Roadtrek RS model - "up to 22 mpg @ 65 mph"  -  do you know a more fuel efficient RV? - add your comments below...

This is a question asked over and over by Roaming Times readers - "why don't we see more fuel-efficient RVs?" Maybe you have your opinions - add them at the bottom of the page...

The real alternatives RV manufacturers are looking at include the following:

• Reduce vehicle weight.  This requires the use of lighter materials and a rethink on the design of the RV structure

• More efficient engines.  Engine manufacturers are of course looking closely at this.  For example, in July of this year, the US Department of Energy extended their partnership with Volvo to develop trucks with greater fuel efficiency.  $48 million is being invested to test and analyze biofuel use and hybrid vehicle technology.

So it looks as if we need to wait for a truly more fuel-efficient RV.  In the meanwhile, what can we do?  The following is quoted from Caterpillar's "Understanding RV performance":

"The most significant variable affecting fuel economy is the driver. The driver controls the vehicle speed, acceleration rate, brake usage (service, compression, or exhaust), cruise control usage, automatic transmission shifting override and “mode” selection, tire inflation pressure, and more. It is not uncommon, for identically spec’ed coaches to experience as much as a 20% (6.0 vs. 7.5 MPG) difference in fuel consumption between the best and the worst drivers."