Gas vs Diesel

[Rush2]

Due to hubbies medical problems, we're going to trade our RAM truck & '16 Montana 5th wheel in on a motor home couch. We've been comparing gassers with DPs. We were considering gasser Thor Axis or Winnie & DP Winnie Forza 34T or Tiffin Alegro Red 33AA. You all have convinced me (at least) to go with a pusher. Now I need to convince hubby to go with the more expensive Tiffin. Thank you for your input.

[Kodiakan]

Originally Posted by Rush2

Due to hubbies medical problems, we're going to trade our RAM truck & '16 Montana 5th wheel in on a motor home couch. We've been comparing gassers with DPs. We were considering gasser Thor Axis or Winnie & DP Winnie Forza 34T or Tiffin Alegro Red 33AA. You all have convinced me (at least) to go with a pusher. Now I need to convince hubby to go with the more expensive Tiffin. Thank you for your input.

FWIW, I have chronic back conditions and a few minor medical things just from being older. I didn't take them into consideration when buying a coach. Specifically, that 25 ft 50 amp cord is a bear to roll up and tuck into a cargo bay. My next coach will have its cord on a roller and maybe even the water hose. I purchased my high end coach from the original buyer who was cheap. It does not have the roll outs in any of the bays. I need to get an after market or trade my coach. Just a couple of my examples. I wish I had taken into account my physical shortcomings when I purchased my coach. Thought my experience might be of value. Best of luck........

[NXR]

Originally Posted by Rush2

Due to hubbies medical problems, we're going to trade our RAM truck & '16 Montana 5th wheel in on a motor home couch. We've been comparing gassers with DPs. We were considering gasser Thor Axis or Winnie & DP Winnie Forza 34T or Tiffin Alegro Red 33AA. You all have convinced me (at least) to go with a pusher. Now I need to convince hubby to go with the more expensive Tiffin. Thank you for your input.

If you're parked and using the RV a lot longer than you are driving it, then I'd prioritize creature comforts above driving. We drove about 20 hours total to get here and have been parked for a month at a time. When you're parked there is no difference in the ride or steering between a Newell and a cheapo clunker gasser.

One big consideration will be the weight of any towed vehicle. Many if not most gassers only have a 5,000 lb towing capacity while some can go 6,000 to 7,500.

DP's usually are in the 40' to 45' range while gassers can range from 24' to close to 40' with a wide range of weights, wheelbases, tire sizes and 19.5" or 22.5" wheels. To characterize gassers as being difficult to drive with a bad ride is to ignore the differences between them.

Our 22,000 lb, 242" wheelbase, 38' was easy to drive, no wandering but hard at bridge joints from Day One and we barely notice most trucks. We drove a brand new 36' Winnebago and it was ALL over the road. We could barely keep it in the lane lines and it got pushed around by trucks to the point where we were really concerned after about five miles of interstate test drive.

We added a Safe-T-Plus steering stabilizer to our 38' because it's supposed to help if there is a front tire blowout. We replaced the stock Ford Sachs shocks at 800 miles with Koni FSD's and now the ride is much improved and we usually barely notice bridge joints. We also added a rear trac bar before we began towing a car just in case but had not yet noticed any tail-wagging. We also had a Ford commercial truck dealer do a front end alignment, which was reimbursed by Forest River. They adjusted the toe-in about 1/32" in which helped a bit.

We've spent less than $3,000 so I figure we're about $47,000 ahead of the game on the cheapest DP's we looked at.

We've also talked to several Tiffin gasser owners who "downgraded" from a DP because of the easier and reduced maintenance costs. They confirmed their gasser rides and handles the same as their previous DP when parked.

It all depends on how you plan to use it.

FWIW,

Ray

[TriMoot]

Originally Posted by hohenwald48

I'll never have another DP for a number of reasons. The lesser ride and stability of a gas chassis is a small sacrifice to avoid all the other problems associated with owning a DP.

Hohenwald48: I am VERY interested in what you said here. I vacillate back and forth almost daily about upgrading our current rig (without slides) with one with slides and am having a tough time deciding which way to turn. So that we don't hijack his thread perhaps you wouldn't mind PMing me your reasons?

Thanks.

[Milford 47]

Since this is the 100dredth or more thread on this subject in the last few years you might want to go back and search some of the old ones out

You simply are comparing apples and oranges or in this case maybe wine versus brandy

there are reasons for both and it is entirely up to the individual and their budget. If the budget can do the DP then the decision is easily made

[Kodiakan]

Well, regardless of the subject being beat to death, seems like people enjoyed the thread. I know I did.

[timjet]

Originally Posted by Milford 47

Since this is the 100dredth or more thread on this subject in the last few years you might want to go back and search some of the old ones out

You simply are comparing apples and oranges or in this case maybe wine versus brandy

there are reasons for both and it is entirely up to the individual and their budget. If the budget can do the DP then the decision is easily made

This thread is NOT a comparison of gas vs diesel. It was a post to explain my surprise at hearing my slip neighbor's anguish at driving his new gas rig compared to what he was use to. After reading through these posts, I suspect his new gas rig needs some steer adjustments. I also suspect that his gas rig will have a different steer feel compared to his former diesel which probably weighs twice a much has air suspension and IFS.

[NXR]

Originally Posted by Kodiakan

Well, regardless of the subject being beat to death, seems like people enjoyed the thread. I know I did.

Agreed. Plus there always are new perspectives and changes to the motorhomes themselves. Five or ten year-old threads may still be generally accurate but the devil is in the details and their applicability to current models.

Ray

[wildmanbaker]

Hohenwad48, I like your 222 theory, I believe I will try to use it a lot more now.

[scenic route]

Originally Posted by timjet

This thread is NOT a comparison of gas vs diesel. It was a post to explain my surprise at hearing my slip neighbor's anguish at driving his new gas rig compared to what he was use to. After reading through these posts, I suspect his new gas rig needs some steer adjustments. I also suspect that his gas rig will have a different steer feel compared to his former diesel which probably weighs twice a much has air suspension and IFS.

As to your friend's handling concerns, first I'd recommend a front end alignment to add positive caster(has much to do with directional stability...5 to 7 degs positive), this is accomplished with tapered shims. Secondly, good shocks(Koni FSDs come to mind)will help somewhat with body roll, porpoising at bridge abutments and pavement expansion joints. For truck passing and crosswind tail wag, a rear trac bar stabilizes that long rear body overhang usually associated with gassers.

I did these three upgrades on our previous 37' HR Vacationer, although I did the rear trac bar before installing the shocks...IMHO, these 3 are the best bang for the buck upgrades.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I'm confident a lot could be done to improve the Bay Star handling, starting with optimizing tire pressure and an re-alignment now that he has his gear loaded onboard. However, it's never going to handle like a high end diesel pusher and I doubt if the neighbor will ever be happy with it. Just a bit less disappointed.


He could have bought a smaller DP, maybe a Tiffin Breeze or an Allegro Red 33. Not in the same league as the Bus, but a heck of a lot closer.

[manderson2228]

We have a Tiffin gasser. Glad we saved the money, the amount of false information and overly exaggerated "problems" with gasser is crazy. A diesel is nicer, and if i was a full timer or needed a 44 foot motorhome i'd get one. To each their own but life with a gasser isn't as bad as the internet would lead me to believe. It goes anywhere i point it, and the amount i drive it vs live in i dont need super smooth riding, with sumo's and konis its fine for us.

[manderson2228]

Originally Posted by NXR

We've also talked to several Tiffin gasser owners who "downgraded" from a DP because of the easier and reduced maintenance costs. They confirmed their gasser rides and handles the same as their previous DP when parked.

This is the best quote. All that horsepower, air ride suspension, torque you name it.. Same when parked!!


I've owned other gassers, the tiffin in my opinion handles and rides the best, mine sits on a 26k chassis with sumos, koni shocks, and steering stabilizer. I believe the insulation is a bit better, and with the 5 star tune it brings the the RPM's down at cruise and quiets the engine down a good bit. Overall i have no issues at all with the chassis.

[Johnynorthla]

The E, F and most other RV gas chassis over 25’ suck on handling and ride unless you throw $3-$4k in to the entire suspension like I had to! There is nothing anyone on this site can tell me different! I was a mechanic in my younger life, did all and every type of suspension work on cars, trucks and specialized machinery, including wheel alignments. They just don’t put enough effort in to the suspension. Just take a look at the alignments on the cutaways. It gets an alignment out of the manufacture, then goes to a coach builder, they throw tens of thousands of pounds on the chassis, then roll it out the door! What a joke! You change your ride height you change Caster, Camber and sometimes toe!