dcason
New York
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Joined: 12/23/2007
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Anyone have recommendations for C models with 12+ mph...looking for approx 24 foot model with back bed (no folding down table to sleep).
I read somewhere here that someone was gettin 12-14 mpg but I cannot find it and model.
Donna
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FrankoToo
Escondido, CA
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Joined: 11/28/2007
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My sister and her husband just recently picked up a Forest River Solera with the Mercedes Diesel V6. Averaged 15 mpg. on their maiden voyage which included crossing the Cascade Mountains in the Northwest. This is what they tell me anyway.
FrankoToo
2012 Heartland Cyclone 3612 HD
2011 Ford F450 6.7L PS 4X4 Crew Cab Lariat
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ron.dittmer
Northern Illinois
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jim1632 wrote:You will pay at least $10,000 above a Ford or Chevrolet equivalent. Phoenix USA charges an extra $12,000 if getting models 2350 and 2400 on the Sprinter instead of the Ford.
2007 Phoenix Cruiser model 2350, with 2006 Jeep Liberty in-tow
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jim1632
Arlington, VA
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I have a 24 foot on a Ford E350 chassis with a V10. I only get 8 mph. Some offer stories of more miles with Class Cs but I suspect these are limited situations, not the ordinary use. I had a 21 foot Class C with a V8 and only managed 10 mph with it.
Go with the Mercedes diesel chassis to get 15-20 range. You will pay at least $10,000 above a Ford or Chevrolet equivalent, though.
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PhilR.
Central Texas
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jim1632 wrote:
Go with the Mercedes diesel chassis to get 15-20 range. You will pay at least $10,000 above a Ford or Chevrolet equivalent, though.
I would agree with the MB Sprinter suggestion, as these will meet your requirements with the right floorplan.
OTOH, Jim brings up a very good point. The Sprinters will cost you more to purchase, and it would take driving over 100k miles to get a payback on the fuel savings over a Ford. Instead, I would recommend that you make your purchase decision based more on floorplan and other features that you desire, and less on fuel mileage.
For us though, we much prefer the Sprinter platform for many other reasons, and the great fuel economy is just gravy on top of everything else.....
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Dakzuki
Carnation, Wa, USA
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ron.dittmer wrote:jim1632 wrote:You will pay at least $10,000 above a Ford or Chevrolet equivalent. Phoenix USA charges an extra $12,000 if getting models 2350 and 2400 on the Sprinter instead of the Ford.
The up side is you don't have to pay to have your copilot's left leg removed to get them in the passenger seat.
2011 Itasca Navion 24J
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pnichols
Santa Cruz Mountains
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Quote:The up side is you don't have to pay to have your copilot's left leg removed to get them in the passenger seat.
However, from what I read one may have to pay someone's arm-and-a-leg to get the Mercedes diesel based Class C motorhome's running gear serviced. 
Phil, 2005 E450 Itasca 324V Spirit
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RvBill3
Collinsville, IL
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Quote:The up side is you don't have to pay to have your copilot's left leg removed to get them in the passenger seat.
That was one of the reasons we chose the Chevy over the Ford. You can get in and out of the driver and passenger seats without needing to qualify for Olympic gymnastics. Also getting 10.7 mpg.
2012 Forest River Sunseeker 2300 Chevy
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Mocoondo
Chicago, IL
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As a point of reference, most, if not all 23' gasser V8 class C's will average 10 MPG over the life of the vehicle. Occasionally you will see a 23' on a Ford 450 chassis w/V10 and you will be looking at about 8 MPG on those. To get much above the number 10, you will have to go diesel. IF you go diesel, just note that maintenance costs are roughly double that of the comparable gasser.
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ron.dittmer
Northern Illinois
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I would agree the Chevy is more comfortable than the Ford. Not just the passenger seat leg issue mentioned, but leg room for both the passenger and driver in general. The Chevy feels more like a passenger vehicle than the Ford which some would describe to be more like a work vehicle. The V10 engine in the Ford will get loud under high rpm conditions.
It seems people with the Chevy are claiming about 1 mpg more than the Ford. That is 10% which is substantial. The Ford almost always has the V10 engine which is over-kill for a smaller <24' rig. The same V10 engine is used in the largest of gas power class A motor homes. I wonder if I special ordered my E350 with the 5.4L-V8 how it would perform and what fuel economy would be had.
If you are counting inches, the same motor home built on the Chevy is 9" longer than if built on the Ford. I ruled out a few rigs because of that 9" which meant it would not fit in our garage.
* This post was
edited 04/14/12 07:17am by ron.dittmer *
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