Gas or Diesel

having Owned pretty much everything and currently in a DP. I say just pick what you like and go for it. I've liked everything I've ever had. It's more about getting out than what your getting out in. I would buy used and reasonably priced and don't hesitate to sell and buy something else if you don't care for it.

I bought a diesel pusher so I could lie to all the gasser folks and say I get 10 mpg when I really get 6-7. Less when the genny is running for 10 hours on a hot day driving up 7% grades! When I get 7, I jump up and down. 10? I think I would buy the DW something nice and take her to dinner to celebrate!

Shhhh.......

P.S. I do my own oil change and it is $100.

WW

Our neighbor has a 32' gas, his coach weighs about 2/3rd of our Newmar 40', he gets an average of 6-7 MPG, I get average 9-10. He has a tune up nearly every year at about $1000 per visit to the dealer. ( air cleaner, plugs and wires, oil change, fuel filters etc) They spend about 30 nights per year in their coach. Our Newmar has a gauge to tell us when the air filter needs to be changed, 43K miles it is still running in the green, and it is cleanable. I change my own oil at 10K miles, 24 qts, Delo-15/40, Fuel filter at 10K miles at 40 bucks each, Most coaches will run a lot longer than 10k on filters.

They bought their coach new, we bought ours used, they paid double what we did. they like our better :)

Hill climbing, the diesel does way better. Shell Canyon is the only hill we've found we could not keep up with traffic, it's just too crooked.

Bottom line, buy what you like, learn to do the simple maintenance your self. And remember each coach will be a study in its self.

I have tried to find a diesel I liked and am still with gas. My new 38 foot is my max. I have been disappointed in the ride of smaller DP. I have achieved that level of ride with mods. I like the floorplans in the gas and the new price differential was at least 100 grand. Living well is the key. Last winter we drove from coast to coast and nearly south to north borders. 122 days we were living in moho. All of those miles but only 17 days where we drove. So 100 days where floorplan was key and no fuel burned. I liked the quiet ride of the DP. Prefer the generator in the back on gas. Bottom line is the difference in fuel or basic maintenance is small consideration. 38 foot is max for gas so if you want larger then no issue it is DP.

I had a gas PaceArrow for 14 years and a diesel now for just over a year. If I had to go back to gas I would get out of rving.

I am very happy that I bought a much lower cost gas RV than a diesel one. The fuel cost is really been not as significant of a cost over the past 20 years as the insurance, oil changes, and other maintenance items.

My Bounder motorhome cost $67,000 back in 1996. I was looking at a new 2004 DP Expedition motorhome, with a 167,000 MSRP and the dealers at the FMCA show said I could buy it now for $118,000, so there is significant mark up in the pricing, and this unit was not on their 'floor' so they had not needed to buy the unit that I was thinking of buying, and they could sell it to me with very little out of pocket costs to the dealership, thus the very low mark up at the FMCA rally.

My payment was about $607 for the gas RV, while the DP would have been in the $1,000 range.

There is no way that my total insurance cost or payment savings would have made up for saving $100 a trip with the DP motorhome.

If you 'require' a 35 - 43' long RV, then a larger diesel engine is also a requirement. But I have a 30' gas RV, and my gas engine (460" V8) is powerful enough to get it down the road. The V10 Ford and 8.1L V8 GMC motorhomes can go up to about 36' and 20,000 pounds while not being under powered. But beyond those limits, they become underpowered, and I would say go with something diesel.

Diesel will be much more expensive overall. I have about 50,000 miles on my RV. I get about 7 MPG, so would have used something like 7,000 gallons of gas. Should I have bought a DP, I would get say 9 MPG and used about 6,000 gallons? Over 20 years, that is barely any fuel savings, while the $400 more per month payment and more expensive insurance would have reduced any fuel savings.. .

GOod luck,

Fred.

Diesel uses less GALLONS per mile.
Diesel cost more PER gallon (usually).
Assuming you farm it out, maintenance is going to be slightly more for a diesel but probably not much difference.

Purchase price for a diesel will blow any of the differences above out of the water.

This is assuming two otherwise identical rigs where the only change is the engine.

If you compare a base model 30' gas MH to a 40' top of the line diesel pusher, it's comparing apples and oranges.

Generally speaking as I have owned both a Gasser and diesel. The maintenance cost for a diesel pusher will be at least double of that of a Gasser if taken into say five-year maintenance history. Both are about to need tires Gasser 2000 diesel 3500. At the average of 10,000 miles a year the Gasser will need two oil changes at under hundred dollars each and the diesel will need one at $300 plus at the same time the diesel will need two fuel filters only about $80 this is per year. The Gasser will need two or three air filters over the five-year period the diesel will need at least two the Gasser's $20 each the diesels upwards of $200 each. On the diesel you'll need air/dryer filter for the air brake system once maybe twice at $180 per kit with a Gasser at a little brake fluid. Somewhere in that five years or nearing it you'll need new start batteries for both rigs the diesels usually run two the Gasser's run one. The transmission service will be at least twice as much on the diesel.Gas mileage is kind of a wash both get between 6 and on the outside edge 10 miles a gallon so the fuel mileage is near the same. With the new Gasser's coming out with upgraded interiors the approaching what might be a diesel standard but the ride is not near as good. As far as power definitely the diesel has more and is going to pull better. But in my opinion because of fluid levels maintenance levels the diesels going to be per year about twice as expensive especially if you don't do the oil changes and other maintenance yourself.

LEN

Oh boy here we go again! I just say the worst motorhome you can buy is one you can't afford! By the way I own a DP.;)

The size of the motorhome might be a factor. Gas motors do not have as much power as diesel to move the big ones. The Ford V-10 motor in our 30 footer is good and I don't feel I'm missing too much by not having a diesel.