Gas
OR Diesel Engines?
(35-7)
Garth
Discusses the Pros and Cons of Gas and Diesel Engines
Many owners
of gas-powered motorhomes wish for the power of a diesel
engine, so they can climb long, steep hills without
having to slow down. You’ll know the kind of hills
I’m referring to if you’ve ever come through
the east entrance of Yellowstone Park or driven Highway
15 leading out of Los Angeles towards Las Vegas. These
are situations I’ve often wished for the performance
provided by a diesel engine.
Gas powered Class A motorhomes have mid-door entry,
because the engine is mounted up front. This placement
of the engine creates a ‘doghouse’ that
you have to climb over in order to get into the driver
and passenger seats. Not an easy feat for some older
RVers! A diesel, pusher engine by comparison, is hidden
under the bed in the rear, providing a flat floor up
front and a quieter environment since the engine noise
is now further back.
Historically,diesel-powered motorhomes have been more
costly than their gas cousins due to the higher cost
of the engine, a heavier frame, and larger tires that
support the extra weight. If a Class A with a gas-powered
engine weighed 15,000 pounds, than the diesel-powered
version would likely weigh 25,000 pounds or more. It’s
not uncommon to see diesel units costing as much as
$50,000 more than the gas unit with the same floor plan.
I did a cost analysis for a reader a few years ago on
the value of a rear diesel’s fuel savings versus
the lower price of a front, gas-engine motorhome (both
with the same floor plan). The reader informed me that
he was only going to drive about 5,000 miles a year
(typical mileage for many RVers). Based on the cost
differential of the units, the superior fuel economy
of the diesel engine, the cost of fuel at the time,
oil changes, and general maintenance, he would have
to drive the motorhome for 197 years to make up for
the extra investment of funds. I suggested to him that
his wife would be tired of the upholstery by that time.
You do not buy a rear-diesel motorhome to save money.
You buy it because you want it. Most RVers are not driving
long distances like truckers who travel hundreds of
thousands of miles each year.
...
(Read the full article in the magazine) |
