Diesel Pusher vs. gas

[DD788Snipe]

My buddy just bought a new gasser. Nice Tiffin Open Road gasser with great floor plan. He's had 2 DPs and now 2 Gassers with this one so we'll see. My buddy had the Banks system installed before his first trip and says he misses his 8.1 Chevy with the Allison trans already.
I've owned 2 gassers and now have a DP and I loved my Workhorse W-20 chassis (hated my Ford class C), but will never look back for many reasons, many stated in post here.
I always thought that the industry would go completely diesel for the class A rigs because of the higher weights and slideouts, especially when the FRED chassis came out (talk about noisy) and that still may happen since Ford is the only manufacture still building a large displacement gas engine.

Craig & Carolyn Roberts
Apple Valley CA
2006 Newmar Kountry Star KSDP3910

[mike brez]

I still giggle every time my DP goes pssssst.

[alpha99]

Originally Posted by mike brez

I still giggle every time my DP goes pssssst.

??? Why? I don't get it. Missing something here?

[bamaboy473]

While a newbie to MHs, I've had my share of diesel Mercedes and Ford Excursions, and don't really agree with the cost of Maintenance for diesels.

We drive very low miles in our MH, but really like not have downshifts all the time on uphills, and we like having exhaust braking on downhills.

IMO, brakes on diesels last a LOT longer than on gasseers.

[Triker56]

Originally Posted by alpha99

??? Why? I don't get it. Missing something here?

If you have to ask. You would never understand.

[mike brez]

Originally Posted by triker56

if you have to ask. You would never understand.

rotflmao

[Dogpatch]

Originally Posted by alpha99

??? Why? I don't get it. Missing something here?

LOL. Its not the coach trying to tell you a secret!
It's the air system reaching maximum and dumping the extra. PSSSST!

[rodz]

I wanted to buy new and couldn't justify the cost of a new DP. I went with the best gasser I could find. I've had DP's. A Monaco 300 Cummins and a Winnebago Journey 350 Cat. They do not go up hills any better than any gasser I've ever owned. If your looking at older DP's many had a 275 Cummins that wouldn't pull the hat off your head. Many get burned when buying older coaches because they don't know about window fogging, previous water damage from leaks, lack of maintenance and exterior wall delamination to name a few. There's a mpg thread on rv net. The honest one are saying they get between 7 and 8 mpg. I easily get that with a gasser. The overhang isn't an issue. The wheel base is chosen for a reason, balance. My new coach has a 28" shorter wheelbase and has 36" less overhang. The shorter w.b. makes it easier to maneuver through tight spots. I don't see the noise issue. When under a load I could hear the diesel very plain. The new gassers are actually very quiet compared to older ones and the ride has vastly improved. Did you ever try to take a nap in the rear BR of a diesel while driving? Not gunna happen. The majority of coach owners have gassers for a reason. A DP just isn't necessary to have a good time on the road.

[dubdub07]

rodz,

Although I do agree with most of what you say, I will say this......a gasser that is stopped on Monarch pass at road construction pointing up a 7% grade will struggle on getting going again. The DP will always go, up or down, with ease over a gasser. I have yet to be passed by a gasser but pass many up the passes. The altitude to grade combo is deadly for performance and all that is left are gears and RPMs......two things I don't need. I have torque and turbo.....

[rodz]

Originally Posted by dubdub07

rodz,

Although I do agree with most of what you say, I will say this......a gasser that is stopped on Monarch pass at road construction pointing up a 7% grade will struggle on getting going again. The DP will always go, up or down, with ease over a gasser. I have yet to be passed by a gasser but pass many up the passes. The altitude to grade combo is deadly for performance and all that is left are gears and RPMs......two things I don't need. I have torque and turbo.....

True, but most will never encounter a situation like that. All my years of owning motorhomes, I had one time where my trans and engine temp were getting warmer than I like. Climbing the mountain to Ruby Falls just outside Chattanooga. That was a 1985 32" Allegro with a 454 and still had plenty of power to get up the hill.

[Bad Bolt]

The sound that I love is the Ssssswwwiiishshshshshshshsh of a spooling up turbo I hear as I go through toll booths or am close to a building. Love a spooling turbo!!

When I was heading back to Ohio from Denver, where I bought the coach, I found that the Cummins 5.9 liked to be right at 1700 rpm or so on big hills. As long as I kept it there, I avoided down/up shifts and she just powered through it.

True, there is no napping in the rear bed with a DP...

But, sleeping at night boondocking in a gas coach with the genny under the rear area running probably ain't no better, either.

It's also true that older coaches have age issues to be carefully looked into and factored into selecting a coach. But, don't they all, diesel or gas?

Most diesels have full metal or fiberglass roof systems, vs rubber roofs. Also, only now are gas models getting 22.5 wheels.

Still love the air ride/brakes that come with DP's and gladly pay for it.

On the front noise topic with gas coaches, I do think an owner could very quickly reduce that greatly by adding more sound deadening material under the dog house and surrounding areas by the engine. There's some really good material available today.

[rodz]

Originally Posted by Bad Bolt

On the front noise topic with gas coaches, I do think an owner could very quickly reduce that greatly by adding more sound deadening material under the dog house and surrounding areas by the engine. There's some really good material available today.

That's exactly what Newmar did.

My Monaco was so much better in comfort than my 1994 Coachman Santara, I was one of the people saying I would never go back to gas. I was pleasantly surprised with how far the gassers have come. I'm 65 so this new coach is most likely the last one we'll get. At 6,000 miles per year it should last long after the kids take the keys away.

[vapor3000]

Originally Posted by Uncle Dave

Curious about your position.

If you were to tow something would you use the same mileage/length breakpoint? Say a small boat or a Toad?

Towing tends to be disproportionally harder on a gasser in terms of CC and mileage.

Just curious.

UD

Uncle Dave-

I'm not a big "tower". We do pull an aluminum tilt bed trailer with a Smart Fortwo or a Polaris RZR which my 35' Adventurer gasser does not know its there when towing. If we need something bigger than that, we rent it when we get there.

If one intends to do alot of big car/truck towing, they probably need a DP, but it would most likely be 40' or more.

My break points will still be the same "for me". 35' with 3 slides is plenty for us and we do no need a DP in this size range. If I ever move up to a 40', it will be a 40' Newmar DP.

[TMan59]

It became obvious to us very quickly we wanted a DP.
The ride, the power, the exhaust brake.
We had a class c gasser for a long time.

To me there really is no comparing the 2.