Gas vs diesels

Generally the diesel MH are diesel pushers vs front end gasses. Just looking at the engine "maintenance" it's pretty much the same - oil changes. Yes it cost more, probably double. But if it's a couple hundred dollars that your afraid of, your missing out on a whole different set of benefits. Air suspension, air brakes, no spark plugs, better gas mileage, longer engine life,quiet,and more. Honestly I have my oil serviced every year for about $300.00. Air filter every two years. Coolant checked every year. So after 3 years it's cost me about $1000.00. The benefits far exceed the negative.

Not sure why everyone thinks "engine maintenance" cost so much more. It's not that much. The other systems that go along with owning a diesel pusher add some additional costs. But you mostly won't find these features in a gasser either.

Ed_Gee wrote:
??? The original poster never mentioned anything about over 40,000 pounds.....

I guess what I was saying is that the OP is asking a very vague question. There is SO much more than asking 'gas vs. diesel'. Air bags vs. shocks, different chassis's etc., oil change intervals, there so many things that are not identical.

Safe travels,
MM.

While it used to be true that diesel engines out lasted gas ones, there are documented examples of the Ford V-10 lasting for 1,000,000 miles.

Yup, find one with a floorplan you like and go for it. Yes, Diesels will cost you more but the ride is way better. Can't see much difference in longevity anymore. As mentioned above, the coachwork goes to pot way before the chassis. Seen plenty of ancient, leaking piles of junk (both gas and Diesel) with perfectly running drivetrains. If you have the money to spend, you will never regret the Diesel purchase but you don't have to spend that premium to get something you will enjoy for many years.

You are either in the market to spend DP money or you aren't. Pretty simple. Unless you NEED 43 or 45 ft to get the floor plan you want and you want to spend that kind of money to get it there isn't much reason to look at DPs. Gasser will do just fine.

The maintenance on a DP vs a gass unit isn't even a consideration IMO when the cost to buy is so much higher.

While you will never have the CCC or ride comfort of a DP in a gas unit the price to step up is considerable for what you pay. Not really worth it unless you need that CCC or length for the floor plan and have the money to burn on it.

Floor plans have gotten much better over the years. Gas units have gotten better. The difference isn't what is used to be.

I believe the decision rests with how you intend to use your rig. If you are a week-ender or a once a year vacationer then the gas rig is absolutely all you will ever need. If you are a serious traveler putting on many thousands of miles per year you might consider a diesel. Will a gas rig do either job? Absolutely! Will it outlast you? Most likely. But as previously mentioned there are other considerations- ride comfort, power, noise levels, towing ability etc. As far as costs are concerned- original purchase cost of a diesel will be higher- but so will trade in allowances later. Operational costs? Tough call...
A whole bunch of this decision will be personal preference.

And Airidon is correct. The difference is not what it used to be.

This past October we decided to upscale our C to an A gas. I was looking for a Gas A and NOT a DP. While looking we found a 2008 Damon Astoria diesel. It only had 3800 miles on it. After a test drive which included an overnight. I was sold. The DP pros that others have mentioned are all true. The upkeep is a wash because of the greater mileage between doing services. The differences between a DP and a gas A are night and day.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, shop with an open mind.

Beau

As others have said this has been discussed on this forum countless times. Dp's are pretty much like anything else, you get what you pay for. If you want a smoother, quieter ride with (in most cases) better amenities and quality, get a DP. But you gotta pay to play. Diesels cost more, everywhere from purchase price to maintenance. Some say it's a wash due to intervals and I say that's not really true. A gasser isn't much more in terms of maintenance than a large gas truck - because that's what it is. A diesel with all it's various filters, larger oil capacity, air bag suspension, air brakes and diesel techs required - the list goes on and on, cost more. If money were no object we'd all be driving DP's. The gasser market is a large one because of the price point to get into a Class A. If money was truly equal, gassers would cease to exist because Dp's are just so much nicer from all other aspects. But they cost more - for a lot of reasons. You need to decide what you want out of a MH. You want top notch ride and better quality and have deeper pockets, get a DP. If the destination is your goal and you have a tighter budget, get a gasser. Or if you want a DP on a budget but don't mind going 10 years older, look at older DP's. I can tell you my next MH (if I ever buy another) will be a DP. I bought a gasser because my budget dictated that. If I had a bigger budget I'd be driving a DP.

Coffee Grinder wrote:
I am looking at class A MH and wanted some feedback on a gas model vs a diesel. I believe the diesel to be more costly to maintain however they should outlast a gas. Any advice would be appreciated

I used to provide a long dissertation as to the pros and cons, when answering these type threads and which I'm most sure you'll be getting from some of the others.
Now, I can only say, that we finally decided on a DP and after driving it all over for the last 6 mons., there's no going back.