Community Forums

coachmanrvr · 07-16-2018, 04:32 PM

We ran our UFO chassis for over 60K miles before we traded. We towed a car on a dolly and never hurt for power. The 2008 holiday rambler vacationer had a 10k limit for the tow. It was a fine coach and put all the noise 40 feet away from the driver. I won't argue a diesel hauls more, but applied correctly the gas pusher was great. I'm surprised we don't have more options in that space.

rayza · 07-16-2018, 04:55 PM

Didn't mean to start a debate! For me diesel vs gas doesn't matter, as said it is only a matter of HP. Would like to see gas engines in the back driving the rear wheels. The big thing I am missing from my gasser is that beautiful storage area underneath the coach. For the different in price between gas and diesel I can do all of the suspension upgrades I want - even if I put LiquidSprings on I still wouldn't come close to the price of a DP.

Crasher · 07-16-2018, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nothermark

All that could be done with a turbo'd gas engine. Horsepower is horsepower. The rest is gearing. The only reason there is the constant mantra of gas vs diesel is that there are no large block properly equipped gasoline engines thanks to the EPA and various marketing forces. Few RV's are run enough miles to make diesel longevity a big deal. OTOH most heavy trucks are so they do benefit. That translates to the only heavy chassis available any more are diesel. That, in turn, makes the whole argument pointless.

I have to wonder what size a gas engine it would take to generate 1250-1950 ft lbs of torque to equal the performance of the larger DP coaches?? What transmission would be used to put the power to the wheels? Then what kind of economy would it get? I'm guessing 3-4 mpg. Maybe it could be done, but the final cost would be closer to the current DP's than one would think. Don't forget that the air suspension, brakes and Allison transmission are all part of the diesel package.

UFO Pilot · 07-16-2018, 05:08 PM

My rear engine gasser is 39 plus feet, 26000 pounds and has an Allison transmission. Like I said, the only other thing I would like to have is air suspension. I have 75,000 miles and driven in 43 states and am perfectly happy. You like your DP, OK, I like my RV just fine.

DegoRed · 07-16-2018, 05:11 PM

One thing that has always made me ponder, why is Ford using these V10's and not their Powerstroke engines? I get that the V10 has been around forever, but the diesel in my F250 puts out over 450HP & over 900TQ(I don't know exact #'s off top of my head). Now this is more HP than my current rig @350HP, but the TQ is less than my current @1100TQ, but still seems using the Powerstroke would open up a lot of options, both in the terms of Front & Rear mounting.

CJ7365 · 07-16-2018, 05:24 PM

dwaldow · 07-16-2018, 06:43 PM

Big block gas, could be be an option, turbo charged, etc. . .

All the excuses, EPA, cooling, are just R&D baloney - just saying for now, kinda like an old smoking diesel, G.E. fixed that in the locomotive division - now didn't they ?

gtsum2 · 07-16-2018, 06:58 PM

[emoji897]

sandpsycho · 07-16-2018, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DegoRed

One thing that has always made me ponder, why is Ford using these V10's and not their Powerstroke engines? I get that the V10 has been around forever, but the diesel in my F250 puts out over 450HP & over 900TQ(I don't know exact #'s off top of my head). Now this is more HP than my current rig @350HP, but the TQ is less than my current @1100TQ, but still seems using the Powerstroke would open up a lot of options, both in the terms of Front & Rear mounting.

I have wondered that for years myself. The E450 chassis would be another one suited for the Power Stroke. Now having a DP with a Cat C7 it does a better job pulling my 10,000 lbs trailer then my 7.3 does and the truck doesn't weight near as much as the motorhome. The 6.0, 6.4 would have been a disaster but the newest PS is pretty potent but very complex and not cheap by any means. The Cummins Dodge puts in their trucks are hanging off the back of a lot of pushers. A friend has one in his pusher and is less then happy with the lack of power.

nothermark · 07-16-2018, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DegoRed

One thing that has always made me ponder, why is Ford using these V10's and not their Powerstroke engines? I get that the V10 has been around forever, but the diesel in my F250 puts out over 450HP & over 900TQ(I don't know exact #'s off top of my head). Now this is more HP than my current rig @350HP, but the TQ is less than my current @1100TQ, but still seems using the Powerstroke would open up a lot of options, both in the terms of Front & Rear mounting.

Because the V-10 works and is lighter and cheaper.

It is more likely most folks would take the gas over a diesel anyway once the total cost is figured in and the weight issues addressed. The only real benefit with the diesel is fuel economy. Granted, it is better but it costs a lot more to get that increase. Generally the added cost of the drivetrain and support does not make up for the fuel cost difference when one adjusts for the typical 5-10,000 miles per year an RV is driven.

Sweetbriar · 07-16-2018, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ7365

Same here.

nothermark · 07-16-2018, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwaldow

Big block gas, could be be an option, turbo charged, etc. . .

All the excuses, EPA, cooling, are just R&D baloney - just saying for now, kinda like an old smoking diesel, G.E. fixed that in the locomotive division - now didn't they ?

The EPA is not baloney. The rest may be. No idea what GE is doing with their diesels.

Do a bit of looking at what some folks who make the rules want and your big diesel's days may also be numbered. They can't meet the emissions/mile standards that are proposed by those folks.

A Traveler · 07-16-2018, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nothermark

I like the assumption that there is a benefit to diesel over gas. All I see is added weight and expense.

Ah yes, spoken by someone who has OBVIOUSLY never owned or driven a diesel pusher. Wow.

nothermark · 07-16-2018, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crasher

I have to wonder what size a gas engine it would take to generate 1250-1950 ft lbs of torque to equal the performance of the larger DP coaches?? What transmission would be used to put the power to the wheels? Then what kind of economy would it get? I'm guessing 3-4 mpg. Maybe it could be done, but the final cost would be closer to the current DP's than one would think. Don't forget that the air suspension, brakes and Allison transmission are all part of the diesel package.

Probably one roughly the size of your diesel. More to the point is that it is easier for them to generate half the torque at twice the RPM to get the same torque to the tires at a given ground speed. That said I do know of one fellow who has his own machine shop and builds diesels he claims run in the 4000 RPM range... ;-)