Motorhome Gas vs Deisel

lorenr · 05-30-2020, 01:19 PM

Been through it all. Started with a tent, then a camper on my pick up (the worst of everything I've tried). Then a 24 foot class A, Then a 36 foot diesel Monaco Dynasty.

Finally, a 2002 40 foot Monaco Executive with a 500 HP Cummins. Smartest and best rig ever. Gets just about 9 miles per gallon. I can fill up in southern Oregon, drive I 5 to I 10 and reach Arizona before needing fuel. You save $1.25 a gallon on diesel by not getting fuel in CA. That helps a lot.

Used to have to listen to my father who was always trying to find the right rig. He finally learned to get a class A with the 11 liter diesel or larger.

I've seen those 500 HP Executives with 70,000 miles go for between 55 and 70 thousand dollars. The best ones were built between 2001 and 2006. Considering what you guys are pulling you'll need horse power, BRAKES and a Jacob brake.

Loren

GTX JOHN · 05-30-2020, 01:46 PM

We have had several over the years.

I would shudder to own another gas Motorhome or Truck

Even our 6.0 Gas Tiny 21' got 6 MPH and overheated with a
one of my boy's built very light 24' Enclosed (Under7000 Loaded)
on any long hills!

If you race locally = Anything will work fine

If you travel a bunch = I Prefer the Diesel!

I tow over 100,000 miles a year delivering Stacks of trailers for my boy.

rboyle · 05-30-2020, 02:27 PM

I have a local owner selling an '02 8.1 liter MH for $16,500 looks nice, 77,000 miles. Maintained but it is gas and my Suburban has the 8.1 already so I know what that one tows like. I may have to wait some more.

Mark Howes · 05-30-2020, 04:51 PM

Had great luck with the 8.1. Had a Holiday Rambler with 8.1/Alison/22.5 tires. Good working motorhome that towed my 26 foot motorsport easily. Being Canadian....I put some miles on. I wouldnt hesitate to have another one.

Glenn Briglio · 05-31-2020, 05:38 AM

My 26 ft class a with v10 ford gets 8.5 to 9mpg pulling my 24 ft trailer. My F150 gets 10mpg.Power wise of course pickup is better.The MH is adequate.

SSDiv6 · 05-31-2020, 12:25 PM

The 8.1L engine with the Allison transmission can be a workhorse.
There are a few aftermarket improvements such as better spark plug wires; the OEM wires are terrible. I believe that Ed at Fast Chips used to have a tune for the8.1L. You can get tunes for the8.1L from the following:

https://www.ultrarvproducts.com/Ultr...-Custom-Tuning

https://www.raylarengineering.com/computer-tuning.html

Larry Hill · 06-04-2020, 06:54 AM

Getting fuel with a gas MH is difficult when towing a trailer.

05-30-2020, 01:19 PM	#1
lorenr Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 48 Likes: 259 Liked 19 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Motorhome Gas vs Deisel Been through it all. Started with a tent, then a camper on my pick up (the worst of everything I've tried). Then a 24 foot class A, Then a 36 foot diesel Monaco Dynasty. Finally, a 2002 40 foot Monaco Executive with a 500 HP Cummins. Smartest and best rig ever. Gets just about 9 miles per gallon. I can fill up in southern Oregon, drive I 5 to I 10 and reach Arizona before needing fuel. You save $1.25 a gallon on diesel by not getting fuel in CA. That helps a lot. Used to have to listen to my father who was always trying to find the right rig. He finally learned to get a class A with the 11 liter diesel or larger. I've seen those 500 HP Executives with 70,000 miles go for between 55 and 70 thousand dollars. The best ones were built between 2001 and 2006. Considering what you guys are pulling you'll need horse power, BRAKES and a Jacob brake. Loren

05-30-2020, 01:46 PM	#2
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,729 Likes: 2,785 Liked 2,463 Times in 695 Posts	Re: Motorhome Gas vs Deisel We have had several over the years. I would shudder to own another gas Motorhome or Truck Even our 6.0 Gas Tiny 21' got 6 MPH and overheated with a one of my boy's built very light 24' Enclosed (Under7000 Loaded) on any long hills! If you race locally = Anything will work fine If you travel a bunch = I Prefer the Diesel! I tow over 100,000 miles a year delivering Stacks of trailers for my boy. __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock Last edited by GTX JOHN; 06-04-2020 at 02:00 PM.

05-30-2020, 02:27 PM	#3
rboyle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 604 Likes: 1,454 Liked 586 Times in 162 Posts	Re: Motorhome Gas vs Deisel I have a local owner selling an '02 8.1 liter MH for $16,500 looks nice, 77,000 miles. Maintained but it is gas and my Suburban has the 8.1 already so I know what that one tows like. I may have to wait some more.

05-30-2020, 04:51 PM	#4
Mark Howes Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Saint John, NB Canada Posts: 126 Likes: 349 Liked 80 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Motorhome Gas vs Deisel Had great luck with the 8.1. Had a Holiday Rambler with 8.1/Alison/22.5 tires. Good working motorhome that towed my 26 foot motorsport easily. Being Canadian....I put some miles on. I wouldnt hesitate to have another one.

05-31-2020, 05:38 AM	#5
Glenn Briglio VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Massapequa Park,NY Posts: 1,281 Likes: 1,890 Liked 969 Times in 307 Posts	Re: Motorhome Gas vs Deisel My 26 ft class a with v10 ford gets 8.5 to 9mpg pulling my 24 ft trailer. My F150 gets 10mpg.Power wise of course pickup is better.The MH is adequate. __________________ 1989 Camaro Iroc-Z I/SA B&B Auto Machine Shop.

05-31-2020, 12:25 PM	#6
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,041 Likes: 712 Liked 1,572 Times in 580 Posts	Re: Motorhome Gas vs Deisel The 8.1L engine with the Allison transmission can be a workhorse. There are a few aftermarket improvements such as better spark plug wires; the OEM wires are terrible. I believe that Ed at Fast Chips used to have a tune for the8.1L. You can get tunes for the8.1L from the following: https://www.ultrarvproducts.com/Ultr...-Custom-Tuning https://www.raylarengineering.com/computer-tuning.html

06-04-2020, 06:54 AM	#7
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,629 Likes: 1,919 Liked 10,680 Times in 2,222 Posts	Re: Motorhome Gas vs Deisel Getting fuel with a gas MH is difficult when towing a trailer. __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817