Forester MBS Fuel Consumption

[halbright]

Originally Posted by TNSolera

6yrs running, 50k miles.. averaged 13.5 to 15 mpg pending winds and my speed. Stay under 62 and get more like 15.. run 65 to 70 more like 13- 13.5, faster you're going to get less MPG! Enjoy Travels.. life is good!

Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go? 🤔

[TedFinkelstein]

We took our 2016 Forester MBS2401S on its first trip from Fort Mill, SC to Kissimmee Florida to Volunteer for a week at Give Kids The World. When we purchased it we were told that the Sprinters get good Gas mileage and could expect 18 - 22mpg but probably closer to 18. We had clothes for the week, food in the fridge bit the Fresh Water, Grey and Black tanks were empty. The best mileage I Got was 11.65 mpg. We were on straight flat highways ( RT 77 - 95) and did about 70 mph with no traffic jams. Do I have a problem or is this normal for a 3500 Mercedes sprinter (188)? Thanks for any comments

[Philrisl]

At 70 I doubt you will do much better. Speed costs. 18 is pretty much fantasy. I got 17+ on a tank but it was through Yellowstone averaging 35-45 mph. Mountains don't hurt as much as speed and head winds.

[Rich.M]

I agree, it's all about the speed. We have travelled 19000 so far and mileage generally runs as follows:
Rural 45 -55 mph, not too many lights - 14.5 mpg
Highway rural 55-60 mph 14.0 - 14.5 mpg
Highway interstate 60-65 mph 13.5 - 14.0 mpg
Highway interstate 70 -75mph 12.0- 13.5 mpg
Highway interstate fast ( Texas , Utah speed limit 75-80) 78 mph 11.0mpg
Always have ac on. Some diesel generator use when stopped to eat or our son plays a video game.

[TedFinkelstein]

I also notice that over 70mph seems to be pushing it. I run at about 2900 rpm.

[bob dirt]

Originally Posted by Rich.M

I agree, it's all about the speed. We have travelled 19000 so far and mileage generally runs as follows:
Rural 45 -55 mph, not too many lights - 14.5 mpg
Highway rural 55-60 mph 14.0 - 14.5 mpg
Highway interstate 60-65 mph 13.5 - 14.0 mpg
Highway interstate 70 -75mph 12.0- 13.5 mpg
Highway interstate fast ( Texas , Utah speed limit 75-80) 78 mph 11.0mpg
Always have ac on. Some diesel generator use when stopped to eat or our son plays a video game.

That's what I get...It is what it is. My last 2 MH got 6-8mpg

[grumpy0374]

Originally Posted by TedFinkelstein

We took our 2016 Forester MBS2401S on its first trip from Fort Mill, SC to Kissimmee Florida to Volunteer for a week at Give Kids The World. When we purchased it we were told that the Sprinters get good Gas mileage and could expect 18 - 22mpg but probably closer to 18. We had clothes for the week, food in the fridge bit the Fresh Water, Grey and Black tanks were empty. The best mileage I Got was 11.65 mpg. We were on straight flat highways ( RT 77 - 95) and did about 70 mph with no traffic jams. Do I have a problem or is this normal for a 3500 Mercedes sprinter (188)? Thanks for any comments

Your first mistake was believing the salesman.
Your second mistake was believing the salesman.
Your third mistake was believing the salesman.
Your driving a big box that's almost at its weight rating as it comes from the factory. It may have gotten 18-22 mpg when it was a bare chassies, but fully loaded...no way. Heck, and empty pickup truck will barely manage 18-22 mpg.
As pointed out, the difference between running at 45-55 and 70 mph is a mile or two per gallon.
There are no magic solutions or fixes, nothing you can add or take away to boost your mileage. And if your going to become fixated and sweat over every tank of fuel, over every "average" mpg, then your not going to enjoy your rig and the reason you got it.
Is it worth agonizing over what amounts to a few bucks per tank or not enjoying a long trip cause it may cost an extra 1-2 hundred dollars?
Just go out and enjoy your new rig, have good times, and create some memories.
We just got back from an almost 5000 mile, 5 week trip out west, and not once did I keep track of fuel used, mileage, or $ spent on fuel. We were too busy seeing and experiencing places we've never been.
Grumpy

[captdanerie]

We just returned from a trip to Florida. Our mileage was 14.5. We traveled mostly interstates and kept the speed down to 65 max. I did get over 19 mpg when we picked up our new motorhome but it didn't have water, clothes, food, bedding, etc in it then. It's still a lot better than the 7 mpg we got with our old motorhome!

[Rkloud9]

Before purchasing our 2400W, we rented a Class B Winnebago Era that uses the MBS 3500 van chassis with the V6 motor. We covered 1300 miles in lower altitudes in the Midwest, and I purposefully drove 50-55 mph to try to get the best possible mileage. The trip average was about 20 mpg. We just drove our 2017 MBS 2400W with 10,000 miles on the clock from Central Wisconsin to Omaha, about 550 miles, pretty much all on side roads, @ 55 mph, with the average mpg about 14.5. Clearly the "W" is heavier and more "boxy" than the Class B Era. It is also more spacious, with more storage, a almost perfect living space for my wife and I. I often fret about the mileage, and sometime in the next few days I will try a day @ 50 mph in Kansas or Oklahoma just to see what might be possible. But I am thinking a 15 mpg average for all driving is nice to say but a tough number to consistently hit.

Night before last we were parked next to a Jayco 28' class C with a Ford 450 V10 gas engine, and he got about 8 mpg. The guy on the other side pulled in with a brand new 36' fifth wheel (18600 gvrw!), behind a pretty large Ford diesel pick-up. They were hoping for 8 mpg. Dealers wants to paint the best picture, and 17mpg was what ours related, having heard this from another customer that bought a 2400W. Clearly most of us will be obsessive about milage, and this string will never end. And despite this, we are having the time of our lives!


Bob & Cynthia
2017 SunSeeker MBS 2400W
Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums

[hstroupe]

Our first trip in the 2016 Prism has opened our eyes to RVing. We packed way too much and that resulted in a overweight condition which really affected our mpg plus we were towing a 1996 Jeep Cherokee that weighed 3500 lb loaded. OK we are nutz but that is what it is. We drove from Boise Idaho to Yellowstone and got 11.5mpg at 65 mph, From Yellowstone to Billings, Montana we got 10.5 mpg at 64 mph. From Billings to Rapids City, South Dakota we got 12.5mpg at 63 mph. From Rapids City SD to Scotts Bluff , Nebraska via Mt. Rushmore we only got 9 mpg could not use cruse control a whole lot due to 10% grades and very rough roads. Also somewhere along this stretch our Toad braking system failed so all braking was now handled by the coach. At least it worked while we were in the mountains. Do not take that route. its over 200 miles of absolute nothing. no towns nothing. Very rough roads. also all the RV parks from Billings as far as we can tell close the first week or two in Oct. this was the end of Oct. Fuel warning light came on 50 miles out side of Scotts Bluff ,Ne. Filled up at the first Diesel place and put in almost 22.5 gallons. Rested in Scotts Bluff for a couple of days. Nice place have a year round RV park on the edge of town. From Scotts Bluff, Ne we went to Hamilton, Ne the only park we found open. Averaged 12.5 mpg at 64 mph. From Hamilton, Ne to just east of Kansas City, Mo we averaged 11.5 mpg at 64 mpg but had bad cross winds. Also KC is really not for RVs. A lot of merging traffic from both sides. From there we made it to just east of St. Louis in Illinios. Averaged 11.5 mpg at 64 mph. Again bad cross winds. Next stop was Clarksville, Tennessee. Averaged 12.6 mpg at 65 mph. Our last day was to Lenoir City, Tennessee average was 11.5 mpg.

[mtnlvr]

I never worry about my gas mileage. All I know is that it's alot better than having a gas engine. I just appreciate having my "home on wheels"; always having a clean bathrm., my own clean bedding, available food & drinks, being able to travel with my dogs and be spontaneous. That's what's really important to me personally.

[raptor]

I never worry about my gas mileage. All I know is that it's alot better than having a gas engine. I just appreciate having my "home on wheels"; always having a clean bathroom., my own clean bedding, available food & drinks, being able to travel with my dogs and be spontaneous. That's what's really important to me personally.

I'm with you. It's more fun and free.

[raptor]

I never worry about my gas mileage. All I know is that it's a lot better than having a gas engine. I just appreciate having my "home on wheels"; always having a clean bathroom., my own clean bedding, available food & drinks, being able to travel with my dogs and be spontaneous. That's what's really important to me personally.

I'm with you. It's more fun and free.

[ilmor]

Originally Posted by Rich.M

I agree, it's all about the speed. We have travelled 19000 so far and mileage generally runs as follows:
Rural 45 -55 mph, not too many lights - 14.5 mpg
Highway rural 55-60 mph 14.0 - 14.5 mpg
Highway interstate 60-65 mph 13.5 - 14.0 mpg
Highway interstate 70 -75mph 12.0- 13.5 mpg
Highway interstate fast ( Texas , Utah speed limit 75-80) 78 mph 11.0mpg
Always have ac on. Some diesel generator use when stopped to eat or our son plays a video game.

Yup. My 2010 Solera always got 14. I drove 60-62.

[MarsMan]

Just finished a trip via the white Montains and Lake Placid etc approx 2500 miles. lots of tiim in 4th due to hills and stuff. Very little 4 lane hwy stuff. average 16.9 mpg ... average speed for trip was 42 mph. Have a propane genny