Everything You Need to Know About Gas Mileage and RVing

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With gas prices projected to climb it’s time to examine the way you RV?

RVing is a great way to cut down on your travel expenses. Once you have bought your RV you no longer have to worry about hotel accommodations or expensive plane tickets. You simply stock up your RV and take off. However, with gas prices projected to increase in 2019 RVers everywhere are looking at their options. Gas is one of the most expensive things for RVers and it’s not optional if you want to hit the road for vacation.

 

But, don’t panic just yet. There are some effective ways that you can save on fuel while still enjoying your time on the road. Here are the answers to your burning fuel questions (pun intended)  and a few things you need to know:

 

What is the best way to save on fuel in my RV?

 

Doing a little bit of pre-planning can go a long way in helping you reduce the amount you are spending on fuel. There are a few tips that will really help you keep the fuel economy at the optimum level.

 

  1. Keep your RV serviced. Making sure that you keep up on regular maintenance can help improve the efficiency of your miles per gallon. Your service station can provide you with the specifics on how often you should be having the different parts of your RV serviced. Once you have this information add your maintenance schedule onto your calendar so you don’t forget.
  2. Know your driving pattern. Are you a speeder? Or, are you more of a slow and steady driver? Knowing this will help you get a clearer picture of what type of mpg you can expect to get and plan accordingly.
  3. Check out the sites such as www.GasBuddy.com. There are apps that will show you fueling stations across the nation along with their current gas prices. This can help you plan accordingly so you can hit the low spots and avoid paying the higher prices.

 

I need all of the features of a Class A RV. Which ones get the best gas mileage?

If all you’re worried about is gas mileage smaller RVs will serve you best. But, there is a lot to be said for what a Class A has to offer. If you want to take advantage of the larger size and features of Class A Motorhome then you will want to check out the Thor Palazzo or the Newmar Dutch Star.

USA Today reported on this topic earlier this year and these were two of the models that made their list. They reported that the Thor Palazzo, “gets between 7.5 and 12.9 miles to the gallon, in addition to the following features: six-floor plan options, full-body paint, remote, heated exterior mirrors, solar and privacy roller shades for the living area, and LED ceiling lighting.

When it came to the Newmar Dutch Star, USA Today stated it, “gets anywhere from eight to 11 miles to the gallon, and you can choose from any of its 18 floor plan options. With the Dutch Star, you can also expect the following features: large storage tray with access from either side, solid counter tops in kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, USB chargers in night stand and dinette, and LED ceiling and overhead cabinet lights.

 

What’s GVW have to do with it?

 

GVW stands for Gross Vehicle Weight. While it’s easy to know what the weight of your RV is when you buy it, it can be tricky to figure out what the GVW is when you are traveling. There are a lot of considerations that go into the GVW like how much gear you have loaded in it, if you’re towing anything behind, and how full the fuel tank is.

 

Knowing the GVW can help you calculate an accurate mpg for your trip as the weight of the vehicle has a direct correlation to fuel economy. There are plenty of calculators online to help you find your GVW.

 

How many miles per gallon does a diesel pusher get?

 

While large motorhomes may eat up a lot of fuel, diesel engines are generally more fuel-efficient than gasoline RVs. This extra efficiency can help offset the costs of diesel fuel. The average gas motorhome usually gets around 6-10 miles per gallon, while a diesel RV should get you into the 8-14 mpg range.

 

What RVs are the most fuel efficient?

 

The larger the rig, the more gas it consumes. A big 40-foot bus style (class A) consumes 8-13 mpg on average. With a smaller class C, you can expect to get 10-15 mpg. A van style class B gets a thrifty 18-20 mpg or better. And, the same concept applies to travel trailers and fifth-wheels, the smaller it is the less gas or diesel it consumes.

 

Remember that fuel consumption and gas mileage is just one part of what you should be considering when purchasing an RV. There are many different features and benefits that you want to weigh when purchasing a new or used RV. If you have questions the Sky River RV team is always here to help.
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