Afraid to make the leap to diesel

chefalan1 wrote:
Prior owner of class c Jamboree and clas a Allegro 30' gas in 90's. Racing motorcycles every weekend for 10 months a year. Know the drawbacks of gas type class a. Very knowledgeable on gas engines and systems but know nothing about diesel. Retire in 2017, travel 6 months a year at least. Truly wish to have used diesel for ride, towing power and just plain comfort. Struggling with finding the courage to buy the diesel with little knowledge other than reading on such an engine. I know there has to be many others that went through this decision. We have been reading for at least a year all info we can find both pro and con. So far, we both want a diesel but very weary about hitting the road in 2017 with no mechanical abilities for this engine in an emergency. Have broken down on other trips with gas type and able to replace belts and hoses to get started again. Help a wannabee newbie make that leap for a diesel.

Well Sir,
I didn't bother reading all the other posts/answers to your inquiry. But, to me, first off, you're over thinking this. Sure, going from a gas coach to a diesel one is, definitely different, without a doubt. But, You're not buying the Space Shuttle, you're buying another motor home, with a diesel engine in it instead of a gas engine. The engines both have belts, a water pump, oil, water, and a few other similarities.

Yep, they do operate differently but, they both get you down the road. We've owned all of them, Class Cs, As in both gas and diesel. Your chassis in a diesel will have some differences too. Namely air ride and brakes. You're a mechanical type so, it really won't be something you're totally out in left field on. I'd bet you'll pickup most of the logistics of how things work, in less than a month, you'll be quite knowledgable about all of it.

There are some on here that have been "owning" (not necessarily knowing) a diesel for years and are clueless 'cause they never bother to learn.

I could go on about some of the primary differences but, in reality, if I were you and the wife, I'd simply go out and test drive a few. Get a feel for what you're thinking about and want to see and feel. Listen to your surroundings as you test drive them. See how they handle, stop, accelerate, corner, load and more. There will be some, but not too much, difference in handling of shorter ones, i.e. 32'-34' vs say, 40'-42'. Obviously, the longer, the heavier, the longer turning radius's, more loading, more GVWR, LARGER ENGINES, larger tires (more cost) and more.

And, if you delve into say, an '08-'09 or later, you'll be messing around in the ones with DEF & DPF stuff. That's items that many on here are leary of and they kind of stay away from. In the beginning, those newer diesels had some issues but, like all things, that stuff get's ironed out and, for the most part, they're pretty much trouble free now.

But, you'd really behoove yourself and your wife by simply go drive one or two, or ten. Then, you can make some INFORMED decisions. You can read 'till you go blind, but, nothing suffices more than actual experience and or, testing and living. Good luck.
Scott

Nothing to be afraid of. Diesels are at least as reliable as gas engines, probably more so. They run hundreds of thousands of miles in trucks and busses with no maintenance except fluid and filter changes. Yes, more expensive to fix but they hardly ever need fixing. The driving experience in a diesel is far better than in a comparable gasser.

I've been driving diesels for almost 30 years, yet technology change.
When I bought our latest 2008 diesel sedan, when I pulled the engine cover my jaw drop.
With all those years of experience I had to learn almost everything new.
Glow plug relay is no longer a relay. It is module, with brain on its own.
On the other hand troubleshooting get easier as computer will tell you with darn good accuracy what module to replace.
Not necessary cheap parts, but you are no longer in mechanic mercy that learn new technology on your wallet.
Had friend doing advanced scan and the program would allow to eliminate each of 5 injections per cycle.
But when computer took 15 seconds to tell me each cylinder compression -base on starter speed, I had to take long time to clean my jaw from driveway dust.
So IMHO no matter gasser or diesel, your education and experience still count, but you will have to learn new technology no matter what.
My wife is still working on changing TV channels using the phone. Have to give her that she keeps on trying....
BTW the serpentine belts on new engines can last 200,000 miles.

Sorry, duplicate.

chefalan1 wrote:
Thanks to all. My wife really likes older style coaches even w/o slides. Viewing 89,90,91 Foretravels. With extensive inspection and fluid analysis, are these worth while? With a $50-60 ths budget and $10 ths for upgrades, opinions on looking at these type older coaches or look at 2000-2003 in the same price range. We truly believe in opinions of others who have been through the same process.

In a word, yes, an older Foretravel, inspected can be a very good value.

I just inspected a 1991 U280 for a guy on Thursday. There are nice, very well built coaches. Caterpillar 3208 was the engine at that time. The inline diesels came in a year or two later depending on model.

But, you would not have $50k in one of that vintage, even remodeled. For that money you would be looking at the later year Unihomes or early Unicoaches.

A good website for things Foretravel: http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=forum

It is free.

Thanks to all. My wife really likes older style coaches even w/o slides. Viewing 89,90,91 Foretravels. With extensive inspection and fluid analysis, are these worth while? With a $50-60 ths budget and $10 ths for upgrades, opinions on looking at these type older coaches or look at 2000-2003 in the same price range. We truly believe in opinions of others who have been through the same process.

I'm sure your mechanical abilities are head and shoulders above mine. Get a pusher the learning curve will be quite short for you and enjoy!
...and welcome to the forum!

In my case (as a lifelong gearhead) it must've been intuition that made me want a big diesel pusher for my first motorhome. It wasn't fear of diesel that stopped me, it was lack of sufficient funds. Consequently, I settled for 5 gassers before I bought my first (and only) diesel pusher. I've fixed a lot of things on it, and what I didn't know how,.....I learned (with help from people on these RV forums).

BTW, this is what you wrote (in part):
Truly wish to have used diesel for ride, towing power and just plain comfort. Struggling with finding the courage to buy the diesel with little knowledge other than reading on such an engine.

IMO all you need is a little shove.

I, too, grew up gas. Built and drove gas hot rods, have a couple of antique gas cars...then in my later years I bought a tt and towed with a gasser. Struggled towing with that ( a Hemi Commander), plenty of HP, what more could I ask for. I wanted to tow a bigger 5th wheel; needed a truck. Traded the Jeep for a diesel RAM...wow! Didn't know the trailer was back there, got the 5th wheel and that truck rolled up and down the Rockies with it like it was my empty non-towing Commander. When we started looking at motor homes, we only looked at diesel.

Bottom line? If I'm going to tow or drive anything that weighs more than 5000#, it will be with a diesel. I like Hp (speed, love it), but, when it comes to moving weight economically and reliably give me a diesel with lots of torque.

To me the question is not gas vs diesel but what size MH do you want. For most of us buying any MH is a big purchase and you want to get the "right" one. If you want to stay small 34 ft or less I think a gas MH makes more sense. 36 ft to 43 ft a DP makes more sense. What I have noticed is that the bigger the DP gets the bigger the eng is and the more HP it has. A gas MH has the same eng whether it is 30 ft or 38 ft. Having raced motor cycles you understand that it is the HP/WT ratio that determines performance. A 30 ft MH will have 362HP and weigh 15,000 lbs a 36 ft DP may have 360-380 HP but weigh 28,000 lbs. A 40-43ft DP may have 500 hp but weigh well over 30,000 lbs. A 32-34 ft DP if you can find one may have 190-300 HP. So if you want to stay small like your older 30ft Allegro a 362HP Ford or a 340 HP WH will in general will have better performance than most DP's. The decision is harder in the 34 to 36 ft range.