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Old 05-25-2019, 11:13 AM   #1
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Gas VS Diesel

Trying to decide again Gas or Diesel which is better on hills and mountains? We plan to explore the whole US.
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Old 05-25-2019, 11:35 AM   #2
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Diesel: more torque for climbing hills - smoother ride - more towing - high mileage engines

gas: cost less to buy - cost less to maintain - lighter - get parts more places

that being said we went gas just due to floor plan and budget (45k)

the gasser will get you where you want but it is slower going up hills.

say the diesel goes from 62 down to 50 the gasser will go 62 down to say 45 so just stay in the right lane. its like being in a sailboat vs a motorboat
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Old 05-25-2019, 11:50 AM   #3
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This is a complex and contentious question which has been asked on this forum many, many times. There are a lot more factors than can be summarized in a brief response. I hate to tell someone to search for an answer, but searching on this topic will provide lots of "hits" on this and other RV forums. After you've read through some of those you will be in a much better position to ask questions that address your specific issues.

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Old 05-25-2019, 12:05 PM   #4
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A lot of if's and the big one is size of coach and what you are towing

Like Doc said do your homework on the forums. Should be able to read most of the threads in a couple weeks regarding gas vs diesel
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Old 05-25-2019, 12:12 PM   #5
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Well since this thread has been started maybe it was a good place post a question and I've been wanting to know. What is the difference 10 fuel mileage between gas and diesel RV say on a 36 foot RV
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Old 05-25-2019, 12:15 PM   #6
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Well since this thread has been started maybe it was a good place post a question and I've been wanting to know. What is the difference 10 fuel mileage between gas and diesel RV say on a 36 foot RV
A 40 plus DP will get in the 8 range while the gas version is going to be 6.5 and maybe 7 on a good day

Better mileage on the Diesel but higher maintenance so a bit of a wash

The deal breaker for me is Diesel Generator and Hydronic system so Diesel it had to be. If you are going to use the generator much you will never look back with a Diesel while you watch the gas and propane folks scramble for fuel
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Old 05-25-2019, 01:21 PM   #7
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If you're gonna do much traveling out west through the mountains then I would highly recommend a diesel pusher!
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Old 05-25-2019, 02:37 PM   #8
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The deal breaker for me is Diesel Generator and Hydronic system so Diesel it had to be. If you are going to use the generator much you will never look back with a Diesel while you watch the gas and propane folks scramble for fuel
IMO this is the key point that is often overlooked in these discussions. Diesels are reserved for "higher end" motorhomes which are, therefore, equipped with all sorts of "stuff' not available in less expensive coaches. Not that they couldn't be, they simply aren't. One of the most commonly mentioned such items is air suspension which makes driving in a DP a much more pleasurable experience.
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Old 05-25-2019, 02:42 PM   #9
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Diesel will get you to the top of the mountain faster and more comfortable.

The gas will get you to the top of the mountain, but not as fast..

When you pull into the parking spot, there is no difference.
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Old 05-25-2019, 02:53 PM   #10
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Where it counts -- working boats, Over-the-road trucks, working equipment of any size really -- there is no discussion of gas v diesel. Gas is simply not a thing. I've not yet bought a motorhome, but I'm not considering gas power. If I'm looking to push a large piece of equipment with serious reliability and power, diesel seems to make the better sense.

That said, it seems to me that the choice Is more than a yellow engine and what you want to stink like when you spill fuel on yourself.

If I saw myself as more of a stationary liveaboard and put more emphasis on having a nice interior, I would consider gas, since I wouldn't be using the engine much, and things like chassis rigidity and towing wouldn't be so important. I can buy a lot more house, a lot newer per RV dollar. I just wouldn't be able to afford fuel to take it anywhere.

Nor can I buy as big with gas. There are fewer gas engine size options. So as the house choice gets bigger/heavier, the engine can't be enlarged to keep up. That's OK up to about 34', I think. But I see myself in a 38-40' 2+ slide, pre-extinction (2008) bus, towing a 17' toyhauler. I see myself going mobile a few times a year and possibly boondocking it as I move from job to job. It doesn't sound like a job for the same V10 that powers a 25' no-slide weekend camper bus.

There are markedly different "traditional" floorplan differences between powerplant choices too, because the chassis are inherently different. I prefer a mid door entry. That becomes increasingly hard to find in newer diesels, but remains common with gas through the years. Rear room options open up with gas that you don't get with diesel because there's no hatch cover to contend with. A rear window can be nice. A typical gas engine is up front, which means the front a/c ought to be better, and the radiator is in the wind. But that makes for more driving noise and a hatch between the seats. None of that front engine stuff appeals to me except the radiator part.

I guess what I'm suggesting is that there are different tools for different jobs, and I see motorhome engines as tools. The tool is part of a complete package, where the gas does ok in the smaller/lighter sized rigs, stationary liveaboards, and for some chassis and floorplan layouts. The diesel seems to do better at the longer and heavy end of size, all topography drivability, and other chassis and floorplans. There are total package tradeoffs with either, and what you end up with will be a product of all the things important to your motorhome vision.

Right now for me that remains diesel. It would take a really special floorplan -- like a large T-Rex -- to move me to gas.
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Old 05-25-2019, 03:07 PM   #11
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Diesel will get you to the top of the mountain faster and more comfortable.

The gas will get you to the top of the mountain, but not as fast..
Actually, this is a bit of a misunderstanding of the physics of the issue. It's horsepower, plain and simple, that governs how fast you will go up a steep hill. Equivalently powered gas and diesel coaches should be able to make the climb at the same speed. Horsepower dtermines the amount of energy that can be delivered to a load in a period of time.

However, it's torque that governs how quickly a rig can accelerate. Even smaller diesel engines, such as the Cummins ISB 6.7L that is found in pickup trucks and less expensive DPs, have more torque than any gas available engines. Larger diesels such as the Cummins ISL and ISX or the CAT C12 that we drive, have enormously larger torque ratings.

Although "off the line" acceleration may not matter to you, the place where you really notice your torque rating is when you're climbing a steep hill and you decide to get out of the truck lane to go a bit faster. Having a large amount of torque available is what makes it possible to accelerate reasonably well while going uphill.

To invoke a little physics, torque governs the "rate of change" of rotational speed, in other words, how quickly your driveshaft and wheels can speed up.

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Old 05-25-2019, 03:07 PM   #12
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Trying to decide again Gas or Diesel which is better on hills and mountains? We plan to explore the whole US.
How big of a unit do you envision wanting <35 ft or >35 ft?
What to you plan on towing? Small car, big car, large trailer with car enclosed?

We have a 31 ft gasser, towing a 2015 Jeep Wrangler 2r, and have zero issues with a gasser. Yes being a gasser, engine up front, it can get a bit noisy as it down shifts to keep up the speed on long climbs but it does it each and every time. We pass many trucks and some mh’s.

“Better” at what cost?
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Old 05-25-2019, 03:08 PM   #13
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Diesel engines have more torque than a gas engine - but, it is not all about the torque and pulling grades. You have to consider side of the coach, what you will be towing, if anything and how much you want to spend on maintenance and repair costs. We just purchased a new Class A a month ago and went through this exercise. I like diesel, I like how it performs, I like the mpg. I don't like how much more it costs to purchase, how much the annual maintenance costs are, trying to find a place on the road that can and will work on the rig is something breaks, and I really don't like the "buckle up, this is going to hurt" cost of an engine repair. I own, and have owned 5 diesel trucks, and just traded in a diesel Sprinter on our class A purchase. We opted for the V10 in a 35' rig. The tradeoffs: 45 up a hill instead of 55, 6 - 8 MPG instead of 7 - 10, engine parts are readily available for a V10 almost anywhere in the USA (over the counter in most cases), and in a good, high end gas coach, the engine noise is not bad, even when pulling a grade. Hopefully, our venture will give you some insights to consider towards your selection.
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Old 05-25-2019, 04:02 PM   #14
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Actually, this is a bit of a misunderstanding of the physics of the issue. It's horsepower, plain and simple, that governs how fast you will go up a steep hill. Equivalently powered gas and diesel coaches should be able to make the climb at the same speed. Horsepower dtermines the amount of energy that can be delivered to a load in a period of time.

However, it's torque that governs how quickly a rig can accelerate. Even smaller diesel engines, such as the Cummins ISB 6.7L that is found in pickup trucks and less expensive DPs, have more torque than any gas available engines. Larger diesels such as the Cummins ISL and ISX or the CAT C12 that we drive, have enormously larger torque ratings.

Although "off the line" acceleration may not matter to you, the place where you really notice your torque rating is when you're climbing a steep hill and you decide to get out of the truck lane to go a bit faster. Having a large amount of torque available is what makes it possible to accelerate reasonably well while going uphill.

To invoke a little physics, torque governs the "rate of change" of rotational speed, in other words, how quickly your driveshaft and wheels can speed up.

Joel (AKA docj)

Good Post


But it is the air ride and being able to fuel in the truck lanes I like the most. After hours of driving and being tired, knowing you and your toad can easily maneuver thru ANY fueling station is nice.


The air ride just makes the whole day pleasurable. The parked days at great CGs are always fun. Why not have the driving days be fun as well.
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