So I've seen numerous posts on this site over the past month that state if your rig is going to sit for long periods of time, go with a gasser. Why is this? Are the seals different in the engine?I'm trying to decide between a gas and diesel for my next unit, and am leaning towards a diesel just because I'd like the higher quality interior, air ride, and having the engine noise 30+ feet behind me. I use my rig about 4-5 times a year, sometimes for a weekend, sometimes for a couple weeks of travel.Thanks in advance for any advice.Tom

If diesel is what you want than go diesel, its what makes you happy, as for me gas works fine and cost less to maintain..Remember the more the RV cost the more you will pay in insurance and license fees..

I've had three diesels, a 2001 F-250, a 2012 F-350, and now a 215 F-350. You won't have any problem with them setting. Make sure sure you derail the fuel separator. My truck will,pull anything you can hook it to. This especially important if you plan to travel out West in the Rockies. Make sure you have an engine exhaust brake( works in tow-haul in Fords.Happy Trails.

I never found the engine noise to be that bad in my Gas A's.As for interior. There are some gasses that are just as nice if not nicer than some DP's I have looked at.How long do you plan to keep the MH?Some of us just have higher standard's.For us it was $$ and use.Another reason we down sized from an A.

the most noise I had in my As was with the old P-30/32 chassis when that sucker would drop down a gear under a hill climb. sounded like a jet taxiing.bumpy

Dachristianman wrote:So I've seen numerous posts on this site over the past month that state if your rig is going to sit for long periods of time, go with a gasser. Why is this? Are the seals different in the engine?I'm trying to decide between a gas and diesel for my next unit, and am leaning towards a diesel just because I'd like the higher quality interior, air ride, and having the engine noise 30+ feet behind me. I use my rig about 4-5 times a year, sometimes for a weekend, sometimes for a couple weeks of travel.Thanks in advance for any advice.TomI use mine the same way. For me it was a better ride,air brakes,exhaust brake and zero engine noise. Letting either sit has the same affect.

Diesel versus Gas | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
J-Rooster wrote:
I didn't even consider fuel that much when I bought my RV new 10 years ago. I don't drive the miles to justify myself buying a D.P. Especially now that I retired. I drive to Arizona sit for six months then drive back home and sit for six more months. If I was driving all across the U.S.A. etc. I would buy a D.P. It's just not practical for me the way I use a RV to justify all the costs of a DP. What I like best is a very low payment and my coach is being close to being paid off.

at a $1.00 a gallon more for diesel, do you really save much driving one?
bumpy
J-Rooster
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
I didn't even consider fuel that much when I bought my RV new 10 years ago. I don't drive the miles to justify myself buying a D.P. Especially now that I retired. I drive to Arizona sit for six months then drive back home and sit for six more months. If I was driving all across the U.S.A. etc. I would buy a D.P. It's just not practical for me the way I use a RV to justify all the costs of a DP. What I like best is a very low payment and my coach is being close to being paid off.
MRUSA
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
I thought the diesel wasn't worth the extra money....until I drove it. After that, I never considered a gas coach again. Like the previous poster said, I would take an older diesel over a newer gas model any day of the week.
pequeajim
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
Thanks for the input everyone...
deandec
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
If you want a diesel, and get a gas rig, you will always wonder if you made the right decision.

Get what you want.

This is not a practical hobby.........
RayChez
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
It is hard to beat a diesel coach. Just the ride alone is worth it. They are so quiet you barely can hear the engine on the rear. It is heavy and gives a much better ride on windy days. I have had both and I would never go back to a gasoline motor home.

Diesel vs gasoline? No comparison to make. The diesel is superior to a gasoline engine. Less moving parts on a diesel vs a V-10 or V-8 engine. More torque on diesel engines. Lasts three times longer then a gasoline engine.
Dachristianman
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
pequeajim wrote:
We went with a HR gas coach, used, and in great shape. I wanted a DP, but we are not going to travel enough to justify the extra initial cost and yearly maintenance of a diesel coach. The quiet and smoother ride will be missed, but since we are traveling short distances, the acceptable noise level of the Ford V10 is fine. I really don't hear it when the unit is parked at the campground...

For us, it was quality of the coach, affordability, overall cost and ease of maintenance. This coach won out in all those areas.

That is exactly what makes this such a wonderful hobby. There is no right answer for everyone, just the right answer for you.

Tom
pequeajim
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
We went with a HR gas coach, used, and in great shape. I wanted a DP, but we are not going to travel enough to justify the extra initial cost and yearly maintenance of a diesel coach. The quiet and smoother ride will be missed, but since we are traveling short distances, the acceptable noise level of the Ford V10 is fine. I really don't hear it when the unit is parked at the campground...

For us, it was quality of the coach, affordability, overall cost and ease of maintenance. This coach won out in all those areas.
Born_To_Travel
Explorer
Jan 18, 2015
Ivylog wrote:
A diesel engine can set for 5-10 years and crank right up with a new battery. Not going to do that with a gas engine. This is even before the sorry gas they are making today.
OP, under 36' you do not need a diesel, but like you said... "the higher quality interior, air ride, and having the engine noise 30+ feet behind" plus a turbo and an exhaust brake.
'When I worked on buses, After the end of the school year we would add diesel fuel conditioner to the diesel buses that were going to go unused over the summer to prevent algae from growing in the fuel tanks from setting... ALL engines need care taken and no engine type is immune... If anything diesels need more prep as they are far more expensive to repair from neglect...
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Jan 18, 2015
Ivylog wrote:
A diesel engine can set for 5-10 years and crank right up with a new battery. Not going to do that with a gas engine. This is even before the sorry gas they are making today.
OP, under 36' you do not need a diesel, but like you said... "the higher quality interior, air ride, and having the engine noise 30+ feet behind" plus a turbo and an exhaust brake.

Obviously you do not have much experience with engines. Since I have restored a lot of old automobiles I can say that I personally have gotten gasoline engines running in a short time, without a tear down, that have been sitting for 20-30 or even 50 years. I am not sure why you think a diesel engine can sit for years and still be in great shape. When I was a contractor I had a lot of diesel equipment and if not properly stored, I would still have to go through the same routine with them to get them running as with the gas powered equipment.
Since the OP plans to use his coach 4-5 times a year, all of the talk about an engine sitting for YEARS does not really apply.