Gas vs Diesel

[bamaspiveys]

Hi folks, looking for some opinions.

Been out of RVing for several years and looking to get back in the game. I had several travel trailers and fifth wheels over the years but I want a Class A this time. Staying pretty basic and under $70,000.00.
So here is the question, older diesel pusher or new gas burner?
My research indicates I can get a 2006-2008 diesel pusher or a 2011-2013 gas coach in the target price range.
Most of our trips will be towing a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and in the 5-7 hour range.

Three units under consideration are:
2007 Coachmen Pathfinder - 50,000 miles, Genset has 1900 hrs, tires are DOT dated 2011
2005 Beaver Monterey - 30,000 miles Genset has 600 hours tires are DOT dated 2008 and need to be replaced
2013 Coachmen Mirada - 3000 miles Genset has 115 hours.
All three coaches are priced with between $65k and $68K

Thoughts, comments, suggestions of any kind appreciated.

[Jarlaxle]

Maybe not in Ohio, but it's common here. (Mine was a 160-year-old farmhouse.)

[JetAonly]

Jarlaxle wrote:
Did it a couple years ago...bought for my asking price by the third guy to look at it.

Glad it worked for you, it's not a preferred floor plan in most locations.

[timmac]

The Ford V-10 3 valve with Banks Power Pack and 5 Star Tuning can get up to 425 hp and 540 lbs of torque at the crank shaft, on a motorhome that weights under 20,000 lbs it moves right along and can keep up with the diesels in the mountains..

[JetAonly]

Kayteg1 wrote:
I think the hardest to understand in comparison is how the HP/torque works in real life.
We just replaced 174 HP diesel sedan with the same model 230HP gasoline model.
At 2-3000 rpm cruise the gasoline engine feels week. It has to downshift, where smaller diesel would do fine on top gear.
It takes >4000 rpm for gasoline engine to show the power.

It can be. TQ = F X r where r is the distance from point. Or r = distance from hub to ground.

W = F X D where W is work and D is the distance you exert the Force.

and P(power) = W/t where t equal time.

So any reference that has time in it, like speed or acceleration requires power. That is horse power. So you accelerate and climb hills at best HP rpm. Simply put TQ says how much weight you move HP says how fast you do it.

I know you understand this, many don't.

[Jarlaxle]

JetAonly wrote:
Don't need a 2 bath stick and brick either. Try selling one without.

Did it a couple years ago...bought for my asking price by the third guy to look at it.

[Gjac]

rgatijnet1 wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
I think the hardest to understand in comparison is how the HP/torque works in real life.
We just replaced 174 HP diesel sedan with the same model 230HP gasoline model.
At 2-3000 rpm cruise the gasoline engine feels week. It has to downshift, where smaller diesel would do fine on top gear.
It takes >4000 rpm for gasoline engine to show the power.

Actually the GM 8.1L engine used in the Workhorse chassis hits peak torque at 3200 rpm. The Ford V-10 hits peak torque at 3250 rpm.

And older 454's max torque is 1800 rpm. Engines are all different lower revving engines give the feeling of more power but it is still the HP/WT ratio that will determine actual performance.

[JetAonly]

Don't need a 2 bath stick and brick either. Try selling one without.

[2gypsies1]

gonesouth wrote:
.... my thought is that to enjoy being in the coach for months at a time you need to have a house that's nicer than the house you have at home, or else you'll want to get back home to your nice tv, bathroom, and kitchen. The Beaver Monterey you looked at is a mid-level diesel, and doesn't have things like Aquahot water and house heating and air levellers, but does have a rugged power train and running gear which will last better than any gasser unless you are a very gentle driver.

I disagree with your assessment that "to enjoy being in the coach for months at a time you need to have a house that's nicer than the house you have at home".

Not everyone needs the best.

Full-timers travel in any kind of RV out there...from small vans to the biggest buses. The van dwellers can be just as happy traveling; perhaps more so, than the big buses.

Long-term doesn't mean you need Aqua Hot. We parked next to one using it and it smelled awful into our RV and the noise was loud. We'd never have Aqua Hot or similar. We didn't use RV parks much and didn't have electric hookups most of the time. Everyone travels differently.

During our 16 years of full-timing we did 8 very satisfactory years in a 33' 5th wheel with two slides. The next 8 years were in a 40' motorhome and we purposely bought it with two slides because 90% of our time was spent in public parks - national parks, national forests, state parks, COE, county and city parks. In many public parks you're in a forest so we didn't want to deal with fitting multiple slides inbetween trees....and yes, our 40' fit in those kinds of parks.

Bottom line...everyone is different and not everyone needs all the frills. Even though ours was a Newmar Dutch Star it was very basic compared to what folks now think is necessary...like a washer/dryer or 1-1/2+ baths and 4 slides. None of that is necessary for full-time RVing.

[gonesouth]

This is a subject where you stand where you sit. If you look most posters are recommending that you get what they have. People who have big, nice rigs generally have diesels while those who have more economical rigs generally have gassers.....you need to decide for yourself what you want. For $70,000 you can get a very nice used diesel with a high quality house, which is what I prefer. YMMV, but my thought is that to enjoy being in the coach for months at a time you need to have a house that's nicer than the house you have at home, or else you'll want to get back home to your nice tv, bathroom, and kitchen. The Beaver Monterey you looked at is a mid-level diesel, and doesn't have things like Aquahot water and house heating and air levellers, but does have a rugged power train and running gear which will last better than any gasser unless you are a very gentle driver.
Bottom line.....for me, a diesel is what I want.

[Kayteg1]

My Detroit shine at 1400 rpm.

[rgatijnet1]

Kayteg1 wrote:
I think the hardest to understand in comparison is how the HP/torque works in real life.
We just replaced 174 HP diesel sedan with the same model 230HP gasoline model.
At 2-3000 rpm cruise the gasoline engine feels week. It has to downshift, where smaller diesel would do fine on top gear.
It takes >4000 rpm for gasoline engine to show the power.

Actually the GM 8.1L engine used in the Workhorse chassis hits peak torque at 3200 rpm. The Ford V-10 hits peak torque at 3250 rpm.

[Kayteg1]

I think the hardest to understand in comparison is how the HP/torque works in real life.
We just replaced 174 HP diesel sedan with the same model 230HP gasoline model.
At 2-3000 rpm cruise the gasoline engine feels week. It has to downshift, where smaller diesel would do fine on top gear.
It takes >4000 rpm for gasoline engine to show the power.

[Gjac]

I usually don't respond to these gas vs diesel discussion's. But I feel several key thoughts have not been discussed for the OP to make an informed decision. You said in your OP most trips will be 5-7 hrs away and you would tow a Jeep. Not mentioned is what size MH do you want. Do you want a short MH to get into SP cg's, do you want a longer MH to live in or extended trips out west? This does not fit your OP of 5-7 hrs away from TN. To me if you want a small MH(24-32ft) look at Gas, 37-45 ft look at DP's, in between the decision is harder. Not mentioned is the performance of Gas MH's vs diesel MH's, a 30ft gas MH will have 362 HP and weight 15k lbs a 40 ft DP might have 380-400 hp and weight twice that. The 30 ft gas will have in general better performance not because the gas eng is better but because of the huge weight difference of the DP. Remember as the DP becomes shorter the HP is decreased. A 38 ft gas MH will have the same 362 HP but much heavier weight to pull, much less performance but 5-7 hrs from TN would still work towing your Jeep. Read the sticky from Johnny T about Gas vs Diesel for a better understanding and good luck on you search.

[Jarlaxle]

Kayteg1 wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:
If someone has a problem on the road, they pay what that mechanic charges them.

Good you brought this issue.
When you have coach with commercial diesel and trouble on the road, the chain of technicians working for semi industry is well developed and with known prices.
Find a technician who will want to enter motorhome to repair gasoline engine 150 miles from nearest city?

It's not hard to find one. (There are-at least-three places in this ares that will do it.)

[RUSSELL5000]

I am planning to full-time in a few more years and have read numerous gas versus diesel threads. I think the first question to be answered must be how you intend to use the motorhome. I want to do a big trip all through Canada and Alaska.

After that I want to stay primarily in federal and state public lands, moving every other week at the most frequent, and not going that far. I would be surprised to see 10,000 miles annually after the big trip.

If I stay healthy and live long enough to wear a gas engine out then it will be my pleasure and delight to get another. Whoo-Hoo!!!!


Once the question of use is answered we can evaluate the meaningful differences in the things that matter to us.