Upgrading to a Newer Rig: Gas or Diesel?

wmaw98

Hi folks. Well I am contemplating getting a newer rig. I currently have a 97' 34-foot gas Bounder that gets on an average of 7 mpg. My question is should I stay with a gasser or go diesel? I have heard that diesels get better gas mileage. Is that so, or is it about the same as gasser's?
Woody & Cathy Full-timing, motorhome stuffed to the gills pulling a 2000 Subaru Outback. Wink

woming · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

elh3946 · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1650 Location: Sioux Falls, SD

There's a lot that goes into this decision...each has their pros and cons.

What length are you considering? A gasser longer than around 34' - 35' will quickly start losing a lot of payload capacity. If you're considering a rig longer than 35', I'd lean toward the pusher.

Where do you travel? If you do a lot of traveling in the mountainous West, then the pusher will have more torque to get you up those hills with a lot less effort.

How long do you stay in one place? If you stay in places long-term before moving on (like 3 months or more), I'd probably stick with the gasser because diesel engines like to be worked. Along with this is how many miles do you usually travel during the year? If you're really racking up the miles, the diesel engine has a longer life than a gasser. However, if you put very few miles on your rig during a year, then I can't see paying the extra money for a diesel.

Diesels usually do get better mileage. I'm no expert on diesel pushers, by any means, but for two motorhomes of the same size and weight, I would expect the diesel to get 1 or 2 mpg -- maybe more -- than the gasser. Hopefully, some people with diesel pushers will chime in here.

Motor31 · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:00 am Post subject:

If staying in one place a long time is a consideration, I'd definitely go with a diesel. Gasoline goes sour and starts to turn into varnish pretty quickly. Having a full tank of varnish and getting the entire fuel system gunked up is not good. Diesel is far more stable in storage.

All engines have more life expectancy if they are run regularly.
_________________
Mike, Nancy and the Fuzzies
2005 MS 38 RL3
2001 Volvo MH (HDT)
2004 R1150RT (piggyback)
1996 Jeep Cherokee (toad)

wmaw98 · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:37 am Post subject:

Thanks for the input. What you folks are saying is food for thought.
Most of my travels are from Seattle, Washington area to Utah to Arizona or Southern California. I go over at least 3 mountain passes each direction. However, we plan on going all the way to Florida in the future. I am looking for a used 2000 to 2006 36' to 38'. I just don't know if I should go gas or diesel. Like you all say, there are a lot of pros and cons to both. I'm hoping to get some real numbers from you folks who have been on the road for some time. Also as far as staying in one place for a long time, our stays vary from one month to as long as 4 months.
Woody & Cathy Wink

Motor31 · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:45 am Post subject:

FWIW, I have had gasoline start to sour in as little as 45 days without some preservative in it. This is particularly true when it's been a blend gas like gasohol or with MTBE and gas used in the winter months.

A friend of mine has a sail boat with a diesel engine in it. He has had diesel in the tank that is still good after more than 10 years.
_________________
Mike, Nancy and the Fuzzies
2005 MS 38 RL3
2001 Volvo MH (HDT)
2004 R1150RT (piggyback)
1996 Jeep Cherokee (toad)

Traveling Nana · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:37 am Post subject:

We are fulltime RVers. We drive a 40' HR Endeavor (diesel) and tow a full size GMC 4-door 4x4 pickup, and we get 6 to 8 MPG. For our size and weight, we are very pleased with our diesel.
_________________
Linda, Roger and Miss Dixie, our Chihuahua mix & Miss Coco our Chihuahua
40' 2008 Monaco Knight
fulltiming since 1/06
Life is a highway, we want to drive it all year long.

bwexler · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 12:10 pm Post subject: Gas or Diesel

I believe if you are going to travel long distances (Washington to Florida) , you will be much happier with a diesel.
1 Diesel is much quieter, engine is in the rear; driver and pasenger in front.
2 Most diesels handle better, they are heavier, have larger tires, beefier frame and suspension.
3 A diesel will cost more and have a higher resale value.
4 Fuel economy may be a bit better on a diesel, but you will never drive enough miles for that to pay for the price difference in the unit.

I had a very nice 95 Winnebago Vectra bought used with less than 30,000 miles. I drove it from San Diego to Montreal and back. The handling was awful. When there was a crosswind or a big rig, I could be pushed to another lane in a second. If there was uneven pavement in construction zones, staying in lane was not easy.
I now have a 97 American Tradition also bought used. Much nicer fit and finish inside and out. The quiet interior and the handling are incomparable.

If I were buying again, I could not consider a gas rig unless my travels were going to be less than 200 miles per trip (tailgating or weekending).
_________________
Bob & Barb on the road again

royston · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 2:05 pm Post subject: Diesel or Gas

In 2001 we bought a brand-new National Marlin diesel pusher, 39 feet, and tow a Malibu. I kept records of every fuel fill (10 1/2 mpg) and then 2 years ago we purchased a Silverleaf Diagnostic Program from the FMCA Rally that is installed on an old laptop and sits on the dash. Easy to monitor. Well, after hooking it up the first time, it said we were getting 10.4 mpg. It's a terrific program.

We travel from Vancouver Island to CA and AZ every winter for 5 months - it's 300 hp and never have a problem in the mountains - including the Rockies in BC. I do a lot of my own maintenance now (used to maintain fire trucks when I was a fireman years ago!).

We love our diesel and looking forward to packing up again for the winter in the sun.

Gene & Carole

wmaw98 · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:26 am Post subject:

Thanks for the input. We have decided on getting a used diesel. We are up here in Marysville, Washington and have been looking at used diesels. In a month we will be in the Quartzsite, Arizona area, and from looking on the Internet, it seems that the motorhomes in Arizona are better priced than up here in Washington. I wish I could buy one from a private individual; there are some really good ones all over. Unfortunately there are two things against that: being a full-timer, I don't have a place to park a second motorhome; and two, I could really use the trade-in value on my current RV to put against the one I get. Well we're in no hurry; there is nothing wrong with our current RV. So thanks again for the responses and maybe we will run into some of you folks around Quartzsite this winter.
Woody & Cathy 97 34V Bounder 460 Ford. 2000 Subaru Outback Toad

Hollowpoint · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

Diesel as of today in my town: $4.11/gal
Regular unleaded in my town : $3.51/gal

Fuel is only going up. Which one do you want to pay? When diesel is $6.00/gal and gasoline is $5.00/gal, will you be able to afford the diesel price? At $5.00/gal, the cost of gas would break most people, but $6.00/gal for diesel would just plain kill us.