Real MPGs for your rig?

Johnrunberg

Adventurer
1990 VW Vanagon (Carat- a tin top) auto w/ a EJ2.2 Subaru engine in the back
-- 19-20mpg loaded for camping w/ wife and daughter
-- 17mpg if we're towing the m416 trailer and it's loaded

Can't argue.
 

Burro1

New member
I'd like to know just what kind of miles per gallon you all are getting out of your expedition vehicle? Please put in the model, year, type and maybe even engine size/#cylinders. (I'd love to do a poll, but it would be comparing so many different apples, oranges and fig newtons, it wouldn't be relevant.)

I'll start: I've got a 1989 Toyota van 2WD LE, gasoline, 4 cyl, and I get 21-22mpg in town and 24-5 or so on a long highway trip.

What about you?

We have been pulling our 13 foot Burro with 2 L diesel‘s since 2003. Our current car is a 2016 BMW wagon. The best we’ve gotten pulling the trailer is a tic over 30 mpg on a 700 mile round-trip with a tailwind both ways. Average is about 27 Mpg. Usually don’t drive above 70. I have cruised at 80 and mileage dropped to 22–23. Without the trailer on the highway the car gets @ 50 mpg. The eight speed transmission really keeps the little diesel in the sweet spot. Towing I put it in sport mode which firms up the suspension and stops it from shifting into 8th gear.FAE3D738-FB8D-4CB5-BADB-8C4BBFC2D00C.jpeg
 

coolfeet

Mark Keeler
Ford E350 6.0 PSD. I have put on 42,000 miles and the overall average is 17.5 mpg. I have Michelin AT2 tires. No mods. This is a combined city, camping, mountain driving-everything!

This van is a beast. Surprised at the fuel economy. I drive the speed limit. If it is posted 80 MPH, I am cruising at 80 MPH.
vanwithSolarPanel.JPGFamilyPhotoTravertineCamping-2.jpg
 
Last edited:

68camaro

Any River...Any Place
2001 Chinook Concourse XL - E350 V10 DRW, 9,500lbs, only had for short time but on 18 hour drive back averaged 10.5mpg at an average 68mph. Normal driving getting between 10.5 and 11.3, depending on road - (readout from ScanGuage II).

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland, V6 Pentastar, 140k miles, highway 21mpg, city 18.5 - 19.5 mpg.
 

86scotty

Cynic
I have found that the more I read forum threads on MPG the higher my MPG gets. I'm up to like 40 mpg now. No crap! I get 40 in my Transit pulling 3 military trailers uphill. My V10 I just sold got 45 with a load of bricks in the back on washboard. I just bought a little commuter car, 300 miles per gallon!
 

Hoosier 45

Adventurer
Hi,
I have a high roof extended 2016 Ford Transit and thus far I have put right at 38k miles on it. It has a 3.7 with 4.11 rear end. The best mpg was 22 driving across Missouri & Illinois west to east on US 36. I dove 55 the whole tank.

On on the 3600 mile trip to Colorado/Utah from Indiana, doing 55 on the main secondary roads and whatever on the forest service roads I averaged 19.8 for the trip. I drive with a very light foot. I did not encounter any heavy head winds.

Driving it back & forth to work 8 miles each way I get 17.

It is a very light camper with a galley cabinet, overhead cabinets, Truck fridge 130, 2-105 Ah agms, cassette toilet & a raised bed.

This summer heading into heavy head winds in Kansas at 65 mph I got 15, I also had a Suzuki DR200 mounted on the bumper.

Martin
 

Raul

Adventurer
66741535-E38D-4FF0-9C7E-7173802D7A65.jpeg

11.5 mpg no matter what. E350 EB 5.4 with 4.11 on 33 Michelin LTX AT2. I have no idea what mileage I would get if I keep it below the speed limit.
 
Last edited:

grampswrx

Observer
I have 3 vans: 1993 302 RB smb - 12.7 mpg combined. 1998 chevy EB smb - 12.6 combined, 1999 5.4 coachmen class b -12.9 combined. They are all lifted on 265 tires.
 

45Kevin

Adventurer
2007 Chev 1500 Express AWD. 3" lift, 285/35/16, roof rack, awning and camperized.

I have averaged 15 US mpg over 20K miles.
About 80% HW, 10% City and 10% gravel and off-road.
We average 65-70 on the HW.
 

Mwilliamshs

Explorer
1989 E-150 2wd Sportsmobile Penthouse with just paneling and insulation, no interior fixtures. 4.9L, C6, 3.08 R&P, 225/75-16 tires. I keep it full of construction tools. Typical daily weight is 6-7,000 lbs.

17 mpg highway, 14 city. I drive 65ish on the interstate, just get to the speed she's comfortable and hold the pedal steady mostly. Drops to 60 on most hills and hits 70 or so going down.

Expecting the M5OD swap (with 3.55 R&P) I'm working on to improve mileage a bit (20 mpg hwy is my guess) but mostly doing it for fun and to keep a 30 year old automatic transmission from ruining my day.
 

Smileyshaun

Observer
2018 forester manual trans
when the fiance drives on back country roads she can really squeeze the mpg out of it
20180731_135017.jpg

average freeway driving at 65-70
20180729_101143.jpg

average with mixed driving is about 28mpg
 
2010 Chevy Express LWB 6.0, 5.5" Weldtec Designs long travel kit, 285/70/17 tires, 7400lbs empty

Highway: 14.1
Town: 13.3

Calculated by gallons bought/miles driven, not the realtime displays

The van got 15.9 before the mods while hauling a motorcycle
 

45Kevin

Adventurer
2007 Chev 1500 Express AWD. 3" lift, 285/35/16, roof rack, awning and camperized.

I have averaged 15 US mpg over 20K miles.
About 80% HW, 10% City and 10% gravel and off-road.
We average 65-70 on the HW.


I have to add that I have not calculated for the larger tire I run now.
The speedo is about 2-3 MPH off at 65 mph according to my GPS.

So add 10ish% to my reading to get actual MPG. 16.5 USmpg. I'm OK with that.
 

225

Village Idiot
eyeKpqtl.jpg
 

Forum statistics

Threads
185,530
Messages
2,875,577
Members
224,922
Latest member
Randy Towles
Top