Four Winds MPG

[milobramble]

I have a 2016 Four Winds 22E with the Chevy chassis and I consistently get 11 mpg. I very rarely go over 60-65 mph.

[Dan Thomas]

On our last outing our Four Winds 22B averaged 9.8 mpg if I held it to 60mph, when we drug our toad (07 HHR flat tow) it was still over 9mpg. Haven't been out with the new 25M yet so hoping I get near the same numbers.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by RV Steve

Thanks to all of you for the helpful replies! We took the RV out for a short day trip to visit a friend of mine who has a farm near Houston. The whole trip was only about 120 miles and we started with a full tank. Actual mpg according to the pump was about 11 miles per gallon. This was relatively flat terrain and I realize on future trips mileage may vary as we get out into the hills and mountains of the country. ....cut.....

Thanks for reporting back on your initial fuel economy, which at 11 MPG seems really good to me.

I searched fuel economy of Coachmen Concord which have similar Class B+ aerodynamic profile and frontal area (just longer and heavier) and a few owners reported economy in that same 11 MPG range.

I find it interesting that new Class B+ and C built on Transit and ProMaster gasoline chassis are reportedly getting around 12 MPG highway, so they are not doing much better even though lighter and have V6 engines instead of V8.

[Scubawise]

Originally Posted by Chance

I don’t drive at night as much as I use to, mostly because 200,000+ miles concerns me a bit more (that I may break down). There are advantages though like avoiding rush hour traffic through major cities. Granted, some construction projects may be more common at night.

Anyway, when traveling from point A to B as soon as possible, I usually fill up prior to 11:00 PM, which will give me enough gas until 5:00 ~ 6:00 AM or longer. And if I happen to stop for 5 or 6 hours to rest/sleep, then refueling during middle of night isn’t an issue at all. That type of driving I do quite often.

This last trip was unusual because I woke up before midnight and couldn’t go back to sleep, so continued with just enough gas for a couple of hours. When I stopped for gas at an Exxon at 2:00 AM, the station was closed but pumps were on. There were no cars anywhere except one to the side parked on grass that looked like a security guard, or someone sleeping. I filled up and got going as fast as practical. I have to admit that it was the first time I felt uncomfortable with my surroundings in a very long time. I won’t let that happen again if avoidable; and long driving range helps a lot in that regard.

We have all been there at sleepy gas stations. In my years of traveling..wife and I WILL not travel at night..not worth stopping for gas and a gang walks OUT OF NO WHERE to harm you and take your MH. Stay safe my friend..people are desperate and see massive opportunities when we are at a pump

[Scubawise]

Originally Posted by Chance

Thanks for reporting back on your initial fuel economy, which at 11 MPG seems really good to me.

I searched fuel economy of Coachmen Concord which have similar Class B+ aerodynamic profile and frontal area (just longer and heavier) and a few owners reported economy in that same 11 MPG range.

I find it interesting that new Class B+ and C built on Transit and ProMaster gasoline chassis are reportedly getting around 12 MPG highway, so they are not doing much better even though lighter and have V6 engines instead of V8.

We spent a lot of money on MH and fixed.. watch your loved ones and the amazing scenery and not the needle

[Pete'sMH]

I rarely drive the MH at night. Can’t enjoy the scenery and you end up sleeping (or at least sleepy) during the day. I also typically only drive about 300 miles a day so I can be set up and take a nice long walk before a nice, home cooked dinner with DW. It took me a good two years after retiring to learn to enjoy a hugely slower pace. Can you dig it?

[Jimbo56]

Originally Posted by Chance

There are various reasons an owner could care about MPG.

The most obvious is cost of fuel. While it can be a small expense compared to total ownership costs, it can still sting at the pump.

Some owners may also want to reduce their carbon footprint. Others would say that if that’s important you should just stay home, but most people don’t live in a black and white world. It seems that 12 is better than 8 MPG as long as everything is close to equal (which may not be, but that’s a different discussion).

One reason fuel economy is important to me is that it affects range. Specs for the motorhome in question shows it has a 35-gallon fuel tank, so if reserving 25% for generator operation, at 8 MPG the range is only 210 miles.

I just drove over 1,100 miles in one day and refueled twice; driving about 400 miles per tank. I didn’t plan well and had to refuel at 2 AM in an isolated gas station that probably wasn’t safe. At 210 miles per tank I would have needed to refuel 5 times, so no way to drive through night without stops.

Just saying MPG can be important to some of us for many reasons.

Glad you’re still god to drive that way. I used to drive straight thru from Charleston WV to New Orleans 40 years ago. Not today. 6 hours behind the wheel is it for me. And at 7.5 mpg with an 80 gallon fuel tank (60 if reserve for gent) that’s about 400 miles. Not that I couldn’t do more. Just don’t want to.

[Scubawise]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

I rarely drive the MH at night. Can’t enjoy the scenery and you end up sleeping (or at least sleepy) during the day. I also typically only drive about 300 miles a day so I can be set up and take a nice long walk before a nice, home cooked dinner with DW. It took me a good two years after retiring to learn to enjoy a hugely slower pace. Can you dig it?

You have graduated!
The key to road rv happiness

[JimEasTexas]

With you... 250 to 300 miles per day, daylight only. Relation priority.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Jimbo56

Glad you’re still god to drive that way. I used to drive straight thru from Charleston WV to New Orleans 40 years ago. Not today. 6 hours behind the wheel is it for me. And at 7.5 mpg with an 80 gallon fuel tank (60 if reserve for gent) that’s about 400 miles. Not that I couldn’t do more. Just don’t want to.

It was necessary, not by choice or for pleasure. I’ve gone back and forth on same route probably close to 100 times over the years, so sightseeing isn’t a factor. It’s just point A to B driving, making me want to get it over with.

I must do it two more times later this month and hopefully never again. On previous trips I normally preferred 600~700 miles first day, get at least 5 to 6 hours sleep, and then finish remaining 400~500 miles the second day. When I was much younger I drove the 1,130 miles numerous times straight through by car, in as little as 17 hours including stops. Today I couldn’t do it even if I wanted — there’s not enough coffee.


By the way, I was loaded down with close to a ton of cargo so I drove slower than normal, keeping speed around 65~67 MPH. Turns out my fuel economy was a little better than when I drive much lighter but closer to 75 MPH. Confirms wind drag is more important than rolling resistance at steady highway speeds.

[ducksface]

To side with Mr Chance,
Depending on situation we drive from 50 to 900 miles a day lately.

I'd hate to lose the ability to do the 900 miler, and the spousal unit do a 900 miler...back to back at speeds up to and faster than the flow of traffic.

We ALWAYS want to have the ability to do what needs done. Our limits always need to be the greater, not the lesser. So, we practice.

This weeks 550 mile, 82mph run down I-90 with 40mph+gusts, 10 o'clock wind wasn't anything but practice. It sure wasn't for enjoyment.

Rain, snow, wind, time, distance, mud or rocks,
We want to be in the top 1% by ability.

When need rears its demanding head, mpg be damned.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

I rarely drive the MH at night. Can’t enjoy the scenery and you end up sleeping (or at least sleepy) during the day. I also typically only drive about 300 miles a day so I can be set up and take a nice long walk before a nice, home cooked dinner with DW. It took me a good two years after retiring to learn to enjoy a hugely slower pace. Can you dig it?

Same here. A number of years ago in our class c the gps took us down some ungodly roads after dark. Now we schedule 350 miles per day and check in before dark.

In my younger days I would drive from Killeen TX to Cleveland OH (1350 miles) stopping only for fuel, sandwich and coffee. Back then my preferred driving was at night in a light rain. Age now has its limitations.