I am looking a two models right now a 28 & 34 and would like to here from other sellers also. I do not want to spend over 12.000.00 and the one I like has high miles but very clean. At the prices I wish I could by both but know I would have only room for one.Really I have friends back home I could leave one there if I had. My son is 26 and we could run them tandom. I wish I could have a diesel but oil is high now and gas is ok too. The longer twin screw I like is simple and leaves lots of space to do custom wood work inside. I think rebuilding is half the fun. I wonder how a nice stingray mill EFI would work out running 450 HP there goes the mileage. I have so many things I want to ask like what is the cheap route for sat TV on the go as far as price total? Can a larger hot water heater be used for a RV thats going to be parked for long times and ran very little? Well if you have a rig for sale pm me with what you have.I also will contact the ones that have them for sale on this forum.Thanks Kim

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Originally posted by PALEHORSE:
I wonder how a nice stingray mill EFI would work out running 450 HP there goes the mileage.

I am not sure what displacement you are considering, but 450 hp would have a narrower power band than is suitable for RV use.

You could use a Gear Vendors overdrive to give you 6 gears, but you would shift a lot to stay in the power band.

As a reference, our Barth has a 502 with 325 hp, and I would not want to up it to 450 hp.

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I wish I could have a diesel but oil is high now and gas is ok too.

Diesel fuel may be slightly higher than gas right now, but the better MPG with diesels makes them the more economical choice. That is why all commercial trucks, buses, boats use diesel.

Diesel fuel has a higher energy density than gasoline. One gallon of diesel contains approximately 147,000 BTUs of energy, while a gallon of gasoline only has 125,000 BTUs. This means it takes more gasoline to equal the power output of diesel, making diesel engines more efficient per gallon of fuel burned. Diesels get six to eight more mpg than similar-weight gas vehicles. Diesel engines generally last 5 to 10 times longer that large gas engines too. The biggest deterrent is their initial cost.

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Diesel fuel may be slightly higher than gas right now, but the better MPG with diesels makes them the more economical choice. That is why all commercial trucks, buses, boats use diesel.

Commercial trucks and busses run hundreds of thousand miles a year. I'm wondering about the dollars per mile, gas vrs. diesel with motor home miles per year, in most cases under 5K.

You have to look at your individual situation. I went through the diesel vs gas, mileage per year, maintenance expense etc....

We are a young family with kids and don't really travel that much per year (less than 5000 miles).
So gas makes more sense for us. Lower maintenance and repair costs.....and easily repaired. (water pump, fuel pump, starters, alternators, belts on a 454 are dirt cheap and just about anyone can fix them)

However, if I was traveling a great deal, I'd opt to go diesel for the economy. Then economy would hopefully triumph over maintenance expenses.

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Lower maintenance and repair costs.....and easily repaired.

In my view this is not a supportable statement when applied to RVs. This is why all big rig fleet vehicles are diesel now. I do agree that a diesel may not make sense from the initial cost standpoint, they are a big money upgrade. I also agree that some engines, like the 454, are cheap and easy for a DIY to repair, but when it inevitably goes "boom" all those savings are gone. It has been aptly stated that diesel fuel is a lubricant, gas is a solvent. You simply can't get a million miles out of a gas engine, but it is routine with fleet diesels. Even putting on 5000 miles a year, this eventually adds up to big mileage.

I totally respect your personal decision, but it is important on these forums to lay all the opinions or facts out so others who are making important decisions on purchasing get a complete view.

I can't think of a better economic time to "upgrade" to a diesel pusher. They are almost in the same price category as a gas rig. There are some important hidden benefits associated with most DPs, namely safer brakes, more usable space, better towing capability (with most), air suspension (in most), upgraded transmission, quieter cabin.

Corey---I Agree You have to look past the cost of maintenance when comparing gas to diesel motors. When I was deciding to go gas or diesel in my first RV, I was told by many knowledgeable folks that if you service your diesel properly on a regular basis, you do not have to concern yourself with motor repair because they will last 5, 6,700K+ miles. Its all about spending the money on a regular basis. And yes, it is more expensive to service the diesel than gas, but how many gas motors do you go thru compared to one diesel? Two minimum, probably 3-5 depending on how long that diesel holds up. And I'm not even hitting on the other "benefits" Corey was speaking about....

I am also wondering, how many RVers put 150K to 200K miles on any one RV? I suspect that most RVers total about 5000 miles per year.150,000/5000=30yrs. just cogitatin'

It would also be interesting to know how long the average RV'er goes before trading up or down.

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The longer twin screw I like is simple and

Although a twin screw would be an advantage in your area, it's not. The rear axle is a tag.

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I am also wondering, how many RVers put 150K to 200K miles on any one RV? I suspect that most RVers total about 5000 miles per year.150,000/5000=30yrs. just cogitatin'

I average 15K/year, although when I get moved to GA, that'll drop by about 1/3.

quote:

Originally posted by K&E:
You have to look at your individual situation. I went through the diesel vs gas, mileage per year, maintenance expense etc....

We are a young family with kids and don't really travel that much per year (less than 5000 miles).
So gas makes more sense for us. Lower maintenance and repair costs.....and easily repaired. (water pump, fuel pump, starters, alternators, belts on a 454 are dirt cheap and just about anyone can fix them)

However, if I was traveling a great deal, I'd opt to go diesel for the economy. Then economy would hopefully triumph over maintenance expenses.

Yup. Same here.

However, diesel coaches are often better built with nicer features. The quality and luxury difference between a Regal and a Regency is significant.

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Originally posted by Dick Dubbs:
I suspect that most RVers total about 5000 miles per year.150,000/5000=30yrs. just cogitatin'

I don't keep records, but I'd bet that we have a very low miles per day of use compared to other RVers. We are out a lot, but we go to a place we like and stay. And stay.

Thanks all and you must take into mind I have not drove since 1983. I have lived in Bush Alaska for the last 25 years . Sorry on twin screws but been a while since I drove a semi or big rig the spare dulls are tags so to speak. Please bear with me its been a while since around rigs. Sure I wish I could go with a diesel but gas will be the first. I plan to live in it more than using on trips. I also would like to fix up a longer Barth and use a diesel. I plan to buy land in KY and build or buy land with a pole barn and I thought that would make a nice shop and building area. I think I have found a 28 FT it cost twice of what the others cost but had the best inside and fresh motor & tires and new gen set.Thanks for all the great advice I am from a family of truck drivers in Minn and they have told me some of what work and what will not. We found out the 3208 cat motors in buses on the trans Alaska pipeline did not fare well but where drove by many drivers and abused. Kim

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I am also wondering, how many RVers put 150K to 200K miles on any one RV? I suspect that most RVers total about 5000 miles per year.150,000/5000=30yrs. just cogitatin'

Helen & I have averaged 10,000 miles a year in five years, some more, some less but we will travel more when we can hire a manager that can run this place when we are gone.

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We found out the 3208 cat motors in buses on the trans Alaska pipeline did not fare well but where drove by many drivers and abused.

The biggest problem with the CAT 3208 is that being a native block, no wet sleeves, the coolant chemical composition must be maintained to prevent cavitation erosion, other than that, they are great engines and the turbocharged versions actually have some pep.

Damn ....that means our Barth will last us our lifetime!!!