Any advantage, one over the other?

Yep, but they are totally different animals. Plus many differences between different models. I would say that diesel pushers are usually bigger, smoother riding and quieter inside. Many are built on bus or bus-like chassis. Front engine diesels can be quite big but are often smaller, more compact, turn tighter, built on truck derived chassis, ride worse, can't tow as much, are noisier on the road. Rear engine would be more likely to have air brakes, front engine more likely to have hydraulic brakes (can make a difference with driver's license, as can combined weight of the rig and any towed vehicle). Where I am I need a commercial license with an air brake condition to drive my bus and trailer. Just my take.Brian

There are quite a few front engine large diesels starting to appear out there. I think most of them are technically Class C's, but they are just as big and just as expensive as the Class A DP's. The ones I have looked at usually have hanger decks in the back. The one I really wanted had a huge lift gate in the back. It was designed to load heavy stuff like Harley's. The hanger was big enough for two Harleys all safely tucked away inside. My wife vetoed the idea.

If you are talking about a FRED class chassis, it is basically a glorified gas chassis, with a diesel stuck in it. Not much of an advantage. Typically will not have air ride, and the engine is up where you have to listen to it. You take a hit on power and less torque at the drive wheels. Its not an idea that makes a lot of sense, unless you plan to put a million miles on it and can't afford a good sized pusher.Dare I say its a lot like comparing a Harley to a Goldwing.

If you're asking about a standard class A, more or less it's a gas chassis with a diesel engine. You should gain enough in fuel mileage to off set the fuel cost difference but don't expect much more where comparing to a diesel pusher. If the price is right it's a good option to go with but I would rather wait a year, bank a bit more and then buy a diesel pusher.

Diesel --- front engine -vs- rear engine | Good Sam Community

93mastercraft
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
bshpilot wrote:
gbopp wrote:
Daveinet wrote:

Dare I say its a lot like comparing a Harley to a Goldwing.

The Harley is the FRED and the Goldwing is the PUSHER :@

I'm a motorcyclist & i don't get that reference!
I'd consider it coke vs pepsi, nikon vs canon.

I own a GL1800 and a DP. I guess you could say that. :)
Daveinet
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
Maybe I should be a little more clear in the first part of my post. There was a specific class A chassis called a FRED. That was the glorified gas chassis with a diesel engine. Unfortunately the term FRED has become generic to mean anything with a diesel mounted in the front. I believe FRED was actually trade marked, so when using the term FRED, it should only refer to the glorified gas chassis with a diesel engine. The term should not be used for anything else, such as the Kodiak class or the semi-truck conversions. Those are a whole different ball game.
Two_Jayhawks
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
bshpilot wrote:
Peralko wrote:

As a Gold Wing owner whose stepson has a Harley, I get it--it's the noise!

I've heard 'wings w/ modified exhaust & harley's w/ fairly quiet exhaust....
most harley's are loud because their owners MAKE them loud.

Yeh I agree with you that was a strange analogy.
Groover
Explorer II
Jul 22, 2014
To get back on topic there seems to be more variety in FRED's than DP's and the variety makes comparisons challenging. In 2005-2006 time frame the Chevy Kodiak was popular for low cost FRED's and probably represents the low end. It had the same motor and transmission as the 3500 pickup and had very limited tow capacity plus the suspension did not seem to be up handling to the high center of gravity. I was looking at "super C's" at that time and got the impression that a lot of owners felt the need for major suspension upgrades. There were a much smaller number of motor homes built on the F650 or International chassis (I believe that they were essentially the same) and they seemed to work a lot better but did cost quite a bit more. There are some new coaches built on the F550 chassis and they have a much higher GCWR than the Kodiak did so they can tow much more but I have not been able to find one on the lot to look at and there has not been much discussion of these on the Super C page either. When I made my purchase decision on key factor for me was that the full length of a class A is usable for living quarters while the cab of a super C is not so you get for room per foot in a class A. I think there are some new class small A FRED's built on Mercedes or Ram van chassis that are probably nice units for their size. To get back to the op's question I can barely hear the engine in my DP and I suspect that most front engine usits are noiser in the driver's area. Also, the weight is shifted towards the rear so the axles are more centered under the vehicle. To get more specific we would need to know which FRED's and DP's you are considering, at least what size and cost range.
bshpilot
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
Peralko wrote:

As a Gold Wing owner whose stepson has a Harley, I get it--it's the noise!

I've heard 'wings w/ modified exhaust & harley's w/ fairly quiet exhaust....
most harley's are loud because their owners MAKE them loud.
Peralko
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
bshpilot wrote:
gbopp wrote:
Daveinet wrote:

Dare I say its a lot like comparing a Harley to a Goldwing.

The Harley is the FRED and the Goldwing is the PUSHER :@

I'm a motorcyclist & i don't get that reference!
I'd consider it coke vs pepsi, nikon vs canon.

As a Gold Wing owner whose stepson has a Harley, I get it--it's the noise!
bshpilot
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
gbopp wrote:
Daveinet wrote:

Dare I say its a lot like comparing a Harley to a Goldwing.

The Harley is the FRED and the Goldwing is the PUSHER :@

I'm a motorcyclist & i don't get that reference!
I'd consider it coke vs pepsi, nikon vs canon.
gbopp
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
Daveinet wrote:

Dare I say its a lot like comparing a Harley to a Goldwing.

The Harley is the FRED and the Goldwing is the PUSHER :@
bshpilot
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
Our coach is the same size as a pusher - 13 feet high & up to 45 feet long.
We are air ride & air brake equipped and SMOOTH as any pusher.
NO Commercial Licenses is required.
Our chassis & frame are PURPOSE built - CLASS & truck frames, not modified like some pushers.

Our 12 speed (some have 13) transmission is a "smart shift" (no TORQUE converter)...no clutch pedal !
Some newer units are coming w/ Allison Automatics (torque converter).

Pushers are inherently more quiet going down the road - engine in the rear, driver up front...
at night the generator is up front & you sleep in the back...that being said our coach (pictured)
is not very noisy (driving down the road)....turbo whine & wind noise are the biggest sources for noise.

IMO (w/ bias) the service rates are better on a front engined coach like ours....engine access can be done w/out entering the coach or bedroom.

our 13.8L 450hp engine does not come at a premium (price) like you would pay for in a pusher.
again w/ bias I believe our transmission is built stronger (capable of handling 650hp and 80k lbs GCWR)

We typically get better mpg than most pushers at the same speed (9.9 at 72mph towing as configured in the picture w/ the generator running)....ive never had any problems pulling any mountain grade and typically do so in the left lane passing most.

we've seen a best of about 13.4 mpg and a worst of 8.9 (generator running) - both were as a result of my right foot pressure on the floor.

Coaches like ours, when equipped, w/ a 2nd axle are not single tire axles nor are they TAG....the 2nd rear axle is a are DRIVEN w/ on demand capability of locking both rear diffs independently of each other as well as locking both diff's together (if you need the full traction of 8 tires & "4 wheel drive").

In a front end accident, i believe our coach will be much safer.

Coaches like ours referred to by some as Truck Conversions & some claim they don't really fall into the SUPER C category (like f550/f650 or GMC TopKick - think jayco seneca).

We have full basement storage but rarely do our type have full pass thru storage bays (unless its in the rear bays, behind the axles).

All conversion trucks have AIR RIDE seats (only high end pushers offer that & usually only for the pilot/driver).

HaulMark, Renegade, ShowHauler and few others make some VERY nice stuff - as luxurious and expensive as any pusher....if you care.

We have capacity for 210g of fresh water - generally pushers do not have capacity for as much fresh water.

Our (10kw) generator is in the rear under the bed (on the driver/road side) we get a slight vibration when its running, Ive seen others where the generator is up front, mid ship or all the way up slightly behind the driver side cab).

All the builders offer optional (motor garage) type coaches w/ a rear garages w/ lift gates anywhere from a couple of feet up to 12+ feet (I've seen cars inside the back of some)...or you can have a full house/motorcoach (like ours) w/out garage.

I recently saw a 45 footer like ours that had lift INSIDE the garage (more commonly referred to as a STACKER garage)....i guess motorcycles on top and/or bottom w/ a car or something.
Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Jul 22, 2014
If you're asking about a standard class A, more or less it's a gas chassis with a diesel engine. You should gain enough in fuel mileage to off set the fuel cost difference but don't expect much more where comparing to a diesel pusher. If the price is right it's a good option to go with but I would rather wait a year, bank a bit more and then buy a diesel pusher.