On our last trip we met three German couples driving European made diesel powered class A motorhomes. Meeting each separately we only spoke to one couple at length about their coach. They had it shipped over and had traveled to many more places in America than we have. Their Canada, US, and Mexico decal maps were completely filed in and they said this was their second motorhome.
Now to the point of this: Their motor home was a little larger than our Lance. Yet it had a 2.5 liter diesel engine. Our smaller truck and camper with a 6.6 liter diesel seemed wasteful in comparison.
We can see less of the world faster than those clever Germans.
Lots of Stuff wrote: ***
Now to the point of this: Their motor home was a little larger than our Lance. Yet it had a 2.5 liter diesel engine. Our smaller truck and camper with a 6.6 liter diesel seemed wasteful in comparison.
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Holy cow!
Our TDI (diesel) VW Jetta has a 1.9 and I feel sometimes it is just barely adequate. I really can't imagine only .6L larger in a class C unless it had a bazillion gears to keep in the power band.
One other thing to remember is weight. I'll pick on my truck because I'm familiar with it. My truck is 7.3 to 8 thousand pounds normally equipped for a trip prior to the RV. If we were able to do the same work with something about half that weight a smaller power plant might be in order, but for now I'll keep our capable big wheel barrow.
I pull heavy on a daily basis. I need a little more power than a little 2.5 diesel will offer (although I'm sure they have their place). I'll take any of my 5.9 Cummins over ANYTHING available today for pulling and longevity.
I think the little diesels will get more and more popular as time goes on. Cummins is coming out with a little diesel for the half ton Rams and I think Isuzu is coming out with a small diesel for the 1500 series GMC as well. Still a 4.X diesel but only for economy and not for pulling. Feel free to correct me on this as neither one is on the market yet.
I don't think a 2.5 liter diesel could give me the performance I want. You see, I don't want to have to pray to be able to go up a mtn or get on the interstate.
If you want to go economy, buy a economy car and tow and ultralight trailer, or better yet, bring a tent.
'06 F350 Lariat Supercab SRW, 6.0 PSD 4x4 Long Bed, Intake Elbow, Walker Big Truck Muffler. '06 Host Rainer 950 Double Slide, Fastguns. Firestone Air Bags, Rancho 9000s, Vision 19.5s with Hankook DH-01 245s, Energy Suspension bump stops.
GM,... and I believe several others are coming out with a smaller diesel 1/2 ton truck soon. I am hoping that they (GM) uses the smaller engine in their Heavy Duty trucks also, but I don't know what there plans are. I know where I work we make half tons and we have been getting ready for it.
I would buy a Ford Ranger or other small truck with a small, efficient turbo diesel. I think it would be great. Let's face it, the small pickups are not getting the kind of mileage they should be and mileage on them hasn't improved much over the last 25 years. They're still getting similar mileage now as they were in the 80's. That is rediculus!
I had a Datsun diesel pickup once. Nice truck, good economy. Datsun didn't make them with 4X4, though, and I don't remember what the towing capability was. Not much probably, since it was only a 2.2L engine, IIRC. Later ones were 2.5L.
There are a LOT of small diesel vehicles all over the world, EXCEPT in the United States. Even Jeeps are avaiable in Europe with diesel engines, but not in the U.S.
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, Std. cab, LB, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 273,000 Miles
'99 Monaco McKenzie 32' triple slide
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: '06 Jeep Liberty CRD
Towed: '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
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