Replacing a gas engine with a diesel

I don't see how it's cheaper to go to the huge expense of converting from gas to diesel, which will yield questionable results, for a motor home that is mainly going to just sit in an RV park ? :h
We're just trying to keep you from throwing your money away.I don't think you could ever drive enough miles to even come close to recouping the cost of the conversion.

If I were to go to deisel I would go to a class A.

Dusty

Please do some research on costs associated with maintaining a diesel. If only used for short hauls with lots of setting a diesel can be a nightmare. Replacing a set of plugged injectors one time will guarantee to ruin you day as might $130.00 for an oil change. John

To quench everyone's curiosity: I want a diesel because for me, it would be cheaper. I was given a biodiesel kit recently and have successfully made biodiesel before. I didn't want to mention it because I get very mixed reactions when I mention that I intend to make my own fuel. Many assume that I have I idea what I'm doing, plan to evade taxes (I intend to fill out the proper forms), worry that I don't know I need a 2 tank RV (one for regular diesel until the bio warms up) and filter heaters (I already have a universal set.) or that I will need to change the blend in winter. I know and I choose to pursue this anyway. The reason I didn't mind that I wouldn't be able to re-sell it is that this is going to be my home. I don't intend to resell it until it can no longer be used, at which point I will sell it for parts.
Anyway, I get now that my original idea isn't feasible. I still plan to pursue an older diesel MH. Thank you to everyone for your feedback.

TauneZ wrote:
I have been looking at full-timing in an RV for a while and have finally found an affordable one that is in surprisingly good shape. The only problem is, I know I really want a Diesel engine and this one runs on gasoline. (No talking me out of diesel.)

Go find a diesel. This is not what you want.

It's what you need considering diesels are made to be driven and that's not what you are going to do with it.

fellow I met in az has a 70's dodge replaced a 440 in an Apollo with a 5.9 cummins out of a 91 dodge he really likes it but lots of mods including dog house and hood to to find room for air intake and filter ken

Check out used Safari Trek Diesel motor-homes if you're set on diesel.
Great layout, short length Class A's.

Mich F wrote:
I find it hard to understand why someone has to have a diesel engine in a motor home that is going to spend most of the time parked in an RV park and occasionally be driven 150 miles. Is this thread for real,

It does seem to have a certain odor to it.

I wonder if the OP has considered the increased maintenance costs associated with a diesel. Short runs are best made with gas motors (as long as they come up to temperature), diesels are general considered long distance machines. I hate generalizations. :)

I keep wondering how he justifies a diesel with a minimal budget. I tend to believe its a case of I want instead of a reasoned case of what works best. In my opinion a diesel has no advantages over gas given the set of parameters he has given us.

If you're not willing to ask your mechanic family members for advice, that tells me you're not likely to have them do the conversion for you cheap/free. You will pay in the neighborhood of $5,000 to get a gas mh converted to diesel.

TauneZ wrote:
Does anyone know of an older Class C that runs on diesel?
It doesn't have to be great. I don't plan in driving it often, but when I do, I would drive it about 150 miles. For the most part, it will just be in an RV park. I am mostly looking at interior, plumbing, wiring, etc, but for the times I do drive it, I would prefer a diesel.

I just sold my diesel mh conversion truck and it was worth it for the 2,600 mile round-trip journeys I used to take, hauling 1-2 4x4 trucks from MT to CA. Stopped making that trip and the big diesel was no longer worth it.

the bear II wrote:
Unless you are an expert mechanic and can do the work yourself the conversion is expensive to the point you would never get your money back out of it.

For 150 mile trips, especially, it's not worth it. You will NEVER pencil out the cost of a diesel conversion.

For 150 mile trips not towing anything, gas is awesome!!

carringb wrote:
How about a used shuttle bus and converting it to a camper? Used 7.3L E450 shuttle buses go for ~$3-6k for Transit versions, and you can probably find a junked a camper for cheap to pull the interior out of.

The Transit buses tend to be high miles, but are also very well maintained. Just be sure to shop in no-salt states and you'll probably be able to find one in good condition. I even saw a front-wheel drive E450 bus for sale last week, which would be nice for a camper conversion because the floor is less than a foot off the ground.

This is one of the better ideas to get a diesel motorhome on a lower budget. You could get a running 1996-2000 7.3L Powerstroke diesel for the same cost as the conversion on an antique mh.

Warning: These are typically MDT (Medium Duty Truck) chassis. They are heavier duty than the typical 1-Ton van chassis. They have bigger axles, bigger brakes, heavier frames, and generally larger oil capacities. They also cost more mechanically to fix, and you won't get a simple brake job by a shadetree/mom&pop mechanic like you would the old gasser.