Front mounted diesels in class a and c

$7000 to $10,000 higher price and enough extra weight that a smaller motorhome has to be built on a chassis of same GVWR. Then for a genset, it needs either a more expensive diesel model, or LPG version of a gas genset and a larger LPG tank.

No "FRED" chassis for A's today, they sold a few in the past. A couple former suppliers are still building mostly smaller diesel bare chassis for step vans, small buses, and other non-RV markets.

They are still offering front diesel C's, although Ford no longer has a diesel to fit the E-series, Chevrolet can put one in the express, and it is an option on RAM Promaster and Transit (latter not yet used to build Cs, but in the B market). And of course there is always the Sprinter cab chassis to work with, about twice the price of an E-series or Express cutaway.

Except for building on Sprinter, manufacturers currently offering diesel Cs don't sell as many. Sprinters usually get used to build a separate premium line, which helps get past the price sensitivity of most RV buyers.

The Class A (FRED) front diesel motorhomes have died out because of the new emissions standards. The new EPA compliant diesel engines require DEF tanks, catalysts and electronic engine controls (called ECUs). All this extra equipment takes space and generates excess heat. It also reduces performance. It makes building a FRED chassis complicated and expensive.

The big problems with front mount in an A are noise and space. The dog house uses up too much room, heat and noise are issues (try spending a day in a COE Kenworth)and the drive line cuts into the basement space. We see a few diesel C's but I imagine cost keeps the demand down.

I think there might be more to it.
Diesel engines are several hundreds lb heavier than gasoline engines.
Than you'd have to put diesel generator.
On motorhome that is leaving the factory at 99% of tire weight holding capacity, that might be deal breaker.
Than my personal perception is that general public shops around "cheap, cheap, cheap"
How many buyers would spend 30% more for diesel option?
Side observation, back in 1999 Mercedes E class was sold with sporty 5.5 engine, or 3l diesel engine. The sport version was about 10 grands more expensive.
15 years later for the selling price of one 150,000 miles diesel you can buy two comparable E55

I asked the same question (not here) of several people a couple of years ago. The opinion seemed to be that the mfgs (Ford, Chevy & Dodge) were selling all of the diesel trucks they could make and they made more profit on selling the whole truck rather than just the engine to a MH builder.

Bill

I saw a 2014 Jayco Seneca 37TS at our local dealer recently. It's what they're calling a "Super C." It's on a Freightliner chassis and has a 6.7L Cummins ISB-340 in the front. There may be others out there - this is just one I've seen "in person."