One of the biggest complaints about RV travel is the high cost of gasoline. Unfortunately an RV trailer does not get very good gas mileage, and it is even worse for those who operate large motor homes. The majority of motor homes only average between seven and ten miles per gallon, so RVers are forced to develop other ways to save money on the cost of fuel. One way that totally isn’t going to work is crossing your fingers and hoping for lower gas prices—your fingers would become very tired and cramped! However, there are some things you can do in order to increase the fuel economy in your trailer RV or 5^th wheel. It doesn’t make any difference whether you are driving a motor home or are towing a trailer; the following five tips for improving gas mileage with help anyone in any type of RV.

1. Obey the Signs

I’m sure you think you are big and bad by speeding in your motor home, and traveling over the posted speed limit even at sixty miles per hour may make you feel like you’re a winner. In reality you are playing havoc with your fuel economy by traveling at excessive speeds. When you travel at a higher rate of speed you will burn more gas. The longer you continue traveling at an excessive speed, the more money it will cost you! In fact, the difference could be as much as ten cents for every five miles you exceed the speed limit. Something else that can have a detrimental effect on your gas miles is quick acceleration. Instead of trying to get up to the speed limit in a few seconds accelerate slowly. So what if others think you are a square—you will save money and improve your fuel economy.

1. Turn Off the Engine If You Are Not Driving

This should seem quite obvious, but sometimes people don’t think about turning their engines off when they make a stop for lunch, stop to talk with friends or even stop for a quick delivery or pickup. No matter how short the period of time may be, allowing the engine to idle wastes fuel and of course, costs you more money to operate your RV trailer or 5^th wheel. You can apply the same concept to air conditioning—turn it off if you are not in the RV.

1. Maintain a Clean Vehicle

We are not talking about cleanliness in terms of vacuuming and dusting but rather making sure you maintain a mechanically clean and properly serviced RV. When your engine is not properly tuned, it can increase your gas consumption by as much as twenty percent. Poor emissions or a defective oxygen sensor can increase your fuel consumption by as much as forty percent. It’s also important to make sure you follow the recommended service schedule. The money you spend to have a mechanically sound trailer RV or 5^th wheeler will pay for itself in fuel economy. So keep your rv clean.

1. Stay with What You Need

It’s important to use the correct oil for your RV. You can decrease your fuel economy by using a grade of motor oil that is not recommended. People have a tendency to think when a vehicle is running poorly it is because of the grade of gasoline and are prone to use premium grade fuel; this is definitely not the way to cure all mechanical problems. In fact, you are actually wasting money if you buy premium gasoline unless it is absolutely necessary to do so—your mechanic or RV dealer will let you know if this is the necessary. In all likelihood you will spend more money than is necessary for your RV trailer when it would run smoothly without the premium fuel if you keep it in top running condition.

1. Make It a Point to Use Overdrive and Cruise Control

When you use overdrive, you decrease the speed of the engine which can help you save more fuel. Likewise, cruise control allows the vehicle to maintain a steady speed which is good for fuel economy. As long as you maintain a speed that is less than sixty miles per hour you will definitely improve your gas mileage.