Deisel handling

Our 2016 Winnebago Journey DP built on a Freightliner chassis handles like a dream. I can one handed it to periodically change driving positions, eat on the go or scratch. The exception is high winds. To me it drives like a big pickup truck. That is in contrast to our previous 2007 HR Endeavor DP. I guess some are better than others. But I do know that some class A gassers are notoriously squirrely.

grldst wrote:

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?

What do you think the OP was looking for?

Fact is handling has very little do to with fuel type. It's the chassis that makes the difference in handling...just happens if you throw lots of money to get one, they add enough to the cost to get the other.

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.

You cut out the important part of my original comment.

Were those 5 rigs all on the same chassis?

Bill22 wrote:
Do deisels generally require upgraded suspensions in order to handle good on the road? I have a 30ft gas and had to put $4500 into upgraded suspension in order for it to be safe to drive.

As a direct answer, and with all politics and whining aside, the chassis that a diesel RV is built on will not require upgraded suspension in order to handle well. In most cases, there are not even upgrade options available for this kind of RV. My first RV was a diesel pusher but was also a very low end coach and it did not handle well either. It was under powered and on a chassis with 19.5 tires (early 1990's). These just don't really exist any longer in the current RV market and you should expect excellent ride and handling from a diesel powered RV. If you want the best diesel ride then you will want to buy one with a tag axle as the ride and handling is determined by the chassis and not the power source.

valhalla360 wrote:

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.

You cut out the important part of my original comment.

Were those 5 rigs all on the same chassis?

The answer to your question is no. Actually all 5 were on different chassis, but you're grasping at straws.

The day they put a gas motor in a Spartan pusher let me know.

Along the same lines, the day they put a Cummins ISL in a F53 chassis let me know.

You're looking for something that just isn't available in the mass market today. Somehow I think you knew that. ;)

You need to put the shovel down, you can't dig your way out of this one.

Bruce Brown wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

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.

You cut out the important part of my original comment.

Were those 5 rigs all on the same chassis?

The answer to your question is no. Actually all 5 were on different chassis, but you're grasping at straws.

The day they put a gas motor in a Spartan pusher let me know.

Along the same lines, the day they put a Cummins ISL in a F53 chassis let me know.

You're looking for something that just isn't available in the mass market today. Somehow I think you knew that. ;)

You need to put the shovel down, you can't dig your way out of this one.

Dig my way out of what?

Handling is almost exclusively about the chassis...just so happens the people who spend big on top of the line chassis also are willing to pay the premium for a diesel motor. The motor doesn't make it take a curve better.

Like I said, the day you can find me a gas powered Spartan Mountain Master let me know.

Yes, it's the chassis, but they are also exclusive to each other.

You cannot buy a Ford chassis motorhome with a diesel much like the Spartan example above.

Semantics, now matter how you want to spin it.

Bruce Brown wrote:

Yes, it's the chassis...

You got the answer right.

valhalla360 wrote:

Bruce Brown wrote:

Yes, it's the chassis...

You got the answer right.

It just happens the only way to get that chassis is to buy the diesel, so it really is a gas or diesel deal. ;)