Deisel handling

Took me decades of handling diesel before a pretty, 20 something driver showed me that a little baby powder on cloths will let it brush off so don't spread it all over and smell it for days. Keep a bottle near fueling gloves.



Doubt this is what OP is asking, but given his info, best answer and might help others.

In general a diesel will ride and handle better then a gas. Usually a 38ft or larger should require no add ons. Heavier RVs with tag axles will be the best. I’ve owned and driven a lot of them over the Yrs. Mind you I haven’t driven them all but my favorite is the road master 10 bag chassis. Spartan is also very good but is a little mushier then the road master.

Our last gasser was a 2000. In 2003 we bought our first diesel. In 2008 we bought our current diesel and currently have no intention to trade.

Yeah, they're normally that good.

Most Gas MH's are built on the F53 chassis which is used on everything from motorhomes to bread trucks. It's a utilitarian chassis and thus not a lot of engineering around comfort and quiet. Diesel MH's are fairly specific to the task and engineered with driving controls and comfort with things like airbags. On a gas MH you are sitting on top of the engine and endure all the noise and heat that it brings. Diesels are rear engine and so much more quiet and balanced. There are reasons DP's cost more and most of those reasons are the chassis, engine and engine placement. They are also typically built a little better with higher end components and insulation. All of which add to the experience. But everything in RV'ing is a compromise. You have to decide if the extra cost is worth it. Most folks who end up with a DP, never look back.

A diesel doesn't handle any better or worse.

The difference is diesels typically come in pusher chassis (think commercial tour busses) and gas engines typically come in lighter duty front engine chassis.

It just happens that expensive models come with both diesel and better chassis.

valhalla360 wrote:
A diesel doesn't handle any better or worse.

We've owned (3) gassers and (2) diesels. I would NOT agree with this statement.

Unless something changed a gasser is no where near a DP. Then to there are some sorry entry level DPs. All 3 of my DPs have been at the upper end of the class and no gas model comes close in comparison, not even close.

Bruce Brown wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
A diesel doesn't handle any better or worse.

We've owned (3) gassers and (2) diesels. I would NOT agree with this statement.

But as Valhalla360 pointed out, this was likely due to the chassis configuration, not the type of fuel burned. I don't know if any are still on the market, but the front engine diesel (FRED) motorhomes probably didn't handle any better than their gas engine counterparts. If anything they handled worse due to higher weight on the front end.

way2roll wrote:
Most Gas MH's are built on the F53 chassis which is used on everything from motorhomes to bread trucks. It's a utilitarian chassis and thus not a lot of engineering around comfort and quiet. Diesel MH's are fairly specific to the task and engineered with driving controls and comfort with things like airbags. On a gas MH you are sitting on top of the engine and endure all the noise and heat that it brings. Diesels are rear engine and so much more quiet and balanced. There are reasons DP's cost more and most of those reasons are the chassis, engine and engine placement. They are also typically built a little better with higher end components and insulation. All of which add to the experience. But everything in RV'ing is a compromise. You have to decide if the extra cost is worth it. Most folks who end up with a DP, never look back.

The F53 chassis is NOT used for every thing including bread trucks. The F53 is manufactured by Detroit Chassis and is designed and engineered for motor home use. The utility chassis is a F59. One example of designed and engineered for MH use is the fuel pump assembly. It has a third port for the generator.

Richard

valhalla360 wrote:
A diesel doesn't handle any better or worse.

The difference is diesels typically come in pusher chassis (think commercial tour busses) and gas engines typically come in lighter duty front engine chassis.

It just happens that expensive models come with both diesel and better chassis.

Yes you could yank the diesel out of a Spartan diesel chassis, put in a gas engine and it would handle and ride relatively equal to the Diesel engine.

However, come on man, do you really think this is the information the man is looking for?