Older diesel vs. New Gas

First, thank you so very much for all the posts. Have you ever had children that ask for advice and then do the opposite? So we have been looking for RV's for a couple of years. I was making a list of strategies from the list. Then last night as we were looking at some RVs. Denise just put a price on an eBay listing and bought one. It went against everything that we had planned. Now I have an excellent rating on eBay and have always been a man of my word, but I really don't want to buy an RV sight unseen. So I am trying to find an inspector in Tampa area. We bought a 2003 Damon Challenger with 79k for 13k. I think part of it was that she was tired of looking. But it probably was the worse choice possible (I won't tell her that). Anyone know a good inspector in Tampa? Thanks again.

If you are talking about a 1970's vintage a big slow turning heavy mechanical diesel will outlive a carborated gas engine with less ongoing maintenance.

With modern engines, there is very little difference in engine lifespan and gas engines require very little ongoing maintenance. You might be looking at an oil change per year (at less than half the cost of the diesel oil change) plugs at 100-150k (honestly haven't changed plugs or wires in a gas engine in years. Probably should but just not an issue). With modern electronically controlled diesels, they are at least as complicated if not more so.

As long as the gas engine is properly sized for the load, no reason not to expect 200-250k miles of reliable use. By the time, you hit that point the house is likely 20-30 years old and has reached the end of it's life.

If you do have to do major work or replace the engine, the gas is going to be drastically cheaper. You may want to shop around for a non-RV shop but with a big diesel, you are limited to RV or truck repair places.

So if both drivetrains appear to be in good shape, I would choose based on the overall condition for similar rigs.

ncrowley wrote:
How big of an RV do you want to purchase? If you are looking at something 38 feet or over, I would go with the diesel. I would look for a high end model from a good manufacturer, gas or diesel. I would look for one from a private owner that has the maintenance records and has had pride of ownership.

As we are planning to fulltime travel with it, we would like something in 30' range so we can get to NP, NFS camps etc., i would like to toad Cherokee or some such car for offroading. We don't mind smaller as we are boaters and been living on sailing yachts for a while so space-vise any RV is bigger :-)

Currently i am leaning towards 5er with 1ton 4x4, but as it was mentioned to me in another thread MH can suit our needs little better hence the question.

I'm sure that if every one like the same type/style coach. there would only be one manufacturer.
Remember "to each there own" was never more appropriate in any thread.

Ductape wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:

bobkatmsu wrote:

Ductape wrote:
In that price range, be careful and have financial contingency plans for repair costs. Diesel repairs are (more) expensive.

It really all hinges in condition more than what type of engine. Better a quality gas coach than a bargain brand diesel.

Totally agree. If you are looking a units of that age it appears that you have a limited budget for this project. Repair bills on a DP are going to be significantly higher that the gasser and at this age you are going to have repair bills. As far as performance of ride, towing capacity, weight you can carry, all favor the DP. However the cost may be the deciding factor. The purchase price is only part of the actual cost of having a motor home. We owned a gasser for years and loved every moment of owning it. We are going full-time now and this is going to be our home, so at this point I can justify a DP. Although the cost of repairs is still a concern.

The diesel will have fewer age related problems than the gas, and the repair costs will be the same. Shop labor makes no difference. The gas will have ignition, fuel injection, and electrical problems more often than the diesel.

There's a person on IRV2 spent $25k repairing the diesel in 20 year old coach.

I'm certain that you can always find some one who bough a lemon, but remember 2% of the people make 100% of the news. how many have you tried to find that bought old diesels and never spent much money keeping them going.

Mile High wrote:

bacil wrote:
Don't want to hijack this thread but i would have made one with exactly the same subject :)

would any of you chose New gaser in 100k range or used DP ?

DP. As long as you don't have to go back so far you are getting into dated equipment and interior. $100K will put you in a nice older DP.

Less than that will put you in a quality high end coach.

NICE coach

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Tom/Barb,

I had a 1987 FRED class C. 6.9 liter engine. Parts were not available in 2009. There were two places to go for service in a city of 225,000 souls. I had to pay $140 to $190 for an oil change. Granted 1987 is not 2000, but it is still 18 years, and at 18 years I was starting to have parts issues.

My V-10 is a lot less expensive to keep running. I would not go back to Diesel for love nor money. I've replaced one mass air flow sensor in over 100000 miles.

I can do a LOT of maintenance for 10 grand.

That old 6.9 was the ford conversion of the International 440 industrial engine. There was one of them in almost every combine out there.
I don't understand why you'd have problems getting parts for one.

but there is always one exception.

Assuming the gas is an F53 Ford, the drivetrain combination will be the 362 hp V10 coupled to the 5 speed Torqshift trans. This is a dynamite combo and would be my choice.

Tom/Barb wrote:

bobkatmsu wrote:

Ductape wrote:
In that price range, be careful and have financial contingency plans for repair costs. Diesel repairs are (more) expensive.

It really all hinges in condition more than what type of engine. Better a quality gas coach than a bargain brand diesel.

Totally agree. If you are looking a units of that age it appears that you have a limited budget for this project. Repair bills on a DP are going to be significantly higher that the gasser and at this age you are going to have repair bills. As far as performance of ride, towing capacity, weight you can carry, all favor the DP. However the cost may be the deciding factor. The purchase price is only part of the actual cost of having a motor home. We owned a gasser for years and loved every moment of owning it. We are going full-time now and this is going to be our home, so at this point I can justify a DP. Although the cost of repairs is still a concern.

The diesel will have fewer age related problems than the gas, and the repair costs will be the same. Shop labor makes no difference. The gas will have ignition, fuel injection, and electrical problems more often than the diesel.

There's a person on IRV2 spent $25k repairing the diesel in 20 year old coach.

How big of an RV do you want to purchase? If you are looking at something 38 feet or over, I would go with the diesel. I would look for a high end model from a good manufacturer, gas or diesel. I would look for one from a private owner that has the maintenance records and has had pride of ownership.