Gasser guys and gals ...why not a diesel ?
....I’ve seen some people state that they have avoided a diesel .... why so ?
Forum Discussion
For us, it boils down to several things, most of which have already been stated:
1. Don't like the smell of diesel
2. Don't want the extra expense, both up front and ongoing
3. Don't like the typical diesel floorplans, with main door in front of front seat (makes RV feel like a school bus).
4. Feel more comfortable, familiar maintaining a gas engine than a diesel
5. Prefer engine up front, not underneath rear bedroom like it is with so many diesels
6. Don't want something so massive like many diesels are - 40' is way too long, prefer more like 32' or so (and almost no diesels are built that small)
7. Don't like how the diesel drives (yes I've driven both).
For some specifics around the last one (how a diesel drives vs gas), as I know some won't agree:
A few years ago I test drove a brand new, very powerful diesel pusher RV (had 8.3L Cummins diesel, 380 HP and around 1000 ft-lb of torque as I recall - no slouch). Was considering trading up to such. I remember walking away afterward totally disappointed with how it drove, and seriously wondering why anyone would pay soooo much more $$ for a diesel. I just couldn't see it.
Yes, air suspension and engine in back make it a quieter and smoother ride. However, I found that if you step on the accelerator on a diesel, it lugs, gurgles, and sloooowly gets up to speed. You do the same on a gasser, it drops down a gear, turns a few more RPMs, and it gets going, quickly. It just seemed the diesel had very little throttle response, and was very anemic compared to the gasser V10 I had at the time (and that was compared to a stout, very powerful diesel).
I much prefer the throttle response a gas engine has, even if that means its a little louder up front. When Ford came out a year or two ago with the new F53 chassis with improved handling, and the big 7.3 V8 with even more 'throat' and throttle response...It became even more of a no-brainer decision for us. Ford really narrowed the gap even more with diesel pusher based RVs, when they came out with the new F53.
All that said.....I hope the original poster's intention for this was to truly understand this matter, and not to just stir up yet another 100+ page debate on this subject.
1. Don't like the smell of diesel
2. Don't want the extra expense, both up front and ongoing
3. Don't like the typical diesel floorplans, with main door in front of front seat (makes RV feel like a school bus).
4. Feel more comfortable, familiar maintaining a gas engine than a diesel
5. Prefer engine up front, not underneath rear bedroom like it is with so many diesels
6. Don't want something so massive like many diesels are - 40' is way too long, prefer more like 32' or so (and almost no diesels are built that small)
7. Don't like how the diesel drives (yes I've driven both).
For some specifics around the last one (how a diesel drives vs gas), as I know some won't agree:
A few years ago I test drove a brand new, very powerful diesel pusher RV (had 8.3L Cummins diesel, 380 HP and around 1000 ft-lb of torque as I recall - no slouch). Was considering trading up to such. I remember walking away afterward totally disappointed with how it drove, and seriously wondering why anyone would pay soooo much more $$ for a diesel. I just couldn't see it.
Yes, air suspension and engine in back make it a quieter and smoother ride. However, I found that if you step on the accelerator on a diesel, it lugs, gurgles, and sloooowly gets up to speed. You do the same on a gasser, it drops down a gear, turns a few more RPMs, and it gets going, quickly. It just seemed the diesel had very little throttle response, and was very anemic compared to the gasser V10 I had at the time (and that was compared to a stout, very powerful diesel).
I much prefer the throttle response a gas engine has, even if that means its a little louder up front. When Ford came out a year or two ago with the new F53 chassis with improved handling, and the big 7.3 V8 with even more 'throat' and throttle response...It became even more of a no-brainer decision for us. Ford really narrowed the gap even more with diesel pusher based RVs, when they came out with the new F53.
All that said.....I hope the original poster's intention for this was to truly understand this matter, and not to just stir up yet another 100+ page debate on this subject.
