Mileage expectations for 2018 Sunseeker MBS 2400r

[kim76442]

I've got a 2018 Forest River Sunseeker MBS 2400R. I read that the miles per gallon could be as much as 18 mpg. The best I have gotten is around 12 mpg and that is without the rig loaded and without towing anything. It usually runs around 10 to 11 mpg. I'd like to know what others that are driving a Class C on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter Chassis are getting. Thank you!

[AudiDudi]

in my 2016 Prism 24G I have had a high of just over 17mpg and a low in the 12.8mpg range. The 12 was towing at 8000+ ft elev in the snow. Typical with the toad (2015 Sonic hatchback on the ACME dolly) is just under 15mpg and with no toad a little over 16mpg. It depends a lot of the terrain and the wind. I typically drive 60-62 mph.

[CharSolera]

I have a 2014 Solera MBS and average 15 MPG. But I don't travel fast (you've probably passed me). Best was 19.74 with a tail wind (whee!) and worst was 11.81 with a strong head wind. Wind, speed and load have a lot to do with mileage (I don't tow).

[nic7320]

I get 17 - 18 MPG with a 2012 First River Solera 24S, if I keep it at or below 55 MPH.


The older Mercedes with the 5 cylinder engines get 20+ MPG, but they don't have the diesel particular filter system. DPF is a good thing (it significantly reduces soot, smell, and diesel carcinogenic emissions), but it comes with some maintenance issues. One, you have to use Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), and Two, you have to limit short trips because the emissions system requires time to get up to temperature to burn the soot away. Failing to do this becomes quite costly to repair.



I bought this RV specifically for the fuel efficiency and for more headroom. I don't have a problem with the DPF for all the good that it does, and really like that it doesn't stink like so many older diesels.



Keeping your speed below 55 reduces bearing and tire temperature by as much as half, comparing to 70+ MPH (due to square law). And it's so much more comfortable to drive.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by kim76442

I've got a 2018 Forest River Sunseeker MBS 2400R. I read that the miles per gallon could be as much as 18 mpg. The best I have gotten is around 12 mpg and that is without the rig loaded and without towing anything. It usually runs around 10 to 11 mpg. I'd like to know what others that are driving a Class C on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter Chassis are getting. Thank you!

Sounds like you're either driving in mountains or at 75MPH on the freeway. Can't do much about mountains, but if you're going 75MPH then slow down. Fuel economy and speed/wind resistance are tightly coupled. The difference in fuel economy between 60-65MPH and 75MPH when driving a rolling brick is massive.

Seems folks leave speed out of their MPG questions, not sure why or if they expect to get good fuel economy on the freeway no matter what speed they drive?

[Desertsquid]

We have a 2016 Sunseeker MBS 2400w. We average 13-14mpg. It doesn't seem to matter what we do its consistent. We flat tow a 2015 Honda Fit. I've been looking for those 17-18 mpg numbers never have seen them. Lol

[papakilo]

Originally Posted by kim76442

I've got a 2018 Forest River Sunseeker MBS 2400R. I read that the miles per gallon could be as much as 18 mpg. The best I have gotten is around 12 mpg and that is without the rig loaded and without towing anything. It usually runs around 10 to 11 mpg. I'd like to know what others that are driving a Class C on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter Chassis are getting. Thank you!

I have a Sunseeker 25TS and get 10 to 12 highway miles per gallon

[michael.wehrer]

Originally Posted by Desertsquid

We have a 2016 Sunseeker MBS 2400w. We average 13-14mpg. It doesn't seem to matter what we do its consistent. We flat tow a 2015 Honda Fit. I've been looking for those 17-18 mpg numbers never have seen them. Lol

We have a 2018 Sunseeker MBS 2400W. We average 11-12mpg. We flat tow a 2013 Jeep Liberty. With the Jeep 11+ without 12+.

[kim76442]

I drive around 60-65 mph.

[kim76442]

Originally Posted by DieselDrax

Sounds like you're either driving in mountains or at 75MPH on the freeway. Can't do much about mountains, but if you're going 75MPH then slow down. Fuel economy and speed/wind resistance are tightly coupled. The difference in fuel economy between 60-65MPH and 75MPH when driving a rolling brick is massive.

Seems folks leave speed out of their MPG questions, not sure why or if they expect to get good fuel economy on the freeway no matter what speed they drive?

Thank you for the information. I'm sorry I left out my speed earlier. I drive between 60 & 65 mph, no mountains, not towing anything.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by kim76442

Thank you for the information. I'm sorry I left out my speed earlier. I drive between 60 & 65 mph, no mountains, not towing anything.

Thanks for the update. I wonder if the poor MPG could be due to generally poor fuel quality found in the US? The minimum required cetane for ULSD in the US is 40 which isn't very high. For the heck of it, I wonder if you might be interested in seeing of running a tank with Power Service Diesel Kleen in the silver bottle makes a difference? This will help clean and lubricate the fuel system but it also gives a nice cetane boost which will help with fuel economy and throttle response as well as reducing low-cetane-induced diesel rattle at low RPM when accelerating. I noticed a huge difference in that regard with the 3.0 EcoDiesel in my wife's Jeep on a tank with a dose of Diesel Kleen.

I know there are some folks that don't believe in using fuel additives, but I've used Diesel Kleen with many of my diesels over the years and had nothing but positive results compared to how they ran and drove prior to using it. Won't hurt to give it a shot if you're up for it. I can't comment on any other additives as Diesel Kleen is the only one I use regularly and is the only one endorsed by Cummins.

Good luck!

[ChrisT]

Our most common mpg is in the 14-15 range. Our worst was driving across West Texas straight into a vicious head wind at interstate speeds and it was in the low 12's. We've gotten better than 16 puttering around on fairly flat state roads. We don't tow, take our time up steeper grades, and generally keep it under 70.

[michael.wehrer]

I drive 65

[Flapjackdenny]

2015 MBS 2400R Sunseeker, 15.5 MPG, fully loaded with tower Ford Ranger. 62 MPH on cruise.

[bob5560g]

2015 Forester MBS 2401WS. I believe this is the heaviest floor plan. Average over my 61k of driving around 68 mph is about 13.5 not towing, and 11.5 towing my 3,400 lb Sidekick. Every other owner I've asked in person claims to get 2-4 mpg more.

[Desertsquid]

Originally Posted by bob5560g

2015 Forester MBS 2401WS. I believe this is the heaviest floor plan. Average over my 61k of driving around 68 mph is about 13.5 not towing, and 11.5 towing my 3,400 lb Sidekick. Every other owner I've asked in person claims to get 2-4 mpg more.

The W or ws is probably the heaviest but with all that space it's worth it!

[bob5560g]

Absolutely! Every MBS owner of a different floor plan who has stepped into my W says they wish they had bought a W.....

[AudiDudi]

What's the OCCC of the WS?

[bowler]

We drive a 2017 forester MBS 2401W, flat towing a Mazda Miata, averaged 13 to 13.5 mpg from Alabama to Pittsburgh. Without flat towing have seen around 15 at best, try to hold speed at about 62. Although 15 mpg was closer to 55. 62 mph brings me closer to 14.

[Nancyc7]

Sunseeker 2400W 2016. I get 11-12mpg and my husband gets 12-14mpg. He drives So Dang Slow!! Makes a big difference.