Diesel vs gas for Class A....also length of RV....

[sr71bbjd]

Hello!

My wife and I have been camping for 40 yrs, from tent through big travel trailer. We are now considering purchasing a used class A motorhome.

We have looked at several units and have two main questions we can use input on.

- is it worth buying a diesel and paying a premium of about $0.40-.50 per gallon? I know they have better longevity, and better torque for hills and grades, in theory....

- is there a size point of motorhome length where you start having difficulty with state parks and campground navigating? Better to hold it to 30'-34'? Is 37' a problem?

We will be up and down the east coast; from CT - New Orleans, Austin, Nashville, and plan one lengthy trip out west and back.

Any help and insights you can offer are greatly appreciated!

Jerry

[bluwtr49]

First, I would question the premium costs for diesel that you mentioned since that will vary widely depending on where you are traveling. Right now here in OR, diesel is actually less than gas and I can use truck lanes thereby avoiding the otherwise mandatory full service attendant.

Other places we'll been in the West (excluding CA witch I avoid) the premium, if any has been minimal and is more than made up by better fuel economy.

Although I suspect you need to compare the benefits in coaches of the same size. If you want a 38' coach compare a 38' gasser to a 38' DP otherwise you data is skewed. Anything larger may preclude a gasser altogether.

[Peralko]

Another issue is that a gas motorhome will take an extra hit on resale value if you put a lot of miles it. This can be significant if you plan on driving a lot. Not so with a diesel.

[Hudsoner]

I have a 31 foot gasser with a Five Star tuning in it, and no matter what hill, I am almost dancing around the ever so slow diesel pushers. Even with my Subaru outback in tow I never need to use the truck lane. I don't know who invented the fairy tale that diesel pusher can climb mountains better or faster. It is all a relation of hp to weight that decides who gets up the hill better!

My short motorhome is ideal for my purpose, I can park it at my house and at the houses of friends and relatives, or I can go into state or federal parks and always find a space. And because of its 19 1/2" tires, it is just a little over 11' tall and I can go almost under any bridge around!
It is the right unit for us, you have to find the right on for you and your needs!

[WyoTraveler]

Executive wrote:
Drive a gasser then drive a diesel of similar length. You will get your answer easily.....mpg is only a fraction of the equation.....Dennis

Ya right drive any cheapo diesel and then drive a provost and you will know what to buy. sometimes lots of difference between wants and needs.:B

[hipower]

Trackrig wrote:
The DP has a much better ride, will climb hills better, handle the winds better and come down the mountains better with the air brakes and retarder. Ours is 39' and we've had no problems with the length.

Diesel was cheaper here for a couple of months, now it's about 10 cents more expensive. Look at it this way, gas couldn't move this MH, so it's not like I could have chosen gas even if I had wanted it. Most people just don't put enough miles on to worry about it. A 25 cent difference on 15,000 miles a year is only $3,750. That would be about 2 1/2 round trips across the country per year.

Dennis / Executive does a lot of traveling and he's almost a fulltimer. Dennis - how many miles are you putting on it a year?


____________________________________________________________________
Isn't the math a little off here?

15,000 miles at 8 mpg would be 1,875 gallons of fuel consumed. A $.25 differential in cost for fuel would then be $468.75. Far below $3,750.

The annual mileage used is far above average for most of us so it would seem that the premium for diesel vs gas would be less than $500 annually. I don't think that would be a deal breaker for most decisions of this size.

Bill

[mowermech]

IMO, 32 foot is perfect.
However, if I were to go full-timing again, I would want a washer/dryer, so I would have to get a 34 or 36 footer to have the room for it.
I am very happy with my Ford V10 powered coach. We towed a PT Cruiser on a dolly from Montana to Tennessee (well, OK, Georgia, actually, near Chattanooga).
No problems at all.
I recently made a trip from Billings to the Flathead Valley and back, towing the Dodge Ram 1500 over the Continental Divide. No problems.
DW just came back from a trip to Thermopolis, WY, towing the Dodge. No trouble.
Personally, I find the ride quality in our Southwind to be perfectly adequate. But then, I don't expect Rolls Royce ride in a heavily loaded truck!
As for "fuel economy", IMO using that term and "motorhome" in the same sentence is an absolute oxymoron! If fuel economy is a major concern, one probably should not even be considering a motorhome.

[et2]

Had travel trailers pulling with gassers, hated them. Bought a fiver and went with diesel truck, never went back to gasser. Night and day difference. As another poster mentioned the exhaust brake ... Absolutely great feature in a diesel.

We now have a DP MH and don't travel three months a year ( maybe one) but to us it's worth every penny, also better resale than a gasser. It's quiet ... something you won't get with a gasser. If that means something to you in making your trip more pleasurable rather then possibly having to wear wearing ear plugs, then it's a plus in my book.

I was getting 9.9 mpg on our 42' with a toad on our last trip, engine isn't even broken in yet. It is a great ride with a DP and no worries going up or down the hills. I practically don't have to use brakes much ( except full stops or hard stops) as the exhaust brake is that good. So you probably save a lot of money in other maintenance area's over a gasser ( oil changes are more). The better ride is worth the extra costs "if any" over gasser. Most of it is just changing a filter for the air drier every few years, or pulling a few lanyards to release air from the tanks every 6 months (lanyards - very simple - you can do it). Other than that it's not much more then what what the gasser is.

Who cares who gets to the top of the hill faster, I never understand that as a point to discuss anyway. IMHO either one will do the trick. If money is the issue - gasser - if not diesel. Honestly, in the long run your better off with the diesel in more ways then one. Your buttocks and ears and piece of mind will be appreciative of your diesel decision.

[hoopers]

I just downsized from a 40' 5th wheel to a 30' gas motorhome. 40' is just too much for state and national parks. That was my experience. There might be a few parks that can take a 40 footer, but not many, and those that do, usually only a few sites, and those 1 or 2 sites get taken quickly. With our 40 footer 5th, we gave up on state parks...just went to RV parks instead. We really missed the national and state park experience.
We had a 32' 5th wheel before the 40 footer, and though tight sometimes, we usually could (not every time) find a spot in the state parks. I know there is a strong urge to go big, but 32' would be the limit in my recommendation for state parks. Smaller would be better too.
Diesels typically can tow 10000 lbs, where gasers are 5000 lbs.

If I was full-timing, I would probably own a 43 foot tag axle, but that is not our life style. We are both retired, but enjoy spending time between our stick homes and on the road with our camper. See my signature.
The other big issue I have with new diesels is all the emissions they put on the engines. IMO, reliability has taken a big step down since 2007. I couldn't see spending 200,000 plus on a diesel motorhome that could give me problems after a few years.
My newer chevy diesel truck had one emission problem after another (all under warranty, at least). I won't buy another diesel engine, until detroit figures out the emissions 100%. DEF? What a horrible solution, IMO.

[Rodz]

My last two were DP's. Our new one is gas, 2015 Newmar Canyon Star 3610. The newer gas units have plenty of power to handle the hills and the ride is very good. They have come a long ways since my last one. We take several short trips a year and couldn't justify the cost of a DP and the mileage is close to the same as a DP. If your basing you choice on mileage, you probably won't live long enough to recover the cost difference. The last new gasser I bought was a 1994 Coachman Santara. Even back then It had no problem pulling a 32" trailer through the mountains. Without the trailer I could stay with most DP's on a hill.

[J-Rooster]

Jerry, IMHO it's about what you will be happy with! I have a 36' gasser that gets me where I want to go just fine!

[MeanderMan]

Judging by your travel needs, I'd look at a newer gas model. I've owned both gas and diesel, and although the ride is better on a DP it's not worth the initial investment and higher maintenance costs if you're not full or "most" timing and don't need a 40 footer. New gas motorhomes are durable, have most of the DP amenities, and are powerful enough to take you anywhere you want to go. There's a lot of emphasis on the DP's better ride, but you'll be spending much more time parked. Good luck in whatever choice you make.

[Gjac]

If I was a fulltimer like Dennis I would buy a 40 ft DP. If I were going to camp in SP's,NP's,NF CG's in the east especially I would look at a 32- 34 ft gas MH 2006 or newer. You really have to determine how you will camp and how you will use it. A lot of people like to camp in one spot for a while. Friends of ours stay in the same RV resort all winter in Fla. in a 40 ft DP. Some like to travel every 2-4 days to smaller CG's and see new things. You sound like the later from your OP.

[Trackrig]

The DP has a much better ride, will climb hills better, handle the winds better and come down the mountains better with the air brakes and retarder. Ours is 39' and we've had no problems with the length.

Diesel was cheaper here for a couple of months, now it's about 10 cents more expensive. Look at it this way, gas couldn't move this MH, so it's not like I could have chosen gas even if I had wanted it. Most people just don't put enough miles on to worry about it. A 25 cent difference on 15,000 miles a year is only $3,750. That would be about 2 1/2 round trips across the country per year.

Dennis / Executive does a lot of traveling and he's almost a fulltimer. Dennis - how many miles are you putting on it a year?

Bill

[Executive45]

Drive a gasser then drive a diesel of similar length. You will get your answer easily.....mpg is only a fraction of the equation.....Dennis

[WyoTraveler]

When you get to 26,000 lb in a gasser the tranny ratio changes to handle the heavier load i.e. longer length. Of coarse mpg goes down. I think MHs in general are more expensive on the road. If I were going to FT I would probably buy a diesel. RVing 3 to 5 months we are fine with a gasser and 34'. I would look at both, then decide what is best for your RVing.