Thor Forums

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Travelin' Texans

I'm curious, as I mentioned early on, you that are claiming 16-17-18 mpg aren't getting that with the Ford V10 chassis, all must be the Mercedes??
That kind of mileage on the Ford is not possible! Unless you've added wings or sails!

The Ford V10 in E-350 can get in that MPG range only in a much smaller van (now discontinued) and only when driven slowly. I’m talking about a van that’s only half the weight and has approximately half the frontal area of an Axis or Vegas. Additionally, gearing is much taller.

At steady speeds, I get approximately the following:

13 MPG at steady 80 MPH
14 at 75
15 at 70
16 at 65
17 at 60

I normally cruise at 70 ~ 75 MPH and average in the 14s.

That’s without towing. With a large trailer it drops off comparable to most large motorhomes, 8~10 MPG depending on speed.

From my perspective it isn’t the V10 that’s that bad, just the load it has to pull.



By the way, Transit-based gasoline V6 Class B+ rigs (same size as Gemini/Compass) are reportedly getting around 12 MPG. Certainly not as good as the diesel, but not bad compared to much smaller vans. To me that 12 MPG range seems a good compromise between size and fuel economy.