Good news! Truma has shared a discount code with us that will get you 10% off of any of their coolers on Amazon. Use discount code MFACOOL10 at check out. This link will take you to the Truma Amazon Store www.amazon.com/stores/Truma/Homepage/page/C034E82B-F2CA-4B3F-A97B-519A3D247151 Sabrina and I own the C60 and it has been great for our travels!
I bought a used Tiffin Phateon 40 footer DP. When I bought this DP 4 years ago, I had to have the diesel., I was an owner operator of 18 wheelers most of my life. Now I wish I would have went with a gas 33 footer. The diesel will cost you 30 grand more on a used coach , and that’s being conservative. 30 grand will buy 75,000 miles of gasoline. The cost of the diesel for the miles a person drives it from camp spot to camp spot, is not worth it in my book. I have a big coach and wish I had a gas rig for what I do with it. One can make the argument on both sides of this issue. I think either way, at one time or another they will wish they had the other. Not many folks alive that is ever content with what they have lol. Whichever you have, enjoy it, be proud of it, take care of it and it will take care of you. Safe Travels to all RV’s , no matter what your in !
All things being equal, If you pay 30 grand more for a diesel pusher chances are you will probably get 30 grand more on a resale for the diesel pusher then you would for a gas RV with close to 100,000 miles. On average gas RVs tend to last about 100,000 miles whilst a well taken care of diesel pusher can go to 1,000,000 miles.
I agree with you from the cost perspective, however the Ford F53 rides like a piece of shit on a crappy road, damn near shaking the thing to pieces. No matter how many suspension upgrades to do, nothing is going to help this bitch ride better. There are too many shitty roads in the country, Canada has their share too...If I only had the money...2013 Win Vista 30T, 30,000 miles 85 lbs tire pressure all around...
@@johnstanczak5075 We owned a 2014 Winnebago 30T and loved the camper part.. but it rode hard and you had to drive it all the time !! We traded a 38' Monaco Diplomat diesel pusher with a big block 330 cummins for the 30 Winnebago.. big difference in ride for sure.. In 2019 we upgraded to a Winnebago Vista LX on the bigger ford 22,000 pound chassis.. we are more than pleased with our choice.. it rides just as good as the Monaco!!! It also pulls the hills every bit as good as the cummins while towing our Suzuki Grand Vatara.. and with our Ford chassis it is 7 quarts of oil to change the oil and the filter costs $3.97 in Walmart.. the cummins took 6 gallons to change the oil.. the two oil filters and fuel filter cost 96 bucks 8 years ago !!! Sure is something to consider when looking for a new motorhome!!
I ran across this video and was interested, because I chose a gas rig on an F53 chassis with a V10. I then noticed your from Orlando and we're from Kissimmee. I thought I'd give you some insight as to why I chose gas. First, I'm a licensed aircraft mechanic (retired) and I can work on gas. That in itself saves me a bunch of money each year. If anybody is thinking this way, please buy a Ford service manual. My average oil change costs about $30.00 using mobil 1 and a filter. A good tune-up cost me around $50.00 If I lose an ignition coil, I carry 10 extras that cost me about $50 on line. That all being said, the first thing I learned was boats and RV's are not an investment! Houses and real estate are. I had a friend in the car wholesale business so I put him searching years ago for a class A motorhome. He finally found a Fleetwood Southwind 36t with two slides on an F53 V10. It was a 2000 with 24,000 miles and this was 2010. We bought it for $25,000.00 which was under book value at the time. We've put over 35,000 miles on it in the last ten years and have had a great time with it. The only sacrifice is the towing capacity, but, we only need a car and we tow a Jeep liberty. I keep the exterior in nice shape and have had people comment that they thought it was "brand new" when they ask about the purchase. I've been out west in the rockies and now-a-days for the last 8 years each May we head to Vermont (1340 miles) and don't come back until September (summer with the grand children) and some of the mountains in the Carolinas and Virginia can be a challenge. We've done many a improvement inside to make things more comfortable for us and of course there's the annual "Oh Crap" that something broke just before we leave. This year it was the RV Fridge. So now we have a residential fridge with an inverter system for in-between stops. Making these projects work intrigue's me. One of the things we learned a long time ago, was that staying Walmarts and Truck stop for free is OK, but we found ourselves spending $35 to $45 for dinner etc. when we could spend $30 for an overnight pull-thru at a campground, have water, electric and sewer with cable TV and eat a meal at home in my PJs for usually under $15. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. We're home for the winter here in Kissimmee, except for using our RV as a beach front condo and we have our choice of which cost this way. Good travels, stay safe. Ron & Kathy
We just bought a Fleetwood Southwind 36C 8.1 Chevy on a workhorse chassis. My husband is a mechanic and while he can put a diesel engine into say a Skidsteer, he is more comfortable working on gas engines. We bought a 2004, 47,000 miles on it. One owner all maintenance info, new roof, tires, etc. He maintained everything immaculately. Looking forward to our first trip this summer!
Although this video is 3 years old, we appreciate your comments. After 30 years of pulling trailers, we’re buying a motorhome and going back and forth between a gas and diesel pusher. We too want a 30’ coach and leaning towards the Winnebago 29v. Great points
I really think you would be fine with gas, our next RV will be a gas Class A again we have really enjoyed our Winnebago and the Class A gas experience. We have 125,000 miles on our Winnebago and have spent about $3000 on parts and repairs. We would call that a win. We need a oil change this week amd I called a shop that is under 10 miles away and asked if they could do an oil change in a Class A gas motorhome amd they said shouldn't be a problem. We've had service centers come out and do oil changes in the parking lot if our RV could not fit. It's been very easy to own and always gets us where we need to be
Very good logic. I bought a Silverado 2500hd, they pushed the diesel on me. I went with the 8.1 with the Allison transmission and 4:10 rear end, it has been very dependable. I pulled a bobcat skid steer 5 days a week for six years, no problems. I bought it new in 2004 and still have it.
That cost of the “ oil change “ on the pusher isn’t just an oil change, it’s an oil change, fuel filter and fuel separator filter and usually the air dryer service for the air brakes.
One difference on the diesel would be about 14 gallons of oil vs. 1.5 on the gas plus all of the additional filters etc. Labor on the diesel will be more hours too but it's all worth it when your on the road, thats when the diesel is out performing any gas-chassis. In the 30 foot length, I wouldn't put a diesel in it either, waste of money.
I love my old gas class C 10,000 miles 16 months so far so good. Easy to find Mechanics to work on my chevy. Quartzsite was out of diesel during the big event. Best part all Paid for
This video is 3 yrs old but we just purchased (2-23) our A.C.E. 30C with the 7.3 Godzilla engine. Since we have only been camping once or twice a month and within approximately 150 miles of home we have only put on about a thousand miles or so, so far! I’ll have to agree with you about everything you’ve said about gas v diesel! It is a little noisy but I’ve been considering some heat/sound shielding for the engine compartment to lower the noise a bit. So far the 7.3 has been very smooth and reliable and the F53 chassis has been around for quite awhile so I don’t anticipate any problems there. We did add some steering stabilization for windy days after having had to remove the drivers seat from my butt after one particularly windy ride but now the wind is very reasonably handled!
I think you will find the F53 Chassis to be very reliable, especially with the new 7.3 Liter. I know it had some bugs when it first came out, but they seem to have been taken care of. KOA recently did a report that read most of their clients travel less than 100 miles from home to camp at their RV parks, so it fairly typical not to do major cross country trips too often in a RV, which honestly makes sense sense when most people just don't have the time to spend their vacation on just the driving of the trip. That being said we are at 119,000 miles on our Vista and will have 225,000 miles by the end of August, but we realize we are not the norm. Wishing you continued safe travels and lots of fun!
@@MovingForwardAdventures Lolololol we just went over 1800 miles and we’re in our mid seventies. We traded a fifth wheel for this and it is sooooo much easier to set up when you get to where your going! We started back in the seventies in a VW camper ( try going up steep hills in that🤣) then went through 3 different pop ups, a Winnebago travel trailer, the cougar fifth wheel and finally (we hope!) the ACE class A 32 footer. I can say we’ve had a blast along the way and hoping you guys have as much fun and memories as we have had!
Thank you Dan! We honestly do not believe there is a right or wrong choice, it's just what ever works best for the purchaser. Take care and safe travels.
Very good video, lot's of good information to help make an informed decision about what to chose for your needs. I live in my 36ft Gulfstream Sunstream Hi Rise Class A gasser. I have a big Ford V8 and the Bank's Power Pack. I've run into a very few situations that I didn't have enough power to climb a hill. I chose the gasser because at the time it was best for what I wanted to budget for the coach. I needed the payment to not exceed a specific amount. The Gulfstream is a high end coach that fit my needs best as a permanent home. The diesel would have put me over budget that I had planned. At the time the bank tried to get me to buy a more expensive coach asking me "well, don't you get overtime" everyone knows you don't count overtime into your budget. If you don't get it you can loose your coach and in my case my home. I stuck to my original budget. It's easy and tempting to over spend. But not worth the worry of if something happens. I have a basic rule the rent, the coach the car payment including insurance none can exceed the amount of one paycheck. And one paycheck to cover food, gas and other expenses. Your savings account should try to have 1 year's salary but at a minimum 3 months salary. Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck and are 2 paychecks from homeless. Our economy sucks. Try to avoid the trap and remember credit cards are EVIL!
Excellent video! I owned my own semi for 15 yrs so understanding pros & cons comes 2nd nature. It's funny how some of your audience is so stuck on what they they want they aren't willing to consider anything different. We would definitely give gas a try. Currently in Texas diesel cost .60 cents more per gal than gas.(sometimes more) Its difficult to overcome that cost with fuel mileage, not to mention the other cost. Will a diesel out pull, outrun, out perform a gas? Sure! But why do you need to? Glamping is about the journey. Slow down folks. There is a beautiful world out there to see. At 650, 700 miles a day, I didn't get to see what I wanted to see.(I've been in all 48) My bride & I don't want to drive more than 300 miles in a day & we want to spend a couple of weeks in each place we like. Thank you for this video and may God continue to bless your travels. Much respect, Gator
Sad the price of diesel is more than gasoline. Diesel is a by product when refining oil for gasoline and a barrel of refined oil yields much more diesel than it does gasoline. The actual cost to get diesel is much less than gas out of the ground to the pumps yet, because the oil industry understands the needs for diesel fuel, they alter their cost to sales price markup. They are a monopoly so they can get away with it. Diesel should be half the price of gas in any market.
Its 60. Cents more but you'll get almost 3 times the mileage as a gasoline engine. Also if you have a diesel engine you dont need a generator. The money you save just on fuel is crazy.
@@livinlargeinalittlerv9102 okay it was an exaggeration. However if you want to get into the semantics of it we can. So diesel burns up to 30% slower than gasoline which means you are looking at about 25% less fuel used compared to gasoline combustion engines. With something as heavy as a rv, gasoline gives you alot less bottom end torque, which means that you are buring even more gas when hauling something heavier. Diesel gives you a lot more low end torque which conserves the fuel, especially up hills and getting up to speed. This will equate to about 33.5% so let's say 30% so you are getting so that is 55% more which is not including idling which diesel engines do with lower rpms which gives you a lot better fuel consumption. If you want to factor in how much longer a diesel engine last comparative to a gasoline engine that makes it even less expensive over a lifetime
Hello, Kenny and Sabrina, At the current time my wife and I have a diesel pusher. However, I agree with everything you said about gas and Diesel. One of the major differences that we found out with the Diesel Pusher, is that not every place that works on diesel engines will work on an RV. There are fewer diesel RV repair shops out there. We have an excellent repair shop that we take our motorhome to comment. It's only about a mile away. In fact, they know us by first name basis. So I kind of figured what does that tell you. We spent a lot of money there. However, it's not unusual to have a six-week waiting time to get your motorhome in there for repairs. Plus. It might take two to three weeks before the repairs are completed. When you have a service contract or warranty work? They have to get approvals naturally before their work is started. And lot of extended warranty service programs do not get back to the repair shops in a timely manner. As much before I do on a diesel, however, I tell people if this is the first motorhome. Go with the nice gas one. Save yourself the money. However, if they tell me they're going to be towing a large or multiple cars and motorcycles in a stacker trailers and they're going to be going up the hills and stuff. I tell them it probably be easier on the engine and the chassis to go with a diesel... Take care, May you and your wife have plenty Pleasant Adventures ahead.
Hi Mark, unfortunately RV service just seems to just stink everywhere for gasoline engines and diesels. We hear so many stories where people have their RV's in for service and it takes weeks or months for the shops to get the work done. We have been fairly lucky with service, the longest we have had to go without our RV is a week while our A/C was being replaced.We had the option of staying in the RV until the work was done, but who wants to stay in an RV with no A/C in the middle of summer lol. I agree with your advice and tell people the same, if you are looking to tow an SUV or toys you will want the power of the diesel. We wish you safe travels and pleasant adventures as well :)
Great comparison. Never owned gas but I know that once they get to 100,000 miles, no one can get financing to purchase one. If you sell at that point, you will need to find a cash buyer or get a low trade in value. Most people don't use a new RV and drive it to its death so you need to know what the residual value will be along the way. We love diesel because of the quiet ride and the systems that go along with it like AquaHot and the beefy generator.
Bumped my last dock in 2013 but didn't retire from driving. Presently pulling a 5er and seeing America for the first time. Amazing what a guy doesn't see, driving a big truck. Couldn't agree more with you, about the diesel motor vs the gasser. Even gooder, Ford putting the 7.3 dyna certified V8 on their f53 chassis for 2021. FYI ''2021'' chassis may not be under your 2021 coach so all y'all do need to verify before buying. Did I mention, were eagerly waiting the arrival of our new Class-A gasser.... with the V8.🤫 Enjoyed your video, nicely done, thanks for taking the time.🍻 Update: [08/21] The gasser has arrived.... not me🤭, our Class-A ya sillies Now we just need to wait for dealer prep then it's ”on the road again”. 🤗
We have a 1988 Triple E Signature (36') with a 454 and full airbag suspension. It drives like an over-sided car, Super impressed with it. The diesel pushers I have had the opportunity to drive, drive like big trucks. our overall costs are much lower with a gas engine and we are able to do any engine work for ourselves.
One very important consideration is the licensing requirement. Check your drivers license to determine what you need to drive a diesel pusher. Some states, provinces require a truck license with an air brake endorsement and medical to operate a diesel pusher due to the weight and air brakes. You may require the same license as a dump or cement truck driver. Most gas rigs are within the automobile license requirements.
RV's are not commercial vehicles. There is no restriction on how they stop. You can drive any RV with air brakes without anything more than a driver's license. Conversely, commercial trucks under 26,001 lb. GVWR with full air brakes also do NOT need an endorsement. Any DOT official who tells you otherwise is not properly trained for his job.
We retired in 2007 and bought a diesel pusher to fulltime RV. Thirteen years later we have a 26 ft class C. The main reason is the class C's have drivers and passenger safety airbags and you sit lower to the ground, with ABS brakes. The class C's drive almost like a pickup truck. We felt while driving our class A that if we ever got rear-ended and into an accident, we'd be smashed into that big windshield. We like having the motor out in front of us. We like the maneuverability of the class C, the available of getting into gas stations easier.
Kenny - We think this is one of your better videos. It is very helpful to those of us who are looking to hit the road fulltime in the near future. The practicality you and Sabrina bring to this topic is very much appreciated. Thank you!!
Thank you very much Gordon! Fun fact Sabrina was in the original two versions of this video, the first one had video issues and the second one had audio problems ( I forgot to turn on the mic lol) by the time it came to record the video for the third time she was done lol. Our next video is going to be why we bought used instead of new, hopefully it will be out sometime next month. We want to make sure we have all of our reasons written down and they make sense lol. Take care and safe travels!
@@TheBandit7613 my next door neighbor who is 80+ was a ford man for decades.when they refused to warranty his new truck if he plowed his driveway he said no thanx ill go see what they tell me at the chevy dealership.guess what he drives now?so much for a reliable chassis.
At the End of the day it’s the Trip, the Experience of seeing this beautiful Nation. Staying warmer in winter. So I am thankful mine gets me where I need to go.
Thanks to emissions equipment on modern Diesel engines I will never own another one............ The emissions equipment DEF and particulate filters on the exhaust that are extremely expensive to repair/replace if need be which happens a lot. The up front cost of diesel engines out weighs the MPG penalty of gas. In these big vehicles the diesels only get 2-5 MPG better. That up front cost will buy a lot of gas. Secondly Gas is usually .15 - .50 cents cheaper per gallon than diesel fuel.
Don't be afraid to buy a diesel used the are good for several million miles. Most Ford dealers charge at least $100 per hour. My deisel dealer is $125 per hour and filters are the same. One person said they spend ,15-1600 per visit. I say they are going to the Wrong shop.
Let's face it the reason people don't buy a diesel pusher is $100k extra no one has laying around. I don't think if price was no object there would really be the market for gas, just about everything mentioned is $$ related. We have a 2016 36 ft gas Class A we bought brand new for $89k couldn't really touch a DP that was comparable for less than $180k most were over $200k
I own a gas class A but if I had the 🧀 I would switch to a same size diesel in a heart beat! But not for the engine, for the solid built chasis! That's the feature you can't squeeze into a gas motor home!
Hi everyone, we hope you enjoyed the video. If you are curious to see what items we use for RVing we have created an Amazon Storefront www.amazon.com/shop/movingforwardadventures These are just a few of the items we use. If you have any questions about any of them we will do our best to answer them. Take care and Safe travels!
My first RV was a DP and I have owned several gas class a models. I prefer the gas because of the price savings and availability of fuel but I really do love the amazing torque and engine braking of the DP.
Ok on point nut.if.you travel a lot a diesel which is well.maintained could do well above a million miles. Usually you will have to replace a gasoline engine several times for that. Diesel takes less fuel too.
Me too Ford has been good to me And they are Everywhere. And they are not expensive to run. That’s why I didn’t get the Mercedes. California gas is high enough. Diesel is more expensive plus you buy DEF
Fords have been good to us aswell, there was one time that one of them could not fit our RV in their bay, but we found a Monroe Muffler down the street that could. I always forget about DEF for the diesels. Take care and safe travels!
Moving Forward Adventures it’s Required to add DEF and that is an additional expense. The only way I know to save that expense is to buy an older model that is the Last Year the Were made before DEF was Required. Even the Big Rigs truckers, are required now to add the Expensive DEF
What a great and honest video. I always push myself toward higher end toys, my truck is diesel and I couldn't imagine using a gasser to tow. But looking into gas vs DP there is not much difference in mileage. In fact the closest I saw was a comparison on a cross country trip from CA to VA was about 250 bucks difference, not enough to justify the cost. I've decided on a class A gas RV because of the factors you mention. I know I will not get the higher quality finish and amenities, the engine brakes, the air ride, the quiet horsepower pushing you up hills. And I can live with that. I am disabled and have to live on a budget now. If I was still in the oilfield there's no doubt I'd get the 200K DP. Instead I'll spend more like 60 to 70K on a used gasser and still enjoy glamping. Thank you for the video.
A good Cat or Cummins will last a million miles, that's the difference. If someone is going to travel a lot of miles the diesel is more cost efficient! I would love to see a gasser class a with 200,00 miles on it, it would be so boned out it wouldnt go through the hills! I do believe Ford has quit production of the V-10 engine, not sure what is replacing it I believe back to a large V-8 now.
Great video 👍 One other point for the diesel pusher is you have the engine brake for going down the big hills. On another note I have a question. Can you get a washer and dryer in a gas coach or are they in diesels only? Not that that would stop me from buying a coach if I really liked it, but I can tell you I love watching TV at night and doing laundry. We have a 42' tag axle diesel pusher and we love it. We average 10,000 miles a year. This year we are hoping to up that number a little.
Hi Adrian Nurse, I am surprised I forgot to mention the airbrakes on the diesel since I feel braking is equally as important as getting up and going. Yes you can have washer and dryers in a coach, here is a link to an RV that Sabrina and I borrowed from Winnebago last year th-cam.com/video/qXIHRwcLaJQ/w-d-xo.html A lot of people say it is the best tour video they have ever seen :) 10,000 miles a year is really good, take care and safe travels!
Wouldn’t have been my choice. Of coarse I have a diesel pickup and drive big rigs so I know fair amount about diesels. Also, most dealers and shops have a diesel mechanic because of diesel pickup popularity. No doubt maintenance on a diesel is higher but I’ve had my diesel in the shop less than our gas. I’ve never been to a town where I couldn’t get diesel. Mileage and power is worth the diesel. If you’re a weekend close to home camper then gas is fine. Cost is a big factor too. If your RV serves your purpose then it’s good enough for you. Like my dad used to say, if you aren’t paying for it, it’s only your opinion. V10 has respectable power.
My fiance and I did a similar thing we have a travel trailer GD Reflection 297RSTS and decided to get a F250 with a 6.2liter gas engine, the problems with diesels are maintenance and when they break they are outrageously expensive. They do tow more they are faster but for our budget the gas made more sense and still has all the power we need.
Yes do to the budget. A diesel is the only way to go, better mileage and longer life. My in-laws bought a gas burner because they knew nothing about diesel. Who fills up at a store? Go to truck stop.
The math says otherwise to the vast majority of the RV public. Factor the following: -Diesel up-charge on purchase -Average miles driven a year -Cost of Diesel vs Gasoline When I run those #s using today's normal data (miles driven & prices on each) item I get something like it taking 10-15 years just to break even (start to gain a diesel cost advantage). &, that's without factoring in maintenance & god forbid, some medium to major mechanical issue with the diesel platforms. Disclaimer: I have a gas motor home now. However, I've owned numerous diesel sedans & pickup trucks in my life & currently have a diesel BMW SUV as a daily driver. I also grew up the son of a trucker & currently hold a CDL myself i.e. I love diesels but the numbers come up the way they come up..... for most people a diesel MH doesn't make economical (key word) sense.
We had a brand new Gas Tiffin Open Road in 2017. We only lasted 8 months before we sold it and bought a Diesel Tiffin Pheaton. We are so much happier in the Phaeton. Day and night over a gasser. The gas coach is good for a month max. If you live full time or almost full time get a diesel pusher period. Get a used one if you can’t afford a new one. Even if it’s 10 years old. It’s worth it in the long run. Resale is much higher as well.
First 4700 miles in our 2002 cummins 5.9 fleetwood expedition model 36t (5k lb tow limit) got us 8.3 mpg, worthy of note. That also included some generator use. 1 month trip.
Very good analysis. Bottom line. Get what you want and like. Trade offs with both types. We got a pusher for the lifestyle. Expensive to maintain. I'm fortunate to have a local mechanic that can take care of most everything. His shop rate is 1/2 the current rate and his 20 plus years of industry experience is good enough for me.
Thank you Carolina, I agree about it being a personal decision and i don't think there is a right or wrong answer. What works for each individual purchaser is the best decision. Take care and safe travels!
@@MovingForwardAdventures You had a good, sober presentation also. No in-your-face 'THE ALTERNATIVE SUCKS'! drama. You just laid out what you and your wife decided, and it made perfect sense. Laying out (at the end of the video) several areas where diesels are better was just icing on the cake. Kudos. 👍
@Keith schaedel You are behind the times since about 1986. They are expensive for sure but worth it if one uses their vehicle in extreme conditions, otherwise Full Synectics work well also. Please search for yourself with an open mind and see as to why. Google etc may be ur best bet
@Keith schaedel By the way, most new vehicles come from the factory with either some form of synthetic or semi synthetic oil in the transmissions, trans axles and engines at times in the crank case. Seems u are new to real 100% Synthetics as well as Full Synthetics.
Should have gotten a ford powerstoke diesel. Its also easy to find diesel. Pumps. The diesel engine has a longer life than a gas engine. Id have gotten an identical f450 chassis powerstoke diesel
If your stuck in eastern NC my neighbor fixes anything. He used to be an aircraft mechanic at cherrypointe. He also works at a heavy equipment shop in Sneads Ferry . Great mechanic. He also has a 5th wheel.
He speaks truth, We went from 38 ft Fleetwood F53 to 42ft Dutch Star DP 8.3 Cummis ISC. We feel like we really stepped up as far as living conditions. The gas RV was cheaper to maintain, 6 quarts of oil compared to 24 quarts in the DP. I do 90% of my own maintenance and the maintenance in the DP requires more parts because of all the filters. I admit that if I wasn't doing my own maintenance we would've been overwhelmed.
lol. yeah probably a few, but mostly everyone has been respectful to one another so far. Which by the way is rare on youtube lol Take care and safe travels!
I have the same RV as you 2016 Vista. How is your steering? Mine was way too loose. I had to add sway bars and steering compensator. They made it better, but not great. Have you done anything to make your steering better?
We added a Safe T Plus bar and I did the cheap handling fix where you move the two brackets attached to the sway bar. They both made a world of difference. If you google cheap handling fix you can read about it and see if it's something you want to try, I also have a video of it here on our channel. I would say the Safe T Plus bar made the biggest difference.
I wonder why coach builders don’t put a power stroke or Dura max diesel up front? You’d get the torque of a diesel and the simpler design of a gas burner chassis....
A lot of the Super Cs have diesels in the front. Once you get to a certain size the Power Strokes and Duramax are not enough engine. My diesel pusher has an 11 liter L6 Cummins (450hp 1450 lb ft M-11e) and it is pre-emissions. Engine sizes increased with emissions control. You see 8.3 Cummins on smaller DPs, but many of the larger units are in the 11L to 14L displacement range.
Very nice video. It answered several of my questions. I pull a 35' fifth wheel with a 2006 Dodge Ram 250 now. It gets the job done. But I think we would do more boondocking if we had the Class A. Our tanks are not large. One thing you didn't bring up is gas mileage. What do you get? I live in Washington state and I have some hills to contend with. Just curious. I hope you will comment back. Happy travels to you and your wife. Tom
Hi Tom, glad you liked to video:) We avg about 8 mpg with towing the car and a good mix of highway and backroads. A diesel will get better gas mileage, but the fuel will cost you more for gallon. Not sure if it equals out or if the diesel still wins in that category
We have had our RV at Ford dealerships a few times for oil changes and warranty work. Sometimes it takes a few phone calls to find one. It needs to be a dealership with a large service center and one that works on fleet trucks. We will have 150,000 miles on our RV before the end of this month and it hasn't been a problem to get service done to it.
Thank you, yeah I don't think people realize how much space a dog can take up in an RV lol. Our Small dog Belle even takes up a good amount of room, between her bed, food/water bowls and food/treat storage it adds up quick. Take care and safe travels!
Glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful😁 There are die hard diesel fans, but I don't think there is such a thing as a die hard gasoline fan. Sabrina and I might be the first lol. Have fun shopping, there is so much on the market these days.
No emissions issues no costly diesel repairs you will be able to enjoy the damn thing at least. I am a retired technician from CAT dealership. I have seen the issues of the diesel coaches first hand .
My father is a retired diesel mechanic for the Philadelphia Inquirer and was actually a big part of talking us out of diesels. He kept telling us you don't want the headaches of these modern day engines. Of course he worked on their fleet trucks and they probably were not taken care of as well as a personal vehicle would have been.
I have a 2500 2003 Dodge cummons diesel pulling a fifth wheel traveling from Big Spring, TX to Buena Vista, CO we cut across at Pueblo its about 125 miles of going 20 mph to 50 mph up and down so not able to use cruise control and its a winding road very hard to pass but we averaged 15 mpg over all and on I25 running 75 - 80 except some of the hills will slow you down I change the oil every 7500 miles, oil filters cost around $15 and the oil is about $100 for 3 oil changes. So 3 oil changes for me costs about $150 and repairs on the engine I had the fan replaced at a diesel repair shop and replaced the water pump and all the cooling hoses + new coolant and new brakes all for under $500 . Just driving around here mpg is between 25 -30 1500 rpm 55 mph and the mileage is over148,k If I need repairs on the road google search for Dodge dealer or diesel repair shops. Most gas stations do have diesel fuel. Running in the mountains you crawl up hills and what you see along the roads don't change very much in the mountains just my opinion I will never trade for a gas job, gas is cheaper than diesel but when you start changing the electrical components the coils cost from $85 up plus tax and V8 takes 8 x approx $90 = $720 then the labor of approx $120 per hour,water pump replacement averages $300 to $750 depending on engine A lot of cummons diesel engines might need repair after 250,000 a one mech says he sees a lot of 12 valve units get 500,000 miles be needing an overhaul and there are some cummons with over a million miles on them never been overhauled. I have never had any trouble starting when the temp is 25 below zero
Very true in what you've said. Good video to help someone make up their mind for picking a classic A. I've had both, V-10 Ford Terra 32 ft. that was great, but now 38 ft diesel. The only reason to go to the diesel was I now pull a 10,000 # enclosed car hauler. Guaranteed the longer the unit have you need to pre-plan due to getting your self in a jam with the extra length.
Diesel engines from Cummins are rock solid proven engines and rarely give trouble. The fuel is also cheaper. Their engines are easy to work on as parts that go result from bad production and or abuse but as engines they are solid.
Are you losing weight? Where is Sabrina? I love her and the eyes she gives you especially when you call her big. She is so thin but big means fat hubby. You better stop or you will be sleeping on dinette. Love you both great job...Ssa
Hi Ssa, I don't think I am, but it has been a while since I have stepped on a scale lol. I think the hat makes my face look thiner:) This Video took three time to get right, the first one had video focus issues, the second one had audio issues and Sabrina was done after that, so I had to do the video solo lol. She will be in next video where we are going to talk about why we bought used instead of new. She is a good sport when it comes to my teasing no sleeping on the dinette YET lol
Good explanation and comparison... We've owned both gas engine and diesel Class A coaches... I would compare the two as the difference between driving a bread truck and a city bus... Two totally different experiences... One thing we like about the bus chassis is that when you're parked the air comes out of the suspension and it's basically self leveling... The coach settles in at a very low height.... I cannot tell you what a difference this makes in comfort and convenience while camping... Worth the difference right there in my view!...
I agree with you I have had diesels and unless you need the towing capacity I can't justify the cost. Not only are they more expensive to purchase maintenance is also more expensive. Are they more powerful, yes. Are the chassis better, yes.
Hi Lou, The tow capacity in some of these diesel pushers are certainly impressive and probably the best reason to want to purchase one. Take care Lou and safe travels!
@@MovingForwardAdventures Very awesome video sir we are thinking about getting our first Class A. It has the V/10 motor if you had to guess with the motor being well taken care of how many miles could we get out of the motor . I've heard 80,000 would really like to hear your opinion .. thank you .
Hi Daven, We currently have 98,000 miles on ours now and will easily be over the 100K this year and have only done the Ford recommended maintenance. I have read online of people getting 200K plus out of the V10's when in the pickup trucks, not sure if/what parts may be different.
Basically when you do the math it comes out to cost much less to buy a motor home like his & if you have less than 7 figures USA dollars in your pocket , the extra cost is way out of budget unless your literally getting paid to travel like a professional entertainer CEO or something like that . But for 90% - 99% of Americans Gas makes 1,000x more sense when you do the math . The truth is you find RV's motor homes and travel trailers with the original tires & 20 year old motor homes with less than 40,000 miles on them all day long , & those motor homes need to be parked under a metal car port & treated gentle. Many people that buy RV's are retiring and use them ten years then they get older and drove what they are going to drive, then they go on Royal Caribbean cruises ect , fly ect. So every thing he said in this video makes wise honest sense for true recreational traveling so as not to waste extra money, & a less than 30' Motor Home is going to handle way better especially going through towns . There's a ancient old saying " WISDOM IS WITH THE MODEST ONE"
You are spot on with the 40,000 mile mark. To many that's a lot of miles for their RV. We just hit 135,000 miles on our RV and would 100% purchase another gas coach. It turned out to be a great purchase and is still serving us well. Take care and safe travels! Kenny
Any larger truck stop has truck mechanics totally qualifies to work on a diesel pusher. Every gas station Ive visited has diesel also. Many Ford dealers Ive been too wont touch an RV. :) At 30 foot, its the larger RV, Im stepping up to diesel. But thats only me.
And that’s exactly why I did the Same thing and I have found Ford Service everywhere even fort Stockton Texas. It’s much more comforting to just be about to take care of it. I get my oil changed at WallMart mostly. Under $60.00 for Mobil 1
Great points. Ford has a 7.3 gas engine now. It is unproven as the 6.8 V10 is, but promises to be outstanding for gas power. I agree with you, initial price and maintenance costs are deal breakers on the diesel, unless size and pulling power is a must...Thanks
and many ford dealerships that USED TO work of class A no longer want to , and with so few ford dealerships wanting to , the number of dealerships in any state as to the miles to be driven to get there in totally un acceptable , months out or countless miles away , and the ford chassis as it comes from ford , with basically many are needing a rear track bar and a front steering dampener to make the ride safer , and no longer having the WHITE KNUCKLER effect , many who had the GM chassis in the past preferred it better than the ford as to how it drives and handles
UPS has started buying gas delivery vehicles instead of diesels. What does that tell you? I drive for a large fleet (not UPS) and can assure you that ANY diesel engine that has a DEF system is going to consistently give you problems and cost you big $$$. The last time my Freightliner went into the shop the bill was $4500.... all DEF-related and it's been in 3-4 times a year for other DEF issues.
I do believe Def is hurting the diesel industry, I have spoken to many diesel pusher owners that have said things were so much better and easier on their rigs before the introduction of Def.
Try dry camping with a diesel pusher, the high end rigs are all electric. it's real annoying listening and smelling a 10K generator that comes on at any time (2:00 am, or all day long) mostly to charge batteries! I will move to a gas class A after my 5th wheel days are over. Maintenance, tire cost, and overall expense is just too much!
I agree with everything you just wrote, the new rigs sure are nice and we have noticed everyone moving away from propane as well, we like the function and look of the residential refrigerators that they are putting in these RV's, but boy do they draw some major power when drycamping the induction stove tops do not help either lol. Take care and safe travels!
Well fellows, one of the problems here is the honesty of Mechanics in the industry. DPs and Gassers are fine vehicles, it is an anticuted tech that has not been reengineered for 100 years. Upgrades here and there, think about 10 mpg going down hill, and very proud of it, after 100 years. The problem here is finding Honest Mechanics to work on this internal combustion engines.
I bought a new Motor home last month, a Holiday Rambler 34j on a ford F53 chassis.There is a fluid leak under the master cylinder which turned out to be a brake hydro boost. I live in the 4th largest city in the country and I called every Ford dealer within 100 miles and not a single one would work on the Motor Home. Most said it was too big for their bay or too heavy to be lifted to bleed the system after repairs are made. The saga continues... it is currently at Lazy Days RV waiting for the parts which I will have to pay for then be reimbursed by Ford.
A large motor home limits the parks that you are allowed to stay at. When I’m traveling in my rv, I don’t need to be the first one up the hill. I’m on vacation, why be in a hurry.
People have the same arguments when it comes to pick up trucks. Most people that have diesel trucks don’t need them. They never tow or carry heavy loads so really they have wasted their money. I own a diesel but I need it to tow a 10,000 pound trailer. I would not own a diesel pick up if I didn’t need the capacity
This is very true, it reminds me of a co worker I once had. He bought a Ford F 350 Super Duty crew cab diesel. When I asked him what he was planning on towing, he said nothing, it just looks bad ass 🤣😂 He wasn't wrong it was a great looking truck.
Hi Simon, I did not mention fuel cost because it was not on our list of reasons to purchase one type of RV over the other. They are close enough to probably call it a wash. Diesel usually costs a bit more per gallon and needs DEF added to every 100 gallons of fuel, but it does get better MPG. I guess if anything the gas will work out to be cheaper by a smidge, but not enough to call it a real win.
@@MovingForwardAdventures I totally agree. The pre emissions diesel engines where a lot better on fuel than the new ones. I drive a pickup about 125,000 miles per year. Traded my 2016 dually diesel for a 2017 6.4 Hemi. I spend about $2,800 per year less on fuel and maintenance. Definitely don't miss swapping out those fuel filters.. I do all of my own maintenance btw
The main reason for buying a diesel is the extra torque for climbing hills It will save a few minutes a day on average. I had a 37 foot gas class A and would a avoid the Diesel. We towed a 4 door Jeep
Here is something i would like to see - a motorhome with a seires diesel electric hybrid drivetrain. An electric motor for traction, An EV battery that is charged with a diesel generator that is tuned for maximum efficiency. It may be possible to get 20+ MPG in a motorhome.
This actually sounds similar to what the new Doge Ram Charger is doing, which I think is a great idea! Would love to see this in a Class A, it would practically turn it into a diesel locomotive on tires :)
@@Expeditionmarc So what are the benefits if you dont want to drive a full size bus? Maybe you dont see the huge benefits of being 26ft long. Going everywhere easily. Camping anywhere. Parking virtually anywhere. Cheap to run and cheap and easy to maintain. All the time with wonderful high quality A class comfort. Try that with a diesel pusher. Sadly the awesome RV I have now is no longer made so I guess I will have to keep it until someone realises less can be more.
I know this doesn't have to do with gas or diesel, but the one thing I really like about your rig is the turning radius. I think the turning radius on your rig is better than our small class C. Great information. ~Lucy
Hi Lucy, We do have a very good turning radius. Sometimes we joke and say it is as good as our Tow car, but honestly it is pretty close since the ford Cmax has a terrible turning radius lol Hope you two are well, Safe travels and hopefully we run into each other again on the road :)
Yes, it is a Winnebago 27N. We will reach 100,000 miles next month. It has been practically trouble free, just routine maintenance. Overall it has exceeded our expectations of a Class A RV. I have never heard of AZ Expert, but I'll check it out some day.
Same reasons i have a ford class with a thor coach which i know i can work on it and find otheres to repair it easy if i need to ! SO far no need for repairs and ive traveled everywhere without worry .
I think gas class a motor homes are going to get much better next year when ford puts the new Godzilla 7.3 pushrod engine in them. I think the chassis is getting an update as well.
We are looking forward to test driving the new chassis and curious to see what it will be able to do. I saw they are increasing the size of the sway bar in the chassis, but I am also curious to see if the tow capacity increases. Take care and safe travels!
@@garyjones5093 My 36 ft tag axle 6.8l Ford F53 w/toad averaged about 8 mpg last year. Climbing mountains out west the mileage drops to the 5-6 mpg range as it struggles to climb steep grades over 8,000 ft with full water and propane (as we boondock a lot). Though it still climbs grades better than most 18 wheelers. On level ground it gets 9-10 mpg as long as we keep the speed down, which we do now that we're retired and living in it FT.
I tow a 38 foot travel trailer camper with a 2005 3500 5.9 dodge diesel SRW 8 foot bed . It's a towing machine. 14 mpg at 60 mpg on flat roads and some moderate inclines. Your right diesels are gonna cost you more but when I go up a hill there's no nail biting because I'm afraid I won't make it. However that FORD V 10 is a great engine it would be my gas choice.
Lol thank you Shekhar, Sabrina and I are very bad at uploading videos on a consistent schedule which is what TH-cam likes to see. We are grateful for the friendships we have made by having the channel and if it continues to grow than that is just a bonus😁
We’re looking at a Winnebago Vista 29ve on a f-350 chassis. Have you had any issues with the rv construction such as slide outs, water leaks. I have owned several campers over the years and have seen some real crappy construction. Thanks
We absolutely love our Vista and it turned out to be a very solid buy. The only issue we have had is with the Onan generator not be able to power our A/C and Microwave. We now have 97,000 miles on our Vista and would have bought it all over again. It has been a very trouble free RV.
I have seen some TH-cams where people complain that some Ford truck dealerships do not work on Ford RV's even for warranty work. Have you ever encountered this? Have others encountered this?
Hi Walter, we have experienced that at Ford Dealerships before and it appears it depends on if they have a bay that is large enough to fit our RV. If they can not bring it inside they won't do any work to it.
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Good news! Truma has shared a discount code with us that will get you 10% off of any of their coolers on Amazon. Use discount code MFACOOL10 at check out. This link will take you to the Truma Amazon Store www.amazon.com/stores/Truma/Homepage/page/C034E82B-F2CA-4B3F-A97B-519A3D247151 Sabrina and I own the C60 and it has been great for our travels!
I bought a used Tiffin Phateon 40 footer DP. When I bought this DP 4 years ago, I had to have the diesel., I was an owner operator of 18 wheelers most of my life. Now I wish I would have went with a gas 33 footer. The diesel will cost you 30 grand more on a used coach , and that’s being conservative. 30 grand will buy 75,000 miles of gasoline. The cost of the diesel for the miles a person drives it from camp spot to camp spot, is not worth it in my book. I have a big coach and wish I had a gas rig for what I do with it. One can make the argument on both sides of this issue. I think either way, at one time or another they will wish they had the other. Not many folks alive that is ever content with what they have lol. Whichever you have, enjoy it, be proud of it, take care of it and it will take care of you. Safe Travels to all RV’s , no matter what your in !
So true!
If $30 grand will get you $75000 miles of gasoline, how much is that per mile? I’m calculating several hundred dollars.
All things being equal, If you pay 30 grand more for a diesel pusher chances are you will probably get 30 grand more on a resale for the diesel pusher then you would for a gas RV with close to 100,000 miles. On average gas RVs tend to last about 100,000 miles whilst a well taken care of diesel pusher can go to 1,000,000 miles.
I agree with you from the cost perspective, however the Ford F53 rides like a piece of shit on a crappy road, damn near shaking the thing to pieces. No matter how many suspension upgrades to do, nothing is going to help this bitch ride better. There are too many shitty roads in the country, Canada has their share too...If I only had the money...2013 Win Vista 30T, 30,000 miles 85 lbs tire pressure all around...
@@johnstanczak5075 We owned a 2014 Winnebago 30T and loved the camper part.. but it rode hard and you had to drive it all the time !! We traded a 38' Monaco Diplomat diesel pusher with a big block 330 cummins for the 30 Winnebago.. big difference in ride for sure.. In 2019 we upgraded to a Winnebago Vista LX on the bigger ford 22,000 pound chassis.. we are more than pleased with our choice.. it rides just as good as the Monaco!!! It also pulls the hills every bit as good as the cummins while towing our Suzuki Grand Vatara.. and with our Ford chassis it is 7 quarts of oil to change the oil and the filter costs $3.97 in Walmart.. the cummins took 6 gallons to change the oil.. the two oil filters and fuel filter cost 96 bucks 8 years ago !!! Sure is something to consider when looking for a new motorhome!!
I ran across this video and was interested, because I chose a gas rig on an F53 chassis with a V10. I then noticed your from Orlando and we're from Kissimmee. I thought I'd give you some insight as to why I chose gas. First, I'm a licensed aircraft mechanic (retired) and I can work on gas. That in itself saves me a bunch of money each year. If anybody is thinking this way, please buy a Ford service manual. My average oil change costs about $30.00 using mobil 1 and a filter. A good tune-up cost me around $50.00 If I lose an ignition coil, I carry 10 extras that cost me about $50 on line.
That all being said, the first thing I learned was boats and RV's are not an investment! Houses and real estate are. I had a friend in the car wholesale business so I put him searching years ago for a class A motorhome. He finally found a Fleetwood Southwind 36t with two slides on an F53 V10. It was a 2000 with 24,000 miles and this was 2010. We bought it for $25,000.00 which was under book value at the time. We've put over 35,000 miles on it in the last ten years and have had a great time with it. The only sacrifice is the towing capacity, but, we only need a car and we tow a Jeep liberty. I keep the exterior in nice shape and have had people comment that they thought it was "brand new" when they ask about the purchase. I've been out west in the rockies and now-a-days for the last 8 years each May we head to Vermont (1340 miles) and don't come back until September (summer with the grand children) and some of the mountains in the Carolinas and Virginia can be a challenge. We've done many a improvement inside to make things more comfortable for us and of course there's the annual "Oh Crap" that something broke just before we leave. This year it was the RV Fridge. So now we have a residential fridge with an inverter system for in-between stops. Making these projects work intrigue's me.
One of the things we learned a long time ago, was that staying Walmarts and Truck stop for free is OK, but we found ourselves spending $35 to $45 for dinner etc. when we could spend $30 for an overnight pull-thru at a campground, have water, electric and sewer with cable TV and eat a meal at home in my PJs for usually under $15.
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. We're home for the winter here in Kissimmee, except for using our RV as a beach front condo and we have our choice of which cost this way. Good travels, stay safe.
Ron & Kathy
Good story here. Thanks
We just bought a Fleetwood Southwind 36C 8.1 Chevy on a workhorse chassis. My husband is a mechanic and while he can put a diesel engine into say a Skidsteer, he is more comfortable working on gas engines.
We bought a 2004, 47,000 miles on it. One owner all maintenance info, new roof, tires, etc. He maintained everything immaculately. Looking forward to our first trip this summer!
Although this video is 3 years old, we appreciate your comments. After 30 years of pulling trailers, we’re buying a motorhome and going back and forth between a gas and diesel pusher. We too want a 30’ coach and leaning towards the Winnebago 29v. Great points
I really think you would be fine with gas, our next RV will be a gas Class A again we have really enjoyed our Winnebago and the Class A gas experience. We have 125,000 miles on our Winnebago and have spent about $3000 on parts and repairs. We would call that a win. We need a oil change this week amd I called a shop that is under 10 miles away and asked if they could do an oil change in a Class A gas motorhome amd they said shouldn't be a problem. We've had service centers come out and do oil changes in the parking lot if our RV could not fit. It's been very easy to own and always gets us where we need to be
Very good logic.
I bought a Silverado 2500hd, they pushed the diesel on me.
I went with the 8.1 with the Allison transmission and 4:10 rear end, it has been very dependable.
I pulled a bobcat skid steer 5 days a week for six years, no problems.
I bought it new in 2004 and still have it.
That cost of the “ oil change “ on the pusher isn’t just an oil change, it’s an oil change, fuel filter and fuel separator filter and usually the air dryer service for the air brakes.
I agree my Diesel Pusher oil change wasn't nearly close to that amount and that was a complete oil change with the filters as well.
One difference on the diesel would be about 14 gallons of oil vs. 1.5 on the gas plus all of the additional filters etc. Labor on the diesel will be more hours too but it's all worth it when your on the road, thats when the diesel is out performing any gas-chassis. In the 30 foot length, I wouldn't put a diesel in it either, waste of money.
So? Diesels are really a money pit.
@@mmichaeldonavon Spend it if you have it!!
I love my old gas class C 10,000 miles 16 months so far so good. Easy to find Mechanics to work on my chevy. Quartzsite was out of diesel during the big event.
Best part all Paid for
AMEN!!!
This video is 3 yrs old but we just purchased (2-23) our A.C.E. 30C with the 7.3 Godzilla engine. Since we have only been camping once or twice a month and within approximately 150 miles of home we have only put on about a thousand miles or so, so far! I’ll have to agree with you about everything you’ve said about gas v diesel! It is a little noisy but I’ve been considering some heat/sound shielding for the engine compartment to lower the noise a bit. So far the 7.3 has been very smooth and reliable and the F53 chassis has been around for quite awhile so I don’t anticipate any problems there. We did add some steering stabilization for windy days after having had to remove the drivers seat from my butt after one particularly windy ride but now the wind is very reasonably handled!
I think you will find the F53 Chassis to be very reliable, especially with the new 7.3 Liter. I know it had some bugs when it first came out, but they seem to have been taken care of. KOA recently did a report that read most of their clients travel less than 100 miles from home to camp at their RV parks, so it fairly typical not to do major cross country trips too often in a RV, which honestly makes sense sense when most people just don't have the time to spend their vacation on just the driving of the trip. That being said we are at 119,000 miles on our Vista and will have 225,000 miles by the end of August, but we realize we are not the norm.
Wishing you continued safe travels and lots of fun!
@@MovingForwardAdventures Lolololol we just went over 1800 miles and we’re in our mid seventies. We traded a fifth wheel for this and it is sooooo much easier to set up when you get to where your going! We started back in the seventies in a VW camper ( try going up steep hills in that🤣) then went through 3 different pop ups, a Winnebago travel trailer, the cougar fifth wheel and finally (we hope!) the ACE class A 32 footer. I can say we’ve had a blast along the way and hoping you guys have as much fun and memories as we have had!
I would have to say that your video is one of the most Honest videos i have come across.
Thank you Dan! We honestly do not believe there is a right or wrong choice, it's just what ever works best for the purchaser. Take care and safe travels.
Very good video, lot's of good information to help make an informed decision about what to chose for your needs. I live in my 36ft Gulfstream Sunstream Hi Rise Class A gasser. I have a big Ford V8 and the Bank's Power Pack. I've run into a very few situations that I didn't have enough power to climb a hill. I chose the gasser because at the time it was best for what I wanted to budget for the coach. I needed the payment to not exceed a specific amount. The Gulfstream is a high end coach that fit my needs best as a permanent home. The diesel would have put me over budget that I had planned. At the time the bank tried to get me to buy a more expensive coach asking me "well, don't you get overtime" everyone knows you don't count overtime into your budget. If you don't get it you can loose your coach and in my case my home. I stuck to my original budget. It's easy and tempting to over spend. But not worth the worry of if something happens. I have a basic rule the rent, the coach the car payment including insurance none can exceed the amount of one paycheck. And one paycheck to cover food, gas and other expenses. Your savings account should try to have 1 year's salary but at a minimum 3 months salary. Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck and are 2 paychecks from homeless. Our economy sucks. Try to avoid the trap and remember credit cards are EVIL!
Excellent video! I owned my own semi for 15 yrs so understanding pros & cons comes 2nd nature. It's funny how some of your audience is so stuck on what they they want they aren't willing to consider anything different. We would definitely give gas a try. Currently in Texas diesel cost .60 cents more per gal than gas.(sometimes more) Its difficult to overcome that cost with fuel mileage, not to mention the other cost. Will a diesel out pull, outrun, out perform a gas? Sure! But why do you need to? Glamping is about the journey. Slow down folks. There is a beautiful world out there to see. At 650, 700 miles a day, I didn't get to see what I wanted to see.(I've been in all 48) My bride & I don't want to drive more than 300 miles in a day & we want to spend a couple of weeks in each place we like.
Thank you for this video and may God continue to bless your travels.
Much respect,
Gator
Sad the price of diesel is more than gasoline. Diesel is a by product when refining oil for gasoline and a barrel of refined oil yields much more diesel than it does gasoline. The actual cost to get diesel is much less than gas out of the ground to the pumps yet, because the oil industry understands the needs for diesel fuel, they alter their cost to sales price markup. They are a monopoly so they can get away with it. Diesel should be half the price of gas in any market.
300 a day is perfect. That's what the wife and I do.
Its 60. Cents more but you'll get almost 3 times the mileage as a gasoline engine. Also if you have a diesel engine you dont need a generator. The money you save just on fuel is crazy.
@@jordanthistle2360 your kidding yourself about fuel mileage.
@@livinlargeinalittlerv9102 okay it was an exaggeration. However if you want to get into the semantics of it we can. So diesel burns up to 30% slower than gasoline which means you are looking at about 25% less fuel used compared to gasoline combustion engines. With something as heavy as a rv, gasoline gives you alot less bottom end torque, which means that you are buring even more gas when hauling something heavier. Diesel gives you a lot more low end torque which conserves the fuel, especially up hills and getting up to speed. This will equate to about 33.5% so let's say 30% so you are getting so that is 55% more which is not including idling which diesel engines do with lower rpms which gives you a lot better fuel consumption. If you want to factor in how much longer a diesel engine last comparative to a gasoline engine that makes it even less expensive over a lifetime
Hello, Kenny and Sabrina, At the current time my wife and I have a diesel pusher. However, I agree with everything you said about gas and Diesel. One of the major differences that we found out with the Diesel Pusher, is that not every place that works on diesel engines will work on an RV. There are fewer diesel RV repair shops out there. We have an excellent repair shop that we take our motorhome to comment. It's only about a mile away. In fact, they know us by first name basis. So I kind of figured what does that tell you. We spent a lot of money there. However, it's not unusual to have a six-week waiting time to get your motorhome in there for repairs. Plus. It might take two to three weeks before the repairs are completed. When you have a service contract or warranty work? They have to get approvals naturally before their work is started. And lot of extended warranty service programs do not get back to the repair shops in a timely manner. As much before I do on a diesel, however, I tell people if this is the first motorhome. Go with the nice gas one. Save yourself the money. However, if they tell me they're going to be towing a large or multiple cars and motorcycles in a stacker trailers and they're going to be going up the hills and stuff. I tell them it probably be easier on the engine and the chassis to go with a diesel... Take care, May you and your wife have plenty Pleasant Adventures ahead.
Hi Mark, unfortunately RV service just seems to just stink everywhere for gasoline engines and diesels. We hear so many stories where people have their RV's in for service and it takes weeks or months for the shops to get the work done. We have been fairly lucky with service, the longest we have had to go without our RV is a week while our A/C was being replaced.We had the option of staying in the RV until the work was done, but who wants to stay in an RV with no A/C in the middle of summer lol. I agree with your advice and tell people the same, if you are looking to tow an SUV or toys you will want the power of the diesel. We wish you safe travels and pleasant adventures as well :)
well said
What happened to your wife ?
Great comparison. Never owned gas but I know that once they get to 100,000 miles, no one can get financing to purchase one. If you sell at that point, you will need to find a cash buyer or get a low trade in value. Most people don't use a new RV and drive it to its death so you need to know what the residual value will be along the way. We love diesel because of the quiet ride and the systems that go along with it like AquaHot and the beefy generator.
Bumped my last dock in 2013 but didn't retire from driving. Presently pulling a 5er and seeing America for the first time. Amazing what a guy doesn't see, driving a big truck.
Couldn't agree more with you, about the diesel motor vs the gasser.
Even gooder, Ford putting the 7.3 dyna certified V8 on their f53 chassis for 2021. FYI ''2021'' chassis may not be under your 2021 coach so all y'all do need to verify before buying.
Did I mention, were eagerly waiting the arrival of our new Class-A gasser.... with the V8.🤫
Enjoyed your video, nicely done, thanks for taking the time.🍻
Update: [08/21] The gasser has arrived.... not me🤭, our Class-A ya sillies Now we just need to wait for dealer prep then it's ”on the road again”. 🤗
We have a 1988 Triple E Signature (36') with a 454 and full airbag suspension. It drives like an over-sided car, Super impressed with it. The diesel pushers I have had the opportunity to drive, drive like big trucks. our overall costs are much lower with a gas engine and we are able to do any engine work for ourselves.
Cost per mile will always give the gas MH an advantage. I had a DP and it turned into a money pit.
Our last Diesel was a money pit too. The V-10 has cost nothing to maintain beyond oil changes for the engine and generator in 3 years
One very important consideration is the licensing requirement. Check your drivers license to determine what you need to drive a diesel pusher. Some states, provinces require a truck license with an air brake endorsement and medical to operate a diesel pusher due to the weight and air brakes. You may require the same license as a dump or cement truck driver. Most gas rigs are within the automobile license requirements.
RV's are not commercial vehicles. There is no restriction on how they stop. You can drive any RV with air brakes without anything more than a driver's license. Conversely, commercial trucks under 26,001 lb. GVWR with full air brakes also do NOT need an endorsement. Any DOT official who tells you otherwise is not properly trained for his job.
We retired in 2007 and bought a diesel pusher to fulltime RV. Thirteen years later we have a 26 ft class C. The main reason is the class C's have drivers and passenger safety airbags and you sit lower to the ground, with ABS brakes. The class C's drive almost like a pickup truck. We felt while driving our class A that if we ever got rear-ended and into an accident, we'd be smashed into that big windshield. We like having the motor out in front of us. We like the maneuverability of the class C, the available of getting into gas stations easier.
Very good points!
Kenny - We think this is one of your better videos. It is very helpful to those of us who are looking to hit the road fulltime in the near future. The practicality you and Sabrina bring to this topic is very much appreciated. Thank you!!
Thank you very much Gordon! Fun fact Sabrina was in the original two versions of this video, the first one had video issues and the second one had audio problems ( I forgot to turn on the mic lol) by the time it came to record the video for the third time she was done lol. Our next video is going to be why we bought used instead of new, hopefully it will be out sometime next month. We want to make sure we have all of our reasons written down and they make sense lol. Take care and safe travels!
everybody knows how to work on a ford as they have a lot of practice,lol
lol
By BL- 😄😄
Fix Or Repair Daily. FORD
So you don't have one. The Ford chassis is extremely reliable. That's why they have essentially taken over the market
@@TheBandit7613 my next door neighbor who is 80+ was a ford man for decades.when they refused to warranty his new truck if he plowed his driveway he said no thanx ill go see what they tell me at the chevy dealership.guess what he drives now?so much for a reliable chassis.
At the End of the day it’s the Trip, the Experience of seeing this beautiful Nation. Staying warmer in winter. So I am thankful mine gets me where I need to go.
Thanks to emissions equipment on modern Diesel engines I will never own another one............ The emissions equipment DEF and particulate filters on the exhaust that are extremely expensive to repair/replace if need be which happens a lot. The up front cost of diesel engines out weighs the MPG penalty of gas. In these big vehicles the diesels only get 2-5 MPG better. That up front cost will buy a lot of gas. Secondly Gas is usually .15 - .50 cents cheaper per gallon than diesel fuel.
Agreed. DPF and DEF have destroyed the diesel
Not to mention the how the emissions equipment seems to be creating more problems due the failure rate
My 1980 MCI MC9 8v-71 bus conversion does better on fuel than most diesel pushers.
Keep your gas motor home cheaper on maintenance
Stay with gas. No DEF, no DPF filter. And it's cheaper to work on a gas engine
Don't be afraid to buy a diesel used the are good for several million miles. Most Ford dealers charge at least $100 per hour. My deisel dealer is $125 per hour and filters are the same. One person said they spend ,15-1600 per visit. I say they are going to the Wrong shop.
You missed a very important feature of a diesel pusher engine, the Jake breaking system.
If you put the Ford 6.8 (I had a 5.4 that did it too so probably most Ford RVs) into Tow/Haul mode it’ll shift automatically and engine brake for you
Let's face it the reason people don't buy a diesel pusher is $100k extra no one has laying around. I don't think if price was no object there would really be the market for gas, just about everything mentioned is $$ related. We have a 2016 36 ft gas Class A we bought brand new for $89k couldn't really touch a DP that was comparable for less than $180k most were over $200k
I own a gas class A but if I had the 🧀 I would switch to a same size diesel in a heart beat! But not for the engine, for the solid built chasis! That's the feature you can't squeeze into a gas motor home!
Hi everyone, we hope you enjoyed the video. If you are curious to see what items we use for RVing we have created an Amazon Storefront www.amazon.com/shop/movingforwardadventures These are just a few of the items we use. If you have any questions about any of them we will do our best to answer them.
Take care and Safe travels!
what class of driver license do have
Hi Paul, I have a Class E Florida License
Qqq
My first RV was a DP and I have owned several gas class a models. I prefer the gas because of the price savings and availability of fuel but I really do love the amazing torque and engine braking of the DP.
Ok on point nut.if.you travel a lot a diesel which is well.maintained could do well above a million miles. Usually you will have to replace a gasoline engine several times for that.
Diesel takes less fuel too.
@@Faber-cator No you won't. But it's a.matter of resale value.
Parts and labor much more expensive for diesel. Blow a turbo, get a cosigner!😢
Great Video! I will buy a GAS PUSHER! Now I have a 43 foot Bayliner Yacht Diesel Pusher! At 10mph I get 2 mpg!
Me too Ford has been good to me And they are Everywhere.
And they are not expensive to run. That’s why I didn’t get the Mercedes. California gas is high enough. Diesel is more expensive plus you buy DEF
Fords have been good to us aswell, there was one time that one of them could not fit our RV in their bay, but we found a Monroe Muffler down the street that could. I always forget about DEF for the diesels. Take care and safe travels!
Moving Forward Adventures it’s Required to add DEF and that is an additional expense.
The only way I know to save that expense is to buy an older model that is the Last Year the Were made before DEF was Required. Even the Big Rigs truckers, are required now to add the Expensive DEF
Be careful with cheap oil changes !!! Junk oil and oil filters can make your engine life very short . Don't save money on oil and filters !!!!
What brands do you recommend?
@@SDSunriserFor gasoline engines-PENNZOIL full synthetics. One of the best oil and not crazy expensive.
What a great and honest video. I always push myself toward higher end toys, my truck is diesel and I couldn't imagine using a gasser to tow. But looking into gas vs DP there is not much difference in mileage. In fact the closest I saw was a comparison on a cross country trip from CA to VA was about 250 bucks difference, not enough to justify the cost.
I've decided on a class A gas RV because of the factors you mention. I know I will not get the higher quality finish and amenities, the engine brakes, the air ride, the quiet horsepower pushing you up hills. And I can live with that. I am disabled and have to live on a budget now. If I was still in the oilfield there's no doubt I'd get the 200K DP. Instead I'll spend more like 60 to 70K on a used gasser and still enjoy glamping. Thank you for the video.
A good Cat or Cummins will last a million miles, that's the difference. If someone is going to travel a lot of miles the diesel is more cost efficient! I would love to see a gasser class a with 200,00 miles on it, it would be so boned out it wouldnt go through the hills! I do believe Ford has quit production of the V-10 engine, not sure what is replacing it I believe back to a large V-8 now.
Great video 👍 One other point for the diesel pusher is you have the engine brake for going down the big hills. On another note I have a question. Can you get a washer and dryer in a gas coach or are they in diesels only? Not that that would stop me from buying a coach if I really liked it, but I can tell you I love watching TV at night and doing laundry. We have a 42' tag axle diesel pusher and we love it. We average 10,000 miles a year. This year we are hoping to up that number a little.
Hi Adrian Nurse, I am surprised I forgot to mention the airbrakes on the diesel since I feel braking is equally as important as getting up and going. Yes you can have washer and dryers in a coach, here is a link to an RV that Sabrina and I borrowed from Winnebago last year th-cam.com/video/qXIHRwcLaJQ/w-d-xo.html A lot of people say it is the best tour video they have ever seen :) 10,000 miles a year is really good, take care and safe travels!
You absolutely can get a washer and dryer in a gas class A. We have stackable separates in our 2019 Thor Miramar.
Wouldn’t have been my choice. Of coarse I have a diesel pickup and drive big rigs so I know fair amount about diesels. Also, most dealers and shops have a diesel mechanic because of diesel pickup popularity. No doubt maintenance on a diesel is higher but I’ve had my diesel in the shop less than our gas. I’ve never been to a town where I couldn’t get diesel. Mileage and power is worth the diesel. If you’re a weekend close to home camper then gas is fine. Cost is a big factor too. If your RV serves your purpose then it’s good enough for you. Like my dad used to say, if you aren’t paying for it, it’s only your opinion. V10 has respectable power.
Very objective!
My fiance and I did a similar thing we have a travel trailer GD Reflection 297RSTS and decided to get a F250 with a 6.2liter gas engine, the problems with diesels are maintenance and when they break they are outrageously expensive. They do tow more they are faster but for our budget the gas made more sense and still has all the power we need.
Mistake was get a Ford Diesel!
Yes do to the budget. A diesel is the only way to go, better mileage and longer life. My in-laws bought a gas burner because they knew nothing about diesel. Who fills up at a store? Go to truck stop.
The math says otherwise to the vast majority of the RV public.
Factor the following:
-Diesel up-charge on purchase
-Average miles driven a year
-Cost of Diesel vs Gasoline
When I run those #s using today's normal data (miles driven & prices on each) item I get something like it taking 10-15 years just to break even (start to gain a diesel cost advantage). &, that's without factoring in maintenance & god forbid, some medium to major mechanical issue with the diesel platforms.
Disclaimer: I have a gas motor home now. However, I've owned numerous diesel sedans & pickup trucks in my life & currently have a diesel BMW SUV as a daily driver. I also grew up the son of a trucker & currently hold a CDL myself i.e. I love diesels but the numbers come up the way they come up..... for most people a diesel MH doesn't make economical (key word) sense.
$600 for 16 quarts of oil and a filter? You are definitely going to the wrong place
@james braselton Wait until you have to replace the batteries in an electric RV. That will set you back into tent camping!
Michael Butler do your own oil changes it takes about half an hour including clean up.
You are not explaining,you are just making a statement ? !
RVs are like boats. The cost for everything is expensive, and a lot of owners don't want to do their own work.
@@CurtisG-oq5wu ouch funny but "honey that's it we're getting a tent!" lol
We had a brand new Gas Tiffin Open Road in 2017. We only lasted 8 months before we sold it and bought a Diesel Tiffin Pheaton. We are so much happier in the Phaeton. Day and night over a gasser. The gas coach is good for a month max. If you live full time or almost full time get a diesel pusher period. Get a used one if you can’t afford a new one. Even if it’s 10 years old. It’s worth it in the long run. Resale is much higher as well.
For those that have problems with stairs, Gassers have shallower steps and wider doors.
Amen to that!
First 4700 miles in our 2002 cummins 5.9 fleetwood expedition model 36t (5k lb tow limit) got us 8.3 mpg, worthy of note. That also included some generator use. 1 month trip.
Very good analysis. Bottom line. Get what you want and like. Trade offs with both types. We got a pusher for the lifestyle. Expensive to maintain. I'm fortunate to have a local mechanic that can take care of most everything. His shop rate is 1/2 the current rate and his 20 plus years of industry experience is good enough for me.
Why you choose a gasser over a diesel................ stupidity and not enough $$$ to begin with
Good video. In the end it's entirely a personal decision. For 90% of folks out there, a Class A gasser WOULD be enough.
Thank you Carolina, I agree about it being a personal decision and i don't think there is a right or wrong answer. What works for each individual purchaser is the best decision. Take care and safe travels!
@@MovingForwardAdventures You had a good, sober presentation also. No in-your-face 'THE ALTERNATIVE SUCKS'! drama. You just laid out what you and your wife decided, and it made perfect sense. Laying out (at the end of the video) several areas where diesels are better was just icing on the cake. Kudos. 👍
They are both good and a gasoline RV will last very long also it will be repairable no matter what breaks but to each his own.
Forgot - 100% Synthetic Oil will increase the gas mileage noticeably as well as cool down drivetrain and get more power.
@Keith schaedel You are behind the times since about 1986. They are expensive for sure but worth it if one uses their vehicle in extreme conditions, otherwise Full Synectics work well also. Please search for yourself with an open mind and see as to why. Google etc may be ur best bet
@Keith schaedel By the way, most new vehicles come from the factory with either some form of synthetic or semi synthetic oil in the transmissions, trans axles and engines at times in the crank case. Seems u are new to real 100% Synthetics as well as Full Synthetics.
Should have gotten a ford powerstoke diesel. Its also easy to find diesel. Pumps. The diesel engine has a longer life than a gas engine. Id have gotten an identical f450 chassis powerstoke diesel
If your stuck in eastern NC my neighbor fixes anything. He used to be an aircraft mechanic at cherrypointe. He also works at a heavy equipment shop in Sneads Ferry . Great mechanic. He also has a 5th wheel.
Thank you Shwkhar, we might just take you up on that offer some day 😀
We’re from richlands love that area still have family there come back when we can have a class c now looking to upgrade soon
He speaks truth, We went from 38 ft Fleetwood F53 to 42ft Dutch Star DP 8.3 Cummis ISC. We feel like we really stepped up as far as living conditions. The gas RV was cheaper to maintain, 6 quarts of oil compared to 24 quarts in the DP. I do 90% of my own maintenance and the maintenance in the DP requires more parts because of all the filters. I admit that if I wasn't doing my own maintenance we would've been overwhelmed.
Makes so much sense but I'm sure you've rustled many a person's jimmies over what you've expressed here.
lol. yeah probably a few, but mostly everyone has been respectful to one another so far. Which by the way is rare on youtube lol Take care and safe travels!
I have the same RV as you 2016 Vista.
How is your steering? Mine was way too loose. I had to add sway bars and steering compensator. They made it better, but not great.
Have you done anything to make your steering better?
We added a Safe T Plus bar and I did the cheap handling fix where you move the two brackets attached to the sway bar. They both made a world of difference. If you google cheap handling fix you can read about it and see if it's something you want to try, I also have a video of it here on our channel. I would say the Safe T Plus bar made the biggest difference.
I wonder why coach builders don’t put a power stroke or Dura max diesel up front? You’d get the torque of a diesel and the simpler design of a gas burner chassis....
Freightliner had a chassis with 5.9 Cummins in the front for a while was not a big seller but did work well
A lot of the Super Cs have diesels in the front. Once you get to a certain size the Power Strokes and Duramax are not enough engine. My diesel pusher has an 11 liter L6 Cummins (450hp 1450 lb ft M-11e) and it is pre-emissions. Engine sizes increased with emissions control. You see 8.3 Cummins on smaller DPs, but many of the larger units are in the 11L to 14L displacement range.
oxygen sensor you can do it your self by special tool in harbor fr cheep; it took me 10 min i save $350.0 on labor super easy good lack
Very nice video. It answered several of my questions. I pull a 35' fifth wheel with a 2006 Dodge Ram 250 now. It gets the job done. But I think we would do more boondocking if we had the Class A. Our tanks are not large. One thing you didn't bring up is gas mileage. What do you get? I live in Washington state and I have some hills to contend with. Just curious. I hope you will comment back. Happy travels to you and your wife. Tom
Hi Tom, glad you liked to video:) We avg about 8 mpg with towing the car and a good mix of highway and backroads. A diesel will get better gas mileage, but the fuel will cost you more for gallon. Not sure if it equals out or if the diesel still wins in that category
I can't imagine any Ford dealership would work on an RV. Have you found that to be the case?
We have had our RV at Ford dealerships a few times for oil changes and warranty work. Sometimes it takes a few phone calls to find one. It needs to be a dealership with a large service center and one that works on fleet trucks. We will have 150,000 miles on our RV before the end of this month and it hasn't been a problem to get service done to it.
great video, we chose a diesel pusher and love it. We are full timers also, and wanted the size and space be cause we travel with 3 dogs.
Thank you, yeah I don't think people realize how much space a dog can take up in an RV lol. Our Small dog Belle even takes up a good amount of room, between her bed, food/water bowls and food/treat storage it adds up quick. Take care and safe travels!
Another good reason to choose Diesel is they will last much longer then a gas engine.
Hey any truck stop can fix a Diesel engine. I put 4 million miles on my motor home. You can have a oil change at any Walmart!
4 million miles lol 😂 I don’t believe you for one bit.
Thanks, we will be heading out to shop in the next few weeks this was helpful imo hubby might disagree 😉
Glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful😁 There are die hard diesel fans, but I don't think there is such a thing as a die hard gasoline fan. Sabrina and I might be the first lol. Have fun shopping, there is so much on the market these days.
P
Reasons:
Its cheaper.
--- thats literally the only advantage
No emissions issues no costly diesel repairs you will be able to enjoy the damn thing at least. I am a retired technician from CAT dealership. I have seen the issues of the diesel coaches first hand .
My father is a retired diesel mechanic for the Philadelphia Inquirer and was actually a big part of talking us out of diesels. He kept telling us you don't want the headaches of these modern day engines. Of course he worked on their fleet trucks and they probably were not taken care of as well as a personal vehicle would have been.
I have a 2500 2003 Dodge cummons diesel pulling a fifth wheel traveling from Big Spring, TX
to Buena Vista, CO we cut across at Pueblo its about 125 miles of going 20 mph to 50 mph
up and down so not able to use cruise control and its a winding road very hard to pass but
we averaged 15 mpg over all and on I25 running 75 - 80 except some of the hills will slow you down I change the oil every 7500 miles, oil filters cost around $15 and the oil is about $100 for 3 oil changes. So 3 oil changes for me costs about $150 and repairs on the engine I had the fan replaced at a diesel repair shop and replaced the water pump and all the cooling hoses + new coolant and new brakes all for under $500 . Just driving around here mpg is between 25 -30 1500 rpm 55 mph and the mileage is over148,k If I need repairs on the road google search for Dodge dealer or diesel repair shops. Most gas stations do have
diesel fuel. Running in the mountains you crawl up hills and what you see along the roads
don't change very much in the mountains just my opinion I will never trade for a gas job, gas
is cheaper than diesel but when you start changing the electrical components the coils cost
from $85 up plus tax and V8 takes 8 x approx $90 = $720 then the labor of approx $120 per
hour,water pump replacement averages $300 to $750 depending on engine A lot of cummons
diesel engines might need repair after 250,000 a one mech says he sees a lot of 12 valve units
get 500,000 miles be needing an overhaul and there are some cummons with over a million
miles on them never been overhauled. I have never had any trouble starting when the temp
is 25 below zero
Very true in what you've said. Good video to help someone make up their mind for picking a classic A. I've had both, V-10 Ford Terra 32 ft. that was great, but now 38 ft diesel. The only reason to go to the diesel was I now pull a 10,000 # enclosed car hauler. Guaranteed the longer the unit have you need to pre-plan due to getting your self in a jam with the extra length.
Thanks
Diesel engines from Cummins are rock solid proven engines and rarely give trouble. The fuel is also cheaper. Their engines are easy to work on as parts that go result from bad production and or abuse but as engines they are solid.
I have two Cummins engines. Both are extremely reliable, but the 2010 ISB ends up costing me the most to maintain. The 1997 M11 just runs.
Are you losing weight? Where is Sabrina? I love her and the eyes she gives you especially when you call her big. She is so thin but big means fat hubby. You better stop or you will be sleeping on dinette. Love you both great job...Ssa
Hi Ssa, I don't think I am, but it has been a while since I have stepped on a scale lol. I think the hat makes my face look thiner:) This Video took three time to get right, the first one had video focus issues, the second one had audio issues and Sabrina was done after that, so I had to do the video solo lol. She will be in next video where we are going to talk about why we bought used instead of new. She is a good sport when it comes to my teasing no sleeping on the dinette YET lol
If you can't make fun of those you love the most who can you? Caution their sense of humour seems to change a bit as they age.
Good explanation and comparison... We've owned both gas engine and diesel Class A coaches... I would compare the two as the difference between driving a bread truck and a city bus... Two totally different experiences... One thing we like about the bus chassis is that when you're parked the air comes out of the suspension and it's basically self leveling... The coach settles in at a very low height.... I cannot tell you what a difference this makes in comfort and convenience while camping... Worth the difference right there in my view!...
I agree with you I have had diesels and unless you need the towing capacity I can't justify the cost. Not only are they more expensive to purchase maintenance is also more expensive. Are they more powerful, yes. Are the chassis better, yes.
Hi Lou, The tow capacity in some of these diesel pushers are certainly impressive and probably the best reason to want to purchase one. Take care Lou and safe travels!
@@MovingForwardAdventures Very awesome video sir we are thinking about getting our first Class A. It has the V/10 motor if you had to guess with the motor being well taken care of how many miles could we get out of the motor . I've heard 80,000 would really like to hear your opinion .. thank you .
Hi Daven, We currently have 98,000 miles on ours now and will easily be over the 100K this year and have only done the Ford recommended maintenance.
I have read online of people getting 200K plus out of the V10's when in the pickup trucks, not sure if/what parts may be different.
@@MovingForwardAdventures Thank you very much for the info . Just subscribed. Appreciate the quick response.
Basically when you do the math it comes out to cost much less to buy a motor home like his & if you have less than 7 figures USA dollars in your pocket , the extra cost is way out of budget unless your literally getting paid to travel like a professional entertainer CEO or something like that . But for 90% - 99% of Americans Gas makes 1,000x more sense when you do the math . The truth is you find RV's motor homes and travel trailers with the original tires & 20 year old motor homes with less than 40,000 miles on them all day long , & those motor homes need to be parked under a metal car port & treated gentle. Many people that buy RV's are retiring and use them ten years then they get older and drove what they are going to drive, then they go on Royal Caribbean cruises ect , fly ect. So every thing he said in this video makes wise honest sense for true recreational traveling so as not to waste extra money, & a less than 30' Motor Home is going to handle way better especially going through towns . There's a ancient old saying " WISDOM IS WITH THE MODEST ONE"
You are spot on with the 40,000 mile mark. To many that's a lot of miles for their RV. We just hit 135,000 miles on our RV and would 100% purchase another gas coach. It turned out to be a great purchase and is still serving us well. Take care and safe travels!
Kenny
What's your avg. mpg? Overall cost per mile (w/o depreciation for rv)?
That'd be interesting to see. We have a 35' gas motorhome and get about 10mpg on average (closer to 8 when mountain grades are part of the route.)
@@drinkinslim +1
Any larger truck stop has truck mechanics totally qualifies to work on a diesel pusher. Every gas station Ive visited has diesel also. Many Ford dealers Ive been too wont touch an RV. :) At 30 foot, its the larger RV, Im stepping up to diesel. But thats only me.
You are a smart man I'm thinking about buying one it will be gas
And that’s exactly why I did the Same thing and I have found Ford Service everywhere even fort Stockton Texas. It’s much more comforting to just be about to take care of it. I get my oil changed at WallMart mostly. Under $60.00 for Mobil 1
Great points. Ford has a 7.3 gas engine now. It is unproven as the 6.8 V10 is, but promises to be outstanding for gas power. I agree with you, initial price and maintenance costs are deal breakers on the diesel, unless size and pulling power is a must...Thanks
The Ford Tritons aren't the best engines.
and many ford dealerships that USED TO work of class A no longer want to , and with so few ford dealerships wanting to , the number of dealerships in any state as to the miles to be driven to get there in totally un acceptable , months out or countless miles away , and the ford chassis as it comes from ford , with basically many are needing a rear track bar and a front steering dampener to make the ride safer , and no longer having the WHITE KNUCKLER effect , many who had the GM chassis in the past preferred it better than the ford as to how it drives and handles
UPS has started buying gas delivery vehicles instead of diesels. What does that tell you? I drive for a large fleet (not UPS) and can assure you that ANY diesel engine that has a DEF system is going to consistently give you problems and cost you big $$$. The last time my Freightliner went into the shop the bill was $4500.... all DEF-related and it's been in 3-4 times a year for other DEF issues.
I do believe Def is hurting the diesel industry, I have spoken to many diesel pusher owners that have said things were so much better and easier on their rigs before the introduction of Def.
Try dry camping with a diesel pusher, the high end rigs are all electric. it's real annoying listening and smelling a 10K generator that comes on at any time (2:00 am, or all day long) mostly to charge batteries! I will move to a gas class A after my 5th wheel days are over. Maintenance, tire cost, and overall expense is just too much!
I agree with everything you just wrote, the new rigs sure are nice and we have noticed everyone moving away from propane as well, we like the function and look of the residential refrigerators that they are putting in these RV's, but boy do they draw some major power when drycamping the induction stove tops do not help either lol. Take care and safe travels!
Well fellows, one of the problems here is the honesty of Mechanics in the industry. DPs and Gassers are fine vehicles, it is an anticuted tech that has not been reengineered for 100 years. Upgrades here and there, think about 10 mpg going down hill, and very proud of it, after 100 years.
The problem here is finding Honest Mechanics to work on this internal combustion engines.
Great analysis for the vast majority.
I bought a new Motor home last month, a Holiday Rambler 34j on a ford F53 chassis.There is a fluid leak under the master cylinder which turned out to be a brake hydro boost. I live in the 4th largest city in the country and I called every Ford dealer within 100 miles and not a single one would work on the Motor Home. Most said it was too big for their bay or too heavy to be lifted to bleed the system after repairs are made. The saga continues... it is currently at Lazy Days RV waiting for the parts which I will have to pay for then be reimbursed by Ford.
A large motor home limits the parks that you are allowed to stay at. When I’m traveling in my rv, I don’t need to be the first one up the hill. I’m on vacation, why be in a hurry.
People have the same arguments when it comes to pick up trucks. Most people that have diesel trucks don’t need them. They never tow or carry heavy loads so really they have wasted their money. I own a diesel but I need it to tow a 10,000 pound trailer. I would not own a diesel pick up if I didn’t need the capacity
This is very true, it reminds me of a co worker I once had. He bought a Ford F 350 Super Duty crew cab diesel. When I asked him what he was planning on towing, he said nothing, it just looks bad ass 🤣😂 He wasn't wrong it was a great looking truck.
Missing the gorilla in the room! Fuel cost/MPG comparisons.
Hi Simon, I did not mention fuel cost because it was not on our list of reasons to purchase one type of RV over the other. They are close enough to probably call it a wash. Diesel usually costs a bit more per gallon and needs DEF added to every 100 gallons of fuel, but it does get better MPG. I guess if anything the gas will work out to be cheaper by a smidge, but not enough to call it a real win.
@@MovingForwardAdventures I totally agree. The pre emissions diesel engines where a lot better on fuel than the new ones. I drive a pickup about 125,000 miles per year. Traded my 2016 dually diesel for a 2017 6.4 Hemi. I spend about $2,800 per year less on fuel and maintenance. Definitely don't miss swapping out those fuel filters.. I do all of my own maintenance btw
Also, durability. More torque for towing. And you can hold the pedal down on a diesel with little regard for engine wear. And resell.
The main reason for buying a diesel is the extra torque for climbing hills
It will save a few minutes a day on average. I had a 37 foot gas class A and would a avoid the Diesel. We towed a 4 door Jeep
@Simon. Gas is $1.95 . Diesel is $2.20. It's probably a wash .
Here is something i would like to see - a motorhome with a seires diesel electric hybrid drivetrain. An electric motor for traction, An EV battery that is charged with a diesel generator that is tuned for maximum efficiency. It may be possible to get 20+ MPG in a motorhome.
This actually sounds similar to what the new Doge Ram Charger is doing, which I think is a great idea! Would love to see this in a Class A, it would practically turn it into a diesel locomotive on tires :)
#1 Most people don’t buy diesel du to their budget.
Yes, cost is a big factor of why to chose a gas Class A
And yet my budget was unlimited and I chose gas because I did not want to drive a full size bus with all the associated negatives.
@@mikestone1958 I think you're overseeing the benefits vs negatives. They are many.
@@Expeditionmarc So what are the benefits if you dont want to drive a full size bus? Maybe you dont see the huge benefits of being 26ft long. Going everywhere easily. Camping anywhere. Parking virtually anywhere. Cheap to run and cheap and easy to maintain. All the time with wonderful high quality A class comfort. Try that with a diesel pusher. Sadly the awesome RV I have now is no longer made so I guess I will have to keep it until someone realises less can be more.
Yep cost of oil changes/reg maint if you travel alot... Wow.
Sounds like you have had a really good experience. Who is the manufacture of your RV? I missed what MPG are you getting with your V10 6.8 liter.
It's been great! We now have 116,000 miles on our Vists. We avg 7.5 miles per gallon with towing our car
I know this doesn't have to do with gas or diesel, but the one thing I really like about your rig is the turning radius. I think the turning radius on your rig is better than our small class C. Great information. ~Lucy
Hi Lucy, We do have a very good turning radius. Sometimes we joke and say it is as good as our Tow car, but honestly it is pretty close since the ford Cmax has a terrible turning radius lol Hope you two are well, Safe travels and hopefully we run into each other again on the road :)
"If you like the video, give it a thumbs up. If you dislike it, share it with everybody you hate" 😂😂 Never heard that one before lol. Great video.
I love my class A gaser.
well ok... and you even have a Winnebago, guess you don't subscribe to AZ Expert...
Yes, it is a Winnebago 27N. We will reach 100,000 miles next month. It has been practically trouble free, just routine maintenance. Overall it has exceeded our expectations of a Class A RV. I have never heard of AZ Expert, but I'll check it out some day.
Same reasons i have a ford class with a thor coach which i know i can work on it and find otheres to repair it easy if i need to ! SO far no need for repairs and ive traveled everywhere without worry .
We wish you continued safe travels!
I made a big mistake..I went from a class A gas to a class A Diesel..A MONEY PIT---------------------------
Oh man, sorry to hear that Gary 😞
I think gas class a motor homes are going to get much better next year when ford puts the new Godzilla 7.3 pushrod engine in them. I think the chassis is getting an update as well.
We are looking forward to test driving the new chassis and curious to see what it will be able to do. I saw they are increasing the size of the sway bar in the chassis, but I am also curious to see if the tow capacity increases. Take care and safe travels!
What do gas class A RV get for mileage? Your experience
@@garyjones5093 My 36 ft tag axle 6.8l Ford F53 w/toad averaged about 8 mpg last year. Climbing mountains out west the mileage drops to the 5-6 mpg range as it struggles to climb steep grades over 8,000 ft with full water and propane (as we boondock a lot). Though it still climbs grades better than most 18 wheelers. On level ground it gets 9-10 mpg as long as we keep the speed down, which we do now that we're retired and living in it FT.
#5 mpg
Luis Martinez Are you kidding. Godzilla at 7.3 liters. 40 yr old units had 454 7.4 liters. The current 8.1 Liters 496 is a powerhouse gas engine.
I tow a 38 foot travel trailer camper with a 2005 3500 5.9 dodge diesel SRW 8 foot bed . It's a towing machine. 14 mpg at 60 mpg on flat roads and some moderate inclines. Your right diesels are gonna cost you more but when I go up a hill there's no nail biting because I'm afraid I won't make it. However that FORD V 10 is a great engine it would be my gas choice.
This channel definitely should have more subscribers.
Lol thank you Shekhar, Sabrina and I are very bad at uploading videos on a consistent schedule which is what TH-cam likes to see. We are grateful for the friendships we have made by having the channel and if it continues to grow than that is just a bonus😁
We’re looking at a Winnebago Vista 29ve on a f-350 chassis. Have you had any issues with the rv construction such as slide outs, water leaks. I have owned several campers over the years and have seen some real crappy construction. Thanks
We absolutely love our Vista and it turned out to be a very solid buy. The only issue we have had is with the Onan generator not be able to power our A/C and Microwave. We now have 97,000 miles on our Vista and would have bought it all over again. It has been a very trouble free RV.
Very well thought out and presented. Thanks for your perspective as well.
Glad you enjoyed it :)
I have seen some TH-cams where people complain that some Ford truck dealerships do not work on Ford RV's even for warranty work. Have you ever encountered this? Have others encountered this?
Hi Walter, we have experienced that at Ford Dealerships before and it appears it depends on if they have a bay that is large enough to fit our RV. If they can not bring it inside they won't do any work to it.
You forgot a big advantage of the DP - toe generator is in the front instead of close to the bedroom.
For the times we need to use our generator we prefer it in the rear of the RV. It helps us sleep, as we usually need a fan or a white noise app.