Scan Gauge MPG for trip

[bry899]

Wondering does the scan Gauge give out info on total trip MPG, or just a snapshot of what the rv Mpg is currently getting at that moment.

Thinking of purchasing one for my Four winds 22E.
Last trip I hand calculated 2000 miles at 8.75 MPG @65 MPH
The 22E is 24' with no slides, @ 11,000 pounds loaded: including full tanks (46 gallons water, full Lp, and full 55 Gallon gas)

I was hoping to get better than 8.75 Mpg, This is a lot better than my prior motorhome, 2004 32' Coachman towing a car I was using 1 pound of gas per mile.

[Diemaster]

scan gauge does have average mpg in witch reset with every fill up.

as far as your MPG, remember your Generator uses gas also. you need to estimate how long you ran it and subtract that from the gas used on the trip. (for example my 4K onan uses roughly .12 gallons at idle /no load, .5 gallons at half load, and 1 gallon at full load per hour.) if you have your AC running with the gen running. caulate .5 x hours ran. subtract that from the gas the gas pump says and youll get your actual motor MPG. (or just dont run the generator)

this is where the scan gauge gets confusing. all it knows is what the engine is using. if the generator is running at all it will foul up the MPG unless you calculate it yourself. this is of course solved if you have a separate gas tank for the generator.

if you have the E3/450 you can mount it in the pocket on top of the dash with some dremel-ing. my install below

[The Gritz Carlton]

I think managing fuel mileage too much would disrupt my enjoyment. Calculate what your mileage is over a few trips and driving conditions and just know your ranges based on where you are going. You'll soon know how far you can go on a full tank. You'll quickly learn the range is averaging around +/- 1 or 2 MPG. It is what it is. 8.75 doesn't seem that bad to me.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by bry899

......cut.....

I was hoping to get better than 8.75 Mpg, This is a lot better than my prior motorhome, 2004 32' Coachman towing a car I was using 1 pound of gas per mile.

Isn’t that like 146% of your previous MPG? If so, it’s a significant improvent.

Downsizing seems to have paid off at the pump, where it matters most.

[Lt Keefer]

If I ever got over 8 MPG in a gas powered moho I would be happy. I just consider it part of the cost of owning a coach.

[Chance]

There are a few smaller gas motorhomes achieving 12+ MPG when driven conservatively. I’m refering to smaller Class Cs with V6 engines from Ford or RAM. The same size motorhomes with diesels from Ford or Mercedes are the ones getting 16~17 MPG; so 12+ MPG on gas for V6s seems credible.

[brucev]

Scan Gauge has many options, including, trip, tank, today, yesterday MPG

[bry899]

Thanks all for the Replies and Comments,
I thought that maybe being the smallest Thor Class C on an E350, I could do better, But I do tend to drive fast especially when everyone else is doing 70-80 MPH on the Interstates.

Diemaster you did a great job mounting the Scan Gauge in the Dash. If I was to get one I would install it like you did.

Gritz I usually do manage Fill ups & Driving breaks on my fuel consumption.
For Ex. 1/2 a tank of gas is 27.5 gallons @ 8.75 MPG is 240 miles and @ 65 MPH is just under 4 hours.

Chance, Yeah We are happy with the MPG, a lot better than 6.3 mpg owe got on our prior motorhome. Maybe if we drove a little slower we might be able to get 10 mpg.
But then on a 2000 mile trip the difference in total gas usage from 10 mpg to 8.75 mpg is @28 gallons.

We downsized because our eldest son stopped traveling with us, we wanted something newer, and also having a unit that we can basically take & park anywhere, The Fuel savings is an added benefit.

[Chance]

Yeah, speed is very important. Our C was small like yours, only a little narrower, and I only got ~ 8 MPG because I drove fairly fast for an RV. Best fuel economy was ~ 10 MPG driving slowly while sightseeing in mountains or rolling terrain out west. Mine was small enough that lower-speed fuel economy could have improved if it had the 5.4L V8 instead of 6.8L V10.

[The Gritz Carlton]

The Super C's at 37' and 20K pounds are getting 12MPG. I bought it for the torque but the mileage is an added benefit.

[Metalman]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

The Super C's at 37' and 20K pounds are getting 12MPG. I bought it for the torque but the mileage is an added benefit.

Is your Super C gas or diesel?

[Phil Saran]

Gas mileage is an arbitrary thing.

The Thor Hurricane 34E has MH I sold earlier this year got 6 to 7 mpg while towing a 4K small truck.

My 2019 Keystone Cougar 5th wheel trailer is 34 feet long and is towed by a 2012 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel 4x4 truck and I average 9.5 to 10.5 mpg.

[Laco]

I have a scan gauge on mine, it will do average fuel mileage, but I primarily use it to monitor engine, engine oil temp and transmission temps, as the Mercedes Sprinter lacks dash telemetry as least as the level I am comfortable with.