How to Make a More Fuel Efficient RV

Hi, my name is Lauren. And today I'm going to share with you a few ways to improve fuel efficiency in your RV. RVs are known for being gas guzzlers. As a family who travels full time, we drive a lot and gas is by far our biggest expense. We're always looking for ways to cut costs on fuel. Here are our top tips to improve fuel efficiency in RVs. The first item on the list is checking tire pressure. Make sure that you check your tire pressure before every trip. Running flat is wasting fuel. Make sure to check the pressure when the tires are cold, before a trip, for an accurate reading. We realized right away that we needed a reliable tire pressure monitor with all the traveling that we were doing. It has been an asset. You can improve your gas mileage by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Even one or two PSI can have a negative impact on gas mileage. Plus, properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. One important thing I want to mention is to make sure you look up the proper tire pressure for your vehicle's tires. This information is usually found in your owner's manual. Tip number three is to make routine maintenance a priority. Routine maintenance helps keep your engine functioning at a high level, maximizing its fuel efficiency. Have your vehicle checked out regularly by a certified mechanic to take care of oil changes, air filters, tune-ups, and any other work to decrease your chance of breaking down and give your gas mileage a serious boost. Fixing a vehicle that is noticeably out of tune or that has failed an emissions test can improve gas mileage by an average of 4%. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%. The fourth item on the list is driving a consistent speed. RVs aren't known for having great gas mileage. But one thing you can do to conserve fuel is drive a consistent speed. 55 to 60 miles per hour tends to be the sweet spot for optimal gas mileage. For every five miles per hour faster than 60 that you drive, your gas mileage decreases by up to 7%. Using cruise control is important. Accelerating and decelerating are generally bad for gas mileage and cruise control can help with this. The final tip I have for you is checking fuel prices. While this doesn't help fuel efficiency, it does help keep money in your wallet, which is a big reason to care about fuel efficiency. Fuel prices can vary greatly. By comparing gas prices ahead of time and being prepared, you could save up to 30 cents a gallon by simply driving another mile down the road to a different gas station. There are several sources to check prices. The GasBuddy app can be downloaded on iTunes or Google Play. You can also go to the website and search for the cheapest gas in your area. Gas Guru is an app that is similar and can also be downloaded on iTunes or Google Play. If at all possible, try and avoid filling up at truck stops, as their gas prices are usually about 30 cents higher than regular gas stations. Lastly, avoid higher octane fuel, unless it's recommended for your vehicle. Premium gas is more expensive and it doesn't help your vehicle, unless it specifically requires it. Keeping these tips in mind can help you save money on the road, and hopefully enable you to enjoy traveling even more. What other tips can you add to the list?