Shopping for a new or used RV is an exciting time. There are so many questions to ask yourself and lots of makes and models to learn about. Narrowing down all the choices can be daunting. One of the biggeest questions for a Class A is how to decide on gas vs. diesel motorhome.
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For some, like my husband, the decision was easy. He grew up in London and is a huge fan of diesel. For others, like me, I weigh all the pros and cons and talk through everything a million times. Thankfully, I have a very patient husband. While he already knew what we were going to purchase, he gave me the time I needed to work through all the pros and cons of gas versus diesel. Part of that process was renting several motorcoaches so we could experience the difference firsthand.
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As with any make and model RV, there are pros and cons to gas and diesel coaches. Let’s explore some of the high-level pros and cons for each of these types of motorcoaches.
GAS MOTORHOMES
Pros
- Lower price point than diesel
- Gas price is typically lower for regular gasoline than diesel
- Easier access into most gas stations – 11ft clearance
- More accessible to state parks as gas coaches are shorter lengths
- Better gas mileage – lighter weight and shorter lengths will give gas coaches better fuel efficiency
Cons
- Engine is in the front of the RV so it will be warmer upfront from the engine heat and noisier from the engine being in the front of the vehicle
- Generator is in the back where you sleep which can make it noisy if boondocking aka not on shore power
- Towing – lower torque of a gas engine which means lower towing capacity
- May struggle up mountain roads especially if towing a vehicle
- Brakes – are like standard vehicle brakes with wearable parts. If traveling hills and mountain roads, brakes can easily overheat
- Chassis vibration especially as they get older
- Servicing a gas coach can be expensive as it requires more frequent intervals of maintenance ie sparks plugs, filters, etc
- Smaller overall cabin size and accessibility as the engine cover takes up a significant space versus diesel
- Stability – typically have to buy stabilizers and upgrade shocks to improve stability and ride comfort
DIESEL MOTORHOMES
Pros
- Stability – with a heavier overall weight, a diesel has better stability as it’s planted on the road
- Larger tires – typically Class A coaches have 22” tires, which are larger than gas coaches and offer a much better overall ride
- Air brakes and engine braking down make it much easier to stop especially down hills and mountains
- Engine in the back while traveling makes for a quieter road trip
- Generator in the front so it’s quieter at night when you are sleeping if not on shore power
- Longer lengths and variety floor plan options
- Tow larger vehicles
- Pass through storage on most models which make it easy to access from either side of the coach
Cons
- Price, the entry price for diesel is significantly more expensive than gas
- Diesel can be harder to find a local or remote gas station that carries diesel; stick to main roads and larger gas stations or truck stops for fill-ups
- Diesel is more expensive at the pump which is sort of ironic as it requires much less
- Towing a vehicle makes it virtually impossible to back up when connected to the tow dolly or vehicle
- Maintenance while at less frequent intervals than gas, the scheduled maintenance for diesel can be expensive
Above all, after reviewing all the pros and cons of gas versus diesel still has you confused, try renting. By renting a few different types of RVs, it will help you determine what you like and don’t like for that particular make and model. In addition, renting different types of coaches should help you narrow down your search, especially how to decide on gas vs. diesel motorhome.
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Don’t let the length of any pro or con list (above) be a determining factor. Each type of coach serves a purpose and figuring out if it will serve your needs and budget is more important.
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Keep in mind that no matter what you choose, someone will have an opinion about what you should have done differently. Stick to your list of must-haves and nice to have features, layout your budget, and focus on what works best for you and your family.
