Comments on: New Diesels. Gas Usage Down. Oil Drops. Yippee!

By: Bob Difley

Bob Difley — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:41:07 +0000

Jerry – Try this link to a forum discussing the popular Winnebago View and Itasca Navion Class C motorhomes that use the Dodge Sprinter chassis and a Mercedes diesel engine: http://www.sprinter-source.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=10
Other manufacturers, like Fleetwood, arealso now producing 23 foot to 27 foot diesel Class Cs as well. Google “sprinter” and, the most used chassis for this brand of small Class C diesels and see what else comes up.

By: Jerry Sanger

Jerry Sanger — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:01:47 +0000

I would like to hear comments about class C motorhomes with a mercedes diesel engine; milage,comfort, reviews, slideouts, etc.

Thanks, Jerry

By: Monte J Forney SMSgt USAF(Ret)

Monte J Forney SMSgt USAF(Ret) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:16:34 +0000

While there are many factors that affect the price of oil on the commodity market I recently picked up a thread that China went on a 9 month buying spree so that they could hoard enough petroleum products to take care of any possible emergency during the games. Now, of course, they have a surplus and are not buying oil which affects demand and lowers price. Have not verified this from a really good source.

By: Hello RV World « Yockster’s Weblog

Hello RV World « Yockster’s Weblog — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:27:15 +0000

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By: Carol Colbert

Carol Colbert — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:15:03 +0000

Thanks Bob and John for all your input. I will probably go diesel with my next RV.

By: Monte J Forney SMSgt USAF(Ret)

Monte J Forney SMSgt USAF(Ret) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:21:18 +0000

Reference detune: Would probably screw up emmissions.

By: Monte J Forney SMSgt USAF(Ret)

Monte J Forney SMSgt USAF(Ret) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:17:52 +0000

No question Bob, that driving habits effect milage. My wife usually gets 2mpg more than I and never uses cruise, but she refuses to tow. My previous Ram 2500 24 valve 5.9 got much better mpg than the 6.7 but then it was less powerful. The 5.9’s milage, given same driver, improved about 10% over 8 yrs/140K. One interesting approach could be to detune the 6.7 for milage and trade off power for economy since it really is overpowered. Single drive wheels cannot get all that power to the road without winding up the rubber, don’t know about duallies.

By: Bob Difley

Bob Difley — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:04:10 +0000

Monte – Interesting the comment about mileage going up as diesels get broken in. I’d like to hear from any of you that have or have not experienced that. Also interesting that “culturally most of us lie about our mileage.” I sensed that will the spread between mileage claims for what seem to be similar systems. Driving habits could account for that, but I wonder how much.

By: Monte J Forney SMSgt USAF(Ret)

Monte J Forney SMSgt USAF(Ret) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:54:17 +0000

Still not at ease with the premium we have to pay for the ultra low diesel. Understand it has to be refined from the expensive sweeter crude. We are running a 07 Dodge Mega 2500 6.7L getting 18mpg not pulling and 12 with the 07 Challenger 36 foot at 12,600 dry. My diesel guru locally says he is seeing mpg going up as engines are getting broken in. Hard to say, culturely most of us lie about our milage anyway. Bottom line “boogly boogly” is still the only way for bigger RVs.

By: Bob Difley

Bob Difley — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:32:19 +0000

Hi John – I like that “boogly boogly” sound you refer to. Being a gas guy up to this point, I can’t argue much against a diesel, and my next vehicle will probably be one.