Gas vs diesel class A questions

As a DP owner, IMHO:
1. DPs ride better because of their air suspension. I don't think many / any gas MHs have air suspension.
2. DPs are quieter when driving because the engine is in the rear.
3. When running the generator in very hot weather for the A/C at night, the A/C is in the front and the main bedroom is in the rear - quieter.
4. The gasser may get slightly better mileage, but not by much. In general you're working the gasser engine a lot harder than a diesel works, but the diesel is usually in a heavier MH.
5. Also, because the DP has more weight you won't get pushed around in the wind or by trucks as much.
6. For going up hill, the diesel will do better, but the gasser will surely get you there.
7. For going down hill, I much prefer the diesel due the retarder or jake brake and the air brakes. I've been on downgrades like coming into the Tetons from Idaho that I wouldn't wanted to have done without a retarder and air brakes.
8. Don't worry about fuel consumption. If there's a two mile per gal difference on 6,000 miles per year, what's that really costing you?

Bill

Assuming two identical coaches one with gas & on with diesel of the same HP...

The diesel will win on MPG (but cost more up front and cost more per gal)...net cost isn't greatly different. The Gas engine will be fine but will rev higher to make it's rated HP (no concern just a bit of noise). If you drive few miles, the gas will likely be a little cheaper. If you do a lot of miles, diesel likely will be a little cheaper. Unless you are doing a crazy number of miles, expect the rest of the MH to age out before either engine type wears out.

The problem with this comparison is there aren't a lot of MH's where you can get everything identical except for the fuel source. Diesel MH's tend to target a more affluent market as they are more expensive but usually the whole coach is typically upgraded.
- Diesels often add an exhaust brake and have a turbo which means they keep full power at altitude and can limit speed on along downhill runs better but you pay for that.
- Often they come as Diesel Pushers built on motor coach chassises which give a nicer ride. You could outfit them with a gas engine but when you get into the $500k range, the extra $10-20k for the diesel doesn't matter much, so no one would get the gas option...net result is they don't offer it.

Basically, it's comparing apples and oranges and the fuel source is only on small part.

already a couple of good answers to your question. I'll also add a couple other reasons that we prefer our DP to our previous gas motorhome - the ability to refuel at the big trucker lanes instead of trying to squeeze in and out of gas stations (more or less a problem depending upon where in the country you travel) and the DP has a much higher cargo carrying capacity than our gas coach had. We were almost overloaded on the front axle on the gasser before we even put anything into the outside pass through storage. On the gasser with the engine in the front, the front axle maxed out very quickly.

Trackrig wrote:
As a DP owner, IMHO:
1. DPs ride better because of their air suspension. I don't think many / any gas MHs have air suspension.
2. DPs are quieter when driving because the engine is in the rear.
3. When running the generator in very hot weather for the A/C at night, the A/C is in the front and the main bedroom is in the rear - quieter.
4. The gasser may get slightly better mileage, but not by much. In general you're working the gasser engine a lot harder than a diesel works, but the diesel is usually in a heavier MH.
5. Also, because the DP has more weight you won't get pushed around in the wind or by trucks as much.
6. For going up hill, the diesel will do better, but the gasser will surely get you there.
7. For going down hill, I much prefer the diesel due the retarder or jake brake and the air brakes. I've been on downgrades like coming into the Tetons from Idaho that I wouldn't wanted to have done without a retarder and air brakes.
8. Don't worry about fuel consumption. If there's a two mile per gal difference on 6,000 miles per year, what's that really costing you?

Bill

X2

But I would add, the gas coaches are lighter and more affected by the condition of the road surface.
Some do not have independent front suspension, and will wonder when the road is rutted.

Since we spend ~95% of our time living in our Class A rather than driving it, the floor plan and "livability" are more important to us than the power, ride, and handling in selecting a coach. We did own a DP for a short time, but the floor plan just wasn't a good fit for us and the softer ride, etc., weren't enough to make up for that. Two gassers later and we're still happy with our choices. Now we're in our mid-70's, and likely won't be making another change before we hang up the keys.

It would depend if it were new or used and how used. I have been in $50,000 gas MHs that had an OK ride and not too noisy and some $50,000 DP that did not ride very well and had rattles and wind noise that were terrible.

A good cheap one might be better then a junk expensive one

They can all ride like ****.
Had a gasser with independent front suspension that was all over the road.
Went to DP on a real bus chassis with a solid axel and what a differance.
Gasser would get about 7 mpg getting high 9s with the diesel.

I work for an RV dealer and move all sort of motorhomes interstate to our various other locations. For me, I prefer the gasser Class A. Diesels are a lot of money and not financially do-able for me. Wife and I are considering moving to a Class A and I can't justify an additional $100k for a diesel. Yes they ride better and are quieter. If I was a full-timer I would choose a diesel. Wife and I take one big trip a year and having a diesel for that one trip wouldn't be prudent.

I find that gassers out climb diesels due to better rear axle gear ratios and higher rpm's. When I drive I-8 from Tucson to San Diego there are some real steep grades in the mountains east of San Diego. Phaetons and Allegro Buses slow down to 50 mph going up hill. The gassers go up the same hills at 65 to 70mph. I prefer the diesel's braking system going down the mountians. I prefer the diesel's external storage capacity.

Trackrig wrote:
As a DP owner, IMHO:
1. DPs ride better because of their air suspension. I don't think many / any gas MHs have air suspension.
2. DPs are quieter when driving because the engine is in the rear.
3. When running the generator in very hot weather for the A/C at night, the A/C is in the front and the main bedroom is in the rear - quieter.
4. The gasser may get slightly better mileage, but not by much. In general you're working the gasser engine a lot harder than a diesel works, but the diesel is usually in a heavier MH.
5. Also, because the DP has more weight you won't get pushed around in the wind or by trucks as much.
6. For going up hill, the diesel will do better, but the gasser will surely get you there.
7. For going down hill, I much prefer the diesel due the retarder or jake brake and the air brakes. I've been on downgrades like coming into the Tetons from Idaho that I wouldn't wanted to have done without a retarder and air brakes.
8. Don't worry about fuel consumption. If there's a two mile per gal difference on 6,000 miles per year, what's that really costing you?

Bill

3 Not true My diesel has two a/c one front and back no difference between the gas and diesel - bigger boys have 3 airs and still not true

4 Not true again My gasser got 7 diesel gets 9 - cost per mile is less with diesel unless cost of diesel exceeds gas by 20%

A lot of good answers here.

I'll add that I timed the fueling last time I put in diesel at the truck pumps.

This time, I fueled on both sides as I needed over 100 gallons. We have a 230 gallon tank and I put in 159 gallons.

With duel fueling, I was pumping one gallon every 3 seconds. Once I put in 100 gallons, I closed the passenger side fuel and continued filling on the driver's side.

Putting in DEF fluid is a little slower and the pump handle is very sensitive (at most stations I've ever used). Its seems you have to hold the fuel release part of the handle in that 'ideal' place for it not to click off. :R

We have a 16 gallon DEF tank and I put in 10 gallons this time.

Safe travels,
MM.