What Are The Most Fuel Efficient RV Models?
RVs are large and heavy vehicles, so it naturally takes a lot of gas and energy to get them rolling down the highway. If gas mileage is a concern for you, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and choose a type of camper that won’t be a serious gas guzzler. Luckily, if you’re looking for a fuel efficient RV, there are a variety of options.
Some campers are more fuel efficient than others based on their construction and type. For example, Class B motorhomes (camper vans) are generally thought to get the best gas mileage. In fact, they are often more efficient than large trucks and big Class A motorhomes!
However, not everyone wants a small Class B motorhome, so let’s look at some of the most fuel efficient RV models on the market today by exploring some of the best ones within each subclass.
Class A Motorhome: Thor Palazzo 33.5
Because of their large size and heavy weights, Class A motorhomes are generally considered to be some of the least fuel efficient RV types out there. It’s a general rule that the heavier the vehicle is, the more gas is required to move it. But if you want to get a motorhome like this and still save a bit of money on gas, the Thor Palazzo is a good option.
This motorhome has mpg that ranges between 7.5 and 12.9, but you’re most likely to end up with an average of about 10 mpg. This might not seem like a great gas mileage, but it’s actually quite impressive for a Class A motorhome of this size. You won’t skimp on comfort or quality either because this unit is fully outfitted with everything you need for a family road trip.
It has a large bedroom in the rear, a set of bunk beds, as well as a fold-out sofa bed. There’s are tons of places to sleep, plus a kitchen, bathroom, and dinette. 1 large slide-out expands the space and makes it more comfortable for everyone.
Class B Motorhome: Roadtrek Sprinter RS Adventurous
As we mentioned above, Class B motorhomes are some of the lightest and most fuel efficient RV types on the market. They’re similar to large cars, so they have similar characteristics when it comes to their mpg ratings. There are many camper vans that get good gas mileage, but the Roadtrek RS Adventurous is one of the best. It has an average of 20 mpg, but it can get up to 24 mpg under ideal conditions.
This has a nice simple layout, but it will work well for people who want to travel light and enjoy the open road. It comes with 3 sofas, a pair of tables, and several chairs that can be rearranged/removed as needed. There’s even room for a wet bath, a closet, and a decently sized kitchen. This is a floor plan that can comfortably sleep 2 people, so it’s perfect for couples or solo travelers.
You’ll be able to travel light in this motorhome and not worry about frequent stops to refuel. You won’t find many RVs with better fuel efficiency than this.
Class C Motorhome: Thor Motor Coach Tiburon Sprinter
Finally, we’ve got the Class C motorhome. This one sits in between Class A and Class B when it comes to fuel efficiency. It’s in the middle ground when it comes to size and weight. The Thor Motor Coach Tiburon Sprinter is one of the most efficient models out there and it’s a good compromise for people who can’t decide between Class A and Class B campers.
This model is impressive because it gets similar gas mileage compared to a Class B motorhome. That’s not easy when it’s considerably larger and heavier! The Tiburon Sprinter gets about 20 mpg in the city and up to 29 mpg on the highway! That makes it the most fuel efficient RV on this list, despite the fact that its class is usually a bigger gas guzzler.
The Tiburon Sprinter is spacious and comfortable. It has 2 slide-outs to expand the floor space, a dry bath, kitchen, theater seats, and booth-style dinette. There’s also a rear bedroom with a flip-up full size bed and a wardrobe. It’s a great model that combines the best of both the Class B and Class A worlds.
Lightest travel trailers
When you’re towing a trailer behind you, it’s going to add a lot of weight and strain on the tow vehicle. Travel trailers don’t have engines or fuel for themselves, so they combine with the tow vehicle when it comes to calculating miles per gallon.
There’s no such thing as a fuel efficient travel trailer because they will inevitably reduce the mpg of the tow vehicle. However, by looking at the lightest trailers on the market, you can help preserve your vehicle’s efficiency and hopefully end up saving money on gas.
With that being said, let’s look at a few of the lightest travel trailers on the market.
Rockwood Extreme Sports Package 1970ESP
This pop-up trailer is one of the most popular models on the market. It’s rare to find a trailer of this size that’s as light as it is. This trailer has a base weight of 2,076 lbs. which is easily towable for most mid-size vehicles. It will inevitably decrease your towing vehicle’s efficiency a bit, but the benefits are well worth it here!
The Rockwood Extreme Sports Package comes with two large fold-out beds, one on either side of the vehicle. There’s also a sofa bed in the center that can serve as another sleeping space. There’s also a dinette, small kitchen, and a refrigerator included.
Droplet XL
The Droplet XL is one of the lightest teardrop trailers you’ll find! It has a base weight of 950 lbs. which you’ll barely even notice behind your car. Almost any vehicle will be able to pull this trailer, plus you’ll be able to enjoy the extra sleeping and storage space it provides.
The Droplet XL comes outfitted with a queen-size mattress, cabinet and shelf space, and a rear galley where you will be able to cook in the open air. The galley comes with a fridge, stove, sink, and built-in lighting. This compact little trailer won’t slow you down on the road, plus it will provide a lot of benefits. Learn more about the Droplet XL in our previous article here.
Eliminate RV fuel anxiety by planning every fuel stop in advance, before your RV trip begins. By using RV LIFE Trip Wizard to plan your trips in detail, you’ll know exactly when and where you will need fuel for your RV or truck. You can also vet those fuel stops with satellite and street view to make sure you can get in and out safely, and back on the road.
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Truck/campers weren’t mentioned (?) Our plan was to have Sportsmobile build a Sprinter van for us, but then Covid arrived and no 4×4 Van’s were available, probably for a long time, according to them. So, we pivoted to plan B, a Ford f450 diesel dually 4×4 crew cab and put a Northern Lite camper on it. Gets 14 mpg but more importantly has much more room than a Sprinter, with the truck storage, dedicated dinette, big head and queen size bed. And significantly less money than a optioned-up Sprinter. Sometimes plan B works out better…it did for us.