RV Transport Question

My gmc pulling our 33 footer averages 13. Empty around 20. I religiously use cruise control. My 15 Cascadia always loaded gets 6.9. A medium duty???? Somewhere around 8? Someone else who actually owns one can speak up. Don't guess. Don't spout off what you haven't EXPERIENCED. The fuel consumption is almost double. Fuel is the biggest expense. Don't know what dealers you go to but the freightliner & Kenworth dealers I've been to charge waaay more than a automotive dealer. And parts are definitely not cheaper on medium duty. The tires might last longer but they're 2-3x the cost. I'm talking name brand 22.5 not Chinese brands. I thought legal sleeper wasn't an issue. Unless of course you're a big guy. Good clean used medium duty is cheaper than a new 35oo dually. So, it's all fuel mileage. But with the medium duty you could make more by turning into a haul & tow.

 

I owned a medium duty, could get 12 mpg @ 55 mph. Cat 3126 with Allison auto.


Dodge with the 6.7 and auto could get 10.8 @ 68 mph

Ford 7.3 auto 12 mpg @ 58-62 mph.

In reality most medium duty trucks are geared to high. Also most have throw away motors, if I was looking I'd want a 5.9 in it and gear it lower, but then the engine would probably have to be turned up.

 

Running at the same 65 mph average speed, safe to say the medium would be in the 1o to 11 mpg range?

I'm guessing my 12 gmc 35oo dually pulling a larger trailer like a 38 or 39 5th would probably be down close to 11-12, too, although when I'm pulling my 33 it's heavily loaded.

 

Running 68-70 was about 6 mpg, 63-65 was 8-9 mpg.


Although that was pulling a 4 car with a lift. The pickups have always stayed under 26k.

Before I went to a medium duty I'd go to a SA tractor. Built for actually running OTR, easy to find parts and more room. I'd say MPGs would probably be about the same.

 

Are your MPG hand calculated, or are you running off the overhead?

 

Actual odometer, gallons pumped. Constant calculations ongoing over every fill up.

 

Red1inedan.....where I am here in Canada, the rates are lower at the big truck dealers. Plus if you dispute a bill they will work with you. The auto dealers...pay our price or get out.

Truckon.....I think I'd prefer the 8.3 Cummins in a medium over the 5.9/6.7
The 8.3 is a wet sleeve engine, so it is rebuildable. The 5.9 is a throw away block. Just another way I'd get big mileage out of that truck.

And yes, legal sleeper berth is an issue. I had the rear seat removed in my pickups and a wooden bed frame with a real mattress installed. In my Ram Mega cab I could lie diagonal and not have my head or feet touch. Not legal. It has to meet a width requirement. A medium duty cab does meet that width. Or you can get a daycab with a small bunk.
Even the old trick of carrying a tent.....the DOT/MTO wants to see campground receipts if you try and use that excuse.

So sounds like you all figure a drw pickup is still the most cost effective way to single haul?

 

Not doing it for money but my Volvo 670 gets 9MPG pulling my Newmar 5th (16000 #)
D12 and 12 speed freedomline ,singled.

 

Although I'm a US citizen I live in Canada & the freightliner & Kenworth dealers charge waay more than even the audi porsche dealer I go to for warranty work. $45/hr more than the gmc dealer. This is in Ontario & new Brunswick.

So, you have to log off duty & no sleeper on the logs? And they don't question you? I usually compress my resets on the fly so trying to figure out the fine details of rv logging. I've gone through several US dot & mto yearly log audits & always pass without any problems & would like to keep my cvor clean.

 

BTW, all car dealers have regional factory reps. You can get their contact info from any dealer. Notify them of any problems with the service dept & warranty work or disputes re crazy charges for service. It's one of the reps duties to resolve & work things out for customers.