New 2300 shakedown cruise (gas Mileage)?

[vacouple]

Had a nice camping trip despite storms , wind etc. with our new 2300. All systems worker great.....heat , air, reefer, water heater, elect. Checked gas mileage for the trip and We have the ford V-10 and as far as I can tell driving in the range of 55-60 mph most of the time unless putting along we got a measly 7.5 mpg!!?? I was guessing about 10 with such a small class c but 7??? Now it only has about 1000 miles on it so please tell me that after it is broken in it will get better mileage..anyone with any MPG estimates chime in please.

[LadyWindrider]

Very doubtful it will get better. I kept up a fleet of Ford F350 chassis vans, for a hospital, and the ones with the V10 barley made 8. These were 15 passenger vans, not motor homes. The ones with the 5.4L v8 seldom made 10. Of course they ran all day, never farther than a 3mile trip, and idled while waiting on the next call. Sorry, but I wouldn't expect much more.

[RvBill3]

We just picked up our 2300 with the Chevy chassis and engine. Drove 400 miles home on Interstates. There was heavy wind, so I kept speeds down to 55-58 mph. We average 10.8 miles per gallon. Compared to a similar engine in my Chevy Avalanche (when we towed a large TT with it) I only got 8 mpg. So I am very pleased with the 2300 so far. (Sorry I know this isn't apples to apples comparison with the Ford V-10).

[bclemens]

Originally Posted by vacouple

Had a nice camping trip despite storms , wind etc. with our new 2300.

Lots of head winds will certainly drive the mpg down. Head to Head test comparing Ford to Chevy (testing by Chevy) the Chevy got about 1/2 a mile better per gallon. So if someone is getting 10 on the Chevy, it is promising that you should get close to that.

[Al Fresco]

In my experience, you should be able to get around 10 mpg. My wife and I have a 2011 Sunseeker 2300 on a Ford E350 chassis with a V10 engine. We normally drive in the 55-60 mph range over a variety of terrain, including 7,000-ft. mountain passes.

We cannot attest to the mileage during the first 2,000 miles of operation because the motorhome was in transit from Indiana to Spokane, WA during that time. (It had exactly 2,000 miles on the odometer when we took possession.) Since then, we have filled the tank seven times and have a total of 4,344 miles on the odometer. If the highest (12 mpg) and lowest (9 mpg) values are eliminated, we are averaging 10.3 mpg for the other five tank fillings. We have not been pulling a toad, but will start doing so this year so we expect the mpg’s will decrease a bit.

Hopefully your mpg’s will increase after an initial “break-in” period.

[vacouple]

In actuality I filled it up before we went to the OBX and when we returned I again filled it up. I cant recall the exact mileage or gallons but my math is good and I got 7.5. I was HOPING for better but I have some tricks up my sleeve too. I t was very windy on this day too. I don't want to sound like I am excusing the poor mileage LOL

[zook]

Does anyone know if you add the K&N cold air intake and maybe a Cat back exhaust system would that help not only with a little more power but would it help with the MPG any??

[vasnipe]

I have a used 2006 Sunseeker 3100 LTD with the Ford E450 and V10 Triton. 31 feet long. Unit had just under 10K miles on the clock when we purchased it October of 2010 and I have no idea as to how previous owner treated it mechanically. I've seen between 7.5 and 8.5 mpg on the trips we've taken. That is usually Interstate running no more than 65mph, usually 60mph. I let the other guys who have more money than I do blow down the road at higher speed and let it catch up to them at the gas pump.

[capndinghy]

I have a new Sunseeker 3170DS and so far I am have getting 6.3mpg! I have been running the Generator on and off, so I am sure that will effect it.

BTW, can anyone tell me the Onan Generator Fuel Burn. Somehow I seem to have picked up the figure of .6 gal per hour, but I am not sure where I got that figure.
Thanks,
Chuck

[bclemens]

Onan website says @ 60Hz - .3 gph no load, .5gph half load, .7gph full load

[vacouple]

At 60 MPH my tach is indicating about 2400 rpm which seems to me a little high. I have a f-150 with a 5.4 litre 3 speed with overdrive and get about 2200 rpm at 70 mph. A v-10 with four speed with O.D. should not be taching that hard IMHO. I am going to have Ford check it out.

[hunt247]

Our 2011 3170DS with 6000miles is averaging around 8mpg, so I guess a little improvement through break-in period.

[torino421]

Originally Posted by vacouple

At 60 MPH my tach is indicating about 2400 rpm which seems to me a little high. I have a f-150 with a 5.4 litre 3 speed with overdrive and get about 2200 rpm at 70 mph. A v-10 with four speed with O.D. should not be taching that hard IMHO. I am going to have Ford check it out.

Motorhomes have much "steeper" gearing in the rear end compared to an F150. Your F150 probably has 3:55 or 3:73's and motorhomes typically have 4:56's or numerically higher!

So what you are seeing on your tach is typical for that kind of gearing. I say completely normal.

[TURBS]

[QUOTE=vacouple;167418]Had a nice camping trip despite storms , wind etc. with our new 2300. All systems worker great.....heat , air, reefer, water heater, elect. Checked gas mileage for the trip and We have the ford V-10 and as far as I can tell driving in the range of 55-60 mph most of the time unless putting along we got a measly 7.5 mpg!!?? I was guessing about 10 with such a small class c but 7??? Now it only has about 1000 miles on it so please tell me that after it is broken in it will get better mileage..anyone with any MPG estimates chime in please.

Here's a good suggestion try looking into installing an electric fan
Assembly. When I did this to lower my trans temps in case
They got high. I in fact raised my mpg since the clutch fan
does not run now. 1 mpg difference over 26 gallons made
a difference enough for the price of the fan.

[New2Rvs]

We have a 2007 Sunseeker 2900 with a Ford E-450 V10 and got 7.8 mpg on our last weekend trip. It was mostly highway driving (55-60 mph) and a few hills and no real wind. I was expecting 8 to 10 mpg, but I purchased it knowing it would not be great on mileage.

[vacouple]

WOW way to make me fell better peeps You all have much bigger motor homes and get about the same mileage LOL.....I do appreciate all the input and hope everyone else can chime in too. This way we can kind of bump off ideas together on how to get better mileage or just get ideas about what is normal. Now I gotta go look up rearend numbers ......

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by vacouple

WOW way to make me fell better peeps You all have much bigger motor homes and get about the same mileage LOL.....I do appreciate all the input and hope everyone else can chime in too. This way we can kind of bump off ideas together on how to get better mileage or just get ideas about what is normal. Now I gotta go look up rearend numbers ......

whats her name ?

[dimurrrw]

I think that you should see a bit of improvement as the 2300 gets broken in and you become more familiar with its optimal operation. Do, however, take note of the fact that from Newport News to the OBX you were operating basically on flat ground and at sea level, which would have given you an advantage to start out with. I also see that you noted that it was windy - the big question is whether it was a headwind or tailwind.

[RvBill3]

After several trips I am still averaging 10.7 mpg. Chevy engine, 57-59 mph. 1700-1800 rpm. Mostly interstate driving and mostly flat.

[Ray F.]

8mpg here 32' forester generator not running. cat deleted.