OP
daugen
Super Star Member
thanks Ron, I'll check those sites out. Drew
Advice on a motorhome please
- Thread starter daugen
- Start date
Bird
Epic Contributor
Drew, my experience with motorhomes is dated. We bought a new 1973 Winnebago 18' Brave and towed an Opel Cadet behind it (yep, that's not a mistake on the size; Winnebago made a Class A 18 footer on a Dodge chassis with a 318 industrial engine back then). Then in the Fall of 1991, we were full timers when we bought the 40' Bounder with the 460 Ford gas engine and towed a Ford Escort station wagon.
I know that was a fact 20 years ago, and assume it still is. I've driven I-40 many times across Tennessee and a number of hills would pull that 460 gasser down quite a bit. But then I drove a 32' diesel pusher on the same road and there was a very noticeable difference; it just held it's speed uphill and down. Of course our 40 footer was also loaded and heavy while that diesel was new with no contents except my and my wife (I was delivering a new one from Texas to the buyer in Virginia for my brother who was selling them at the time).
I know that was a fact 20 years ago, and assume it still is. I've driven I-40 many times across Tennessee and a number of hills would pull that 460 gasser down quite a bit. But then I drove a 32' diesel pusher on the same road and there was a very noticeable difference; it just held it's speed uphill and down. Of course our 40 footer was also loaded and heavy while that diesel was new with no contents except my and my wife (I was delivering a new one from Texas to the buyer in Virginia for my brother who was selling them at the time).
rrrkkk
Silver Member
Try PPL they always have a large consigment, they are in Texas. There is no subsuite for a diesel, you will have a hard time talking to each other with a gas motor between you in the front. You will have a vast amount of choices for that $$$ amount in used class A.
ronjhall
Super Star Member
While a gas RV will save you money when purchasing. It will eat gas. My motor home was offered in both gas and diesel. Gas modesl got 7 to 8 mpg when towing a toad. The diesel version gets 10 to 12 mpg while towing. Speed has a big effect on mpg. Weight also has an affect. Most of the diesel pushers have chassis in 30,000 lbs area. Gas models have chassis that are in the 20,000 lbs area. They will have similar mpg. But weight being moved will be different.
Good used MH's can be found in your price range from Tiffin, Newmar, Monaco, Winnebago, Country Coach, and Fleetwood. Tiffin, Winnebago and Newmar did not go through bankruptcy. That puts them high on my list of good used MH's.
If you are looking for a Class C. Check out Nexus. Diesels in a Class C can be hard to find. Unless you are looking at Super C's.
Good used MH's can be found in your price range from Tiffin, Newmar, Monaco, Winnebago, Country Coach, and Fleetwood. Tiffin, Winnebago and Newmar did not go through bankruptcy. That puts them high on my list of good used MH's.
If you are looking for a Class C. Check out Nexus. Diesels in a Class C can be hard to find. Unless you are looking at Super C's.
Have you thought about a 5 ft wheel instead of the MH I owned a class C MH which was great for driving but its ability to be self contained was limited, small tanks only had a 18 gal gas tank that sucked getting gas every 150 miles. My in laws have a 35 ft class A Winnebago Adventurer with the ford v10 does pretty good even towing a 6600 lb boat 6 mpg. I gave up the MH home and now prefer my 5 th wheel trailer and my GMC Diesel truck. Plenty of room and decent ability to travel 10 mpg towing 16 mpg empty.
Jimbrown
Veteran Member
There is no comparison between a diesel and a gasser. Because we no longer have a desire to travel very far and now use our RV more as a condo that can be moved from time to time I traded my 40 Endevor for a 40ft 5th wheel.
The middle size diesels 35 to 40 ft actually drive better and easier than the smaller gassers they are much more stable and don't suffer from road wander. My last one had a 325 CAT engine with a 3020 Allison transmission. It would climb hills and 10 miles grades at over the speed limit towing a jeep. My previous gasser a 454 chevy would be in second gear at 4000 rpm trying to do that.
My opinion and experience is that the diesels are just plain better made than most of the gassers. They come with good quiet generators, inverters, much larger battery packs and usually with lots of niceties like heat pumps and interior upgrades.
Thee are lots of tow or three year old diesel to be had and that is the way I would go.
I have looked at the new Mercedes things they are just to small and I don't think they have much power left for towing.
The middle size diesels 35 to 40 ft actually drive better and easier than the smaller gassers they are much more stable and don't suffer from road wander. My last one had a 325 CAT engine with a 3020 Allison transmission. It would climb hills and 10 miles grades at over the speed limit towing a jeep. My previous gasser a 454 chevy would be in second gear at 4000 rpm trying to do that.
My opinion and experience is that the diesels are just plain better made than most of the gassers. They come with good quiet generators, inverters, much larger battery packs and usually with lots of niceties like heat pumps and interior upgrades.
Thee are lots of tow or three year old diesel to be had and that is the way I would go.
I have looked at the new Mercedes things they are just to small and I don't think they have much power left for towing.
Bird
Epic Contributor
I didn't like that either. My 454 was a 1989 model, 3-speed transmission, so I had a Gear Vendors overdrive installed. It really helped the gas mileage when not towing; didn't seem to help the mileage towing, but sure made it more pleasant to drive.
dmccarty
Super Star Member
Are these diesels turbo charged? Is that why the perform better in the mountains vs a gasser?
I have been up in the NC mountains in both a car and SUV that were gas powered. The car did not have much HP but the SUV does however neither had the power to handle the grade. Both are non turbo. The two turbo diesel trucks I have driven in the NC mountains had no problem climbing the grades. It was like they were on flat land.
Regarding transmissions. My first diesel truck had a five speed that was really a four speed because the first gear was so low. That gear was great for moving the truck with a load but the lock of a gear at the top end cost me some MPG and the 4.10 rear axle did not help. The Ford I have has six gears but it really is a five speed for the same reason. It has a 3.73 rear and I can get up to 22 MPG driving 55 mph. 22 MPG does not happen often but I am usually at 21.7 maybe dipping to the low 21.x's or high 20.x's depending on how cold it is in the winter. The point being I would pay attention to the number of transmission gears and rear gear.
Later,
Dan
I have been up in the NC mountains in both a car and SUV that were gas powered. The car did not have much HP but the SUV does however neither had the power to handle the grade. Both are non turbo. The two turbo diesel trucks I have driven in the NC mountains had no problem climbing the grades. It was like they were on flat land.
Regarding transmissions. My first diesel truck had a five speed that was really a four speed because the first gear was so low. That gear was great for moving the truck with a load but the lock of a gear at the top end cost me some MPG and the 4.10 rear axle did not help. The Ford I have has six gears but it really is a five speed for the same reason. It has a 3.73 rear and I can get up to 22 MPG driving 55 mph. 22 MPG does not happen often but I am usually at 21.7 maybe dipping to the low 21.x's or high 20.x's depending on how cold it is in the winter. The point being I would pay attention to the number of transmission gears and rear gear.
Later,
Dan
ronjhall
Super Star Member
Most all diesels in RV's today have turbos. Makes a big difference when climbing mountains.
OP
daugen
Super Star Member
the first one was already gone, annoying when they don't keep their site up to date.
thanks guys. Going to look at this one tomorrow morning but not sure I can handle the outside paint job.
Inside is standard generic beige and cherry, which is fine. An older unit, though forty thousand miles is about a tenth of
its life I suppose. One thing the dealer said was that it was actually good to see the coach driven a good bit each year, because otherwise
it sat some place, maybe baking in the sun in Florida, and these rigs, like boats, don't like to sit and have liquids in them get nasty.
So far, no provenance, my guy did not take the RV on trade. So that reduces value to me. He said he will try to find out.
Desirable larger Cat, though any of those Cummins are great engines, it really makes no diff to me, though I don't know the full spec on the Cat and how its torque
compares.
I'm going to check out the rigs first. Then take Nadene to one she has seen pics of and seems positive towards.
I much prefer dealing with the local large RV dealer who has mechanics with training on large trucks. Basically, if I buy it from you, even used, you have
to commit to fixing the thing or I'm up the creek. Of course there a number of large truck repair shops in the lower end of the county, and I bet the drivetrain machinery at least is very familiar to them.
I don't know the hours on the engine but I guess we could guess it backwards, but should I ask for/pay for a compression test first? Used to be on a boat, somewhere in the 500-1000 hour range you got the engine survey, and often over a thousand hours a compression test was a standard request. Is there any relevancy here for an RV drivetrain?
My gut tells me most of the engines I'll see for the low mileage rigs I'm considering are probably just getting broken in. It's all the other stuff, the hoses, belts, whatever that simply wear and break. And many people just wait for that to happen. Not me, I like new belts and tires and good worn spares. And change the brake pads and just set a base line from there on. But things like suspension air bags? I could see some dealerships licking their chops seeing me come in.
So I have a lot to learn, though I've been working on this for several years, doing my research. But now the time has come.
Blue. Hmm. Maybe we could paint little boats on it...
Used Winnebago Journey for sale in Hatfield PA | 2006 Winnebago Journey WKP36G Diesel Pusher For Sale from Media Camping Center in Hatfield Pennsylvania - RV Inventory: Media Camping Center: Hatfield Pennsylvania RV Dealer
thanks guys. Going to look at this one tomorrow morning but not sure I can handle the outside paint job.
Inside is standard generic beige and cherry, which is fine. An older unit, though forty thousand miles is about a tenth of
its life I suppose. One thing the dealer said was that it was actually good to see the coach driven a good bit each year, because otherwise
it sat some place, maybe baking in the sun in Florida, and these rigs, like boats, don't like to sit and have liquids in them get nasty.
So far, no provenance, my guy did not take the RV on trade. So that reduces value to me. He said he will try to find out.
Desirable larger Cat, though any of those Cummins are great engines, it really makes no diff to me, though I don't know the full spec on the Cat and how its torque
compares.
I'm going to check out the rigs first. Then take Nadene to one she has seen pics of and seems positive towards.
I much prefer dealing with the local large RV dealer who has mechanics with training on large trucks. Basically, if I buy it from you, even used, you have
to commit to fixing the thing or I'm up the creek. Of course there a number of large truck repair shops in the lower end of the county, and I bet the drivetrain machinery at least is very familiar to them.
I don't know the hours on the engine but I guess we could guess it backwards, but should I ask for/pay for a compression test first? Used to be on a boat, somewhere in the 500-1000 hour range you got the engine survey, and often over a thousand hours a compression test was a standard request. Is there any relevancy here for an RV drivetrain?
My gut tells me most of the engines I'll see for the low mileage rigs I'm considering are probably just getting broken in. It's all the other stuff, the hoses, belts, whatever that simply wear and break. And many people just wait for that to happen. Not me, I like new belts and tires and good worn spares. And change the brake pads and just set a base line from there on. But things like suspension air bags? I could see some dealerships licking their chops seeing me come in.
So I have a lot to learn, though I've been working on this for several years, doing my research. But now the time has come.
Blue. Hmm. Maybe we could paint little boats on it...
Used Winnebago Journey for sale in Hatfield PA | 2006 Winnebago Journey WKP36G Diesel Pusher For Sale from Media Camping Center in Hatfield Pennsylvania - RV Inventory: Media Camping Center: Hatfield Pennsylvania RV Dealer