Gas vs diesels

It's what you want to spend, period!
I never wanted a diesel until I started over steep hills and mountains.

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

My $0.02 here. I have had both types (Gas and Diesel). Gas was a typical front engine GM power train. Diesel is a rear engine with a Cummins/Allison power train. There is a usually significant price difference up front. Maintenance costs are higher for a diesel MH in most cases (Oil changes and other routine service items). Today's gas engine models are far superior to the ones of several years ago. If it was me, I would concentrate on finding a floor plan and amenities you really like as opposed to focusing diesel/gas question. Budget is always a consideration but I think having a workable and livable floor plan is far more important when making a big $$ purchase. If I didn't already have a DP unit, I would have no hesitation in getting another gas powered one with the models available today.

First, I will state that I have a 5er with a diesel truck. Diesel pusher MH from what I have observed aside from the engine, have air breaks, not hydraulic breaks. A whole different animal. A diesel engine while it is much more costly to maintain during oil changes, etc. might be more costly for repairs. My truck takes 18 qts of oil and filters are about 3x more expensive than if I had a gas engine. A big plus to the diesel..... If you are going to do heavy traveling and do a lot of climbing like the mountains out West, then a diesel will maintain your torque at high altitudes.

Only thing that scares me about a DP is the unexpected repair costs while on the road. I read on this forum a bit ago that someone was looking at $4K for a water pump repair? I can get a whole gasser engine for that price. Same for the trans if you had to replace. DP rebuild, forget about it ( $20K? ). I guess it all boils down to what you can afford to fix, if the need arises. Me, I got a el cheapo gasser thats really old but was well taken care of. But, I still couldnt afford a major brake down while on the road.

How do you want to spend your money. Shop! Shop! Shop! Our 2013 Tiffin V10 is fairly quiet and easy to drive. We love the floor plan. Take your time and see and drive everything. 2004 & 2016 V10 coach is different. A low end gasser rides different and is insulated different.

Coffee Grinder, as you can see by my signature I own a 2003 Newmar Kountry Star 3740 since new with over 125,000 miles, it has been probably the best motor home dollar for dollar that I have ever owned and that includes my Essex. The 2003 KS has the Workhorse W22 chassis and other than the brake recall, shock change to Koni FSD and a new computer for the Allison transmission, it has been flawless, best advice that you got, drive them both. Good luck and let us hear back when you decide.

It's really funny when folks debate DP vs Gas. Both are excellent. Both will get you from here to there. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Both are the correct choice for the owners that select them. There simply is no right or wrong in this discussion. The right or wrong is most often found in the floor plan selection.
I don't care what you buy or what you paid for it, but if you end up with an RV with a floor plan that does not work for your lifestyle you will not be a happy camper no matter what you paid for the coach.
Think about it. How many hours do you spend driving your coach? Now, compare that to the number of hours you spend living in your coach while parked. What do you think should be the most important consideration?

tropical36 wrote:

dezolen wrote:
I get such a laugh out of this topic. DP's are the only way to go according to those that have them "but" then I read how some are noisier than others(so they are not that quiet as some would lead one to believe) I sure don't like standing beside one when it's standing still let alone be in one. Then I read that to get the good handling one must have a tag axle. Then one must have a side rad to be able to work on one easily. TEHO and I'm very happy with my late model gas coach and see no reason to spend $$$ to "upgrade". If money were no object I might consider a tag axle, side mount rad DP but I don't have unlimited budget.

Just goes to show that it's different strokes for different folks and why they make one for everybody. We had two gas models as well.
We could've paid a good bit more and got a late model top of the line gas coach this last time around and even got a 1 1/2 bath model, but after looking at both for roominess and the quality of the build, we couldn't even consider any gas model, as a viable option. Not to mention it's drive train and with the engine's low end torque, that can't hardly be heard, it never ceases to amaze me, when going over the top of a mountain.
Some have to have it new, regardless of anything, however and wouldn't even consider what we bought, that looks like new and with less than 34K miles on it, when purchased.
No tag axle either and it does just as well, if not better than the tax axle gas coach, we just sold. One will find that it's more about the wheelbase and overhang behind the rear wheels than anything and why there are so many gas coaches, with the tail wagging the dog, these days.

I agree with you! People really get bent out of shape on the Gasser side of things.....and I don't get it. Each to his or her own. I think the more objective this topic can be, the better info people will get.

My DP goes about 50 mph over Raton, Vail, or Monarch passes in CO, with a toad. I here the fan clutch in, but barely. Usually the kids have the TV louder than the engine or Genny! LOL! I pass a lot of gassers, but some of the later model gassers are doing pretty good going up the hills! I think I saw one doing about 35 this past summer. Get what you can afford! There are nice versions of both and just because I own a DP doesn't mean I think everyone should.

WW

dezolen wrote:
I get such a laugh out of this topic. DP's are the only way to go according to those that have them "but" then I read how some are noisier than others(so they are not that quiet as some would lead one to believe) I sure don't like standing beside one when it's standing still let alone be in one. Then I read that to get the good handling one must have a tag axle. Then one must have a side rad to be able to work on one easily. TEHO and I'm very happy with my late model gas coach and see no reason to spend $$$ to "upgrade". If money were no object I might consider a tag axle, side mount rad DP but I don't have unlimited budget.

Just goes to show that it's different strokes for different folks and why they make one for everybody. We had two gas models as well.
We could've paid a good bit more and got a late model top of the line gas coach this last time around and even got a 1 1/2 bath model, but after looking at both for roominess and the quality of the build, we couldn't even consider any gas model, as a viable option. Not to mention it's drive train and with the engine's low end torque, that can't hardly be heard, it never ceases to amaze me, when going over the top of a mountain.
Some have to have it new, regardless of anything, however and wouldn't even consider what we bought, that looks like new and with less than 34K miles on it, when purchased.
No tag axle either and it does just as well, if not better than the tax axle gas coach, we just sold. One will find that it's more about the wheelbase and overhang behind the rear wheels than anything and why there are so many gas coaches, with the tail wagging the dog, these days.

This past spring I traded in my gas 2000 National Seabreeze for a 2004 Winnebago Journey DP. I got caught up in the diesel pusher hype. Quieter, airbags, blah, blah, and more blah. Was it worth it? Nope. If I had to do it over again I would have traded in the National Seabreeze with no slides for a nice gas model with some slides.

IMO, diesel pushers are over-hyped and not worth twice the payment (or more).

~John