Gas mileage

[Dream Catcher]

I am trying to decide whether to keep my 30 foot class C or buy a van. I was wondering what the difference would be in the gas mileage. My RV is a Ford 450 diesel. I desperately need help!  I am not sure if this is the right place for this,  if not please feel free to move it. Thanks in advance for any help anyone could give me!

 

[Cammalu]

You already have something to live in and you'd certainly lose money selling so why not just use what u have for the time being


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[DuneElliot]

What are your reasons for wanting to switch? Once you have those written down it will be easier to judge or justify the switch or not.

As mentioned in another thread it's not just about the MPG it's also about the overall cost of ownership per mile.

 

[ArtW]

can't help much, I'm jelly of the class C, wish i could drive my house
seriously, do you think you want to 'back country' more, more stealth, or just more gas mileage?
I think the average full size van gets like 15 mpg or so, what's your C getting?
Maybe just drive slower?

 

[Van-Tramp]

Yea, it depends a lot on which van you get. It sounds like cost of gas is very important too you, but if you do the math I think you will find that a full-size van doesnt save as much money as you might think. I know those 460's are super thirsty (8 MPG range in the best of conditions) but a mid 80's full sized van with a V8 will only get you 10 MPG at best. Pay more for a fuel injected 90's van and you might get up too 12-13 on average. Find a 6-cyl van and you can work your way into the 15-16 MPG range. If you really want to down size, a mini-van (Ford Aerostar or equal) will get you into the 20's (my Ford got 26 MPG) but at a huge loss of living space.

But, all this will save you only a few hundred dollars over the course of an entire year, even if you drive 12,000 miles a year. Especially right now with gas prices being so low.

You have a beast of a motor in that thing, it can easily tow a small car. Park the C and take the small car out for sight seeing or errands an you save a some money right there (after the initial cost of a car and towing mechanisms

 

[frater secessus]

Much good advice in this thread, unless you secretly want to be rid of the Class C for some reason.  If you don't like it anymore (excepting MPG) then you'll have to follow your instinct.

To expand on Van-Tramp's towing idea, you could throw a scooter on a receiver rack, get a kerbillion MPG and have an unhinged/glorious amount of fun.

 

[Dream Catcher]

First, thank you all for the suggestions, it is only the gas mileage I am concerned with. I am on a fixed income, like most of you, I just don't know if I can afford to go see the sites in that hog of a class C. I am going to be towing a very small open trailer with my Harley so I guess I could use that to go do stuff. I really love the class C if I can afford to keep it. And it's not paid for yet, I still have a payment to worry about. I just need to weigh the pros and cons I guess. I would just like to do what's cheapest for me. I really was wondering about the fuel difference, I haven't gotten to go anywhere in the RV yet so I don't really know.

 

[steamjam1]

My Old v6 Dodge van 3.9L V6 and A999 = 16mpg
My v8 Dodge van 5.2L V8 and A999= 14mpg.
My v8 dodge van post 4x4 conversion using 727 and NP205 = 12mpg

My current Ford class-b with 5.0V8 and AOD= 15mpg
My old '78 Surveyor Dodge RV with 5.9L 4bbl and 727 = 13mpg

My G/F's Ford F350 with 400V8 and C6 under a 10.9Ft Lance = 10mpg AT BEST.

 

[Dream Catcher]

I have decided to just take my RV and try it. Thank you all so much! I hope to see some of you soon out west, I am currently living in south Florida so it may take a while to get to Arizona.
Thanks so much steam jam, that helped me a lot!