Gas or Diesel? Help me decide.

[wildebill308]

Just a couple add on thoughts for the OP based on what has been posted. You want to tow 4 down I have towed on a trailer on a dolly and now 4 down. I would not go back. Yes you have to unhook because you can't back up but that isn't the big deal some make out. I can un hook in about 3 min. That and you don't have to do it very often if you are paying attention. Yes you can tow with a gas coach. Just be aware of what it is rated for. Most gas will tow 5000 lbs. Diesel are 10,000 pound capacity. On the problem of your wife not being able to reach the peddles and get comfortable. On my DP the peddles are adjustable with a control on the steering wheel. Last I would go drive several different coaches gas and diesel. Let me know if you have any outher questions.

 

[Vint]

Big difference is the platform the engine is based on. With a pickup you are looking at a lot more towing capacity, same ride basically, better mpg, ability to fuel up at truck stop islands with plenty of room to maneuver, and power to tackle the mountains out West. But, much higher initial cost vs higher trade value, DEF (really not a big deal or expense), definitely higher maintenance costs ($50 oil change to $150+, frequent fuel filters @$40-$50 each), possible catastrophic failure for a diesel being in the tens of thousands, gas new engine $5000-$6000.

Motorhome s are a different animal because now your going from a relatively light Ford F53 truck chassis to a heavy duty Freightliner or Spartan chassis where everything is more than twice the size providing straight and steady steering. Rear engine provides a quiet ride, air bag suspension smooths the ride comfort, up to 20K pounds of towing capacity, greater fuel economy, truck stop fueling, power to go anywhere. Yep, higher initial cost by $20-$30000 or more, diesel may cost more (most diesel owners have a truckers fuel discount card such as Open Roads. In 2024 my average cost per gallon of diesel was about $.30 less per gallon than 87 octane gas). But the power, more in a bit. Again, much higher maintenance cost as outlined above. I paid $3000 for a new radiator in 2023 and total installed close to $6000.

I owned 2 gas motorhomes (used) and was not disappointed with either rig. But, I realized I wasn't driving a BMW. Some first motorhome owners will spend $10K or more trying to get it to ride and drive like the wife's car. But, my diesel I love.

Simple!e story: Two years ago heading to Yosemite NP. GPS tells me to turn right onto Old Priest Rd. Twists and turns almost vertical. We're pulling our Kia Shortage on a dolly. I swear a white van in front of me was on it's rear bumper around the turn. I start to think with our tow we aren't gonna make that incline. My 6.7 Cummins Diesel and Allison transmission down shifts to 1st gear, speed increases and up shifts to 2nd, speed picks up and shifts to 3rd, oops, back to 2nd, and we crest the hill and turn off back to the highway. I don't think my excellent Ford V10 gassers would've made the grade. YouTube Old Priest Road, 20% grade.

18 years RV'ing I couldn't go back to gas.


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[Cuervo CAT]

From my trucking experience alone, I'd say that diesel will be more expensive, not only at the pump but at the shop as well. Yeah, that air-ride suspension on your rig may be nice, but when your turbo blows or some other part grenades, "CHA-CHING!!!" And your wallet starts looking like an anorexic meth head... some tweekin' crackerhead who hasn't seen solid food in months, lol.

Not all of us are loaded with money, SOME of us can't make problems go away by hurling fat stacks of C-notes in their direction. Social Insecurity only goes so far, lol... and it costs enough just to top off your tanks, whether you're driving a gas or diesel rig, though gas is certainly cheaper at the present moment. Those gallons of fuel can add up to significant amounts, lol.

We had an expression in the trucking industry: "Big trucks, big bucks!!!" And ain't that the truth, lol... but I was always particularly glad to be a 'company driver' whenever some expensive diesel motor component failed through no fault of my own. I'd look at the repair bill and say to myself, "I'm glad I'm not paying that ridiculous amount of money for some $h!thouse part, lol!"

From what I've gleaned at various RV websites, the RV industry isn't much different from the trucking industry when it comes to expensive repairs, there are plenty of shady mechanics out there who will capitalize on your misfortune, and I say that as a pretty handy guy with tools, I can fix a lot of problems but I can't fix some wanker's morality when it comes to fleecing RVers, lol.

Not in my pay grade, lol... and karma may eventually catch up to that wanker, but the problem with karma is the same problem with SWIFT & J.B HUNT trucks: too goldurned slow. Give me an uncut triple-digit truck every time, lol, but I digress... Yeah, if you have a FAT WALLET and can afford to hurl money at problems, buy the diesel rig with the air-ride suspension! Just my $.02 on this subject...

Now I'm back to my delicious ice-cold alcoholic beverage, lol... CHEERS!!!

P.S. That's my 'rodeo hip flask'---I'll be putting it to good use when the rodeo hits Silver City next weekend, lol. This is how cheap b@stards like me avoid paying whorehouse prices for drinks at the rodeo, "10-DASH-FO'?"

 

[Vint]

though gas is certainly cheaper at the present moment.

Last year, the average price of 87-octane gas was around $3.29 per gallon. For the entire 2024 season, I averaged less than $3.20 per gallon, with a low of $2.77 and a high of $3.49 in Pennsylvania. This was for 119 nights camping and 9000 miles.

Today, as I write this, gas in WNY State (where I'm from) ranges from $2.97 to $3.19 per gal. Open Roads discount fuel at the closest T/A Travel Plaza is $2.99, and Speedway across the street is $3.00 (no .9 either!) I've found that leaving high-tax NY State (and PA), the diesel prices will be even lower compared to gas.

I admit last year's prices and this year's haven't been the norm since I purchased my DP in 2018.

 

[Cuervo CAT]

Not the case out West, where diesel is more expensive than gasoline...