ISL. I usually drive just under 65 mph.

I've only made a couple of short trips not towing and my best guess is 7.9 mgp w/o toad.

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Old 06-23-2013, 09:07 PM   #11
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I had a 2000 Winnebago Journey 36' with a 5.7 Cummins that I got 10.2 MPG driving across country. I then had a 2000 Fleetwood Discovery 37' with the Cummins 5.9 that gave me only 7.4 MPG. I am currently driving across country in a 2006 Itasca Meridian 36' with a CAT 350 that is giving me 7.7 MPG. I drive constantly at 60-62 MPH.
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Old 06-23-2013, 09:37 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobioknight View Post
Just curious, I hit some great mileage on my last trip and created quite a stir. Are there other members getting better than 9 mpg (national average) in their class a diesel. If so, what mileage did you get and what driving habits possibly attributed to the mileage.
I participated in and followed the thread where you reported getting 17+ mpg. I'm glad to see you are still here and cannot wait for your next trip report. Call me a cynic or skeptic but I still believe something is wrong with your mileage report.
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Old 06-23-2013, 09:54 PM   #13
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Anywhere between 8.3 and 10.5 pulling a toad. For me it all depends on the wind. More wind, worse mileage. Interesting thing is best mileage (10.5) was in the mountains but no wind. Go figure!

WM
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Old 06-23-2013, 10:41 PM   #14
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A class A will never see 17 mpg. Something wrong with the calculations on that one.
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