Post your MPG

[BillNole]

We probably have the near exact same van. 16-18mpg is a stretch and 12-13mpg is probably low, but the mileage is very speed dependent for us.

We can reliably get between 16 and 17mpg at a steady 50mph with no wind influence for the better or worse.

It goes on sliding scale after that as you speed up and at 75mph it normally sits in the low/mid 13s.

Our normal mixes of freeway, city slow downs, two lanes, around parks type trips pretty consistently come in at 14.5mpg these days. These are with the 10% ethanol fuels we see nearly all the time.

We are now on a set of the new model Michelin LTX MS2 tires in different size than we had before and the initial 300 mile test might indicate they will make it a bit better, but won't know until later this year when I get over shoulder surgery and finish a mod I had started on the van. Past tire size was 265-75/16 and current size is 265/70/17 and both are larger than the stock 245/75/16 tires.

The torque converter failures in the years around us are making me a bit uncomfortable as there don't appear to be known why they happen.

Mine has a brake controller added, indicating a previous owner (I believe I'm the third...) used it for towing something that was likely somewhat substantial if a brake controller was needed. I have no doubt the friend I bought it from took very meticulous care of everything and that he was very careful in looking into things before he purchased it, but I can't really know any of this for certain. It's possible it may have been pushed hard at some point, leading to my woes. All that's in the past at this point though and I'm going to do my best to come around on this unit and enjoy it as much as I can in my remaining time. Knock on wood, but I should be able to drive it into the ground with a new engine and rebuilt transmission at this point!

Today's plan is to de-winterize and look forward to having onboard water with me on upcoming trips, long and short. We often attend local dog events and I like having the Roadtrek along for "home-field advantage" in terms of a potty. (I hate using porta-potties!) It's also nice to have a refuge when the weather isn't ideal, or we just want to get away from the crowds for a bit...

My motto in life has become "Do the thing you want to do, while you still can..." and I'm doing that as best I can!

 

[booster]

Mine has a brake controller added, indicating a previous owner (I believe I'm the third...) used it for towing something that was likely somewhat substantial if a brake controller was needed. I have no doubt the friend I bought it from took very meticulous care of everything and that he was very careful in looking into things before he purchased it, but I can't really know any of this for certain. It's possible it may have been pushed hard at some point, leading to my woes. All that's in the past at this point though and I'm going to do my best to come around on this unit and enjoy it as much as I can in my remaining time. Knock on wood, but I should be able to drive it into the ground with a new engine and rebuilt transmission at this point!

Today's plan is to de-winterize and look forward to having onboard water with me on upcoming trips, long and short. We often attend local dog events and I like having the Roadtrek along for "home-field advantage" in terms of a potty. (I hate using porta-potties!) It's also nice to have a refuge when the weather isn't ideal, or we just want to get away from the crowds for a bit...

My motto in life has become "Do the thing you want to do, while you still can..." and I'm doing that as best I can!

That might explain a lot. The 9500# is a lot by itself so if you add a heavy trailer it makes all the worse. The 4L80e transmissions are prone to getting hot anyway in the big hills and that also helps overheat the engine. If they weren't careful, both could have been repeated overheated and cause the issues you saw. Thanks for the information, it fills some gaps.

I am with you on the last one, at 75 I am getting both shoulders repaired this year, I hope, so I can get back to all the good stuff. First surgery is going to cost us the spring trip this year though as long recovery time.

 

[RJM123]

2018 RT MB 3500 Diesel. Adventurous CS XL dual rear. 16-17 mpg (US) consistently.