Gas mileage, new vs old

[rattlenbang]

I know there's tons of posts about gas mileage, but I was wondering if with all the tech in new rigs, do owners of newer machines enjoy significantly better gas mileage than our old bombers? I suspect it's as much a function of how much weight is being hauled as anything else, but I really don't know. Are modern engines smaller and more powerful, therefor more thrifty?

[pvoth1111]

A new modern power plant is surely more efficient...that said more modern coaches most likely have more stuff in them...washers dryers...marble, tile, two toilets, two couches, and BIG refrigerators oh and all those slides....that said when folks ask about my mileage I say a dollar a mile.....as its not all about fuel use its what it cost to move to this thing down the road and keep it moving...my next coach will be a Workhorse chassis...gas powered and bowtie all the way.
My next motorhome will cost one dollar per mile to move it down the road too. Your experience may vary.

[LJ-TJ]

Nop! 8 to 10. Let the wife drive and you might get 11  :)rotflmao D:oH!

[Oz]

I'm going to say that there seems to be a plateau of mpg wih motorhomes.  So much does depend on driving habits and how much you drive on open highway, and if it's relatively flat or if it's steeper hills and mountains.  That plays a big part.  But across the board - 10 mpg for the most efficient RVs and 12mpg with the most favorable driving habits and terrain.  A few of the newest ones, short in length and specifically made with lightweight framing and materials... you could see as much as 14mpg.  The LaSharos and Phasars of yesteryear got this but, they were small and didn't have 8 or more cylinder motors.

Still, what is the price of modern efficiency and lighter materials with the best mileage?  You pay for it up front in the price, and then more down the road for repairs.  The average person can fix just about anything imaginable with just a manual, common tools, and the guidance of a support community like CWVRV, with minimal cost vs. having to pay through the nose for a good, trained mechanic to fix a modern motorhome.  And I'm sure the parts are just as pricey as well.

[ClydesdaleKevin]

Just met the owners of a 92 Prevost, and they were envious of our gas mileage.  Apparently, their odd engine from the bad years is a 2 stoke diesel...4.2 mpg at their best!

Kev

[rattlenbang]

So really, there is no magic. I notice in a quick look on the net, they don't shout out engines and MPG and those kinds of specs for modern motorhomes. I guess people are more concerned with the interior splash than technical details like this. Are they still V8s? As was mentioned above, you do pay a lot for the extra few miles per gallon if you have to buy a much newer beast to get it. It's like buying a late model VW diesel Jetta; yes you get fabulous gas mileage and it costs so little operate, but you have to own it for many years to recoup the extra cost of that engine. In fairness, the more modern RVs are a heck of a lot more luxurious and detailed than our (my) old rig with it's basement fake paneling and orange shag carpet.

[Froggy1936]

The wealthy have a formula for buying. You can buy anything you can afford to buy 10 of Like yatch,s airplanes expensive RV,s buildings etc They are unconcerned with MPG as long as it holds a hundred gallons or more (cant be bothered with more than once a day fillups) . and the more plush the better . Prevost is the top of the line ! Us guys are concerned with living the good life on a shoestring  They hate seeing us have a good time on a dime  Frank

[LJ-TJ]

   
• Here's a rig I've always loved but the engines scare the heck out of me. What do they cost and how much can you fix your self and how much are the parts. I'll bet you can't find them in the wreckers. Hm?
• [/color]VIXEN MOTOR HOMES
  

  Approximately 587 Vixen 21 motorhomes were produced by the Vixen Motor Company at One Silverdome Industrial Park in Pontiac Michigan between 1986 - 1989 when the company closed. Retail value ranged between $40-$53k. Each model got between 22-30 mpg. Three models of Vixens were created:        376 TD: (turbo diesel) motorhomes with lift-top 172 SE: fixed high-top motorhomes with a GM V6 gas engine and a four speed automatic trans-axle 39 Limos: Fixed-top BMW diesel engine with 5 speed manual trans-axle Its motor home appointments include: [The Vixen 21 has a full bed in the back!] A standard size double bed across the back end. A four seat dinette is created by flipping the front passenger seat. A 600 watt Sharp microwave and a 1200 watt Heart inverter provides its 110 volt power from the coach's batteries when not connected to ground power. The coach batteries are charged by the inverter featuring a 50 amp, 3 step charging cycle. A four cubic foot Norcold refrigerator that operates either on 12 V DC or 110 V AC power. A Hi Fi AM/FM radio tape player that operates on 12 V DC. A Duo-therm 110 V AC ground powered air conditioner were offered as options. A 25 gallon fresh water tank under the front passenger seat. Located under the galley sink is an engine coolant heater domestic hot water tank and a one quart electric heater that operates either from the inverter or ground power. An 18 gallon gray and a 12 gallon black water tank under the galley and bathroom floors outboard of the left side frame. Their dump connector and valves are behind the left rear body flap. The roof is hinged along the right side and is raised by a pneumatic strut powered by the rear level ride air compressor. Interior storage is four removable baskets and a wardrobe opposite the bathroom, below the galley and rear passenger seat. A small amount is available under the passenger bench seat and in the two dashboard glove boxes. Its motor vehicle features are: A welded steel frame and molded fiberglass body of unique design with a coefficient of drag < 0.3. All other vehicle elements are other manufactures products. It is rear wheel driven by a BMW 2.4 liter in-line 6 cylinder diesel with a Garret turbo. The engine is friction clutched to a Renault 5 speed manual transaxle. The front suspension, power steering, and power brakes are General Motors G20 series van hardware. It has a Cadillac automatic level ride system. The instrumentation is by VDO. Its 23 gallon fuel tank under the rear passenger seat, and its 27+ mile per gallon fuel efficiency give it a comfortable 600 mile range between fuel stops. The front hatch provides access to the engine powered heater/air conditioner by Harrison, the brake master cylinder is the GM Powermaster system and the clutch master cylinder by Ford, the spare tire tools and some storage space. (Storage is available in front of and above the rear wheels.)   [/color]Vixen 21 Turbo Diesel (TD) [/t] [/l][/l][/t] [/size] [/color]Model # 21TD Features        [/size]2.4-liter, 6-cylinder turbo diesel engine(115hp at 4,800rpm)        [/size]5-speed manual overdrive transaxle        [/size]4-wheel independent suspension        [/size]Tilt wheel - cruise control        [/size]Dash air        [/size]Power steering        [/size]Heart interface power inverter        [/size]110-volt power cord hookup        [/size]Automatic-operating roof increases head-room to 6'6"        [/size]Microwave        [/size]4-cubic foot electric refrigerator        [/size]Dinette seating for 4        [/size]Full size permanent double bed in rear        [/size]Custom bathroom with sink, toilet, shower        [/size]Central A/C (optional) [/size][/color]Vixen 21 XC [/size]Model # 21XC Features        [/size]2.4-liter, 6-cylinder turbo diesel engine (115hp at 4,800rpm) [/size]5-speed manual overdrive transaxle [/size]4-wheel independent suspension [/size]Tilt wheel - cruise control        [/size]Dash air        [/size]Power steering        [/size]Permanent fixed height roof [/size]2.5-cubic foot electric refrigerator [/size]Seating for 9-10 [/size]Full size permanent double bed in rear        [/size]Toilet [/size]Three sofas [/size]100 watt stereo system with 9 speakers [/size]TV, VCR, CD player [/size][/color]Vixen 21 SE [/size]Model # 21SE Features        [/size]3.8 Liter, sequential port fuel injected V-6 (165hp at 4800rpm)4-spd automatic/overdrive trans-axle4-wheel independent suspensionTilt wheel - cruise controlDash air        [/size]Power steering110-volt power cord hookupRaised roof increases head-room to 6'6"Microwave4-cubic foot electric refrigeratorDinette TableFull size permanent double bed in rearCustom bathroom with sink, toilet and showerOnan 2.8 microlite Generator13,500 btu roof a/c

[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][/table]

[rattlenbang]

That's an amazing rig, but I don't buy the mileage claims. Even a 1.9 TD VW Westy pushing 5,000 lbs only got at best a little over 30 mpg, and this has to be more than three times the volume. The physics doesn't work to be moving something that has to weigh at least twice that, even with a very well designed powerplant and body shell.

[Oz]

You hit the nail on the head on all counts, Frank.

[TripleJ]

if the new vs old motorhome world is anything like the light pickup world, then they are probably getting equal or slightly worse fuel economy... but don't forget the difference in thehe power of the engine and the weight of the vehicle. this applies to diesel and gas

in my experience, I had an 89 ford diesel pickup that got about 18 mpg, and a 2000 powerstroke ford that got 16 to 18 mpg, but it had extra150 lb.ft. tq and weight almost 3000lbs more. also a 95 Chevy 5.7 powered truck that got about 15 on average, now a '13 Dodge with a 5.7 that gets the same fuel economy , but has 400lb.ft. tq.

In both cases above the fuel economy was similar, but there was no comparison in how they performed

I would expect the newer rv engines to put up similar mpg numbers, but also allow you pull hills and keep with traffic that much better

[HandyDan]

If  you want to  buy one and can make it to Montana, here you go.
http://www.vixenrv.com/index.php?pr=TD_1986_V-265

[Stripe]

Mostly Original??

[TripleJ]

similar to the VW Rialta motorhomes? I feel like I see those often enough around here

[joev]

my friend Ian has a 20112 Winnebago  Suncruiser  It much larger and is on a workhorse chassis  but it only gets 6 to 8 mpg  Ian says it works so much nicer than the 2003  he had more power going up hills and passing   its a really nice rig but he is always taking it in for something to get fixed  drivers power seat, rad core leak, now fridge isn't working , and a few other things i can't remember so moral of the story I feel better having a 40 year old rig thats paid for and fixing what goes wrong rather that taken it in for repair and milage is no better than his new rig

[Oz]

my friend Ian has a 20112 Winnebago  Suncruiser...

Wow... he sure got his order WAY in advance!

[joev]

sorry 2012  typed one to many 1's 

[Stripe]

AHH! Mark beat me to the punchline.. 

[cosmic]

I could pull that vixon behind my winne. use it as my toad.  :)rotflmao