Older Diesel or New Gas - Newbie question
Let me preface this by I've read the faqs on gas vs. diesel and have been doing a bit of research. I know diesels will ride smoother, quieter, pull better, and go longer between maintenance intervals...
Forum Discussion
I'll chime in here with a couple thoughts. We've been full timing for six years now. By full timing, I mean we travel a lot. We are not full time sitters. 80,000 miles so far and counting! We also have home schooled and now our grandkids travel with us every year for their summer vacation. It will get crowded inside the coach. You can't escape that, but it'll also bring everyone closer, literally and physically. Anyway, here's my take.
1. The DP is much more comfortable driving and riding.
2. I can carry on a conversation inside the coach while driving. I don't even know how to turn the radio on.
3. The towed becomes a trailer to hold all the 'extra' stuff so weight becomes a factor. If your towed is marginal at 4000#, it'll become overloaded in a very short time.
4. Maintenance is a non issue. At my age, I don't do a lot of 'stuff' anymore. SpeedCo changes the oil, filters and lube for around $300. Annual maintenance runs about $500 on my coach. Any other 'issues' I use a mobile mechanic who comes to me for repairs. ( I had a windshield replaced and an A/C unit replaced at a campground.)
5. And you need to research this, is INSURANCE. You mentioned Geico earlier, and to my knowledge, they DO NOT offer full timer insurance. There's only a handful who do. We are with National Interstate and are happy with them but our policies are just short of $2k/yr.
6. A final thing to consider is an extended service plan aka, extended warranty. A decent policy will run you about $100/mo. If that fits into your budget, it'll protect your coach from issues as they arise.
My opinion is to find the biggest, most luxurious DP you can find and go with that option. PPL is a great source of info. They post floorplans and also have a SOLD section for reference. Good luck in your search....Dennis
1. The DP is much more comfortable driving and riding.
2. I can carry on a conversation inside the coach while driving. I don't even know how to turn the radio on.
3. The towed becomes a trailer to hold all the 'extra' stuff so weight becomes a factor. If your towed is marginal at 4000#, it'll become overloaded in a very short time.
4. Maintenance is a non issue. At my age, I don't do a lot of 'stuff' anymore. SpeedCo changes the oil, filters and lube for around $300. Annual maintenance runs about $500 on my coach. Any other 'issues' I use a mobile mechanic who comes to me for repairs. ( I had a windshield replaced and an A/C unit replaced at a campground.)
5. And you need to research this, is INSURANCE. You mentioned Geico earlier, and to my knowledge, they DO NOT offer full timer insurance. There's only a handful who do. We are with National Interstate and are happy with them but our policies are just short of $2k/yr.
6. A final thing to consider is an extended service plan aka, extended warranty. A decent policy will run you about $100/mo. If that fits into your budget, it'll protect your coach from issues as they arise.
My opinion is to find the biggest, most luxurious DP you can find and go with that option. PPL is a great source of info. They post floorplans and also have a SOLD section for reference. Good luck in your search....Dennis
