I had a diesel and switched to gas. The main thing is to find a floorplan that will work for you. I did have a problem finding diesel at some out of the way towns that had stations that I could fit. Yes diesel is available at most stations, but your coach may not fit into most stations. Since going with gas, I have never had a problem finding fuel.
As far as repairs, most coaches need them from time to time and diesels cost more to maintain. There are those that are driving around in their 10 year old diesels, with 60,000 miles and they will tell you all about how their diesel will last 500,000 miles. Not really a concern for most RV owners since the average RV use is around 5000 miles per year.
My wife also did not like the passenger seat in the diesel coach with the door in front of her. Not all diesels have this "bus exit" type floorplan but many do.
As I first said, find the floorplan that works first, engine choice second.
Our use so far has been almost exclusively on back country roads in the South West, the key for us is to look for stations starting just before 1/2 tank. With a 100gal tank we have a theoretical range of 750-800 miles, and a practical range of 600, a good day's driving is 350-400 which is ~1/2 tank.
Doing it this way gives us hundreds of miles to find an easy access station, a good leg stretcher stop and no last minute worries.
'99 Alpine 36SDS/8.3 ISC 330 Cummins
Or
'05 Lance 845
'06 Super duty SC/SB 6.0
Upgrades include: StabilLoads, Air Bags & Timbrens,Swaybars
Usually towing an '01 Wrangler, lifted/locked on 35"s or a mildly built '98 Cherokee on 33"s (only one locker)
I stay with gas because I do almost all my own work on the coach. Size of filters both air and fuel. Water separater and then when their is an oil change so much more oil. Then cost of fuel per mile compared to cost of the unit. Just seems to work for me. May not for someone else
Here is a link for you:
http://www.allstays.com/c/truck-stop-locations.htm
This will give you some idea of the availability of diesel at major trucks tops in the US and Canada. This is by no means an exhaustive list. This web site is good for campgrounds also, so you might like to save the link. There is more of an issue with accessing fuel islands than availability of diesel. Most fuel stations are designed for cars and light trucks so we almost always fuel with the big trucks. The fuel is fresher and the pumps are high volume so pumping between 50 $ 100 gals is easier. We have been full timers for 5 years now and diesel availability has never been an issue. You'll have to pry my diesel coach from my cold dead hands!!
You guys need to sit down & make a list of requirements. You should talk them out completely and be satisfied that you are in agreement. Most likely Bob will take the lead on chassis items and Sally will be the lead on the house portion.
I can almost guarantee you that if you ride in a diesel mh and a gas mh back to back, you'll see why your dh wants the diesel. The air suspension of a diesel rides much, much better than the standard spring suspension on a gas mh. Also, with the engine in the rear, the engine noise level is almost non-existent especially when going up a hill. While the gas and diesel engines have about the same horsepower, a diesel will have at least twice the torgue...sometime triple; and believe me, that massive amount of torque will really come into play when you need it the most.
As for your worry over finding diesel....don't. It's everywhere. With a large DP, you'll be spending most of your fill-ups at truck centers. Pilot, Flying J, Loves, Petro, etc. are very common almost anywhere you go. We made a trip to Alaska and back and not once did we even begin to worry about not fining fuel.
Hope this helps
Ron
Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35 CAT C7
Toad: 2011 GMC Terrain SLT2
Tow Bar: Sterling AT
Toad Brakes: Unified U.S. Gear
TPMS: Pressure Pro
Member of: GS, FMCA, Safari Intl, CAT
Burwoods, in our 52,000 miles of driving our coach all over the country including Canada, we have not had a problem finding fuel. Actually, we didn't have to buy fuel in Canada but I did see diesel stations along the way. We drove around Lake Superior entering Canada through Minnesota and then entering the USA through Michigan. Diesel in Canada in 2008 was $5.34 a gallon but it was ONLY $4.99 in the US. LOL!
As the others have said, buy the floor plan that you like best. A diesel coach will have a better suspension (air bags) and 99% of the time, the motor will be in the back so the front will be quiet.
Absolutely nothing wrong with a gas powered coach. With diesel, you can fuel up at the semi-truck area and this is important, especially, if you are pulling a toad. The gas pump area's can be really tight and may not have enough room for you to gas up.
Have fun shopping!
MM.
Mr.Mark
2008 Monaco Dynasty, 42.2 ft., 4 slides, 425 hp clean-air Cummins diesel
2013 Honda CR-V EXL, AWD, w/Nav, SMI Air Force One vacuum-assisted braking
Diesel is available everywhere. You will never have a problem finding it. Everyone seems to buy diesel pick-ups nowadays wether they really need a diesel or not. I usually see dually diesel pick-ups hauling around one person with nothing in the back.
Adam
2009 Allegro Bus 36QSP (Sold March 2011)
Dream of the day when I can get back RVing.
This has been very helpful, floorplan is important. It is our first step, then on to others. It is a large purchase be it new, used, gas, diesel. What we buy, is all me, fuel, floorplan, chassis, how it all works, the check sheets, the works, all me, Dh is along as my driver...and he is just fine with that. Big learning curve for me, you post it, I read it, I print it off, I research it. When people ask him what my part in all this is, he says I am his talking RV Encyclopedia sitting beside him, with my big binder...lol. The big learning experience when we drive out of the driveway with it.
I can't argue with what you say and if I had funds so others could service it and felt the bang for the buck. I also would go with diesel. But I don't and most people don't keep the units say 100k to 150 K so can't see the bang. Just another opion
lanerd wrote: I can almost guarantee you that if you ride in a diesel mh and a gas mh back to back, you'll see why your dh wants the diesel. The air suspension of a diesel rides much, much better than the standard spring suspension on a gas mh. Also, with the engine in the rear, the engine noise level is almost non-existent especially when going up a hill. While the gas and diesel engines have about the same horsepower, a diesel will have at least twice the torgue...sometime triple; and believe me, that massive amount of torque will really come into play when you need it the most.
As for your worry over finding diesel....don't. It's everywhere. With a large DP, you'll be spending most of your fill-ups at truck centers. Pilot, Flying J, Loves, Petro, etc. are very common almost anywhere you go. We made a trip to Alaska and back and not once did we even begin to worry about not fining fuel.
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