I have a 2005 Dutch Star with a Cummins ISL 370 hp engine. It weighs 31,000 pounds and I tow a 3,600 pound toad. The first 12,000 miles it averaged 7.9 mpg and the last 10,000 miles it has averaged 8.3 mpg.
RobertB wrote: I have a gas Class A, but have several friends with DP's. One has a C7 Cat and a couple have ISL Cummins' powerplants. I've talked to them at various times about the kind of mileage they get, and the concensus seems to hover around 6 mpg; maybe a little more if they aren't pulling a toad and are driving gently, maybe a little less when pulling and covering a lot of hilly terrain.
In the last few months I've seen a couple of tests of new DP's in Motorhome magazine. One was of a Class A powered by the latest version of the ISB Cummins, rated at around 340hp. I was fairly shocked to see mileage from the test report at somewhere between 10 and 11 mpg. In the latest issue of MH, they tested a Winnebago with a 400hp ISL and reported mileage of a shade under 10 mpg.
I'm well aware how much mileage can vary with weather and road conditions, not to mention the heaviness of the driver's right foot, but I'm still pretty amazed at both of those mileage figures compared to what I've heard from DP-owning friends. My question is simply, what kind of mileage are other DP-(and, for that matter, FRED-) owning RVers getting these days? Are Cummins and/or Cat turning out powerplants that are somehow more efficient, or are these test results just flukes?
Just curious. Thanks for any feedback.
As I remember those mpg readings are flash readings on a flat road, not an average of thousands of miles that we owners post
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
435/1200 ISC Cummins/Banks PowerPak
'08 Honda Civic/dolly
'05 Honda Odyssey/dolly
NRA Benefactor Life Member
FMCA f47302s, Life Member: Good Sam, Newmar DP Owners Group
51st yr of RV'ing
ISL 400 and average 8 1/2 with our 6000+# toad at 60 MPH.
Bob & Betsy - USN Ret'd '78 & FL LEO Ret'd '03 FMCA #F203528 '05 HR Endeavor, 40PRQ w/400 Cummins - With -'05 GMC Sierra SLT, CC Z-71, the pusher '07 Arctic Cat 500A & Wilderness Kayak, riding in the pusher - Our Current Location
Motorhome magazine needs people to advertise in them. Therefore NOTHING is ever said that is bad about their product.
Have you EVER seen a negative comment in a magazine about a motorhome?
Except Consumer Reports who do not rely on advertising.
For miles per gallon figures I would want to see the average over 5,000 miles.
2004 Monaco
La Palma 36DBD
Two Slides
2 Potties
Workhorse 22 chassis
8.1 gas engine & Allison transmission
6.9 MPG based on a 6,000 mile trip around the U.S.
ISM 450 40,000 lbs. with 4000 lb. toad, 68-72 mph.
I see better MPG in heavy but fast traffic, up to 8.4 MPG. I can only figure it must be the brick factor, no traffic - MH is a brick, heavy traffic, the air is moving my way. Anyone else see this effect?
2007 Mountain Aire 4528
2006 CRV SE
Based in Memphis area
I get 8 mpg. Uphill downhill pulling a toad. Dont matter much. I try to keep it at 65mph. Ive got about 23000 on my o4 DS with a 370 cummins ISL. Good Luck Chuck
Donna and Chuck
2004 Dutchstar Model 4009 tripple slide
Spartan chasis and 370 ISL Cummins
2003 Saturn L-300 (toad)
1998 Hi-Line Park Model trailor up in Maine
2 chihuahua one female (chi-chi) one male (Alabama)
Fishinghat wrote: I get over 10 mpg with an 8.3 Cummins, and friends with similar Cummins or Cat engines get about the same efficiency. However, the smaller 5.9 may get slightly less fuel economy due to the lower power to weight ratio. JMHO
Bull feathers on the above statement!
Geneva & Warren
04 34m expedition
300 ISB cummins/6speed
Oak hills CA
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