STBRetired
I-80 and I-55
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I frequently travel with a friend who has a DP. My gasser is 38' and about 25K when loaded for travel, including toad. His DP is 38' and weighs about 31K when loaded for travel. I can beat him off the line and can out run him on the flat if I want to be stupid enough to run that fast. He easily out climbs me on hills and gets much better fuel mileage. I have a Ford V10, he has a CAT 360HP. We usually get where we are going at the same time.
I would not let "who can beat who in a drag race" weight very heavily in the purchase decision process.
1999 Newmar MACA 3796 F53 6.8L
2016 Ford Edge Sport
Roadmaster Sterling A/T with Brake Buddy Select
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cruz-in
Southern Maryland
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Joined: 02/15/2009
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"I would not worry about what fuel the motorhome uses or what powerplant it has from a performance standpoint."
Cold not disagree more...
2011 Monaco Vesta
Interesting Coach
This particular one was the prototype.
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Johno02
Lexington, TN USA
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Joined: 10/15/2004
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When you start driving a motor home, you will be quick to find that it is not a sports car. You are driving a house, fully equipped with furniture, personal items, dishes, glasses, packaged foods, and liquids. Unless you have someone standing in the aisle to catch things, you will find that jack-rabbit starts and hard braking are not really smart things to do. And you will learn to allow plenty of room around your rig to prevent sudden changes or rapid movements. And all of that stuff really needs to be secured as much as possible. The same applies even more so to a trailer behind you.
Noel and Betty Johnson (and Harry)
2005 GulfStream Ultra Supreme, 1 Old grouch, 1 wonderful wife, and two silly poodles.
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Mostovi
Danville
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Joined: 10/08/2017
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darsben1 wrote:Rather than consider the original question I have one for you. What are your plans with the rig? Lots. of miles? Stay stationary? Some other answer. Then we might be able to guideyou to a good decision.
I appreciate all of the info. I will be retiring soon and we plan to hit the road, with extended stays wherever we want to be. We plan on doing significant traveling. I had read some threads with comments that gas actually pulled hills and mountains better than diesel, which is what prompted the question.
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gutfelt
North america
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Joined: 10/07/2017
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Mostovi wrote:darsben1 wrote:Rather than consider the original question I have one for you. What are your plans with the rig? Lots. of miles? Stay stationary? Some other answer. Then we might be able to guideyou to a good decision.
I appreciate all of the info. I will be retiring soon and we plan to hit the road, with extended stays wherever we want to be. We plan on doing significant traveling. I had read some threads with comments that gas actually pulled hills and mountains better than diesel, which is what prompted the question.
I would be interested in reading those threads; the thing is you have to keep in mind as I said earlier you can get away with a 340-60 HP gasser in a 20-25 K MH but once you get into MH with freightliner and Sparton chassis 3-4 slides 39++ft motor homes that weigh north of 30K there all going to be diesel powered and for good reasons as explained already
I have a 41 ft DP with a 425ISL loaded and pulling small toad iam well over 36K lbs I can pull mammoth mountain at 49-51 MPH
at its steepest and 8200 ft; I can guarantee you a 35-38 ft gasser 3 slide loaded and towing will be at 35 MPH on the same pull
we will both make it no doubt but if anyone was silly enough to put the gas engine in my unit ? well you can well imagine why they don't make such a animal
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Bruce Brown
Northern NY
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Joined: 06/01/2001
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Mostovi wrote:darsben1 wrote:Rather than consider the original question I have one for you. What are your plans with the rig? Lots. of miles? Stay stationary? Some other answer. Then we might be able to guideyou to a good decision.
I appreciate all of the info. I will be retiring soon and we plan to hit the road, with extended stays wherever we want to be. We plan on doing significant traveling. I had read some threads with comments that gas actually pulled hills and mountains better than diesel, which is what prompted the question.
We're on our 5th MH. The first 3 were gassers, the next 2 have been diesels. I don't see us owning another gasser - ever.
One thing I would caution, and this may be where your info came from, don't get a too small diesel. The number to look at with a diesel is torque. HP sells stuff, torque is what gets the job done. Bigger is always better.
For example, common Cummins engines are the ISB, ISC, ISL, and ISX.
10 years ago they offered an ISB that was 300HP, 600 # torque. They also offered the ISC as 300HP, 950# torque. With all else being equal which one do you think would be the better performer?
Our first diesel was 330HP, 720# torque and it did a wonderful job. Our current one is 400HP, 1200 # torque - it's a lot more fun to drive. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910
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Dutch_12078
Winters south, summers north
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Keep in mind you'll spend far more time living in your motorhome than you will driving it. Make sure you select a floor plan that you, and especially your wife, will be happy with even if the power plant isn't exactly the one you prefer. All of them will get you where you want to go, so make sure you'll be comfortable when you get there.
Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
F53 chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS
Bigfoot Automatic Leveling System
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate
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wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
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Well most folks think HP HP HP (Horse power) And like TIM Taylor (TV Show: Home Improvement) MORE POWER.....
Actually it is torque that gets you moving,, HP keeps you moving.
Diesels generally have more torque at low RPM However a good transmission (Allison) can make up for it.
Now: Another thing is this, Torque is aq function of HP to some extent so if you have say a 450 HP engine, and the guy beside you has a nearly same weight but only 350 HP.. Yes. His will be sluggish, compasred to yours
But if you put a 425 HP Diesel against a 425 HP gas... Well I can't tell you who will finish the quarter mile first.
I can tell you the fastest RV in the USA is gas.. but it's not .. exactly.. Stock... It isd a vintage GM that has been er. slightly modified. You don't want to know the Horse Power rating (or perhaps you do) on that big engine.
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times
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smlranger
Virginia
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Joined: 06/23/2004
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Mostovi wrote:darsben1 wrote:Rather than consider the original question I have one for you. What are your plans with the rig? Lots. of miles? Stay stationary? Some other answer. Then we might be able to guideyou to a good decision.
I appreciate all of the info. I will be retiring soon and we plan to hit the road, with extended stays wherever we want to be. We plan on doing significant traveling. I had read some threads with comments that gas actually pulled hills and mountains better than diesel, which is what prompted the question.
Based on your plan to hit the road and 'doing significant travel', I would want a diesel. This is especially true if you plan to travel in the western US and through the beautiful mountains.
That said, your focus should be on getting a floorplan that you can enjoy and meets your living needs.
A diesel pusher will also provide benefits in terms of ride comfort, handling, cargo and towing capacity. This may not always be true in some of the lowest cost entry level DP's, but will be the case in many situations.=
2019 Grand Design Solitude 384GK 5th wheel. Glen Allen, VA
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Mr.Mark
Out West and Mid South
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Joined: 09/24/2006
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Our first coach had the 425 HP Cummins with 1,200 lb. ft. of torque weighing 40,039 lbs. The problem was not at start off but at passing on hills. I had no problem climbing the steepest hills, when I was not able to pass a very slow truck because of traffic, once my speed fell, it was hard to get it back to pass.
Our current coach has 1,750 lb. ft. of torque with 500 HP at 55,500 lbs. Even with the additional weight, I can pass a slow moving truck much better in this coach. As mentioned previously, torque is what moves the weight.
Safe travels,
MM.
Mr.Mark
2021.5 Pleasure Way Plateau FL Class-B on the Sprinter Chassis
2018 Mini Cooper Hardtop Coupe, 2 dr., 6-speed manual
(SOLD) 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach, 45 ft, 500 hp Volvo
(SOLD) 2008 Monaco Dynasty, 42 ft, 425 hp Cummins
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