427435
Rochester, Mn
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Joined: 11/12/2005
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bluwtr49 wrote:On ongoing discussion with no clear answers:
Diesel fuel more $$$
Diesel better economy
Fuel costs essentially a wash.
Diesel maintenance a bit higher
The larger the coach the more attractive diesel becomes.
Diesel are most often pushers and are extremely quiet on the road.
Most diesels will have air suspension...much better ride.
How far you travel is irrelavant to the decision. It's all about what you want.
Bluntly put, if the cost differances are a budget buster you might want to reconsider any MH.
Nuts. Staying at home because one can't afford the price of a DP but can afford a gas MH is just plain foolish. The trips in our MH (see signature) have been great and very affordable. You can see on the map that the trips include Alaska.
With about $1000 of shocks and other things, it rides nicely and is quite quiet. It cost us $50,000 6 years ago and owes us nothing today (although it still has plenty of resale value).
Mark
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U on a Ford chassis, 74,000 miles
2003 Ford Explorer toad with Ready Brake supplemental brakes,
Ready Brute tow bar, and Demco base plate.
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workhardplayharder
Treasure Coast Florida
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Joined: 09/02/2009
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Deetour wrote:workhardplayharder wrote:The only way to economically justify the cost of a diesel is if you plan to load the RV beyond the capacity of a gas unit or drive a lot of miles. Judging by your statement, I'd say you've never owned a diesel MH.
To me, your reason would be around 98 on a list of "100 important reasons' to own diesel".
I think my statement was clear. The decision could be made as an economic or personal choice.
"Some just have to have the diesel preferring the added ccc, style and comfort of the ride."
No I have never owned a DP they are out of my price range. I average 5000-7000 miles a year and I cannot justify the expense.
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jimervin
ga
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Joined: 07/20/2004
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The OP mentioned premium fuel needed for a big block gas engine. So far as I know they all use regular grade gas. You might want premium fuel in an older gasser at high altitude to minimize pinging.
jim
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dashdriver
Colorado
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Joined: 07/28/2009
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For the poster who said diesel cannot be justified economically, unless you're running a business, who makes the decision to RV purely on economics? RV purchases are like all other discretionary purchases: based on what you want within the bounds of what you can afford. That's why the waters are so "murky" on the gas vs diesel debate. There are pros and cons to both and different products suit different people. There's no real right or wrong on it. That's why they still sell both gas and diesel units.
1999 HR Navigator 42DSS
2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (4Dr)
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workhardplayharder
Treasure Coast Florida
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dashdriver wrote:For the poster who said diesel cannot be justified economically, unless you're running a business, who makes the decision to RV purely on economics? RV purchases are like all other discretionary purchases: based on what you want within the bounds of what you can afford. That's why the waters are so "murky" on the gas vs diesel debate. There are pros and cons to both and different products suit different people. There's no real right or wrong on it. That's why they still sell both gas and diesel units.
Man can anyone read an entire post and digest the entire post and not take one part of that post out of context? Do we have to start our post with a disclaimer? I know the diesel owners are a proud bunch. They love to talk about HP and torque. I also admit the sound of a diesel singing is a beautiful thing. The OP was asking for input to help him make the decision of a gas or diesel RV. If you look at a purchase from the economic standpoint you have to be in a position to put lots of miles on that is a fact. If you buy a diesel for the improved fuel mileage and you don’t put the miles on it you are spending dollars to save pennies.
I fully understand as stated in my first reply to the OP that there are people who knowingly choose to purchase a diesel motor home because it is there right to do so. I am not in the position to have the discretionary spending to make such a purchase. I am not saying that you should or should not have made the decision to purchase you made. I have made the purchase of a gas motor home because it fits my budget. I also fully understand the purchase of a motor home is not a wise economic decision whether you own a business or not. I am assuming that you meant a business can use an RV as a tax write-off. If you buy an item solely for the write-off you are spending a $1 to save $00.25 (varies based on your tax rate) I purchased my motor home as well as past RVs for the pleasure of it. Much like everyone else we have realized the trip doesn’t start when we arrive at our destination. With an RV it starts as soon as we start our gas or diesel engines.
I wise man once said to never talk religion, money or politics, I am adding fuel type to that list.
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wa_desert_rat
Central Washington State
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workhardplayharder wrote: If you look at a purchase from the economic standpoint you have to be in a position to put lots of miles on that is a fact. If you buy a diesel for the improved fuel mileage and you don’t put the miles on it you are spending dollars to save pennies.
Not if you buy a used diesel pusher. You not only get better fuel economy but you also get more power and longer engine life as well as a more robust transmission and better braking for a tradeoff of just a few hundred dollars a year in oil and filter changes. And often for only a couple thousand dollars up front in cost.
Craig
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glodal134
OHIO
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Joined: 10/05/2010
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invmartyc wrote:I am looking into fulltiming but I don't plan to just travel all the time. I intend to stop and smell the roses from time to time.
My interest wasn't so much purchase costs or MPG but instead the flexibility of diesel over gas. I am thinking that a diesel engine may have more flexibility in the future than a gas engine. With a gas engine, unless you can convert to LP you are pretty much stuck with gas. And doesn't a big block require premium grade which is not to much cheaper than diesel.
Thanks for all the input so far though. Keep on living the dream!
The big block Ford gas engines ( V 10 ) do not require premium.
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glodal134
OHIO
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bluwtr49 wrote:SRT wrote:IMHO, if you are just camping once a month and only take a short trip once a year, a gasser can make more $$$ sense. The bigger coaches are usually diesel and are usually used by people making many trips a year or full-timing. I know that if we had continued full-timing we would have gotten a 38' DP.
On the other hand, the shorter the trip the less the differance between gas and diesel. If one only travels 500 miles a year you would be hard pressed to notice any differance in fuel costs. With the resale market being so dismal for any MH even the cost differances are becoming a non-issue.
Real point is, pick a price point and find the biggest and best that fits you wants (there are no needs). Go as high end as possible and enjoy the luxury.
This is an on going debate that will never go away but I agree with this post.
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emzee
california
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as diesels get cheaper, the debate changes a bit. we had a gas motorhome, there are a few real important things in my mind that differ from the diesel, brakes and the noise level up front is a biggie to me, the resale is usually better, the ccc's are much better. I also think it's up to the persons wallet and what he feels comfortable with.
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tahiti16
Camarillo, CA
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Joined: 06/23/2008
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workhardplayharder wrote:Deetour wrote:workhardplayharder wrote:The only way to economically justify the cost of a diesel is if you plan to load the RV beyond the capacity of a gas unit or drive a lot of miles. Judging by your statement, I'd say you've never owned a diesel MH.
To me, your reason would be around 98 on a list of "100 important reasons' to own diesel".
I think my statement was clear. The decision could be made as an economic or personal choice.
"Some just have to have the diesel preferring the added ccc, style and comfort of the ride."
No I have never owned a DP they are out of my price range. I average 5000-7000 miles a year and I cannot justify the expense.
Got to agree here with workhard, with the premium for a diesel unit and the premium you pay for the fuel the only way you can "justify" buying the diesel, beyond want.  Is you need to large a motorhome for gas to be realistic. Diesel will move more weight and a longer unit and tow more than gas.
Now if you want a diesel than there is no justification needed, buy it!
The only one that really matters is what works for you? Size, number of slides, floorplan etc. The rest of it is our opinions of what works for US, YMMV!
Ray, Cheryl, Cory & of course Miss Molly the four-legged child
2006 Dolphin 36' F53 V10 5 speed auto 2 slides 7.5 KW genset
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