Should I consider gas burner

[Fifty4F100]

Just got back from a swing around Arkansas (and Memphis) looking at some diesel pushers. Saw many we liked but couldn't make the price work. With our budget most salesmen were steering us toward gas coaches. I told them I had a 99 Holiday Rambler with the V10 and didn't like how sluggish it was especially on some of the hills we took it on. They assured me that the later model Ford V10's are much more powerful and would pull more. They are definitely better priced. But I would love to buy my last coach, retire in a few years, and full-time for a while.

Would love some feedback, especially from someone who has a newer gas burner.

[-Gramps-]

Fifty4F100 wrote:

-Gramps- wrote:
We fulltime in our gas motorhome as well, have been since Dec. Been up and down hills and we climb some 7 percent grades travelling thru the Blue Ridge Mountains, not like the Rockies I guess, but still have no issues pulling our Vue. We pass a few DPS in the right lane actually.

There are some used gas pushers on the market if you look, most of them are Winnebagos or Itascas like this one

Winnie Gas Pusher

Holiday Rambler Gas Pusher (almost like mine)

I've always wondered why no gas pushers. I've never seen one. The driveshaft blocks a lot of storage!

Rexhall Gas Pusher

You are right about that. I have lots of storage in my bays, pass thru for all the space between the front and back wheels.

[webslave]

There are a lot of folks that like their gassers, a lot like their diesels. I'm in the latter camp. I towed for years with a gasser...didn't like the cost in buying or the "cost" of owning. When we had our 5th wheel, I got a diesel truck (Ram Long Horn with the CTD) and will never tow or haul or push any weight with anything but a diesel. I'd even like to have diesels in my cars, but, the European versions are the only ones that you could get with a diesel (Dodge Journey and a Jeep Trail Hawk).

Now that I've got the motor home, I couldn't imagine it without a diesel (42' and 38,000 lbs as we travel). We have already "talked" about what we will do when we get older and don't need or want the big motorhome. A smaller class C would work better for shorter trips, but, you can bet it will be a diesel...

There are lots of threads about the pros and cons of each type...I won't go into them again, but, my vote will always be for a diesel; whether powering a motorhome or towing a bumper pull or 5th wheel. As for the generator sitting in the front of our DP? Can't hear it hardly at all when parked (it is just a "humm" and we don't need to turn up the volume on anything) and if it didn't have an "ON" light, I'd never know it was running when going down the road.

[AllegroD]

Fifty4F100 wrote:

gemert wrote:
More HP or not, I'm betting it will still be loud while hitting high RPMs to climb. I like talking to the wife and hearing her replies, wait what? Well anyway still same issue. I like my DP.

I agree about the noise. I'm sure there have been improvements in insulation since 1999. But I wonder how that might compare with running a diesel generator to run AC going down the road. Is it noisy?

Times are changing.

Depends on mfgr and how much insulation they have done. Our previous 04 Coachmen Aurora 3480DS was loud. We always had to raise our voices to each other, to be heard.

Current 2013 Tiffin Allegro 36LA is much better. No it is not as quiet as many diesels but we can hold normal conversation at normal voice level, unless we are into high RPM. Then we just wait a few minutes for the climb. We have a microphone in the dash and the stereo connects, Bluetooth, to our phones. incoming voice comes through speakers. I can talk to the family, while on the road and they can hear me clearly. No. I am not hunching down and shouting into the microphone. Normal voice and sitting upright. I am 6'2".

Tiffin did include Dynamat style of insulation on the outside/underside of firewall and doghouse. There is also 1 inch foam board (between plywood) insulation in the floor.

[Fifty4F100]

-Gramps- wrote:
We fulltime in our gas motorhome as well, have been since Dec. Been up and down hills and we climb some 7 percent grades travelling thru the Blue Ridge Mountains, not like the Rockies I guess, but still have no issues pulling our Vue. We pass a few DPS in the right lane actually.

There are some used gas pushers on the market if you look, most of them are Winnegbagos or Itascas like this one

Winnie Gas Pusher

Holiday Rambler Gas Pusher (almost like mine)

I've always wondered why no gas pushers. I've never seen one. The driveshaft blocks a lot of storage!

[mowermech]

Our V10 goes over the Continental Divide with no problems, even towing the truck.
As for 11,000 feet, I don't know. I don't go up there any more, I get into respiratory distress at about 8,000 feet, so I stay away from The Beartooth Highway!
Oh, yes, to answer the question, YES, IMO you should consider a later model Ford V10 powered gas coach.

[-Gramps-]

We fulltime in our gas motorhome as well, have been since Dec. Been up and down hills and we climb some 7 percent grades travelling thru the Blue Ridge Mountains, not like the Rockies I guess, but still have no issues pulling our Vue. We pass a few DPS in the right lane actually.

There are some used gas pushers on the market if you look, most of them are Winnebagos or Itascas like this one

Winnie Gas Pusher

Holiday Rambler Gas Pusher (almost like mine)

[dahkota]

We RV full time. In a gasser. In the 168 hours in a week, we might be actually driving about 10 hours - 5 percent of the time we spend in our RV. The other 95 percent of the time we are parked. Of that 5 percent of the time spent driving, a maximum of 10 percent is spent accelerating up hills or on ramps. In other words, for about a 1/2 percent of the time spent in our RV, our RV is loud. The other 99.5 percent of the time, it isn't. We have been up and down the Appalachians, the Rockies, the Alaskan Range. Sometimes we pass other RVs and semis, sometimes we don't. But we always get where we are going.

What is far more important is the livability of the floorplan. Does it have enough storage (space and weight)? Can I get to the fridge with the slides in? Is the shower large enough? Does it have the amenities I want? Can I stand being in it for three days of torrential downpour? Can I park it where I want to?

[rgatijnet1]

Fifty4F100 wrote:

gemert wrote:
More HP or not, I'm betting it will still be loud while hitting high RPMs to climb. I like talking to the wife and hearing her replies, wait what? Well anyway still same issue. I like my DP.

I agree about the noise. I'm sure there have been improvements in insulation since 1999. But I wonder how that might compare with running a diesel generator to run AC going down the road. Is it noisy?

Think about where you will be going with your coach. I've heard all of the BS from DP owners, and I have had DP's myself, and the amount of time that you will actually be in a steep climb MIGHT total 1% of the time you are on the road. We travel all over the Western mountains and steep climbs that mean a very high rev do not happen that often.
If you find a floor plan that you can live with, at a cost you can afford, do not worry too much about the power plant noise. The Ford V-10 will get you where ever you need to go and the sound insulation is much better than it was in 1999.

[barmcd]

Fifty4F100 wrote:

gemert wrote:
More HP or not, I'm betting it will still be loud while hitting high RPMs to climb. I like talking to the wife and hearing her replies, wait what? Well anyway still same issue. I like my DP.

I agree about the noise. I'm sure there have been improvements in insulation since 1999. But I wonder how that might compare with running a diesel generator to run AC going down the road. Is it noisy?

You can hear it, but my 7.5 Onan diesel generator is more a low rumble than a roar. It's definitely quieter than a gas engine running 4000 RPM to get up a grade.

[Fifty4F100]

gemert wrote:
More HP or not, I'm betting it will still be loud while hitting high RPMs to climb. I like talking to the wife and hearing her replies, wait what? Well anyway still same issue. I like my DP.

I agree about the noise. I'm sure there have been improvements in insulation since 1999. But I wonder how that might compare with running a diesel generator to run AC going down the road. Is it noisy?

[gemert]

More HP or not, I'm betting it will still be loud while hitting high RPMs to climb. I like talking to the wife and hearing her replies, wait what? Well anyway still same issue. I like my DP.

[Johno02]

Our 04 gulfstream 31' has the 310 HP v10. We pull an HHR as a toad. Have done the Ozarks into Branson, across East Tennessee many times, Over Black Mountain in NC, Over the Blue Ridge in Virginia, and I79 up through Wva, and over Cumberland pass in MD. Went to Yellowstone, over the top of the Bighorns. We might not be the first ones to get there, but haven't had to get out and push yet. And the trip to yellowstone was with out older 275 v10, and pulling a ford SW. The v10 hasn't failed us yet. If you can get to Branson, you can get most anywhere. The Upper campground at Norris Dam above Knoxville was an interesting experience, but we got there.

[Fifty4F100]

RLS7201 wrote:
The 99 V10 at 275 HP was a dog. Ford recognized the problem and increased the HP to 310 in 2000 and then again increased the HP to 362 in 2006. The 2016 has reduced the HP to 320 but increased drivability with both HP and torque at lower RPMs and a 6 speed transmission. Don't shy away from the newer V10s until you drive one.

Richard

I wish I could drive a new gasser up some of the hills in East TN or the Ark. Ozarks. There was one hill 2 years ago our MH almost didn't make in Sylamore National Forest near Blanchard Springs Caverns. It was long and steep. And we weren't towing a car that trip. But that would be a 300 mile test drive.

[AllegroD]

V10 went to 3 valve in 07. Worth test driving to compare.

[RLS7201]

The 99 V10 at 275 HP was a dog. Ford recognized the problem and increased the HP to 310 in 2000 and then again increased the HP to 362 in 2006. The 2016 has reduced the HP to 320 but increased drivability with both HP and torque at lower RPMs and a 6 speed transmission. Don't shy away from the newer V10s until you drive one.

Richard