Looking at new Gasser

[cochise49]

We've been looking at a new Winnebago Adventurer 38Q. Love the floor plan and features. Seems less expensive to operate due to lower maintenance costs. Currently have '05 DP with Cummins ISB. Pretty much have a handle of fuel/maintenance costs/trade-offs. Questions are:

Will I miss the air bags? Why?

Will the brakes need replacing more often?

Will the lower torque be noticible?

What advantages do a fiberglass roof have over TPO or EPDM?

[nemo45]

phnguyk wrote:

nemo45 wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:

nemo45 wrote:

rr2254545 wrote:
The ride and engine noise now in the back would make me never move back to my Winnebago gasser

Actually my fuel cost per mile computed given current Oregon pricing is .05 per mile less on my diesel, the price is 20% more per gallon but I am getting 33% better fuel economy 7 vs 9.3 mpg now

Ditto! Also the fact that I can actually use my cruise control with my diesel pusher.

Is this another myth from the DP crowd? :B
I cruise at 70MPH with the toad and WITH the cruise control and can match the 9MPG if I want to loaf along in the right lane at 55-60. I am retired and realize that my time left is limited so I prefer to spend the time at my destination rather than sitting in the right lane trying to save a few pennies.

Give me a break! I had a 37-1/2 gasser and drove it at 62 mph, which is what I drive the diesel at, and I never ever hit 9 miles per gallon. The highest I ever got was 8.2 and that was flat land with absolutely no wind. Most the time if it wasn't real windy I got around 7.2 with the gasser. One tank with the diesel and a tail wind I hit 9.8 mpg. This is with an Equinox toad. I had a scan gauge on both the gasser and the diesel and I am going by the average mpg which I zero at every fill. As Will Sonnet said "no brag, just fact". We never travel more than 350 miles a day and I can do that at 62 mph just as easy as 70. Your talking about 36 minutes difference. The point I was trying to make was that for the difference in cost for gas and diesel and maintainance, it is a push, because of the better fuel economy with the DP. So why put up with the gasser? While we liked the floor of our Georgetown gasser you could never get us to go back to one just for the difference in the ride and the noise and the fact that it doesn't sound like its going to explode trying to maintain 62 mph going up a small hill while in cruise control.

Wow, and in no way is this even remotely true "for the difference in cost for gas and diesel and maintenance, it is a push, because of the better fuel economy with the DP." Power to weight has a lot to do with mpg, and sorry but, they are closer than you will ever believe. You would have to drive 100,000 miles a year for 10 years to recoup anything if at all and hope you don't have any $$$$$$$ repairs. So I say why pay more for fuel, more for maintenance, more for repairs that goes with owning a diesel when a gasser can do everything the same but tow more than 5000lbs. BTW your last sentence? Ever been behind a diesel going uphill, or stand outside one just idling. Guess not.

I hate to burst your economy minded bubble, but I paid $6000 less for my used diesel pusher that I did for my new gasser. I've driven up hills with both my gasser and my diesel and the diesel is every bit as strong going up hill as the gasser was. I have passed both gasser motorhomes and semis going uphill with my DP. Since I don't stand outside the DP while I am driving it I don't particularly care what it sounds like out side and behind me. I'm not trying to justify anything, just simply stating my observations as far as fuel economy between the two. And, even if they got the same mpg I'd still go with the DP because of the better and quieter ride.

[dezolen]

Wow. I thought I got away from all this childish banter going to a class A from 5th wheel TV debate over gas vs diesel.
Just as many people here trying to justify spending twice as much for their motorhome. Nothing wrong with modern gas coaches and nothing wrong with DP coaches. Some just spend their money more wisely.

[J-Rooster]

Congrats on your new coach! I own a 10 year old Winnebago 35-U that I bought new and I'm very happy with it still! Very little problems with mine!

[phnguyk]

nemo45 wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:

nemo45 wrote:

rr2254545 wrote:
The ride and engine noise now in the back would make me never move back to my Winnebago gasser

Actually my fuel cost per mile computed given current Oregon pricing is .05 per mile less on my diesel, the price is 20% more per gallon but I am getting 33% better fuel economy 7 vs 9.3 mpg now

Ditto! Also the fact that I can actually use my cruise control with my diesel pusher.

Is this another myth from the DP crowd? :B
I cruise at 70MPH with the toad and WITH the cruise control and can match the 9MPG if I want to loaf along in the right lane at 55-60. I am retired and realize that my time left is limited so I prefer to spend the time at my destination rather than sitting in the right lane trying to save a few pennies.

Give me a break! I had a 37-1/2 gasser and drove it at 62 mph, which is what I drive the diesel at, and I never ever hit 9 miles per gallon. The highest I ever got was 8.2 and that was flat land with absolutely no wind. Most the time if it wasn't real windy I got around 7.2 with the gasser. One tank with the diesel and a tail wind I hit 9.8 mpg. This is with an Equinox toad. I had a scan gauge on both the gasser and the diesel and I am going by the average mpg which I zero at every fill. As Will Sonnet said "no brag, just fact". We never travel more than 350 miles a day and I can do that at 62 mph just as easy as 70. Your talking about 36 minutes difference. The point I was trying to make was that for the difference in cost for gas and diesel and maintainance, it is a push, because of the better fuel economy with the DP. So why put up with the gasser? While we liked the floor of our Georgetown gasser you could never get us to go back to one just for the difference in the ride and the noise and the fact that it doesn't sound like its going to explode trying to maintain 62 mph going up a small hill while in cruise control.

Wow, and in no way is this even remotely true "for the difference in cost for gas and diesel and maintenance, it is a push, because of the better fuel economy with the DP." Power to weight has a lot to do with mpg, and sorry but, they are closer than you will ever believe. You would have to drive 100,000 miles a year for 10 years to recoup anything if at all and hope you don't have any $$$$$$$ repairs. So I say why pay more for fuel, more for maintenance, more for repairs that goes with owning a diesel when a gasser can do everything the same but tow more than 5000lbs. BTW your last sentence? Ever been behind a diesel going uphill, or stand outside one just idling. Guess not.

[nemo45]

rgatijnet1 wrote:

nemo45 wrote:

rr2254545 wrote:
The ride and engine noise now in the back would make me never move back to my Winnebago gasser

Actually my fuel cost per mile computed given current Oregon pricing is .05 per mile less on my diesel, the price is 20% more per gallon but I am getting 33% better fuel economy 7 vs 9.3 mpg now

Ditto! Also the fact that I can actually use my cruise control with my diesel pusher.

Is this another myth from the DP crowd? :B
I cruise at 70MPH with the toad and WITH the cruise control and can match the 9MPG if I want to loaf along in the right lane at 55-60. I am retired and realize that my time left is limited so I prefer to spend the time at my destination rather than sitting in the right lane trying to save a few pennies.

Give me a break! I had a 37-1/2 gasser and drove it at 62 mph, which is what I drive the diesel at, and I never ever hit 9 miles per gallon. The highest I ever got was 8.2 and that was flat land with absolutely no wind. Most the time if it wasn't real windy I got around 7.2 with the gasser. One tank with the diesel and a tail wind I hit 9.8 mpg. This is with an Equinox toad. I had a scan gauge on both the gasser and the diesel and I am going by the average mpg which I zero at every fill. As Will Sonnet said "no brag, just fact". We never travel more than 350 miles a day and I can do that at 62 mph just as easy as 70. Your talking about 36 minutes difference. The point I was trying to make was that for the difference in cost for gas and diesel and maintainance, it is a push, because of the better fuel economy with the DP. So why put up with the gasser? While we liked the floor of our Georgetown gasser you could never get us to go back to one just for the difference in the ride and the noise and the fact that it doesn't sound like its going to explode trying to maintain 62 mph going up a small hill while in cruise control.

[Pop-Pop_C]

cochise49 wrote:
We've been looking at a new Winnebago Adventurer 38Q. Love the floor plan and features. Seems less expensive to operate due to lower maintenance costs. Currently have '05 DP with Cummins ISB. Pretty much have a handle of fuel/maintenance costs/trade-offs. Questions are:

Will I miss the air bags? Why?

Will the brakes need replacing more often?

Will the lower torque be noticible?

What advantages do a fiberglass roof have over TPO or EPDM?

With out airbags you will get a lot of "rock and roll"!
Especially around curves.

[rgatijnet1]

nemo45 wrote:

rr2254545 wrote:
The ride and engine noise now in the back would make me never move back to my Winnebago gasser

Actually my fuel cost per mile computed given current Oregon pricing is .05 per mile less on my diesel, the price is 20% more per gallon but I am getting 33% better fuel economy 7 vs 9.3 mpg now

Ditto! Also the fact that I can actually use my cruise control with my diesel pusher.

Is this another myth from the DP crowd? :B
I cruise at 70MPH with the toad and WITH the cruise control and can match the 9MPG if I want to loaf along in the right lane at 55-60. I am retired and realize that my time left is limited so I prefer to spend the time at my destination rather than sitting in the right lane trying to save a few pennies.

[Bumpyroad]

nemo45 wrote:


Ditto! Also the fact that I can actually use my cruise control with my diesel pusher.

I always used my cruise control in my gassers.
bumpy

[nemo45]

rr2254545 wrote:
The ride and engine noise now in the back would make me never move back to my Winnebago gasser

Actually my fuel cost per mile computed given current Oregon pricing is .05 per mile less on my diesel, the price is 20% more per gallon but I am getting 33% better fuel economy 7 vs 9.3 mpg now

Ditto! Also the fact that I can actually use my cruise control with my diesel pusher.

[doxiemom11]

Not all gassers are noisy with engine noise. It depends on the build and the insulation of the doghouse. We can speak in normal voices to each other when riding, however we have an older Monaco coach.

[Les_Balty]

Congrats!! Enjoy your new Winnebago. My wife likes that floorplan too.

[cochise49]

Took delivery Saturday. Gear that took 2 days to remove from our trade-in is taking twice as long to load into new rig. Trying to eliminate thins never used in several years. Plenty of storage though. Trying out all sitting, napping and sleeping locations for future reference. Just need to have a monitor/warning light installed for the Invisibrake on our CRV. Roadmaster says all will work without the monitor but wouldn't know if the toad brakes stuck on due to Invisibrake failure. Will risk it for a 50 mile trip to Camping World for the install. They want both vehicles for install.

[rgatijnet1]

Congrats on your new coach. Enjoy your travels.

[cochise49]

Well....we test drove it and bought it Sunday. I'll change my signature block on here when we take delivery. Drove it up the 6% grade on CA52 in San Diego. When you put your foot down, you get all you need but....the engine noise was significant but only then. Otherwise...didn't notice. We generally drive with the front mounted genset on for the roof air in summer in our DP now so almost a push until you need the extra oomph for hills. DW loves the floor plan and the stacked washer dryer instead of a combination unit. I like the reclining seats. I always spend at least part of my night sleeping in a chair so, I have lots of options now. Thanks to everyone for all of your thoughts. As usual, this hobby of ours is very subjective. Everyone has different needs and wants. RVing is perfect for individual expression. Something here for everyone.