Diesel engine question

It is an 2008 Gulf Stream Crescendo 40UL
It is a CAT 350 not a 360 as I posted earlier (took info from dealer site), checked Gulfstream website and it is a 350
Not limited to 35 feet, the gas engine was limiting me to 35 feet.
Just starting to look and have not ruled out anything.
The layout of the unit, construction, drivetrain and manufacturer will be my determining factors (cost too)
Being in Canada, the exchange rate may push back our plans. Not as many units available up here.
Thanks again for the replies, all valid ponts

Doug

Ivylog wrote:
Right, all I did was put a fresh battery in and turn the key without cleaning the fuel system. Not going to do just a battery after 10 years with a gas engine.

10 year old diesel is NOT like what it coming out of the pumps now. In any case, who plans on letting their RV sit for 10 years?

You say your size limit is capped at 35 ft. So to me the shorter you go say 30- 34 ft I would look at gas, over 36 ft I would look at a DP. At this intermediate size the decision becomes more difficult. Another thing to consider is that on a gas MH it is the same HP eng whether it is 30 ft or 38 ft. A DP may have 400 hp on a 38 ft but 300 on a 34 ft. So in general a 30 ft 362 HP gas that weight 15,000 lbs will have better performance than most DP's of the same or less HP and twice the weight. HP to wt ratio will determine it performance. Some on here have found short DP's (34 ft) that they really like. I would not buy a MH just for the eng but rather how you plan to use it and the type camping you like to do.

You didn't say which model CAT it is. If it's the 3406E, it is a fantastic engine. It can be turned up, if the transmission is rated for it to 500HP. I assume it is the C& tho which is a good engine and will pull you and your toad as fast as you want to fly. The reason you should run a diesel is that they get moisture in them and corrosion starts so it pays to take it out once a month and get it hot.

Worth considering...
The biggest advantage to a rear engine diesel motorhome is not the diesel engine and Allison trans...

It is the plain simple fact that this beast is 30-40 feet behind you, working away where you cannot hear it, or even become aware of it's existence...

Second biggest consideration is the air ride suspension and air brakes that come with a diesel pusher. No leaf springs, no recalled hydraulic brakes. Smooth ride. Great stopping. Dead nuts reliable.

Never heard of a 360 Cat engine. I believe Cummins has a ISC 360 hp engine, but the Caterpillar engines C-7 were 350 hp.

As far as Gulf Stream coaches they are like any other coach. You can buy entry level and you can buy top end. I happen to have the top end Gulf Stream and I could not ask for a better coach. Cabinets are solid walnut, not particle like some one posted.

I do agree that customer service is bad because they do not manufacture motorized coaches anymore.

Gulf Stream also used to use a lot of Mercedes engines on their TourMaster coaches which were very good engines also. You do not mention which Gulf Stream you are talking about. Some entry levels might be made cheap, but their flag ship coaches were just as good as any 300K dollar coach.

Lot of bad information has been issued out by some posters. The thing is they do not know anything about these coaches. All it takes is one bad apple.

cmeade wrote:
My dad left his 40 ft Eagle bus conversion with 8/92 Detroit Diesel in my back pasture for 3 yrs and then put in 2 new 8D batteries. It cranked about 5 crankshaft revolutions before it started!!

My 8V71 after sitting for 3 years took 2 seconds to fire up.
The 4-5 years old diesel fuel lost some of the performance, but the engine run without smoking.
Carbureted engines were a disaster left for 6 months, but I learned fast to install shut-off valves on boats and run the carburetor dry before winter storage.
My honda mowers come with SOV from the factory, what makes it much easier, but 2 years old gasoline smokes badly.

Right, all I did was put a fresh battery in and turn the key without cleaning the fuel system. Not going to do just a battery after 10 years with a gas engine.

Thanks for all the replies.

That all makes sense the more I think about it.

Not sold on the Gulf Stream and will do more research, it was just a unit that was in the budget so it got me thinking.

This brings more options into my search.
was looking at Gas units, so my size limit was kinda capped around 35 feet.

Thanks again

Doug

Ivylog wrote:
This past week I started up a 10 wheel truck with a GM 6-71 engine that has sat for over 10 years. It started in less than two turns, aired up and moved it. No way would you do that with a gas engine.

Wrong!!! I've restored many vehicles that sat for as long as 50 years and could still get the gasoline engine fired up after cleaning out the fuel system. The gas engine itself will last as long as a diesel engine when neglected. The fuel does degrade at different rates with the new fuels, both diesel and gasoline, degrading much sooner than the older fuel.