Upgrade from gas to DP

Has anyone tried this ?

Cheap Handling Fix for Ford F53 Chassis


Another blog on improving F53 handleing

Executive wrote:
If you think there's a difference between a gas coach and a DP, drive a tag axle coach! You won't feel any wind buffeting nor any effect of a semi passing. But, in answer to your question, you get a much heavier coach with the DP. Laws of physics says wind won't push you around as much. Finally, I believe you get more interior quality with a DP than you do on a gas coach so the difference in price is mitigated....Dennis

There is a limit, we were hit by a 70 MPH gust on Deception Pass Bridge one afternoon put us up on two wheels.

The seat has never smelled the same.

There were scuff marks half way up the tire side walls it nearly rolled the tires off the rims.

we did loose the awning, ripped it clean off the coach, and thru it over the railing of the bridge. splash.
we are really careful now about pulling out on the bridge on windy days.

I have a Thor 37K Challenger gas motorhome. It's noisy going up hills, and the brakes could be stronger. But I have very little buffeting by passing big rigs. I've also driven gas coaches that would get tossed around by trucks going by. I assume DP's will be more stable, and certainly quieter, but I have absolutely no complaints about the stability of our motorhome - so it's model specific.

theoldwizard1 wrote:
Maintenance costs, especially oil changes, on a DP will knock your socks off.

But since they're only required every 20,000 miles it averages out. :W

As to the original question, our first diesel was a huge step up in comfort and relaxation compared to the (3) gassers we had before that. Our current MH has Newmars Comfort Drive and let's just say it takes it to another level.

Currently only Newmar and Newell offer Comfort Drive, at this point in my life I wouldn't own a MH without it.

Maintenance costs, especially oil changes, on a DP will knock your socks off.

donnyB7 wrote:

Am I fooling myself in thinking that a DP would be less taxing in long drives?

In short, no. A DP can be very comfortable in comparison but, what are you willing to spend in the possible difference between the two?

As others have said, a DP be can very stable while passing and being passed by other big rigs-almost to the point where there is zero effect. However, let's talk about wind. We had constant 30mph winds with gusts to 40+ yesterday. You feel that and it is a chore negotiating those conditions. We stop more frequently for breaks when the wind becomes taxing. We may be able to put on more miles in a "real" wind with our DP compared to those in other types of RVs but, the wind is still a concern when it gets above a point.

Other factors that you didn't mention but others have is a much quieter and smoother ride. For us, that's the primary difference. Stability in minor to medium winds comes in second. We average 500+ miles a day when we need to make a lot of miles and never felt comfortable doing that in our gas motorhomes.

If you think there's a difference between a gas coach and a DP, drive a tag axle coach! You won't feel any wind buffeting nor any effect of a semi passing. But, in answer to your question, you get a much heavier coach with the DP. Laws of physics says wind won't push you around as much. Finally, I believe you get more interior quality with a DP than you do on a gas coach so the difference in price is mitigated....Dennis

I think any DP chassis is going to ride and drive better than a gas chassis. I have a four bag freightliner chassis and while it handles well it is not as nice as a 6+ bag tag axle chassis. Wind is a factor in my travels with my older DP. I don't feel as though it is a safety concern but it will wear me out.

donnyB7 wrote:
I have searched for this but could not find what I was looking for. I have a 36 foot gas class A and have probably driven 1000 miles with it, the longest stretch at one time was 200 miles. It drives fairly well, but have driven in a bit of a wind storm and have felt the effects of an 18 wheeler as it passed me.
I would like to drive from Florida to California in a MH, but not sure I want to do that in my current coach.
Am I fooling myself in thinking that a DP would be less taxing in long drives?
I have been looking at 10 year old DP coaches in the 39 foot length.

The largest contributing factor is with how much tail is trying to wag the dog. Also a tag axle helps as it must have on our former gas coach, which we drove all over the country, without incident and including windstorms across the US desert SW. This also shortened the tail behind the rear wheels, so.....
With our present DP, it handles even better and doesn't have a tag, but still not much tail and then we're talking apples and oranges here with weight and a Spartan chassis.
A DP will handle and ride better as a general rule and has many other benefits to making your trips more enjoyable, both for the driver and passengers. There's a lot of argument for gas vs diesel, but not many go back, once they switch to a DP.
Then there's the selection of 10yr old DP's, but probably should be reserved for another topic of which many abound, already.
I think we found the best bang for the buck, after much research with ours, but then doesn't most everyone else and why they make so many.

Depends on how much loose change you have to spend. Take a trip in a greyhound bus and feel how it handles if you want a better idea.