UPDATED: We are going to be buying out first class A motorhome. This will mainly used for the two of us but would like it to sleep 4. I am a log truck driver with almost 40 years of driving. We are looking at both types, gas and diesel in the 34 to 36 foot range. This will be a used motorhome and would like the input from anyone on the pros and cons of them. I do know and understand the upkeep on a diesel. Any help in this area would be great. I have read a few articles on gas vs diesel. Also we are also looking to downsize our pickup. Our current 2004 F250 superduty with the v10 is not what i want for a tow vehicle. Would like to keep it 4x4 with a manual trans, and it would be an older model. Any suggestions on make and model would be great. We currently are vendors for festivals, making lawn art and rv flag poles and downsizing the pickup would be i think a good thing for us. any help would be used in our choice. thank you

I'm not gonna comment on gas v diesel, plenty of others will have an opinion, though. :)In new trucks you're limited to the Colorado/Canyon 4x4, or Nissan Frontier with manual trans. I'm curious if you're downsizing out of preference for a smaller ride, towed weight, or??? Oddly enough full size trucks will get just as good MPG now as these. We are shopping for a new toad ourselves.

Tell us how you are going to use it and home many will be traveling in it.

Good to hear from you Loren! I'm a retired driver 44-1/4 years from FSA in Kent. I didn't buy a DP due to I don't drive enough miles per year to justify it. I just drive down to AZ. and back once a year. I bought a gasser new top of the line Winnebago in 2004 and still enjoying it. I change oil once a year and that's about it! I tow a Honda CRV. I keep things real simple! Good Luck

does you toad have to be an automatic or will a manual trany work?bumpy

There are a lot of threads on gas vs diesel. Just do a search on the forum and you will find all sorts of great information.

First time buying Class A Motorhome | Good Sam Community

llmoore1953
Explorer
Nov 13, 2014
thanks for all who have added there comments. Yes, this will be the last one we buy. We will keep enjoying out 5th wheel while looking for our motorhome. this is my first forum to be a member of and will be posting more in the future.j

Thank you all, Loren Moore
Ductape
Explorer
Nov 13, 2014
Whatever truck you decide on, be sure to look up a copy of the owner's manual and validate it can be flat towed. Some makes don't endorse it even for manual transmissions. You can probably find any owner's manual you need online these days.
When you decide what you want, cars.com is a good resource to search the whole country for what's for sale.

I will agree with the previous posts regarding gas or diesel to get the one you want. I too never bought a diesel RV that I needed, but I owned several that I wanted. :) Few buy any of these from need, so get what you like. It's not mainly about the money.
JimM68
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
bluwtr49 wrote:
deandec wrote:
We did not need a motor home.

Therefore we did not need a DP.

We wanted a DP.

So, we bought a 7 year old DP.... 13 years ago.

Still enjoy it.

I like this answer, short and to the point. A MH is certainly just a luxury acquisition no matter what it is. A good rule to follow is to buy your last one first and save a boatload of money.

Wish I had done that and saved the 100K on pickups and TT's.

X3
bluwtr49
Explorer II
Nov 12, 2014
deandec wrote:
We did not need a motor home.

Therefore we did not need a DP.

We wanted a DP.

So, we bought a 7 year old DP.... 13 years ago.

Still enjoy it.

I like this answer, short and to the point. A MH is certainly just a luxury acquisition no matter what it is. A good rule to follow is to buy your last one first and save a boatload of money.

Wish I had done that and saved the 100K on pickups and TT's.
John_Wayne
Explorer II
Nov 12, 2014
They use to say under 10,000 miles a year go gas. Over 10,000 miles a year go diesel.
deandec
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
We did not need a motor home.

Therefore we did not need a DP.

We wanted a DP.

So, we bought a 7 year old DP.... 13 years ago.

Still enjoy it.
ncrowley
Explorer II
Nov 12, 2014
There are a lot of threads on gas vs diesel. Just do a search on the forum and you will find all sorts of great information.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
does you toad have to be an automatic or will a manual trany work?
bumpy
J-Rooster
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Good to hear from you Loren! I'm a retired driver 44-1/4 years from FSA in Kent. I didn't buy a DP due to I don't drive enough miles per year to justify it. I just drive down to AZ. and back once a year. I bought a gasser new top of the line Winnebago in 2004 and still enjoying it. I change oil once a year and that's about it! I tow a Honda CRV. I keep things real simple! Good Luck
427435
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Tell us how you are going to use it and home many will be traveling in it.