Improve Your RVs Fuel Efficiency – A Few Easy Tricks to Increase MPG

Better gas mileage or RV Fuel efficiency can mean more money in your pocket and less in your gas tank. Afterall, fuel costs can quickly add up. If you own an RV, the cost of gasoline or diesel fuel is most likely going to be your biggest expense over the lifetime of the vehicle, excluding the up-front cost of the vehicle itself. If you use your RV fairly regularly and got a good deal when you purchased it, there is a good chance that fuel costs will eclipse the total cost of your rig. That’s just the price you pay to own and operate an RV though, correct? Well, that’s true to a certain extent but does not mean there are no options available to help cut costs when it comes to fuel.

Fuel efficiency is a much talked about yet often neglected aspect to driving any vehicle. When you are driving a large one over long distances, such as an RV, fuel efficiency can literally save you thousands of dollars in the long run and is worth paying close attention to. There are some easy tricks that can help your RV guzzle less gas and increase those coveted miles per gallon. Many RVers I’ve known over the years have talked a big game about trying to use less gas and run an efficient vehicle, but a very select few take the time and effort to actually make it happen. If you think you’re ready to attempt to streamline your RV to burn less fuel and a smaller hole in your wallet, here are a few easy tricks to get you started.

Slow and Steady

A major factor in fuel efficiency is speed. Under ideal circumstances, a RV has a sweet spot for maximum fuel efficiency around 55 MPH. This is a difficult speed for most drivers to adhere to, even when they know it can save them precious cash. It might seem tempting to step on the pedal and cruise as fast as is (safely) possible to your intended destination, but if you can keep things slow and steady, you’ll be rewarded with an increase in gas mileage. There are other factors that contribute, and we’ll look at those in a moment, but keeping your RV rolling at a comfortable speed that is not too fast and not too slow is a surefire way to increase efficiency.

In addition to keeping your cruising speed at a cool and constant number, how you speed up and slow down also has a big impact on how much fuel you burn. If you are constantly trying to turn you RV into a whale of a race car with fast acceleration and heavy braking, you will burn more gas in a hurry. A good rule of thumb is that the higher the RPMs, the more gas you are burning. So, the more often you put the pedal to the floor, the more often you will have to fill up the tank. Slow and steady with braking and accelerating will give you the best chance at maximizing fuel efficiency.

Related Read: Gas VS Diesel Motorhomes

Tires

The condition of your RV tires also has a big impact on fuel efficiency. Really worn or improperly balanced tires can ruin your vehicles ability to operate at peak performance. Not only can old and worn down tires negatively impact your MPG, but so can tires that are over or under inflated. Be sure to check the condition of your tires and their tire pressure before each trip and at least every few days while you’re out on the road. This should be a critical aspect of your daily safety routine but is also highly important if you’re concerned and serious about fuel efficiency.

Tires can change a lot with changes in elevation so be sure to check the pressure if you’re travelling from sea level to the mountain or vice versa. Also be sure to balance and rotate your tires at scheduled intervals to keep them properly rolling down the road. Tires are the connection between your RV and the highway and play a crucial role in gas consumption.

Related Read: RV Tires: Selection and Care

Lose Some Pounds

Weight is another factor that comes into play when gas mileage and fuel efficiency are concerned. The heavier your RV is, the more the engine will have to work to push it down the road which translates into more fuel used. Try to pack up your RV as light as you can and take weight into consideration if you do any remodels or upgrades to your vehicle. Try to find lightweight furniture and appliances to save a few pounds and consider flooring and cabinets that are made of particle material instead of solid wood. You can always stock up on food and supplies close to whatever RV campground you are headed towards instead of bringing everything you need from home. Try not to pack things you don’t need and you’ll end up saving a decent amount of money in the process.

While weight is certainly a big consideration that can affect your gas mileage, how you pack whatever load you do end up bringing can also have a large impact on overall fuel efficiency. You will want to try and spread out everything in the vehicle evenly so there is close to equal weight throughout the RV. This may not seem important but an unbalanced load, similar to unbalanced tires, can cause a considerable decrease in fuel efficiency.

Small Things Add Up

There are a few small things that can add up over time to, drip by drip, cause a decrease in gas mileage. Idling your engine when parked is one of these and should only be done if necessary. Running the A/C can use extra gasoline so if you don’t really need it, don’t turn on the cooling system. Another trick that seems weird but makes a difference is that driving with your windows down for long periods of time can actually hurt your gas mileage. With the windows rolled down, your RV becomes less aerodynamic and this has an immediate impact on fuel efficiency.