Hello!My wife and I have been camping for 40 yrs, from tent through big travel trailer. We are now considering purchasing a used class A motorhome.We have looked at several units and have two main questions we can use input on.- is it worth buying a diesel and paying a premium of about $0.40-.50 per gallon? I know they have better longevity, and better torque for hills and grades, in theory....- is there a size point of motorhome length where you start having difficulty with state parks and campground navigating? Better to hold it to 30'-34'? Is 37' a problem?We will be up and down the east coast; from CT - New Orleans, Austin, Nashville, and plan one lengthy trip out west and back.Any help and insights you can offer are greatly appreciated!Jerry

One thing that the gassers can not do is have the good ride provided by air ride.Drive both and compare.I would not go shorter than 40 ft.

sr71bbjd wrote:Hello!My wife and I have been camping for 40 yrs, from tent through big travel trailer. We are now considering purchasing a used class A motorhome.We have looked at several units and have two main questions we can use input on.- is it worth buying a diesel and paying a premium of about $0.40-.50 per gallon? I know they have better longevity, and better torque for hills and grades, in theory....- is there a size point of motorhome length where you start having difficulty with state parks and campground navigating? Better to hold it to 30'-34'? Is 37' a problem?We will be up and down the east coast; from CT - New Orleans, Austin, Nashville, and plan one lengthy trip out west and back.Any help and insights you can offer are greatly appreciated!JerryThe higher torque and such is NOT "in theory"...its a FACT.With 35-37 ft you should not have problems with state parks etc.Although the fuel COSTS are higher than gasoline...diesels do get better fuel economy so I think it all boils out

When you get to 26,000 lb in a gasser the tranny ratio changes to handle the heavier load i.e. longer length. Of coarse mpg goes down. I think MHs in general are more expensive on the road. If I were going to FT I would probably buy a diesel. RVing 3 to 5 months we are fine with a gasser and 34'. I would look at both, then decide what is best for your RVing.

Drive a gasser then drive a diesel of similar length. You will get your answer easily.....mpg is only a fraction of the equation.....Dennis

The DP has a much better ride, will climb hills better, handle the winds better and come down the mountains better with the air brakes and retarder. Ours is 39' and we've had no problems with the length. Diesel was cheaper here for a couple of months, now it's about 10 cents more expensive. Look at it this way, gas couldn't move this MH, so it's not like I could have chosen gas even if I had wanted it. Most people just don't put enough miles on to worry about it. A 25 cent difference on 15,000 miles a year is only $3,750. That would be about 2 1/2 round trips across the country per year.Dennis / Executive does a lot of traveling and he's almost a fulltimer. Dennis - how many miles are you putting on it a year?Bill

Diesel vs gas for Class A....also length of RV....

et2
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
Had travel trailers pulling with gassers, hated them. Bought a fiver and went with diesel truck, never went back to gasser. Night and day difference. As another poster mentioned the exhaust brake ... Absolutely great feature in a diesel.

We now have a DP MH and don't travel three months a year ( maybe one) but to us it's worth every penny, also better resale than a gasser. It's quiet ... something you won't get with a gasser. If that means something to you in making your trip more pleasurable rather then possibly having to wear wearing ear plugs, then it's a plus in my book.

I was getting 9.9 mpg on our 42' with a toad on our last trip, engine isn't even broken in yet. It is a great ride with a DP and no worries going up or down the hills. I practically don't have to use brakes much ( except full stops or hard stops) as the exhaust brake is that good. So you probably save a lot of money in other maintenance area's over a gasser ( oil changes are more). The better ride is worth the extra costs "if any" over gasser. Most of it is just changing a filter for the air drier every few years, or pulling a few lanyards to release air from the tanks every 6 months (lanyards - very simple - you can do it). Other than that it's not much more then what what the gasser is.

Who cares who gets to the top of the hill faster, I never understand that as a point to discuss anyway. IMHO either one will do the trick. If money is the issue - gasser - if not diesel. Honestly, in the long run your better off with the diesel in more ways then one. Your buttocks and ears and piece of mind will be appreciative of your diesel decision.
mowermech
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
IMO, 32 foot is perfect.
However, if I were to go full-timing again, I would want a washer/dryer, so I would have to get a 34 or 36 footer to have the room for it.
I am very happy with my Ford V10 powered coach. We towed a PT Cruiser on a dolly from Montana to Tennessee (well, OK, Georgia, actually, near Chattanooga).
No problems at all.
I recently made a trip from Billings to the Flathead Valley and back, towing the Dodge Ram 1500 over the Continental Divide. No problems.
DW just came back from a trip to Thermopolis, WY, towing the Dodge. No trouble.
Personally, I find the ride quality in our Southwind to be perfectly adequate. But then, I don't expect Rolls Royce ride in a heavily loaded truck!
As for "fuel economy", IMO using that term and "motorhome" in the same sentence is an absolute oxymoron! If fuel economy is a major concern, one probably should not even be considering a motorhome.
hipower
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
Trackrig wrote:
The DP has a much better ride, will climb hills better, handle the winds better and come down the mountains better with the air brakes and retarder. Ours is 39' and we've had no problems with the length.

Diesel was cheaper here for a couple of months, now it's about 10 cents more expensive. Look at it this way, gas couldn't move this MH, so it's not like I could have chosen gas even if I had wanted it. Most people just don't put enough miles on to worry about it. A 25 cent difference on 15,000 miles a year is only $3,750. That would be about 2 1/2 round trips across the country per year.

Dennis / Executive does a lot of traveling and he's almost a fulltimer. Dennis - how many miles are you putting on it a year?

____________________________________________________________________
Isn't the math a little off here?

15,000 miles at 8 mpg would be 1,875 gallons of fuel consumed. A $.25 differential in cost for fuel would then be $468.75. Far below $3,750.

The annual mileage used is far above average for most of us so it would seem that the premium for diesel vs gas would be less than $500 annually. I don't think that would be a deal breaker for most decisions of this size.

Bill
WyoTraveler
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
Executive wrote:
Drive a gasser then drive a diesel of similar length. You will get your answer easily.....mpg is only a fraction of the equation.....Dennis
Ya right drive any cheapo diesel and then drive a provost and you will know what to buy. sometimes lots of difference between wants and needs.:B
Hudsoner
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
I have a 31 foot gasser with a Five Star tuning in it, and no matter what hill, I am almost dancing around the ever so slow diesel pushers. Even with my Subaru outback in tow I never need to use the truck lane. I don't know who invented the fairy tale that diesel pusher can climb mountains better or faster. It is all a relation of hp to weight that decides who gets up the hill better!

My short motorhome is ideal for my purpose, I can park it at my house and at the houses of friends and relatives, or I can go into state or federal parks and always find a space. And because of its 19 1/2" tires, it is just a little over 11' tall and I can go almost under any bridge around!
It is the right unit for us, you have to find the right on for you and your needs!
Peralko
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
Another issue is that a gas motorhome will take an extra hit on resale value if you put a lot of miles it. This can be significant if you plan on driving a lot. Not so with a diesel.
bluwtr49
Explorer II
Aug 08, 2014
First, I would question the premium costs for diesel that you mentioned since that will vary widely depending on where you are traveling. Right now here in OR, diesel is actually less than gas and I can use truck lanes thereby avoiding the otherwise mandatory full service attendant.

Other places we'll been in the West (excluding CA witch I avoid) the premium, if any has been minimal and is more than made up by better fuel economy.

Although I suspect you need to compare the benefits in coaches of the same size. If you want a 38' coach compare a 38' gasser to a 38' DP otherwise you data is skewed. Anything larger may preclude a gasser altogether.
Rodz
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
Hudsoner wrote:
I have a 31 foot gasser with a Five Star tuning in it, and no matter what hill, I am almost dancing around the ever so slow diesel pushers. Even with my Subaru outback in tow I never need to use the truck lane. I don't know who invented the fairy tale that diesel pusher can climb mountains better or faster. It is all a relation of hp to weight that decides who gets up the hill better!

My short motorhome is ideal for my purpose, I can park it at my house and at the houses of friends and relatives, or I can go into state or federal parks and always find a space. And because of its 19 1/2" tires, it is just a little over 11' tall and I can go almost under any bridge around!
It is the right unit for us, you have to find the right on for you and your needs!

I agree. If you sell it in 7 yrs your going to get 40% less than the same year DP but you paid 40% less when you bought it new. You'll loose 70K on the DP and 40K on the gas. You loose less cash with a gasser. It's all percentages. :B
hoopers
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
Rodz wrote:
Hudsoner wrote:
I have a 31 foot gasser with a Five Star tuning in it, and no matter what hill, I am almost dancing around the ever so slow diesel pushers. Even with my Subaru outback in tow I never need to use the truck lane. I don't know who invented the fairy tale that diesel pusher can climb mountains better or faster. It is all a relation of hp to weight that decides who gets up the hill better!

My short motorhome is ideal for my purpose, I can park it at my house and at the houses of friends and relatives, or I can go into state or federal parks and always find a space. And because of its 19 1/2" tires, it is just a little over 11' tall and I can go almost under any bridge around!
It is the right unit for us, you have to find the right on for you and your needs!

:B

There is a big excess of tag axle DP's for sale right now. You can pick up an 07 or 08 for just over 100k. what a deal, if that is something you are considering.
zman-az
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
Went from a 27' 2011 ford v10 gasser to a 35' 6.7l DP. My gasser could pull the grades better than my new DP. It's more than just the engine, you also got to factor weight. That being said I love driving my DP as it is quiet and handles way better than my gasser. Weight difference on the two was 10,000lbs. My gasser was lucky to get 7mpg while my DP gets just over 9mpg. That difference overcomes the price of fuel.

So when you compare DP to a gasser you need to be more specific as the the actual models vs just looking at the engine. In general almost all DP will be more comfortable to drive and if you do a lot of miles that should be a huge factor. Otherwise floor plan and the condition of the RV should be high on your list.