Real life camper van fuel consumption figures

A question that crops up on the SBMCC forum quite often is about what type of van to buy for a self build motorhome conversion, of course the answers were mainly down to personal preferences, but one thing did crop up, the surprising difference in the amount of fuel different vans used, manufacturers official fuel consumption data is more often of no use to someone building a motorhome, as the data assumes part of the vans life will be spent driving around empty,
When the van is a motorhome, it will always be a certain weight, (check yours out at your local weigh bridge, only costs about £2.50 for a printed ticket, it may surprise you), someone mentioned it would be good for people to post their consumption figures, to help people decide if they could afford to run the van they are thinking of buying, once it's converted into their dream motorhome.

With this in mind, I decided to make a table that lists the fuel consumption figures people get from their motorhomes in real life situations, this is with the van in camping condition.. i.e. water tanks full, food on board, people and their possessions in it, even the kitchen sink :), you can look down the list for the van you are thinking of buying, and see what it gets to the gallon in real life once its got all the weight of a conversion in it permanently, and also see if you get better or worse consumption figures compared to people with the same type of van as you.

Name Motorhome conversion details Fuel consumption figures
(sbmcc name) Make Model Year Engine Size Weight Tons Body Type Engine Type Average Best Worst
Dave B Hampshire Bedford PJK BUS 1982 5.8 6.2t Low Top Diesel 15 18 11
ICLT Dennis AV1 1959 3.33 2.6 Low Top Diesel 28 31 24
Ed Ford Transit 1990 2.9 3.5 Luton Petrol 17 11 19
Frankie Ford Transit 1992 2.5 2.8 Luton Diesel 23 25 23
Happybonzo Ford Transit 100 1997 2.5 2.25   Diesel 22 27 20
Malc Ford Transit 160 1991 2 3 High Top Petrol 19 19 19
Sparky (From Australia) Ford Transit 175 1973 4.1 3.0 Box Petrol 14 17 11
Iain Freight Rover 310 1990 2.5 3.1 High Top Diesel 26 30 22
Kryten1 Freight Rover 250 1980 1.7 3.0 Luton Petrol 17 22 11
Iveco-man (new forest) Iveco Daily 35-10 1996 2.5 3.3 High Top TD 30 34 29
Simon Iveco Turbodaily 35-10 1998 2.8 3.5 High Top TD 34 38 29
Zaphod Iveco Daily LWB 1997 2.8 3.2 High Top TD 31 34 27
Big Ian LDV 400 1996 2.5 3.2 Low Top TD 21 24 20
Darren Hall Mercades Benz 508D 1982 4.2 4.8 High Top Diesel 24 29 18
CAM Mercedes 207D 1988 2.4 2.1 High Top Diesel 26 29 25
Radiator Ray Mercedes Benz Sprinter 312D 1996 2.9 3.0 High Top TD 30 35 28
Derek Renault Traffic 1990 2.1 2.2 High Top TD 30 33 28
EdWebster Renault Traffic 1992 2.1 ??? High Top Diesel 30 36 27
Mat Renault Master MWB 1999 2.5 3.3 High Top Diesel 28 ?? 26
Dave in Wales Vauxhall Midi SWB 1994 2.0 1.8   Petrol 26 32 23
CampinGazz Volkswagen LT 35 1989 2.4 2.9 High Top Diesel 21 24 17
CampinGazz Volkswagen LT 35 1989 2.4 2.9 High Top TD 24 26 19
Richy Herbert Volkswagen T4 1991 2.4 ???   Diesel 28 34 20