Comments on: Gas Vs Diesel

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:07:08 +0000

Buy diesel for the long hauls and tow capacity. Buy gas for the shorter trips and if you don’t plan on doing cross country trips often. Now days some diesels are just as inexpensive as gas motorhomes.

By: ChuckL

ChuckL — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:09:24 +0000

Doug,

Ford has the highest towing ratings in the pickup truck industry. Is this Chevy dealer comparing a Chevy 2500 HD with a diesel engine to the Ford Gasoline engine?

I’ve got no axe in this deal, but the salesman sure sounds to me like he sells by bad-mouthing the opposition. A bowling ball will smash a ping-pong ball every time. Many RV manufacturers are now offering the Ford Powe-Stroke diesel also.

OTOH, if the RV you want only comes with a choice between the Ford V-10 gasoline and the Workhorse diesel, take the diesel. You’ll like the way it drives in the mountains much better.

By: ChuckL

ChuckL — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:56:41 +0000

Check this Diesel Power Magazine report on comparative performance and fuel economy of a 6.4 L Power-Stroke diesel and a Triton 6.8 L gasoline engine in the same year F-250.

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/features/ford/0707dp_2008_ford_super_duty_gas_vs_diesel/index.html

It is interesting reading. And when you consider that the diesel is much more efficient in the city where pumping losses really hurt gasoline engines, diesel looks like th e only way to fly.

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 18 May 2009 08:47:00 +0000

Im looking at a 2006 class A- 37ft motor home with a Ford V10. I am beeing told by a sales person in the RV buisness not to consider the v10 for any class A over 32 ft.due to wieght.towing and being underpowered. he said i need to look for the chevy workhorse since the ford v10 will not pull well with the tranny it has.
During my search i found that the 2006 V10 has improved and is now a three valve sytem. with a 5 speed tranyy…i understand its not the allison as chevy but???? Any coment will be appreciated.,

thanks Doug

By: Erik

Erik — Sun, 03 May 2009 14:28:15 +0000

I’m in the same boat as Jason. Wife’s graduating with her Master’s this spring and we want to load the kids up and take the summer to road trip. My 4Runner can’t pull a trailer big enough for comfort, not to mention the kids being cramped in the 4Runner. In my $20K +/-, I’m looking at clean old ‘93 Bounders at about $13,500, or a ‘93 Monaco DP at $22K. Both are about 34′. I’m leaning toward the DP because I intend to trailer and tow the 4Runner. It seems that picking up a $1,200 car trailer that I can resell later is a better investment than all the stuff to 4-down tow the 4Runner or my accord.

I should mention I plan to roadtrip across the US from the west coast to east coast this summer. Other than maybe getting in a weekend or 2 before, that cross-country trip is going to be the first trip. We’re leaving and not coming back. We expect to pick a new state over the summer as my wife interviews with hospitals for management slots. Given that we’ll be basically full-timing it this summer with stops at relatives homes for visits, and towing the car trailer, and heading out almost first thing for a many thousand mile trip the Monaco DP seems the safer bet for reliability and comfort.

If we all find we can’t stand living in such close quarters we may even be selling the MH in a year or 2. The Bounders seem a good deal today for what it is, but the NADA values stink. Whereas the Monaco DP at $22K is about 8K under low NADA. The DP is the gentleman’s 3rd RV, and they’ve had it for 8 years, putting about 40K miles on it. The DP now has about 95K miles, whereas the Bounder only has about 55K. I’ve seen at least 2 MH with new 454’s at this mile range. I’d hate to get out on my cross country trip and have the engine fail. A replacement 454 would just about negate the savings if things went that wrong.

Thoughts? Thanks much!
Erik

By: Jason Miller

Jason Miller — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:22:06 +0000

I have decided I want a diesel motorhome. After driving diesel and gas, I really like the ride and quietness of a diesel coach. However, my salesman is trying really hard to talk me into a gas. He thinks I won’t drive it enough and there is so much more to go wrong with a diesel. I am looking to buy a nice used diesel around 1999 or 2000. The salesman is telling me how much more I can get by going with gas. What do you think? Thanks!

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:42:11 +0000

Karen,

Performance, durability, and maitenance wise, it’s about a wash between the Vortec 8.1 and Triton 6.8. Drivability wise, there’s some differences. The 8.1 is a big block V-8 and produces its torque at lower RPMs, and the torque curve is really flat. It’s also mated to an Allison 6-speed with two overdrive gears, so it normally runs at a realitively low RPM at highway speeds. The Triton 6.8 is a smaller displacement V-10, using the same bore and stroke of Ford’s 5.4 Triton V-8 and has a torque curve that looks more like a hill. As a result, it needs to turn more RPM’s, but it does have a higher HP rating.

For most it comes down to a personal choice of having either a larger somewhat lazy feeling engine, that will pull hard from 1600 RPMS, or a higher reving engine that’s quicker to respond and downshift more often when needed.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:45:24 +0000

Now that I’m totally confused, maybe somebody can help me with a decision.
I’m looking at buying a 35 ft. Toy Hauler motorhome with a 6.8 liter Triton, or maybe a 35 ft. Class C with a diesel.
Would anyone know what the difference in gas mileage would be? And which would be a better choice in gas engines, the Triton or an 8.1 liter Vortec?
Thank you for any help.

Karen

By: daniel Tousignant

daniel Tousignant — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:32:19 +0000

Gas vs diesel is a very interesting subject and need more though. So I will appreciate some guidances. I will buy a Gulfstream Bounty Hunter probably next year. Reason is for the built in garage of course. It is offered with gas engines, Ford V-10 or 8.1 liters Workhorse, or a diesel made by Cummins on a Freightliner chassis. All are having nearly the same horsepower. It will be very interesting to see a comparison test of the three in the exact same conditions. I hope Gulfstream will have the guts to propose it. I will appreciate constructive recommendations and your evaluation of what gas milleage I could expect from the different versions. My intend is to do approximately 5 to 10 thousands miles per year and to keep it for more than ten years. If you know of any good road test with documented fuel consumption I will appreciate any references.
Regards to all haapy rvers.
Daniel.

By: bobvelon

bobvelon — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:53:36 +0000

I love the debate between gas or diesel. I can only speak from my experience with my diesel motorhome. At 65 miles an hour I get 10.8 miles per gallon. If I drive 55 I get 12.4 miles per gallon. We have traveled with friends that have gas engined motorhomes and they get between 5 to 6 miles per gallon. I probably paid more for a diesel engine but given the economy and longer engine life I feel I made the right choice.

When we first bought this motorhome, a Rockwood on a Sparten chassis, it had a differential of 3:73. I regeared it to 3:23. I think I did the right thing in doing that. My price for diesel is higher here in California than other states so feel I am really being ripped off. When on vacation last May of 2007 we paid about the same for diesel as those using unleaded.

Bob