Thinking about a pusher

[wvabeer]

I have been wanting another motor home and thinking about the pusher style . I know very little about diesel engines let alone rear transaxles. I know plenty about gas and can do everything on them but back to the subject. Which pusher chassis are most trouble free? I'm thinking about a used high end unit. Any suggestions from those experienced in these would be greatly appreciated.

[tinkerer]

wvabeer wrote:
I guess it the I have never owned one so I am afraid of the diesel part and the big expense of a breakdown vs easy to get gas truck parts at any parts store. Do they all at least get 10mpg?

Yes I got 11.5 mpg with my Cat powered diesel pusher driving 75mph pulling a 5000 tow load. I won't mention the fact this was heading east from Flagstaff with a strong tailwind. I won't mention the 5 mpg when climbing a mountain. The message is take fuel mileage claims with a grain of salt.

[usersmanual]

wvabeer wrote:
I guess it the I have never owned one so I am afraid of the diesel part and the big expense of a breakdown vs easy to get gas truck parts at any parts store. Do they all at least get 10mpg?

pretty much all DPMH and big gassers all get 7 MPH out west
anyone claims more there incorrect
no one gets 10 mpg anywhere in the big mH world

[tinkerer]

It always seems the people who don't own a pusher know more about them than the people who won them. It can also be vice versa. DP usually have more features like a good sized inverter with a number of batteries to support the system. If the Gassers have to many features they are up against the GVW limit. Then there is towing capacity. But the sun comes up on all them every morning!

[gfs1943]

wvabeer wrote:
Do they all at least get 10mpg?

In neutral coasting downhill, or falling off a cliff.

[wolfe10]

wvabeer wrote:
Do they all at least get 10mpg?

In word, NO.

Very few older, lighter DP's and possibly some 2010 and newer with complex emissions systems might if driven conservatively.

Yes, unless you get a really heavy DP, it will get better MPG than a lighter gas rig, but MPG alone is not sufficient reason to buy a DP.

[wvabeer]

I guess it the I have never owned one so I am afraid of the diesel part and the big expense of a breakdown vs easy to get gas truck parts at any parts store. Do they all at least get 10mpg?

[usersmanual]

wvabeer wrote:
I have been wanting another motor home and thinking about the pusher style . I know very little about diesel engines let alone rear transaxles. I know plenty about gas and can do everything on them but back to the subject. Which pusher chassis are most trouble free? I'm thinking about a used high end unit. Any suggestions from those experienced in these would be greatly appreciated.

well your idea is correct.go used higher end units.lots out there
the ISL/ISX can go up to 20000 miles on engine oil(about 4 years for me)although I change every 3 years.lifetime coolant and 300000 or more on trans oil.much higher rate ratings than any gasser ever made
you can not compare any gasser to any mid to upper DP motor home

[afrescopXx]

ccxnola wrote:
My first two rigs were gas - our third is a DP (as noted in my sig below)- once you go DP, you never go back!. The difference is like plain biscuits vs Double Chocolate Cake!!

My personal experience: a gasser needs more regular maintenance and the engine components are subject to more frequent failure / replacement (starter, generator,belts, etc) as gassers are mostly built on lighter frames.

A DP is usually built on a heavy-duty truck or bus chassis and the whole complex is much more robust - but the regular maintenance is still a MUST!! Oil change on a gasser at 6 months - about $50. Oil change on my DP each year - $250. (Shop rates are over $110 hour here, so labor is a big part of the cost - if you can DIY, the cost is MUCH less! (But at 79 years, I am happy to pay the labor cost.)

If you would like an extensive pre-purchase checklist for a DP, just send me a PM - I have a couple that may be of use to you.

I would argue that your information concerning the Ford F-53 RV chassis is old and incorrect. The Ford V-10 is one of the most reliable gas engines ever built. Oil change interval is 7,500 miles or ONCE a year. The oil can be changed at any Walmart with a large service bay.Major scheduled maintenance is at 100,000 mile intervals. The chassis itself is a heavy duty truck platform. The 2016 F-53 now has a more modern six speed transmission.

[OLYLEN]

With any RV have it checked out by a pro. As far as going back to gas from Diesel many do for one reason or another, mine being size for small camp sites. As to maintenance the diesel will be about three times as much as the gas(there is a thread going on now on the subject with those who have owned both). Those that say otherwise are either not doing the suggested maintenance or just fooling themselves. I'm not saying one or the other is better just being real. The diesels usually ride better and get a bit better MPG, and are better appointed plus have more upper end options(more maintenance cost). If I were going for a DP again and I may, I would be looking at a high end older unit really kept well, they are around.

LEN

[tropical36]

wvabeer wrote:
I have been wanting another motor home and thinking about the pusher style . I know very little about diesel engines let alone rear transaxles. I know plenty about gas and can do everything on them but back to the subject. Which pusher chassis are most trouble free? I'm thinking about a used high end unit. Any suggestions from those experienced in these would be greatly appreciated.

I was and am in the same boat with you, when it comes to Diesels, but after much thought and research, we chose this one for a lot of reasons and it's always about money too. When money isn't an object, as some will claim, I could go on and on with what's available out there.
With our choice, we also got an American brand, that we like, without paying for the name and there's not much in the way of a quality build that this coach doesn't have, IMO.
Is it perfect in ever way, hell no and when you find one that is, please direct me to it.

[gswcgi]

I have had two "gassers" and one diesel since 1972. Have had my current 2003 Safari DP, am the original owner. No comparison!! The diesels are more expensive to acquire but not necessarily more to maintain. The Allison 6 speed tranny on most DPs are bullet proof no so on many gas RVs. Any of the major diesel engines are also bullet proof if maintained correctly. I would never go back to a gas RV !!!

[ccxnola]

My first two rigs were gas - our third is a DP (as noted in my sig below)- once you go DP, you never go back!. The difference is like plain biscuits vs Double Chocolate Cake!!

My personal experience: a gasser needs more regular maintenance and the engine components are subject to more frequent failure / replacement (starter, generator,belts, etc) as gassers are mostly built on lighter frames.

A DP is usually built on a heavy-duty truck or bus chassis and the whole complex is much more robust - but the regular maintenance is still a MUST!! Oil change on a gasser at 6 months - about $50. Oil change on my DP each year - $250. (Shop rates are over $110 hour here, so labor is a big part of the cost - if you can DIY, the cost is MUCH less! (But at 79 years, I am happy to pay the labor cost.)

If you would like an extensive pre-purchase checklist for a DP, just send me a PM - I have a couple that may be of use to you.

[Mr_Mark1]

Mr. Kenny,

Well, it depends how 'high-end' you want to go. We had excellent service out of 2008 Dynasty Roadmaster chassis over the 7.5 yrs. that we owned it (bought new and sold on Consignment in 2014).

Prevost chassis's are considered 2 million mile chassis's. Their parts, suspension and everything else, are very robust. Prevost chassis coaches have real front and rear bumpers and can withstand a pretty good hit without destroying the whole structure.

But, they need just as much maintenance to keep going but are built for easy/quick repairs. Windshields are about $450 each, radiators and CAC's are easy to get to as the grill on the side radiator opens for maintenance.

Just food for thought.

MM.

[Ivylog]

A DP does not have a transaxle, it will have a truck rear axle, a very dependable Allison 6 speed tranny and usually a Cat or Cummins 6 cylinder engine. After 04 my preference is a Cummins over a Cat. I would say the major of chassis are trouble free but some handle better than others... a tag axle makes a huge improvement and is needed for CCC on units 40'+.

I plan on using mine for another 12 years.:W