Forum Discussion

FranknPatH's avatar
FranknPatH
Explorer
May 23, 2016

Class A - Gas vs Diesel

My wife and I are RV beginners (reading, looking, researching,... for the next year) - and seek your experienced advice regarding 'gas versus diesel' class A motor homes. We've had wonderful experiences visiting our majestic national parks - and want to go back & spend lots more time revisiting (we think as full-time RVers). We've read pro/con discussions re the gas vs diesel issues and like some of the 'gas pros' (e.g., RV price, on-going maintenance costs/facilities, but are concerned regarding some of the 'gas cons' (mountain challenged performance, less external storage, shorter expected engine life, ...). From your experiences & discussions with RV colleagues, is it at all reasonable to think that a 36-40 foot Class A RV towing a 3000 pound towcar can 'acceptably' handle the ups/downs of traveling around the Canadian Rockies, Glacier, etc? - or is diesel the only reasonable answer?
Class A
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    May 23, 2016
    I had borrowed a 32' gasser a couple of times in Washington state - when we were ready to buy I bought one with a 350HP Cat. Everything was better from the towing capacity, to the view, to the storage, to the ride, to the brakes, etc, etc, etc. On the other hand, if it's a funding issue, you have to do what makes sense.

    Bill
  • sch911's avatar
    sch911
    Explorer
    May 23, 2016
    Two Hands wrote:
    We traded in our gas coach for a diesel pusher motorhome. We would not go back.



    X 2
  • K_Charles's avatar
    K_Charles
    Explorer
    May 23, 2016
    There are some gas MHs that will beat a diesel up a hill but they aren'tnt race cars. Are you in a hurry?. More storage in a diesel most of the time and some gas MHs are quieter then others. Will you spend more time driving or setting?
  • Two_Hands's avatar
    Two_Hands
    Explorer
    May 23, 2016
    We traded in our gas coach for a diesel pusher motorhome. We would not go back.
  • rr2254545's avatar
    rr2254545
    Explorer
    May 23, 2016
    We had a gasser before the present MH - you will be fine on the hills just will go up them slower - lets be real here there are not that many steep grades on the interstates of the US

    - of greater benefit of a diesel over a gasser for a full time RVer is the storage and the diesel is quieter - I can actually hear my wife talk now - the ride in a diesel is better but still not like a car
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    May 23, 2016
    What's the largest gasser made - anything larger than 36'?

    For a gas 36' MH being used in the mountains I'd start thinking about overheating, the strength of the transmission, no air brakes and no retarder to start with.

    Bill

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