RV FEATURE
Fuel . Along with accommodation / site costs , it ’ ll be one of your biggest expenses when caravanning , if not the biggest . But I don ’ t need to tell you that – no doubt your bank account has told you multiple times over .
Ultimately , anything you can do to bring that cost down – even just a little – means more money to spend on making memories . It ’ s often said that travelling slower on the open highway is one way to beat the bowser . But is that really true ? And if so , how much might you expect to save ? That ’ s what I set out to discover when I hitched a new Goldstream RV 1860 RE weighing 2359kg Tare to my 2018 manual MU-X . Could I make significant savings simply by easing off the accelerator ?
A QUICK DISCLAIMER
Before I go any further , it ’ s important to make a few points . First , whether or not you might save a few bucks at the bowser should be a distant second or third consideration compared to the safety of you , your passengers and other motorists . Consistently driving 20km / h below the speed limit , regardless of the traffic banking up behind you , is not necessarily safe or conducive to happy motoring .
I travelled 139.8km on the first test .
The best advice : always drive to the prevailing conditions , from traffic to weather , within your own limitations , and safely and legally . GoRV does not condone singlemindedly towing below the posted limit in the name of saving money . However , there may be times when conditions are conducive to easing off the throttle in order to ease up on your wallet .
THE TEST
Here ’ s how I went about testing the belief that travelling slower leads to fuel savings . First , I filled up my tow vehicle with diesel at a servo in Pakenham , Vic , near Goldstream RV ’ s manufacturing HQ . Then , I zeroed the tripmeter and drove along Melbourne ’ s interminable Monash Freeway , through the Domain Tunnel , over the West Gate Bridge . From there , I turned around and retraced my steps back to Pakenham .
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