Good news! Truma has shared a discount code with us that will get you 10% off of any of their coolers on Amazon. Use discount code MFACOOL10 at check out. This link will take you to the Truma Amazon Store www.amazon.com/stores/Truma/Homepage/page/C034E82B-F2CA-4B3F-A97B-519A3D247151 Sabrina and I own the C60 and it has been great for our travels!
I bought a used Tiffin Phateon 40 footer DP. When I bought this DP 4 years ago, I had to have the diesel., I was an owner operator of 18 wheelers most of my life. Now I wish I would have went with a gas 33 footer. The diesel will cost you 30 grand more on a used coach , and that’s being conservative. 30 grand will buy 75,000 miles of gasoline. The cost of the diesel for the miles a person drives it from camp spot to camp spot, is not worth it in my book. I have a big coach and wish I had a gas rig for what I do with it. One can make the argument on both sides of this issue. I think either way, at one time or another they will wish they had the other. Not many folks alive that is ever content with what they have lol. Whichever you have, enjoy it, be proud of it, take care of it and it will take care of you. Safe Travels to all RV’s , no matter what your in !
All things being equal, If you pay 30 grand more for a diesel pusher chances are you will probably get 30 grand more on a resale for the diesel pusher then you would for a gas RV with close to 100,000 miles. On average gas RVs tend to last about 100,000 miles whilst a well taken care of diesel pusher can go to 1,000,000 miles.
I agree with you from the cost perspective, however the Ford F53 rides like a piece of shit on a crappy road, damn near shaking the thing to pieces. No matter how many suspension upgrades to do, nothing is going to help this bitch ride better. There are too many shitty roads in the country, Canada has their share too...If I only had the money...2013 Win Vista 30T, 30,000 miles 85 lbs tire pressure all around...
@@johnstanczak5075 We owned a 2014 Winnebago 30T and loved the camper part.. but it rode hard and you had to drive it all the time !! We traded a 38' Monaco Diplomat diesel pusher with a big block 330 cummins for the 30 Winnebago.. big difference in ride for sure.. In 2019 we upgraded to a Winnebago Vista LX on the bigger ford 22,000 pound chassis.. we are more than pleased with our choice.. it rides just as good as the Monaco!!! It also pulls the hills every bit as good as the cummins while towing our Suzuki Grand Vatara.. and with our Ford chassis it is 7 quarts of oil to change the oil and the filter costs $3.97 in Walmart.. the cummins took 6 gallons to change the oil.. the two oil filters and fuel filter cost 96 bucks 8 years ago !!! Sure is something to consider when looking for a new motorhome!!
Although this video is 3 years old, we appreciate your comments. After 30 years of pulling trailers, we’re buying a motorhome and going back and forth between a gas and diesel pusher. We too want a 30’ coach and leaning towards the Winnebago 29v. Great points
I really think you would be fine with gas, our next RV will be a gas Class A again we have really enjoyed our Winnebago and the Class A gas experience. We have 125,000 miles on our Winnebago and have spent about $3000 on parts and repairs. We would call that a win. We need a oil change this week amd I called a shop that is under 10 miles away and asked if they could do an oil change in a Class A gas motorhome amd they said shouldn't be a problem. We've had service centers come out and do oil changes in the parking lot if our RV could not fit. It's been very easy to own and always gets us where we need to be
I ran across this video and was interested, because I chose a gas rig on an F53 chassis with a V10. I then noticed your from Orlando and we're from Kissimmee. I thought I'd give you some insight as to why I chose gas. First, I'm a licensed aircraft mechanic (retired) and I can work on gas. That in itself saves me a bunch of money each year. If anybody is thinking this way, please buy a Ford service manual. My average oil change costs about $30.00 using mobil 1 and a filter. A good tune-up cost me around $50.00 If I lose an ignition coil, I carry 10 extras that cost me about $50 on line. That all being said, the first thing I learned was boats and RV's are not an investment! Houses and real estate are. I had a friend in the car wholesale business so I put him searching years ago for a class A motorhome. He finally found a Fleetwood Southwind 36t with two slides on an F53 V10. It was a 2000 with 24,000 miles and this was 2010. We bought it for $25,000.00 which was under book value at the time. We've put over 35,000 miles on it in the last ten years and have had a great time with it. The only sacrifice is the towing capacity, but, we only need a car and we tow a Jeep liberty. I keep the exterior in nice shape and have had people comment that they thought it was "brand new" when they ask about the purchase. I've been out west in the rockies and now-a-days for the last 8 years each May we head to Vermont (1340 miles) and don't come back until September (summer with the grand children) and some of the mountains in the Carolinas and Virginia can be a challenge. We've done many a improvement inside to make things more comfortable for us and of course there's the annual "Oh Crap" that something broke just before we leave. This year it was the RV Fridge. So now we have a residential fridge with an inverter system for in-between stops. Making these projects work intrigue's me. One of the things we learned a long time ago, was that staying Walmarts and Truck stop for free is OK, but we found ourselves spending $35 to $45 for dinner etc. when we could spend $30 for an overnight pull-thru at a campground, have water, electric and sewer with cable TV and eat a meal at home in my PJs for usually under $15. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. We're home for the winter here in Kissimmee, except for using our RV as a beach front condo and we have our choice of which cost this way. Good travels, stay safe. Ron & Kathy
We just bought a Fleetwood Southwind 36C 8.1 Chevy on a workhorse chassis. My husband is a mechanic and while he can put a diesel engine into say a Skidsteer, he is more comfortable working on gas engines. We bought a 2004, 47,000 miles on it. One owner all maintenance info, new roof, tires, etc. He maintained everything immaculately. Looking forward to our first trip this summer!
Excellent video! I owned my own semi for 15 yrs so understanding pros & cons comes 2nd nature. It's funny how some of your audience is so stuck on what they they want they aren't willing to consider anything different. We would definitely give gas a try. Currently in Texas diesel cost .60 cents more per gal than gas.(sometimes more) Its difficult to overcome that cost with fuel mileage, not to mention the other cost. Will a diesel out pull, outrun, out perform a gas? Sure! But why do you need to? Glamping is about the journey. Slow down folks. There is a beautiful world out there to see. At 650, 700 miles a day, I didn't get to see what I wanted to see.(I've been in all 48) My bride & I don't want to drive more than 300 miles in a day & we want to spend a couple of weeks in each place we like. Thank you for this video and may God continue to bless your travels. Much respect, Gator
Sad the price of diesel is more than gasoline. Diesel is a by product when refining oil for gasoline and a barrel of refined oil yields much more diesel than it does gasoline. The actual cost to get diesel is much less than gas out of the ground to the pumps yet, because the oil industry understands the needs for diesel fuel, they alter their cost to sales price markup. They are a monopoly so they can get away with it. Diesel should be half the price of gas in any market.
Its 60. Cents more but you'll get almost 3 times the mileage as a gasoline engine. Also if you have a diesel engine you dont need a generator. The money you save just on fuel is crazy.
@@livinlargeinalittlerv9102 okay it was an exaggeration. However if you want to get into the semantics of it we can. So diesel burns up to 30% slower than gasoline which means you are looking at about 25% less fuel used compared to gasoline combustion engines. With something as heavy as a rv, gasoline gives you alot less bottom end torque, which means that you are buring even more gas when hauling something heavier. Diesel gives you a lot more low end torque which conserves the fuel, especially up hills and getting up to speed. This will equate to about 33.5% so let's say 30% so you are getting so that is 55% more which is not including idling which diesel engines do with lower rpms which gives you a lot better fuel consumption. If you want to factor in how much longer a diesel engine last comparative to a gasoline engine that makes it even less expensive over a lifetime
That cost of the “ oil change “ on the pusher isn’t just an oil change, it’s an oil change, fuel filter and fuel separator filter and usually the air dryer service for the air brakes.
One difference on the diesel would be about 14 gallons of oil vs. 1.5 on the gas plus all of the additional filters etc. Labor on the diesel will be more hours too but it's all worth it when your on the road, thats when the diesel is out performing any gas-chassis. In the 30 foot length, I wouldn't put a diesel in it either, waste of money.
We retired in 2007 and bought a diesel pusher to fulltime RV. Thirteen years later we have a 26 ft class C. The main reason is the class C's have drivers and passenger safety airbags and you sit lower to the ground, with ABS brakes. The class C's drive almost like a pickup truck. We felt while driving our class A that if we ever got rear-ended and into an accident, we'd be smashed into that big windshield. We like having the motor out in front of us. We like the maneuverability of the class C, the available of getting into gas stations easier.
This video is 3 yrs old but we just purchased (2-23) our A.C.E. 30C with the 7.3 Godzilla engine. Since we have only been camping once or twice a month and within approximately 150 miles of home we have only put on about a thousand miles or so, so far! I’ll have to agree with you about everything you’ve said about gas v diesel! It is a little noisy but I’ve been considering some heat/sound shielding for the engine compartment to lower the noise a bit. So far the 7.3 has been very smooth and reliable and the F53 chassis has been around for quite awhile so I don’t anticipate any problems there. We did add some steering stabilization for windy days after having had to remove the drivers seat from my butt after one particularly windy ride but now the wind is very reasonably handled!
I think you will find the F53 Chassis to be very reliable, especially with the new 7.3 Liter. I know it had some bugs when it first came out, but they seem to have been taken care of. KOA recently did a report that read most of their clients travel less than 100 miles from home to camp at their RV parks, so it fairly typical not to do major cross country trips too often in a RV, which honestly makes sense sense when most people just don't have the time to spend their vacation on just the driving of the trip. That being said we are at 119,000 miles on our Vista and will have 225,000 miles by the end of August, but we realize we are not the norm. Wishing you continued safe travels and lots of fun!
@@MovingForwardAdventures Lolololol we just went over 1800 miles and we’re in our mid seventies. We traded a fifth wheel for this and it is sooooo much easier to set up when you get to where your going! We started back in the seventies in a VW camper ( try going up steep hills in that🤣) then went through 3 different pop ups, a Winnebago travel trailer, the cougar fifth wheel and finally (we hope!) the ACE class A 32 footer. I can say we’ve had a blast along the way and hoping you guys have as much fun and memories as we have had!
My first RV was a DP and I have owned several gas class a models. I prefer the gas because of the price savings and availability of fuel but I really do love the amazing torque and engine braking of the DP.
Thank you Dan! We honestly do not believe there is a right or wrong choice, it's just what ever works best for the purchaser. Take care and safe travels.
I love my old gas class C 10,000 miles 16 months so far so good. Easy to find Mechanics to work on my chevy. Quartzsite was out of diesel during the big event. Best part all Paid for
Kenny - We think this is one of your better videos. It is very helpful to those of us who are looking to hit the road fulltime in the near future. The practicality you and Sabrina bring to this topic is very much appreciated. Thank you!!
Thank you very much Gordon! Fun fact Sabrina was in the original two versions of this video, the first one had video issues and the second one had audio problems ( I forgot to turn on the mic lol) by the time it came to record the video for the third time she was done lol. Our next video is going to be why we bought used instead of new, hopefully it will be out sometime next month. We want to make sure we have all of our reasons written down and they make sense lol. Take care and safe travels!
One very important consideration is the licensing requirement. Check your drivers license to determine what you need to drive a diesel pusher. Some states, provinces require a truck license with an air brake endorsement and medical to operate a diesel pusher due to the weight and air brakes. You may require the same license as a dump or cement truck driver. Most gas rigs are within the automobile license requirements.
RV's are not commercial vehicles. There is no restriction on how they stop. You can drive any RV with air brakes without anything more than a driver's license. Conversely, commercial trucks under 26,001 lb. GVWR with full air brakes also do NOT need an endorsement. Any DOT official who tells you otherwise is not properly trained for his job.
Great comparison. Never owned gas but I know that once they get to 100,000 miles, no one can get financing to purchase one. If you sell at that point, you will need to find a cash buyer or get a low trade in value. Most people don't use a new RV and drive it to its death so you need to know what the residual value will be along the way. We love diesel because of the quiet ride and the systems that go along with it like AquaHot and the beefy generator.
He speaks truth, We went from 38 ft Fleetwood F53 to 42ft Dutch Star DP 8.3 Cummis ISC. We feel like we really stepped up as far as living conditions. The gas RV was cheaper to maintain, 6 quarts of oil compared to 24 quarts in the DP. I do 90% of my own maintenance and the maintenance in the DP requires more parts because of all the filters. I admit that if I wasn't doing my own maintenance we would've been overwhelmed.
We have a 1988 Triple E Signature (36') with a 454 and full airbag suspension. It drives like an over-sided car, Super impressed with it. The diesel pushers I have had the opportunity to drive, drive like big trucks. our overall costs are much lower with a gas engine and we are able to do any engine work for ourselves.
We had a brand new Gas Tiffin Open Road in 2017. We only lasted 8 months before we sold it and bought a Diesel Tiffin Pheaton. We are so much happier in the Phaeton. Day and night over a gasser. The gas coach is good for a month max. If you live full time or almost full time get a diesel pusher period. Get a used one if you can’t afford a new one. Even if it’s 10 years old. It’s worth it in the long run. Resale is much higher as well.
Hello, Kenny and Sabrina, At the current time my wife and I have a diesel pusher. However, I agree with everything you said about gas and Diesel. One of the major differences that we found out with the Diesel Pusher, is that not every place that works on diesel engines will work on an RV. There are fewer diesel RV repair shops out there. We have an excellent repair shop that we take our motorhome to comment. It's only about a mile away. In fact, they know us by first name basis. So I kind of figured what does that tell you. We spent a lot of money there. However, it's not unusual to have a six-week waiting time to get your motorhome in there for repairs. Plus. It might take two to three weeks before the repairs are completed. When you have a service contract or warranty work? They have to get approvals naturally before their work is started. And lot of extended warranty service programs do not get back to the repair shops in a timely manner. As much before I do on a diesel, however, I tell people if this is the first motorhome. Go with the nice gas one. Save yourself the money. However, if they tell me they're going to be towing a large or multiple cars and motorcycles in a stacker trailers and they're going to be going up the hills and stuff. I tell them it probably be easier on the engine and the chassis to go with a diesel... Take care, May you and your wife have plenty Pleasant Adventures ahead.
Hi Mark, unfortunately RV service just seems to just stink everywhere for gasoline engines and diesels. We hear so many stories where people have their RV's in for service and it takes weeks or months for the shops to get the work done. We have been fairly lucky with service, the longest we have had to go without our RV is a week while our A/C was being replaced.We had the option of staying in the RV until the work was done, but who wants to stay in an RV with no A/C in the middle of summer lol. I agree with your advice and tell people the same, if you are looking to tow an SUV or toys you will want the power of the diesel. We wish you safe travels and pleasant adventures as well :)
I own a gas class A but if I had the 🧀 I would switch to a same size diesel in a heart beat! But not for the engine, for the solid built chasis! That's the feature you can't squeeze into a gas motor home!
What a great and honest video. I always push myself toward higher end toys, my truck is diesel and I couldn't imagine using a gasser to tow. But looking into gas vs DP there is not much difference in mileage. In fact the closest I saw was a comparison on a cross country trip from CA to VA was about 250 bucks difference, not enough to justify the cost. I've decided on a class A gas RV because of the factors you mention. I know I will not get the higher quality finish and amenities, the engine brakes, the air ride, the quiet horsepower pushing you up hills. And I can live with that. I am disabled and have to live on a budget now. If I was still in the oilfield there's no doubt I'd get the 200K DP. Instead I'll spend more like 60 to 70K on a used gasser and still enjoy glamping. Thank you for the video.
I bought mine in June of 2019 I have driven 18,000 miles. It’s great and I prayed $68,000. Before it had been in 3 RV shows and it was discounted. I have totally enjoyed it.
Very good video, lot's of good information to help make an informed decision about what to chose for your needs. I live in my 36ft Gulfstream Sunstream Hi Rise Class A gasser. I have a big Ford V8 and the Bank's Power Pack. I've run into a very few situations that I didn't have enough power to climb a hill. I chose the gasser because at the time it was best for what I wanted to budget for the coach. I needed the payment to not exceed a specific amount. The Gulfstream is a high end coach that fit my needs best as a permanent home. The diesel would have put me over budget that I had planned. At the time the bank tried to get me to buy a more expensive coach asking me "well, don't you get overtime" everyone knows you don't count overtime into your budget. If you don't get it you can loose your coach and in my case my home. I stuck to my original budget. It's easy and tempting to over spend. But not worth the worry of if something happens. I have a basic rule the rent, the coach the car payment including insurance none can exceed the amount of one paycheck. And one paycheck to cover food, gas and other expenses. Your savings account should try to have 1 year's salary but at a minimum 3 months salary. Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck and are 2 paychecks from homeless. Our economy sucks. Try to avoid the trap and remember credit cards are EVIL!
Having moved many DPs and gassers over the years...owned a couple flairs ,bounders....most people end up selling gassers as they are not as easy to drive. As a mechanic the v10 has been a great money makers....they have so many problems that they end up junked/ parted out in the 350 pickup class if 100,000k ...You my friend are lucky...your up against the problems coming in the next 30k. Deprecation is horrible on a new gasser....so a good deal used. Ford dealerships also will refuse RVs unless they are truck shops.....so lots of bad info. But some good info. Price of gas is cheap now. But when it was 4.75 a gallon....500 mile trip i might as well stay in high end hotels and ride a motorcycle 😂. Thanks for taking the time to do a vid👍👍
My fiance and I did a similar thing we have a travel trailer GD Reflection 297RSTS and decided to get a F250 with a 6.2liter gas engine, the problems with diesels are maintenance and when they break they are outrageously expensive. They do tow more they are faster but for our budget the gas made more sense and still has all the power we need.
Hi folks, I have a 1992 Beaver Baronet with 175K on the odometer. I have had it about 15 years with no major problems. Never a problem with the engine or transmission. It has a 3116 Cat engine with an Allison 4 speed. Problems that I have had are with things like cruise control and Onan generator. Same things that any automotive rolling piece of plunder could and will go wrong. I have been all over the US and never had a problem finding diesel, just a problem paying for it. The service stations are very proud of that stuff. My only advise is to do everything that you just said because it is great advise. I would also add whether gas or diesel or horse drawn wagon, buy used with great care. A good quality pre-owned unit should serve you well for many years as mine has. Beaver and Monaco won't disappoint. Enjoy life and dare great things.
Love the line no problem finding it just paying for it lol, after filling up even with gas we feel the same about paying for it lol. Take care and safe travels!
I'm looking at a '92 Beaver Contessa 38' with a Cat 3126 and 5 or 6 speed Allison. It's in nice shape and very good price. Everything I've read about them places them at the top of the heap. It's a lower miles unit too (90k)
Bumped my last dock in 2013 but didn't retire from driving. Presently pulling a 5er and seeing America for the first time. Amazing what a guy doesn't see, driving a big truck. Couldn't agree more with you, about the diesel motor vs the gasser. Even gooder, Ford putting the 7.3 dyna certified V8 on their f53 chassis for 2021. FYI ''2021'' chassis may not be under your 2021 coach so all y'all do need to verify before buying. Did I mention, were eagerly waiting the arrival of our new Class-A gasser.... with the V8.🤫 Enjoyed your video, nicely done, thanks for taking the time.🍻 Update: [08/21] The gasser has arrived.... not me🤭, our Class-A ya sillies Now we just need to wait for dealer prep then it's ”on the road again”. 🤗
I love this. I'm rolling a 1990 Gulf stream coach 28' on a p30 with 454 and I tow a 18' enclosed trailer with a Harley bagger, 2 dirt bikes, and 2 four-wheelers, not to mention tools, spare parts and gear. We owned it for 10 years. It doesn't love the hills and mountains, but it runs right through them. Only thing I've replaced is passenger side exhaust manifold and spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Also, front brake pads once. We are full time and have no permanent place we stay constantly on the move.
Very good analysis. Bottom line. Get what you want and like. Trade offs with both types. We got a pusher for the lifestyle. Expensive to maintain. I'm fortunate to have a local mechanic that can take care of most everything. His shop rate is 1/2 the current rate and his 20 plus years of industry experience is good enough for me.
Wouldn’t have been my choice. Of coarse I have a diesel pickup and drive big rigs so I know fair amount about diesels. Also, most dealers and shops have a diesel mechanic because of diesel pickup popularity. No doubt maintenance on a diesel is higher but I’ve had my diesel in the shop less than our gas. I’ve never been to a town where I couldn’t get diesel. Mileage and power is worth the diesel. If you’re a weekend close to home camper then gas is fine. Cost is a big factor too. If your RV serves your purpose then it’s good enough for you. Like my dad used to say, if you aren’t paying for it, it’s only your opinion. V10 has respectable power.
No emissions issues no costly diesel repairs you will be able to enjoy the damn thing at least. I am a retired technician from CAT dealership. I have seen the issues of the diesel coaches first hand .
My father is a retired diesel mechanic for the Philadelphia Inquirer and was actually a big part of talking us out of diesels. He kept telling us you don't want the headaches of these modern day engines. Of course he worked on their fleet trucks and they probably were not taken care of as well as a personal vehicle would have been.
Diesel engines from Cummins are rock solid proven engines and rarely give trouble. The fuel is also cheaper. Their engines are easy to work on as parts that go result from bad production and or abuse but as engines they are solid.
If your stuck in eastern NC my neighbor fixes anything. He used to be an aircraft mechanic at cherrypointe. He also works at a heavy equipment shop in Sneads Ferry . Great mechanic. He also has a 5th wheel.
Well fellows, one of the problems here is the honesty of Mechanics in the industry. DPs and Gassers are fine vehicles, it is an anticuted tech that has not been reengineered for 100 years. Upgrades here and there, think about 10 mpg going down hill, and very proud of it, after 100 years. The problem here is finding Honest Mechanics to work on this internal combustion engines.
I’m glad you enjoy your motorhome it really does not matter what motor it is driven by .The most important thing is that you and your family enjoys yourselves.
Thank you Carolina, I agree about it being a personal decision and i don't think there is a right or wrong answer. What works for each individual purchaser is the best decision. Take care and safe travels!
@@MovingForwardAdventures You had a good, sober presentation also. No in-your-face 'THE ALTERNATIVE SUCKS'! drama. You just laid out what you and your wife decided, and it made perfect sense. Laying out (at the end of the video) several areas where diesels are better was just icing on the cake. Kudos. 👍
First 4700 miles in our 2002 cummins 5.9 fleetwood expedition model 36t (5k lb tow limit) got us 8.3 mpg, worthy of note. That also included some generator use. 1 month trip.
Lol thank you Shekhar, Sabrina and I are very bad at uploading videos on a consistent schedule which is what RUclips likes to see. We are grateful for the friendships we have made by having the channel and if it continues to grow than that is just a bonus😁
Very true in what you've said. Good video to help someone make up their mind for picking a classic A. I've had both, V-10 Ford Terra 32 ft. that was great, but now 38 ft diesel. The only reason to go to the diesel was I now pull a 10,000 # enclosed car hauler. Guaranteed the longer the unit have you need to pre-plan due to getting your self in a jam with the extra length.
Any larger truck stop has truck mechanics totally qualifies to work on a diesel pusher. Every gas station Ive visited has diesel also. Many Ford dealers Ive been too wont touch an RV. :) At 30 foot, its the larger RV, Im stepping up to diesel. But thats only me.
Great points. Ford has a 7.3 gas engine now. It is unproven as the 6.8 V10 is, but promises to be outstanding for gas power. I agree with you, initial price and maintenance costs are deal breakers on the diesel, unless size and pulling power is a must...Thanks
and many ford dealerships that USED TO work of class A no longer want to , and with so few ford dealerships wanting to , the number of dealerships in any state as to the miles to be driven to get there in totally un acceptable , months out or countless miles away , and the ford chassis as it comes from ford , with basically many are needing a rear track bar and a front steering dampener to make the ride safer , and no longer having the WHITE KNUCKLER effect , many who had the GM chassis in the past preferred it better than the ford as to how it drives and handles
Just bought 2013 class c gas v 10 450 two months ago less than 9000 mil got to say its loud, but we fixed that the wife , and I bought top of the line Sony noise cancellation headphones, and its amazing. She gets to watch RUclips and I get to listen to my music works for us. 🙂 the noise is not noticeable.
I know this doesn't have to do with gas or diesel, but the one thing I really like about your rig is the turning radius. I think the turning radius on your rig is better than our small class C. Great information. ~Lucy
Hi Lucy, We do have a very good turning radius. Sometimes we joke and say it is as good as our Tow car, but honestly it is pretty close since the ford Cmax has a terrible turning radius lol Hope you two are well, Safe travels and hopefully we run into each other again on the road :)
Fuel filter costs me $45, oil filter is similar and oil is $200 for 10 gallons of synthetic. Fuel filter every 15,000 miles and oil and filter every 25,000 miles. Considering a fuel stop usually costs at least $350 before fleet program discount (discount ranges from $0.15 to $0.60 per gallon, 150 gallon tank), engine maintenance costs are not really a consideration.
The fit and finish on most diesel pushers is significantly better than that of gas. Also, the resale value for a DP is better so you make up some of the upfront cost/cost of ownership on the back end.
Diesel Bounder owner and extremely pleased. Cummins with Allison 6 speed gets 11 + mpg. Truck stops work on the diesels so no issue there. That being said, the new Ford F53 chassis will have the Godzilla v8 mated to a 10 speed. Looking at the Toy haulers with that combo. Should be the hot set up for gas rigs.
We were really looking forward to the new engine and transmission setup, but unfortunately Ford decided not to put the 10 speed in the new chassis. They are going to continue with the 6 speed for now:( You can check out the specs here www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/stripped-chassis/models/f53-motorhome/
@@MovingForwardAdventures I will wait until they do put the 10 speed in. Probably waiting to see how it pans out in their trucks. That 6 speed is bullet proof though.
Thank you, yeah I don't think people realize how much space a dog can take up in an RV lol. Our Small dog Belle even takes up a good amount of room, between her bed, food/water bowls and food/treat storage it adds up quick. Take care and safe travels!
I bought a new Motor home last month, a Holiday Rambler 34j on a ford F53 chassis.There is a fluid leak under the master cylinder which turned out to be a brake hydro boost. I live in the 4th largest city in the country and I called every Ford dealer within 100 miles and not a single one would work on the Motor Home. Most said it was too big for their bay or too heavy to be lifted to bleed the system after repairs are made. The saga continues... it is currently at Lazy Days RV waiting for the parts which I will have to pay for then be reimbursed by Ford.
I have had 3 motor homes, 1 a Georgie Boy had a Chevy 454, it was a dog but was 34 ft with dual rear axles, I am a good driver and clipped the corner in a gas station when not careful, My next was a Holiday Rambler with a 413 Chrysler, it was a beast, it got 10 mpg regardless ,it would climb the Cajon pass faster than anyone in our 4wd club, we all towed 13k to 15k trailers. My last was a Winnebago & a Killer 440 Mopar. .The new diesels are awesome as for brute power and at low RPM's, nothing like the old diesel engines (Detroit's)
Same reasons i have a ford class with a thor coach which i know i can work on it and find otheres to repair it easy if i need to ! SO far no need for repairs and ive traveled everywhere without worry .
I agree with you I have had diesels and unless you need the towing capacity I can't justify the cost. Not only are they more expensive to purchase maintenance is also more expensive. Are they more powerful, yes. Are the chassis better, yes.
Hi Lou, The tow capacity in some of these diesel pushers are certainly impressive and probably the best reason to want to purchase one. Take care Lou and safe travels!
@@MovingForwardAdventures Very awesome video sir we are thinking about getting our first Class A. It has the V/10 motor if you had to guess with the motor being well taken care of how many miles could we get out of the motor . I've heard 80,000 would really like to hear your opinion .. thank you .
Hi Daven, We currently have 98,000 miles on ours now and will easily be over the 100K this year and have only done the Ford recommended maintenance. I have read online of people getting 200K plus out of the V10's when in the pickup trucks, not sure if/what parts may be different.
I am in the process of paying off a 1991 22 foot Class A Fleetwood Flair Motorhome, that is powered by a Ford 460 Engine. It has 18,000 original miles on the Coach, and the on board Onan 4,000 Watt Generator only has 79 hours run time on it. I am paying a total of $2,500.00 for the Motor Coach. It needs a bit of TLC, such as re sealing the Rubber Roof, replacing both Belts on the Engine, and giving it a good Tune up, and Oil Change. There is a bit of interior repair work that needs done as well from sitting so long. Overall, I believe I still got an Amazing Coach at a very amazing price.
And that’s exactly why I did the Same thing and I have found Ford Service everywhere even fort Stockton Texas. It’s much more comforting to just be about to take care of it. I get my oil changed at WallMart mostly. Under $60.00 for Mobil 1
I tow a 38 foot travel trailer camper with a 2005 3500 5.9 dodge diesel SRW 8 foot bed . It's a towing machine. 14 mpg at 60 mpg on flat roads and some moderate inclines. Your right diesels are gonna cost you more but when I go up a hill there's no nail biting because I'm afraid I won't make it. However that FORD V 10 is a great engine it would be my gas choice.
Never understood why someone would by an aspirated engine in a rv but you have made it clear and makes common sense. You are young to be rv ing full time, hit the lottery?
You're absolutely right. I've had both and it depends on your use. The diesel was much more expensive to operate and service. Plus my tires were $700 each on the DP. Towing was much better with the diesel and didn't affect mpg much if any. Being 40' also limits campgrounds you can frequent as we had more than a few times where they didn't have a spot that long or was limited to 30amp and under no 50 amp spots. So sometimes smaller is better. Plus maneuvering a 40' with car in tow can be challenging in a busy gas station with one diesel pump.
I have had 5 Class A RV's all gas and never any problems even towing a car in Montana thru the mountains. The biggest thing for me has always been if something breaks down I can get any and almost all parts from Auto Zone ,Napa, Oriellys , Advance auto,or any other parts house and fix it on the fly. If it is diesel ,good luck finding parts on the weekend or a mechanic to work on it.
I really should have mentioned ease of getting parts as one of our reasons for going with gas. It was on our original list, but I forgot to mention it in the video. Thank you for the comment. Take care and safe travels!
Safari also produced short diesel motorhomes but sadly not any more. I am on my second gas motorhome, and I agree with your comments. Both of mine were Chev powered, and I do my services myself. Super easy with the onboard jacks. The reason that I will continue to buy gas, apart from the overall economy, is that I have learned that shorter is better. My current RV is 26 ft bumper to bumper with a full size queen size bed and a large bathroom. Neither of my RVs have been short on power but because my RV is so short I dont have to tow anything. I have a motorbike on the back so I can get to those very few places my rv cant.
Wow great video (and thank you YT for the algorithm that brought me here)! I already shared the video with my husband and am subscribing. We have been asking these questions and you have answered all of them in an honest video. Thank you!!
We are glad to hear you enjoyed the video and found it helpful! Let us know if you have any other questions and I will do my best to answer them or point you in the right direction of someone who might know the answer. Here is a link to an article I wrote for Winnebago that goes into a little bit more detail than the video. www.winnebago.com/lifestyle/winnebagolife/showroom/choosing-between-a-gas-or-diesel-coach Take care and safe travels!
I've had a DP, and changed to an F53 37 foot Challenger. My number one reason is that my wife can drive the F53 chassis because it has a few feet of hood so she feels better staying in her lane. Our DP was a Windshield and No Hood in front.... It is also a few inches narrower than a DP. Our DP was 104" wide and the Challenger is 101" I think. that sounds like just a little narrower but it's noticable when you're on smaller highways. Thanks for your insights. They're all true too!!
A couple of points: A diesel motor also usually has a turbo for more power & the gas motor does not. Some diesel motors are in the front, many are in the back, if the gas motor was in the back it would be less noisy also.
There's a stick-on sound deadening material we buy to apply to the motor cover underneath that cuts down the noise by 50%. I just bought some and will measure the difference with a sound meter to get actual results. But who wants to hear their wife talk anyway :o
Turbo a gas engine and it won't last very long in a motor home environment. Diesel fuel has more "bang" or BTU's than an equal amount of gas does which is one reason why Diesels are more efficient and they are built to last, with turbos. A light truck gas engine like the V-10 will always turn higher RPM's to get out of it's own way and thus, the noise and heat and effort they have to be subject to in moving such mass. The manufactures should offer the gas engine as a pusher version because there would be added gains in rear wheel power to the ground vs. the long driveshaft to the rear wheels front mount version. Also, reliability is king on most diesel engines as long as they get routine maintenance like any vehicle should.
@@Garth2011 Garry not Linda. Mounting gas engines in the rear was tried in the 60's and 70's. The issue is cooling. Gas engines overheat in hard working applications and highway operation. Bluebird used to build rear engine busses and they were adequate for that type of application. Load them down in a motor home and the problems surfaced. I'm not sure if Bluebird still builds rear gas units. One thing I have not heard anyone mention is a Banks Power Pack Bundle with Auto Minder. Has anyone had experience with the system? I got an 08 Bounder F53 V-10 with only 31,000 miles two years ago. I've been considering the Banks because this configuration is sad. I miss my old 99 Winnebago terribly. Both units are 35-36 feet long and there the similarity ends. The Bounder is wider taller and much much heavier. It needs another whole herd of horses and at least one more gear because it is way under powered and under geared. I'd like to know if the Banks System lives up to the hype and adds enough to the performance to offset the stiff price.
thanks so much for the insightful and personal perspective. everyone has their preference; as you said your gas MH fits your lifestyle and needs. we will now be looking at gas MH as an option. thanks again for the video!
I have a 2500 2003 Dodge cummons diesel pulling a fifth wheel traveling from Big Spring, TX to Buena Vista, CO we cut across at Pueblo its about 125 miles of going 20 mph to 50 mph up and down so not able to use cruise control and its a winding road very hard to pass but we averaged 15 mpg over all and on I25 running 75 - 80 except some of the hills will slow you down I change the oil every 7500 miles, oil filters cost around $15 and the oil is about $100 for 3 oil changes. So 3 oil changes for me costs about $150 and repairs on the engine I had the fan replaced at a diesel repair shop and replaced the water pump and all the cooling hoses + new coolant and new brakes all for under $500 . Just driving around here mpg is between 25 -30 1500 rpm 55 mph and the mileage is over148,k If I need repairs on the road google search for Dodge dealer or diesel repair shops. Most gas stations do have diesel fuel. Running in the mountains you crawl up hills and what you see along the roads don't change very much in the mountains just my opinion I will never trade for a gas job, gas is cheaper than diesel but when you start changing the electrical components the coils cost from $85 up plus tax and V8 takes 8 x approx $90 = $720 then the labor of approx $120 per hour,water pump replacement averages $300 to $750 depending on engine A lot of cummons diesel engines might need repair after 250,000 a one mech says he sees a lot of 12 valve units get 500,000 miles be needing an overhaul and there are some cummons with over a million miles on them never been overhauled. I have never had any trouble starting when the temp is 25 below zero
Thanks to emissions equipment on modern Diesel engines I will never own another one............ The emissions equipment DEF and particulate filters on the exhaust that are extremely expensive to repair/replace if need be which happens a lot. The up front cost of diesel engines out weighs the MPG penalty of gas. In these big vehicles the diesels only get 2-5 MPG better. That up front cost will buy a lot of gas. Secondly Gas is usually .15 - .50 cents cheaper per gallon than diesel fuel.
when we decided to go south for winter , i bought a 34 ft F53 chassis , 7.5 ltr , with full Gail Banks system , power was great , stopping power not so much but we towed a Chevy Spark , on our first shakedown trip , 2 weeks to Spokane , it drove ok , parked easy enough , seating with one couch and a little bucket chair and the captain chairs that were too far away from people on couch and too close to tv , smallish fridge , everything worked , limited pantry meant frequent grocery stops , limited storage and a tiny closet , great for a max of 2 weeks but 5 months was going to be trouble , then i found a great deal on a 40 ft DP , steering was quite a bit smoother , ride far superior , quieter , 2 couches , captain chairs more comfy and in the action with couches , triple the storage and closets , all maintenance is more expensive but 2.5 x less often and i do it myself , we did our 5 month trip four times and have enjoyed them immensely , when we downsize , likely will go for a mercedes diesel c class , have seen one with murphy bed lifts up for dinette , living room in rear
I had a Winnebago Vista, 36 ft long. It was a great coach, perfect for SoCal where I lived. But I then moved to the Sierra Nevada region. That poor thing just screamed all the time going up and down the mountains. Had to trade for a 2002 Country Coach with a c-12 Cat diesel. Its pre emissions and no DEF. Its more money to maintain, but works for me.
I wonder why coach builders don’t put a power stroke or Dura max diesel up front? You’d get the torque of a diesel and the simpler design of a gas burner chassis....
A lot of the Super Cs have diesels in the front. Once you get to a certain size the Power Strokes and Duramax are not enough engine. My diesel pusher has an 11 liter L6 Cummins (450hp 1450 lb ft M-11e) and it is pre-emissions. Engine sizes increased with emissions control. You see 8.3 Cummins on smaller DPs, but many of the larger units are in the 11L to 14L displacement range.
The over the road ride quality of a higher quality diesel pusher is what it is all about. I bought and sold class A coaches for almost 10 years. And drove them thousands of miles. A gas powered coach on a modified delivery van chassis cannot compare to a true air ride diesel pusher.
@Keith schaedel You are behind the times since about 1986. They are expensive for sure but worth it if one uses their vehicle in extreme conditions, otherwise Full Synectics work well also. Please search for yourself with an open mind and see as to why. Google etc may be ur best bet
@Keith schaedel By the way, most new vehicles come from the factory with either some form of synthetic or semi synthetic oil in the transmissions, trans axles and engines at times in the crank case. Seems u are new to real 100% Synthetics as well as Full Synthetics.
Glad you enjoyed, one other downside of the gas class A that we have found through the years is in the heat of summer it takes a long time for the RV to cool off in the front cab after we park for the night, because the engine is literally right under the floor, but we would still choose our class A gas over anything else. We just hit 118,000 miles on it and are still loving our little Class A
We have talked to friends who own diesel pushers and they say the rear of their RVs do get warmer because of the engine being back there, but it doesn't sound to us as extreme as what we experience up front. I have heard other diesel owners say that there is more insulation around their diesel engines than what is used for gas engines
lol. yeah probably a few, but mostly everyone has been respectful to one another so far. Which by the way is rare on youtube lol Take care and safe travels!
I am surprised by your comment that there aren't that many diesel mechanics out there I believe there are over a million 128 wheelers that have diesels and there are mechanics everywhere to work on them We have a diesel and the benefits are so worth it You should really look into upgrading to a diesel pusher. Good luck on your travels and thanks for your videos
We'll said. I for one am a diesel fan and have a pusher with 200,000 miles on her. This is the best comparison I've heard yet. I would never however go back to a Gasser, but great comparison...
Glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful😁 There are die hard diesel fans, but I don't think there is such a thing as a die hard gasoline fan. Sabrina and I might be the first lol. Have fun shopping, there is so much on the market these days.
Good news! Truma has shared a discount code with us that will get you 10% off of any of their coolers on Amazon. Use discount code MFACOOL10 at check out. This link will take you to the Truma Amazon Store www.amazon.com/stores/Truma/Homepage/page/C034E82B-F2CA-4B3F-A97B-519A3D247151 Sabrina and I own the C60 and it has been great for our travels!
I bought a used Tiffin Phateon 40 footer DP. When I bought this DP 4 years ago, I had to have the diesel., I was an owner operator of 18 wheelers most of my life. Now I wish I would have went with a gas 33 footer. The diesel will cost you 30 grand more on a used coach , and that’s being conservative. 30 grand will buy 75,000 miles of gasoline. The cost of the diesel for the miles a person drives it from camp spot to camp spot, is not worth it in my book. I have a big coach and wish I had a gas rig for what I do with it. One can make the argument on both sides of this issue. I think either way, at one time or another they will wish they had the other. Not many folks alive that is ever content with what they have lol. Whichever you have, enjoy it, be proud of it, take care of it and it will take care of you. Safe Travels to all RV’s , no matter what your in !
So true!
If $30 grand will get you $75000 miles of gasoline, how much is that per mile? I’m calculating several hundred dollars.
All things being equal, If you pay 30 grand more for a diesel pusher chances are you will probably get 30 grand more on a resale for the diesel pusher then you would for a gas RV with close to 100,000 miles. On average gas RVs tend to last about 100,000 miles whilst a well taken care of diesel pusher can go to 1,000,000 miles.
I agree with you from the cost perspective, however the Ford F53 rides like a piece of shit on a crappy road, damn near shaking the thing to pieces. No matter how many suspension upgrades to do, nothing is going to help this bitch ride better. There are too many shitty roads in the country, Canada has their share too...If I only had the money...2013 Win Vista 30T, 30,000 miles 85 lbs tire pressure all around...
@@johnstanczak5075 We owned a 2014 Winnebago 30T and loved the camper part.. but it rode hard and you had to drive it all the time !! We traded a 38' Monaco Diplomat diesel pusher with a big block 330 cummins for the 30 Winnebago.. big difference in ride for sure.. In 2019 we upgraded to a Winnebago Vista LX on the bigger ford 22,000 pound chassis.. we are more than pleased with our choice.. it rides just as good as the Monaco!!! It also pulls the hills every bit as good as the cummins while towing our Suzuki Grand Vatara.. and with our Ford chassis it is 7 quarts of oil to change the oil and the filter costs $3.97 in Walmart.. the cummins took 6 gallons to change the oil.. the two oil filters and fuel filter cost 96 bucks 8 years ago !!! Sure is something to consider when looking for a new motorhome!!
Although this video is 3 years old, we appreciate your comments. After 30 years of pulling trailers, we’re buying a motorhome and going back and forth between a gas and diesel pusher. We too want a 30’ coach and leaning towards the Winnebago 29v. Great points
I really think you would be fine with gas, our next RV will be a gas Class A again we have really enjoyed our Winnebago and the Class A gas experience. We have 125,000 miles on our Winnebago and have spent about $3000 on parts and repairs. We would call that a win. We need a oil change this week amd I called a shop that is under 10 miles away and asked if they could do an oil change in a Class A gas motorhome amd they said shouldn't be a problem. We've had service centers come out and do oil changes in the parking lot if our RV could not fit. It's been very easy to own and always gets us where we need to be
I ran across this video and was interested, because I chose a gas rig on an F53 chassis with a V10. I then noticed your from Orlando and we're from Kissimmee. I thought I'd give you some insight as to why I chose gas. First, I'm a licensed aircraft mechanic (retired) and I can work on gas. That in itself saves me a bunch of money each year. If anybody is thinking this way, please buy a Ford service manual. My average oil change costs about $30.00 using mobil 1 and a filter. A good tune-up cost me around $50.00 If I lose an ignition coil, I carry 10 extras that cost me about $50 on line.
That all being said, the first thing I learned was boats and RV's are not an investment! Houses and real estate are. I had a friend in the car wholesale business so I put him searching years ago for a class A motorhome. He finally found a Fleetwood Southwind 36t with two slides on an F53 V10. It was a 2000 with 24,000 miles and this was 2010. We bought it for $25,000.00 which was under book value at the time. We've put over 35,000 miles on it in the last ten years and have had a great time with it. The only sacrifice is the towing capacity, but, we only need a car and we tow a Jeep liberty. I keep the exterior in nice shape and have had people comment that they thought it was "brand new" when they ask about the purchase. I've been out west in the rockies and now-a-days for the last 8 years each May we head to Vermont (1340 miles) and don't come back until September (summer with the grand children) and some of the mountains in the Carolinas and Virginia can be a challenge. We've done many a improvement inside to make things more comfortable for us and of course there's the annual "Oh Crap" that something broke just before we leave. This year it was the RV Fridge. So now we have a residential fridge with an inverter system for in-between stops. Making these projects work intrigue's me.
One of the things we learned a long time ago, was that staying Walmarts and Truck stop for free is OK, but we found ourselves spending $35 to $45 for dinner etc. when we could spend $30 for an overnight pull-thru at a campground, have water, electric and sewer with cable TV and eat a meal at home in my PJs for usually under $15.
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. We're home for the winter here in Kissimmee, except for using our RV as a beach front condo and we have our choice of which cost this way. Good travels, stay safe.
Ron & Kathy
Good story here. Thanks
We just bought a Fleetwood Southwind 36C 8.1 Chevy on a workhorse chassis. My husband is a mechanic and while he can put a diesel engine into say a Skidsteer, he is more comfortable working on gas engines.
We bought a 2004, 47,000 miles on it. One owner all maintenance info, new roof, tires, etc. He maintained everything immaculately. Looking forward to our first trip this summer!
Excellent video! I owned my own semi for 15 yrs so understanding pros & cons comes 2nd nature. It's funny how some of your audience is so stuck on what they they want they aren't willing to consider anything different. We would definitely give gas a try. Currently in Texas diesel cost .60 cents more per gal than gas.(sometimes more) Its difficult to overcome that cost with fuel mileage, not to mention the other cost. Will a diesel out pull, outrun, out perform a gas? Sure! But why do you need to? Glamping is about the journey. Slow down folks. There is a beautiful world out there to see. At 650, 700 miles a day, I didn't get to see what I wanted to see.(I've been in all 48) My bride & I don't want to drive more than 300 miles in a day & we want to spend a couple of weeks in each place we like.
Thank you for this video and may God continue to bless your travels.
Much respect,
Gator
Sad the price of diesel is more than gasoline. Diesel is a by product when refining oil for gasoline and a barrel of refined oil yields much more diesel than it does gasoline. The actual cost to get diesel is much less than gas out of the ground to the pumps yet, because the oil industry understands the needs for diesel fuel, they alter their cost to sales price markup. They are a monopoly so they can get away with it. Diesel should be half the price of gas in any market.
300 a day is perfect. That's what the wife and I do.
Its 60. Cents more but you'll get almost 3 times the mileage as a gasoline engine. Also if you have a diesel engine you dont need a generator. The money you save just on fuel is crazy.
@@jordanthistle2360 your kidding yourself about fuel mileage.
@@livinlargeinalittlerv9102 okay it was an exaggeration. However if you want to get into the semantics of it we can. So diesel burns up to 30% slower than gasoline which means you are looking at about 25% less fuel used compared to gasoline combustion engines. With something as heavy as a rv, gasoline gives you alot less bottom end torque, which means that you are buring even more gas when hauling something heavier. Diesel gives you a lot more low end torque which conserves the fuel, especially up hills and getting up to speed. This will equate to about 33.5% so let's say 30% so you are getting so that is 55% more which is not including idling which diesel engines do with lower rpms which gives you a lot better fuel consumption. If you want to factor in how much longer a diesel engine last comparative to a gasoline engine that makes it even less expensive over a lifetime
That cost of the “ oil change “ on the pusher isn’t just an oil change, it’s an oil change, fuel filter and fuel separator filter and usually the air dryer service for the air brakes.
I agree my Diesel Pusher oil change wasn't nearly close to that amount and that was a complete oil change with the filters as well.
One difference on the diesel would be about 14 gallons of oil vs. 1.5 on the gas plus all of the additional filters etc. Labor on the diesel will be more hours too but it's all worth it when your on the road, thats when the diesel is out performing any gas-chassis. In the 30 foot length, I wouldn't put a diesel in it either, waste of money.
So? Diesels are really a money pit.
@@mmichaeldonavon Spend it if you have it!!
We retired in 2007 and bought a diesel pusher to fulltime RV. Thirteen years later we have a 26 ft class C. The main reason is the class C's have drivers and passenger safety airbags and you sit lower to the ground, with ABS brakes. The class C's drive almost like a pickup truck. We felt while driving our class A that if we ever got rear-ended and into an accident, we'd be smashed into that big windshield. We like having the motor out in front of us. We like the maneuverability of the class C, the available of getting into gas stations easier.
Very good points!
This video is 3 yrs old but we just purchased (2-23) our A.C.E. 30C with the 7.3 Godzilla engine. Since we have only been camping once or twice a month and within approximately 150 miles of home we have only put on about a thousand miles or so, so far! I’ll have to agree with you about everything you’ve said about gas v diesel! It is a little noisy but I’ve been considering some heat/sound shielding for the engine compartment to lower the noise a bit. So far the 7.3 has been very smooth and reliable and the F53 chassis has been around for quite awhile so I don’t anticipate any problems there. We did add some steering stabilization for windy days after having had to remove the drivers seat from my butt after one particularly windy ride but now the wind is very reasonably handled!
I think you will find the F53 Chassis to be very reliable, especially with the new 7.3 Liter. I know it had some bugs when it first came out, but they seem to have been taken care of. KOA recently did a report that read most of their clients travel less than 100 miles from home to camp at their RV parks, so it fairly typical not to do major cross country trips too often in a RV, which honestly makes sense sense when most people just don't have the time to spend their vacation on just the driving of the trip. That being said we are at 119,000 miles on our Vista and will have 225,000 miles by the end of August, but we realize we are not the norm.
Wishing you continued safe travels and lots of fun!
@@MovingForwardAdventures Lolololol we just went over 1800 miles and we’re in our mid seventies. We traded a fifth wheel for this and it is sooooo much easier to set up when you get to where your going! We started back in the seventies in a VW camper ( try going up steep hills in that🤣) then went through 3 different pop ups, a Winnebago travel trailer, the cougar fifth wheel and finally (we hope!) the ACE class A 32 footer. I can say we’ve had a blast along the way and hoping you guys have as much fun and memories as we have had!
My first RV was a DP and I have owned several gas class a models. I prefer the gas because of the price savings and availability of fuel but I really do love the amazing torque and engine braking of the DP.
I would have to say that your video is one of the most Honest videos i have come across.
Thank you Dan! We honestly do not believe there is a right or wrong choice, it's just what ever works best for the purchaser. Take care and safe travels.
I love my old gas class C 10,000 miles 16 months so far so good. Easy to find Mechanics to work on my chevy. Quartzsite was out of diesel during the big event.
Best part all Paid for
AMEN!!!
Kenny - We think this is one of your better videos. It is very helpful to those of us who are looking to hit the road fulltime in the near future. The practicality you and Sabrina bring to this topic is very much appreciated. Thank you!!
Thank you very much Gordon! Fun fact Sabrina was in the original two versions of this video, the first one had video issues and the second one had audio problems ( I forgot to turn on the mic lol) by the time it came to record the video for the third time she was done lol. Our next video is going to be why we bought used instead of new, hopefully it will be out sometime next month. We want to make sure we have all of our reasons written down and they make sense lol. Take care and safe travels!
One very important consideration is the licensing requirement. Check your drivers license to determine what you need to drive a diesel pusher. Some states, provinces require a truck license with an air brake endorsement and medical to operate a diesel pusher due to the weight and air brakes. You may require the same license as a dump or cement truck driver. Most gas rigs are within the automobile license requirements.
RV's are not commercial vehicles. There is no restriction on how they stop. You can drive any RV with air brakes without anything more than a driver's license. Conversely, commercial trucks under 26,001 lb. GVWR with full air brakes also do NOT need an endorsement. Any DOT official who tells you otherwise is not properly trained for his job.
Great comparison. Never owned gas but I know that once they get to 100,000 miles, no one can get financing to purchase one. If you sell at that point, you will need to find a cash buyer or get a low trade in value. Most people don't use a new RV and drive it to its death so you need to know what the residual value will be along the way. We love diesel because of the quiet ride and the systems that go along with it like AquaHot and the beefy generator.
He speaks truth, We went from 38 ft Fleetwood F53 to 42ft Dutch Star DP 8.3 Cummis ISC. We feel like we really stepped up as far as living conditions. The gas RV was cheaper to maintain, 6 quarts of oil compared to 24 quarts in the DP. I do 90% of my own maintenance and the maintenance in the DP requires more parts because of all the filters. I admit that if I wasn't doing my own maintenance we would've been overwhelmed.
We have a 1988 Triple E Signature (36') with a 454 and full airbag suspension. It drives like an over-sided car, Super impressed with it. The diesel pushers I have had the opportunity to drive, drive like big trucks. our overall costs are much lower with a gas engine and we are able to do any engine work for ourselves.
We had a brand new Gas Tiffin Open Road in 2017. We only lasted 8 months before we sold it and bought a Diesel Tiffin Pheaton. We are so much happier in the Phaeton. Day and night over a gasser. The gas coach is good for a month max. If you live full time or almost full time get a diesel pusher period. Get a used one if you can’t afford a new one. Even if it’s 10 years old. It’s worth it in the long run. Resale is much higher as well.
Hello, Kenny and Sabrina, At the current time my wife and I have a diesel pusher. However, I agree with everything you said about gas and Diesel. One of the major differences that we found out with the Diesel Pusher, is that not every place that works on diesel engines will work on an RV. There are fewer diesel RV repair shops out there. We have an excellent repair shop that we take our motorhome to comment. It's only about a mile away. In fact, they know us by first name basis. So I kind of figured what does that tell you. We spent a lot of money there. However, it's not unusual to have a six-week waiting time to get your motorhome in there for repairs. Plus. It might take two to three weeks before the repairs are completed. When you have a service contract or warranty work? They have to get approvals naturally before their work is started. And lot of extended warranty service programs do not get back to the repair shops in a timely manner. As much before I do on a diesel, however, I tell people if this is the first motorhome. Go with the nice gas one. Save yourself the money. However, if they tell me they're going to be towing a large or multiple cars and motorcycles in a stacker trailers and they're going to be going up the hills and stuff. I tell them it probably be easier on the engine and the chassis to go with a diesel... Take care, May you and your wife have plenty Pleasant Adventures ahead.
Hi Mark, unfortunately RV service just seems to just stink everywhere for gasoline engines and diesels. We hear so many stories where people have their RV's in for service and it takes weeks or months for the shops to get the work done. We have been fairly lucky with service, the longest we have had to go without our RV is a week while our A/C was being replaced.We had the option of staying in the RV until the work was done, but who wants to stay in an RV with no A/C in the middle of summer lol. I agree with your advice and tell people the same, if you are looking to tow an SUV or toys you will want the power of the diesel. We wish you safe travels and pleasant adventures as well :)
well said
What happened to your wife ?
They are both good and a gasoline RV will last very long also it will be repairable no matter what breaks but to each his own.
I own a gas class A but if I had the 🧀 I would switch to a same size diesel in a heart beat! But not for the engine, for the solid built chasis! That's the feature you can't squeeze into a gas motor home!
What a great and honest video. I always push myself toward higher end toys, my truck is diesel and I couldn't imagine using a gasser to tow. But looking into gas vs DP there is not much difference in mileage. In fact the closest I saw was a comparison on a cross country trip from CA to VA was about 250 bucks difference, not enough to justify the cost.
I've decided on a class A gas RV because of the factors you mention. I know I will not get the higher quality finish and amenities, the engine brakes, the air ride, the quiet horsepower pushing you up hills. And I can live with that. I am disabled and have to live on a budget now. If I was still in the oilfield there's no doubt I'd get the 200K DP. Instead I'll spend more like 60 to 70K on a used gasser and still enjoy glamping. Thank you for the video.
For those that have problems with stairs, Gassers have shallower steps and wider doors.
Amen to that!
I bought mine in June of 2019
I have driven 18,000 miles. It’s great and I prayed $68,000. Before it had been in 3 RV shows and it was discounted.
I have totally enjoyed it.
Very good video, lot's of good information to help make an informed decision about what to chose for your needs. I live in my 36ft Gulfstream Sunstream Hi Rise Class A gasser. I have a big Ford V8 and the Bank's Power Pack. I've run into a very few situations that I didn't have enough power to climb a hill. I chose the gasser because at the time it was best for what I wanted to budget for the coach. I needed the payment to not exceed a specific amount. The Gulfstream is a high end coach that fit my needs best as a permanent home. The diesel would have put me over budget that I had planned. At the time the bank tried to get me to buy a more expensive coach asking me "well, don't you get overtime" everyone knows you don't count overtime into your budget. If you don't get it you can loose your coach and in my case my home. I stuck to my original budget. It's easy and tempting to over spend. But not worth the worry of if something happens. I have a basic rule the rent, the coach the car payment including insurance none can exceed the amount of one paycheck. And one paycheck to cover food, gas and other expenses. Your savings account should try to have 1 year's salary but at a minimum 3 months salary. Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck and are 2 paychecks from homeless. Our economy sucks. Try to avoid the trap and remember credit cards are EVIL!
Having moved many DPs and gassers over the years...owned a couple flairs ,bounders....most people end up selling gassers as they are not as easy to drive. As a mechanic the v10 has been a great money makers....they have so many problems that they end up junked/ parted out in the 350 pickup class if 100,000k ...You my friend are lucky...your up against the problems coming in the next 30k. Deprecation is horrible on a new gasser....so a good deal used. Ford dealerships also will refuse RVs unless they are truck shops.....so lots of bad info. But some good info. Price of gas is cheap now. But when it was 4.75 a gallon....500 mile trip i might as well stay in high end hotels and ride a motorcycle 😂. Thanks for taking the time to do a vid👍👍
My fiance and I did a similar thing we have a travel trailer GD Reflection 297RSTS and decided to get a F250 with a 6.2liter gas engine, the problems with diesels are maintenance and when they break they are outrageously expensive. They do tow more they are faster but for our budget the gas made more sense and still has all the power we need.
Mistake was get a Ford Diesel!
Hi folks, I have a 1992 Beaver Baronet with 175K on the odometer. I have had it about 15 years with no major problems. Never a problem with the engine or transmission. It has a 3116 Cat engine with an Allison 4 speed. Problems that I have had are with things like cruise control and Onan generator. Same things that any automotive rolling piece of plunder could and will go wrong. I have been all over the US and never had a problem finding diesel, just a problem paying for it. The service stations are very proud of that stuff. My only advise is to do everything that you just said because it is great advise. I would also add whether gas or diesel or horse drawn wagon, buy used with great care. A good quality pre-owned unit should serve you well for many years as mine has. Beaver and Monaco won't disappoint. Enjoy life and dare great things.
Love the line no problem finding it just paying for it lol, after filling up even with gas we feel the same about paying for it lol. Take care and safe travels!
I'm looking at a '92 Beaver Contessa 38' with a Cat 3126 and 5 or 6 speed Allison. It's in nice shape and very good price. Everything I've read about them places them at the top of the heap. It's a lower miles unit too (90k)
Bumped my last dock in 2013 but didn't retire from driving. Presently pulling a 5er and seeing America for the first time. Amazing what a guy doesn't see, driving a big truck.
Couldn't agree more with you, about the diesel motor vs the gasser.
Even gooder, Ford putting the 7.3 dyna certified V8 on their f53 chassis for 2021. FYI ''2021'' chassis may not be under your 2021 coach so all y'all do need to verify before buying.
Did I mention, were eagerly waiting the arrival of our new Class-A gasser.... with the V8.🤫
Enjoyed your video, nicely done, thanks for taking the time.🍻
Update: [08/21] The gasser has arrived.... not me🤭, our Class-A ya sillies Now we just need to wait for dealer prep then it's ”on the road again”. 🤗
I love this. I'm rolling a 1990 Gulf stream coach 28' on a p30 with 454 and I tow a 18' enclosed trailer with a Harley bagger, 2 dirt bikes, and 2 four-wheelers, not to mention tools, spare parts and gear. We owned it for 10 years. It doesn't love the hills and mountains, but it runs right through them. Only thing I've replaced is passenger side exhaust manifold and spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Also, front brake pads once. We are full time and have no permanent place we stay constantly on the move.
Love this and we wish you continued safe travels!
Very good analysis. Bottom line. Get what you want and like. Trade offs with both types. We got a pusher for the lifestyle. Expensive to maintain. I'm fortunate to have a local mechanic that can take care of most everything. His shop rate is 1/2 the current rate and his 20 plus years of industry experience is good enough for me.
Wouldn’t have been my choice. Of coarse I have a diesel pickup and drive big rigs so I know fair amount about diesels. Also, most dealers and shops have a diesel mechanic because of diesel pickup popularity. No doubt maintenance on a diesel is higher but I’ve had my diesel in the shop less than our gas. I’ve never been to a town where I couldn’t get diesel. Mileage and power is worth the diesel. If you’re a weekend close to home camper then gas is fine. Cost is a big factor too. If your RV serves your purpose then it’s good enough for you. Like my dad used to say, if you aren’t paying for it, it’s only your opinion. V10 has respectable power.
Very objective!
No emissions issues no costly diesel repairs you will be able to enjoy the damn thing at least. I am a retired technician from CAT dealership. I have seen the issues of the diesel coaches first hand .
My father is a retired diesel mechanic for the Philadelphia Inquirer and was actually a big part of talking us out of diesels. He kept telling us you don't want the headaches of these modern day engines. Of course he worked on their fleet trucks and they probably were not taken care of as well as a personal vehicle would have been.
Diesel engines from Cummins are rock solid proven engines and rarely give trouble. The fuel is also cheaper. Their engines are easy to work on as parts that go result from bad production and or abuse but as engines they are solid.
I have two Cummins engines. Both are extremely reliable, but the 2010 ISB ends up costing me the most to maintain. The 1997 M11 just runs.
If your stuck in eastern NC my neighbor fixes anything. He used to be an aircraft mechanic at cherrypointe. He also works at a heavy equipment shop in Sneads Ferry . Great mechanic. He also has a 5th wheel.
Thank you Shwkhar, we might just take you up on that offer some day 😀
We’re from richlands love that area still have family there come back when we can have a class c now looking to upgrade soon
Well fellows, one of the problems here is the honesty of Mechanics in the industry. DPs and Gassers are fine vehicles, it is an anticuted tech that has not been reengineered for 100 years. Upgrades here and there, think about 10 mpg going down hill, and very proud of it, after 100 years.
The problem here is finding Honest Mechanics to work on this internal combustion engines.
I’m glad you enjoy your motorhome it really does not matter what motor it is driven by .The most important thing is that you and your family enjoys yourselves.
"If you like the video, give it a thumbs up. If you dislike it, share it with everybody you hate" 😂😂 Never heard that one before lol. Great video.
Great analysis for the vast majority.
I'm on my second Excursion with the 6.8 Triton V10 & like my previous one, I've passed over 300K miles & no engine issues whatsoever!
Good video. In the end it's entirely a personal decision. For 90% of folks out there, a Class A gasser WOULD be enough.
Thank you Carolina, I agree about it being a personal decision and i don't think there is a right or wrong answer. What works for each individual purchaser is the best decision. Take care and safe travels!
@@MovingForwardAdventures You had a good, sober presentation also. No in-your-face 'THE ALTERNATIVE SUCKS'! drama. You just laid out what you and your wife decided, and it made perfect sense. Laying out (at the end of the video) several areas where diesels are better was just icing on the cake. Kudos. 👍
We like having a gas class A. Yes, Ford can work on it big plus! We also love having a 31 footer. We tow a jeep,and that's plenty long enough 😃
You missed a very important feature of a diesel pusher engine, the Jake breaking system.
If you put the Ford 6.8 (I had a 5.4 that did it too so probably most Ford RVs) into Tow/Haul mode it’ll shift automatically and engine brake for you
First 4700 miles in our 2002 cummins 5.9 fleetwood expedition model 36t (5k lb tow limit) got us 8.3 mpg, worthy of note. That also included some generator use. 1 month trip.
This channel definitely should have more subscribers.
Lol thank you Shekhar, Sabrina and I are very bad at uploading videos on a consistent schedule which is what RUclips likes to see. We are grateful for the friendships we have made by having the channel and if it continues to grow than that is just a bonus😁
Love the manuervability of the small class A's.... with 5k tow available. Have the same F350 engine and have enjoyed it
Very true in what you've said. Good video to help someone make up their mind for picking a classic A. I've had both, V-10 Ford Terra 32 ft. that was great, but now 38 ft diesel. The only reason to go to the diesel was I now pull a 10,000 # enclosed car hauler. Guaranteed the longer the unit have you need to pre-plan due to getting your self in a jam with the extra length.
Thanks
Any larger truck stop has truck mechanics totally qualifies to work on a diesel pusher. Every gas station Ive visited has diesel also. Many Ford dealers Ive been too wont touch an RV. :) At 30 foot, its the larger RV, Im stepping up to diesel. But thats only me.
Great points. Ford has a 7.3 gas engine now. It is unproven as the 6.8 V10 is, but promises to be outstanding for gas power. I agree with you, initial price and maintenance costs are deal breakers on the diesel, unless size and pulling power is a must...Thanks
The Ford Tritons aren't the best engines.
and many ford dealerships that USED TO work of class A no longer want to , and with so few ford dealerships wanting to , the number of dealerships in any state as to the miles to be driven to get there in totally un acceptable , months out or countless miles away , and the ford chassis as it comes from ford , with basically many are needing a rear track bar and a front steering dampener to make the ride safer , and no longer having the WHITE KNUCKLER effect , many who had the GM chassis in the past preferred it better than the ford as to how it drives and handles
Just bought 2013 class c gas v 10 450 two months ago less than 9000 mil got to say its loud, but we fixed that the wife , and I bought top of the line Sony noise cancellation headphones, and its amazing. She gets to watch RUclips and I get to listen to my music works for us. 🙂 the noise is not noticeable.
Dan Heath Sony noise cancelling muffler or headphones?
I know this doesn't have to do with gas or diesel, but the one thing I really like about your rig is the turning radius. I think the turning radius on your rig is better than our small class C. Great information. ~Lucy
Hi Lucy, We do have a very good turning radius. Sometimes we joke and say it is as good as our Tow car, but honestly it is pretty close since the ford Cmax has a terrible turning radius lol Hope you two are well, Safe travels and hopefully we run into each other again on the road :)
Mine is under 30 feet and so easy to get in and out of parking lots. I totally enjoy how convenient these are
I agree, we love the size of our RV 28.5 long super easy to get in and out of gas stations, parking lots and of course campgrounds
I love my class A gaser.
That's a easy question! Getting an oil and filter(s)change used to cost about $700.00, and that was about 20 years ago! NO diesels.
Fuel filter costs me $45, oil filter is similar and oil is $200 for 10 gallons of synthetic. Fuel filter every 15,000 miles and oil and filter every 25,000 miles. Considering a fuel stop usually costs at least $350 before fleet program discount (discount ranges from $0.15 to $0.60 per gallon, 150 gallon tank), engine maintenance costs are not really a consideration.
The fit and finish on most diesel pushers is significantly better than that of gas. Also, the resale value for a DP is better so you make up some of the upfront cost/cost of ownership on the back end.
you would hope resale would be higher since they cost more
Excellent information, Thank you very much.
Glad to hear you liked the video! Safe travels!
Kenny
Love my Monaco pusher!
Diesel Bounder owner and extremely pleased. Cummins with Allison 6 speed gets 11 + mpg. Truck stops work on the diesels so no issue there. That being said, the new Ford F53 chassis will have the Godzilla v8 mated to a 10 speed. Looking at the Toy haulers with that combo. Should be the hot set up for gas rigs.
We were really looking forward to the new engine and transmission setup, but unfortunately Ford decided not to put the 10 speed in the new chassis. They are going to continue with the 6 speed for now:(
You can check out the specs here
www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/stripped-chassis/models/f53-motorhome/
@@MovingForwardAdventures I will wait until they do put the 10 speed in. Probably waiting to see how it pans out in their trucks. That 6 speed is bullet proof though.
great video, we chose a diesel pusher and love it. We are full timers also, and wanted the size and space be cause we travel with 3 dogs.
Thank you, yeah I don't think people realize how much space a dog can take up in an RV lol. Our Small dog Belle even takes up a good amount of room, between her bed, food/water bowls and food/treat storage it adds up quick. Take care and safe travels!
Another good reason to choose Diesel is they will last much longer then a gas engine.
I bought a new Motor home last month, a Holiday Rambler 34j on a ford F53 chassis.There is a fluid leak under the master cylinder which turned out to be a brake hydro boost. I live in the 4th largest city in the country and I called every Ford dealer within 100 miles and not a single one would work on the Motor Home. Most said it was too big for their bay or too heavy to be lifted to bleed the system after repairs are made. The saga continues... it is currently at Lazy Days RV waiting for the parts which I will have to pay for then be reimbursed by Ford.
You guys are very smart. Stick with gas and you’ll have a great time and money to.
I have had 3 motor homes, 1 a Georgie Boy had a Chevy 454, it was a dog but was 34 ft with dual rear axles, I am a good driver and clipped the corner in a gas station when not careful, My next was a Holiday Rambler with a 413 Chrysler, it was a beast, it got 10 mpg regardless ,it would climb the Cajon pass faster than anyone in our 4wd club, we all towed 13k to 15k trailers. My last was a Winnebago & a Killer 440 Mopar. .The new diesels are awesome as for brute power and at low RPM's, nothing like the old diesel engines (Detroit's)
Same reasons i have a ford class with a thor coach which i know i can work on it and find otheres to repair it easy if i need to ! SO far no need for repairs and ive traveled everywhere without worry .
We wish you continued safe travels!
Thank you for very nice and simple explenations. Great video. A+++
So glad to hear you enjoyed the video & Thank you for the kind words.
I agree with you I have had diesels and unless you need the towing capacity I can't justify the cost. Not only are they more expensive to purchase maintenance is also more expensive. Are they more powerful, yes. Are the chassis better, yes.
Hi Lou, The tow capacity in some of these diesel pushers are certainly impressive and probably the best reason to want to purchase one. Take care Lou and safe travels!
@@MovingForwardAdventures Very awesome video sir we are thinking about getting our first Class A. It has the V/10 motor if you had to guess with the motor being well taken care of how many miles could we get out of the motor . I've heard 80,000 would really like to hear your opinion .. thank you .
Hi Daven, We currently have 98,000 miles on ours now and will easily be over the 100K this year and have only done the Ford recommended maintenance.
I have read online of people getting 200K plus out of the V10's when in the pickup trucks, not sure if/what parts may be different.
@@MovingForwardAdventures Thank you very much for the info . Just subscribed. Appreciate the quick response.
I am in the process of paying off a 1991 22 foot Class A Fleetwood Flair Motorhome, that is powered by a Ford 460 Engine. It has 18,000 original miles on the Coach, and the on board Onan 4,000 Watt Generator only has 79 hours run time on it. I am paying a total of $2,500.00 for the Motor Coach. It needs a bit of TLC, such as re sealing the Rubber Roof, replacing both Belts on the Engine, and giving it a good Tune up, and Oil Change. There is a bit of interior repair work that needs done as well from sitting so long. Overall, I believe I still got an Amazing Coach at a very amazing price.
Very well thought out and presented. Thanks for your perspective as well.
Glad you enjoyed it :)
And that’s exactly why I did the Same thing and I have found Ford Service everywhere even fort Stockton Texas. It’s much more comforting to just be about to take care of it. I get my oil changed at WallMart mostly. Under $60.00 for Mobil 1
A very honest and informative review of gas and diesel RVs. Thanks!
I tow a 38 foot travel trailer camper with a 2005 3500 5.9 dodge diesel SRW 8 foot bed . It's a towing machine. 14 mpg at 60 mpg on flat roads and some moderate inclines. Your right diesels are gonna cost you more but when I go up a hill there's no nail biting because I'm afraid I won't make it. However that FORD V 10 is a great engine it would be my gas choice.
Cost per mile will always give the gas MH an advantage. I had a DP and it turned into a money pit.
Our last Diesel was a money pit too. The V-10 has cost nothing to maintain beyond oil changes for the engine and generator in 3 years
Never understood why someone would by an aspirated engine in a rv but you have made it clear and makes common sense. You are young to be rv ing full time, hit the lottery?
Thanks for a concise perspective
I am glad to hear you enjoyed the video Gregory, Take care and safe travels!
You're absolutely right. I've had both and it depends on your use. The diesel was much more expensive to operate and service. Plus my tires were $700 each on the DP. Towing was much better with the diesel and didn't affect mpg much if any. Being 40' also limits campgrounds you can frequent as we had more than a few times where they didn't have a spot that long or was limited to 30amp and under no 50 amp spots. So sometimes smaller is better. Plus maneuvering a 40' with car in tow can be challenging in a busy gas station with one diesel pump.
You are a smart man I'm thinking about buying one it will be gas
I have had 5 Class A RV's all gas and never any problems even towing a car in Montana thru the mountains. The biggest thing for me has always been if something breaks down I can get any and almost all parts from Auto Zone ,Napa, Oriellys , Advance auto,or any other parts house and fix it on the fly. If it is diesel ,good luck finding parts on the weekend or a mechanic to work on it.
I really should have mentioned ease of getting parts as one of our reasons for going with gas. It was on our original list, but I forgot to mention it in the video. Thank you for the comment. Take care and safe travels!
dnnsmrgn lol every Napa in the country carriers all heavy duty parts quit make excuses as to why yiur cheap
You forgot a big advantage of the DP - toe generator is in the front instead of close to the bedroom.
For the times we need to use our generator we prefer it in the rear of the RV. It helps us sleep, as we usually need a fan or a white noise app.
Safari also produced short diesel motorhomes but sadly not any more. I am on my second gas motorhome, and I agree with your comments. Both of mine were Chev powered, and I do my services myself. Super easy with the onboard jacks. The reason that I will continue to buy gas, apart from the overall economy, is that I have learned that shorter is better. My current RV is 26 ft bumper to bumper with a full size queen size bed and a large bathroom. Neither of my RVs have been short on power but because my RV is so short I dont have to tow anything. I have a motorbike on the back so I can get to those very few places my rv cant.
Wow great video (and thank you YT for the algorithm that brought me here)! I already shared the video with my husband and am subscribing. We have been asking these questions and you have answered all of them in an honest video. Thank you!!
We are glad to hear you enjoyed the video and found it helpful! Let us know if you have any other questions and I will do my best to answer them or point you in the right direction of someone who might know the answer. Here is a link to an article I wrote for Winnebago that goes into a little bit more detail than the video. www.winnebago.com/lifestyle/winnebagolife/showroom/choosing-between-a-gas-or-diesel-coach
Take care and safe travels!
I've had a DP, and changed to an F53 37 foot Challenger. My number one reason is that my wife can drive the F53 chassis because it has a few feet of hood so she feels better staying in her lane. Our DP was a Windshield and No Hood in front.... It is also a few inches narrower than a DP. Our DP was 104" wide and the Challenger is 101" I think. that sounds like just a little narrower but it's noticable when you're on smaller highways. Thanks for your insights. They're all true too!!
A couple of points: A diesel motor also usually has a turbo for more power & the gas motor does not. Some diesel motors are in the front, many are in the back, if the gas motor was in the back it would be less noisy also.
There's a stick-on sound deadening material we buy to apply to the motor cover underneath that cuts down the noise by 50%. I just bought some and will measure the difference with a sound meter to get actual results. But who wants to hear their wife talk anyway :o
Turbo a gas engine and it won't last very long in a motor home environment. Diesel fuel has more "bang" or BTU's than an equal amount of gas does which is one reason why Diesels are more efficient and they are built to last, with turbos. A light truck gas engine like the V-10 will always turn higher RPM's to get out of it's own way and thus, the noise and heat and effort they have to be subject to in moving such mass. The manufactures should offer the gas engine as a pusher version because there would be added gains in rear wheel power to the ground vs. the long driveshaft to the rear wheels front mount version. Also, reliability is king on most diesel engines as long as they get routine maintenance like any vehicle should.
@@Garth2011 Garry not Linda. Mounting gas engines in the rear was tried in the 60's and 70's. The issue is cooling. Gas engines overheat in hard working applications and highway operation. Bluebird used to build rear engine busses and they were adequate for that type of application. Load them down in a motor home and the problems surfaced. I'm not sure if Bluebird still builds rear gas units. One thing I have not heard anyone mention is a Banks Power Pack Bundle with Auto Minder. Has anyone had experience with the system? I got an 08 Bounder F53 V-10 with only 31,000 miles two years ago. I've been considering the Banks because this configuration is sad. I miss my old 99 Winnebago terribly. Both units are 35-36 feet long and there the similarity ends. The Bounder is wider taller and much much heavier. It needs another whole herd of horses and at least one more gear because it is way under powered and under geared. I'd like to know if the Banks System lives up to the hype and adds enough to the performance to offset the stiff price.
Gassers are way better than they were before the pandemic. The Godzilla 7.3L motor made all the difference here.
thanks so much for the insightful and personal perspective. everyone has their preference; as you said your gas MH fits your lifestyle and needs. we will now be looking at gas MH as an option. thanks again for the video!
Glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful :)
I have a 2500 2003 Dodge cummons diesel pulling a fifth wheel traveling from Big Spring, TX
to Buena Vista, CO we cut across at Pueblo its about 125 miles of going 20 mph to 50 mph
up and down so not able to use cruise control and its a winding road very hard to pass but
we averaged 15 mpg over all and on I25 running 75 - 80 except some of the hills will slow you down I change the oil every 7500 miles, oil filters cost around $15 and the oil is about $100 for 3 oil changes. So 3 oil changes for me costs about $150 and repairs on the engine I had the fan replaced at a diesel repair shop and replaced the water pump and all the cooling hoses + new coolant and new brakes all for under $500 . Just driving around here mpg is between 25 -30 1500 rpm 55 mph and the mileage is over148,k If I need repairs on the road google search for Dodge dealer or diesel repair shops. Most gas stations do have
diesel fuel. Running in the mountains you crawl up hills and what you see along the roads
don't change very much in the mountains just my opinion I will never trade for a gas job, gas
is cheaper than diesel but when you start changing the electrical components the coils cost
from $85 up plus tax and V8 takes 8 x approx $90 = $720 then the labor of approx $120 per
hour,water pump replacement averages $300 to $750 depending on engine A lot of cummons
diesel engines might need repair after 250,000 a one mech says he sees a lot of 12 valve units
get 500,000 miles be needing an overhaul and there are some cummons with over a million
miles on them never been overhauled. I have never had any trouble starting when the temp
is 25 below zero
Thanks to emissions equipment on modern Diesel engines I will never own another one............ The emissions equipment DEF and particulate filters on the exhaust that are extremely expensive to repair/replace if need be which happens a lot. The up front cost of diesel engines out weighs the MPG penalty of gas. In these big vehicles the diesels only get 2-5 MPG better. That up front cost will buy a lot of gas. Secondly Gas is usually .15 - .50 cents cheaper per gallon than diesel fuel.
Agreed. DPF and DEF have destroyed the diesel
Not to mention the how the emissions equipment seems to be creating more problems due the failure rate
My 1980 MCI MC9 8v-71 bus conversion does better on fuel than most diesel pushers.
when we decided to go south for winter , i bought a 34 ft F53 chassis , 7.5 ltr , with full Gail Banks system , power was great , stopping power not so much but we towed a Chevy Spark , on our first shakedown trip , 2 weeks to Spokane , it drove ok , parked easy enough , seating with one couch and a little bucket chair and the captain chairs that were too far away from people on couch and too close to tv , smallish fridge , everything worked , limited pantry meant frequent grocery stops , limited storage and a tiny closet , great for a max of 2 weeks but 5 months was going to be trouble , then i found a great deal on a 40 ft DP , steering was quite a bit smoother , ride far superior , quieter , 2 couches , captain chairs more comfy and in the action with couches , triple the storage and closets , all maintenance is more expensive but 2.5 x less often and i do it myself , we did our 5 month trip four times and have enjoyed them immensely , when we downsize , likely will go for a mercedes diesel c class , have seen one with murphy bed lifts up for dinette , living room in rear
I love Wawa's stations
lol me too, although I have not been in an area that has had one in a while. I always enjoyed their coffee
I had a Winnebago Vista, 36 ft long. It was a great coach, perfect for SoCal where I lived. But I then moved to the Sierra Nevada region. That poor thing just screamed all the time going up and down the mountains. Had to trade for a 2002 Country Coach with a c-12 Cat diesel. Its pre emissions and no DEF. Its more money to maintain, but works for me.
I wonder why coach builders don’t put a power stroke or Dura max diesel up front? You’d get the torque of a diesel and the simpler design of a gas burner chassis....
Freightliner had a chassis with 5.9 Cummins in the front for a while was not a big seller but did work well
A lot of the Super Cs have diesels in the front. Once you get to a certain size the Power Strokes and Duramax are not enough engine. My diesel pusher has an 11 liter L6 Cummins (450hp 1450 lb ft M-11e) and it is pre-emissions. Engine sizes increased with emissions control. You see 8.3 Cummins on smaller DPs, but many of the larger units are in the 11L to 14L displacement range.
The over the road ride quality of a higher quality diesel pusher is what it is all about. I bought and sold class A coaches for almost 10 years. And drove them thousands of miles. A gas powered coach on a modified delivery van chassis cannot compare to a true air ride diesel pusher.
Forgot - 100% Synthetic Oil will increase the gas mileage noticeably as well as cool down drivetrain and get more power.
@Keith schaedel You are behind the times since about 1986. They are expensive for sure but worth it if one uses their vehicle in extreme conditions, otherwise Full Synectics work well also. Please search for yourself with an open mind and see as to why. Google etc may be ur best bet
@Keith schaedel By the way, most new vehicles come from the factory with either some form of synthetic or semi synthetic oil in the transmissions, trans axles and engines at times in the crank case. Seems u are new to real 100% Synthetics as well as Full Synthetics.
Good argument for buying the diesel.
ALL good points
Thank you for the review… excellent job.
Glad you enjoyed, one other downside of the gas class A that we have found through the years is in the heat of summer it takes a long time for the RV to cool off in the front cab after we park for the night, because the engine is literally right under the floor, but we would still choose our class A gas over anything else. We just hit 118,000 miles on it and are still loving our little Class A
@@MovingForwardAdventures ok That makes sense.. what about diesel pushers wouldn’t they make it hot in the rear of the RV?
We have talked to friends who own diesel pushers and they say the rear of their RVs do get warmer because of the engine being back there, but it doesn't sound to us as extreme as what we experience up front. I have heard other diesel owners say that there is more insulation around their diesel engines than what is used for gas engines
We bought a 40 foot disel and now I am going to go to a 45 f00t we stay at nice rv parks and they accommodate 45 footers and larger
I purchased a 2015 Gas Vista about 2 years ago. Put 7,000 miles on it so far with no trouble. Very reliable so far.
We think you will get plenty of trouble free miles out of it:) Take care and safe travels!
Makes so much sense but I'm sure you've rustled many a person's jimmies over what you've expressed here.
lol. yeah probably a few, but mostly everyone has been respectful to one another so far. Which by the way is rare on youtube lol Take care and safe travels!
I am surprised by your comment that there aren't that many diesel mechanics out there I believe there are over a million 128 wheelers that have diesels and there are mechanics everywhere to work on them We have a diesel and the benefits are so worth it You should really look into upgrading to a diesel pusher. Good luck on your travels and thanks for your videos
Ford and gasoline engine is the same reason for our choice too.
As of 2020, Ford now has a new 7.3 Gas push-rod engine that should be a real game changer for those wanting a Gas powered RV!
I have found more mechanics refusing to work on Fords.
We'll said. I for one am a diesel fan and have a pusher with 200,000 miles on her. This is the best comparison I've heard yet. I would never however go back to a Gasser, but great comparison...
Thanks, we will be heading out to shop in the next few weeks this was helpful imo hubby might disagree 😉
Glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful😁 There are die hard diesel fans, but I don't think there is such a thing as a die hard gasoline fan. Sabrina and I might be the first lol. Have fun shopping, there is so much on the market these days.
P