Things have changed here in East Tennessee and there is now a lot of time available, and much less responsibility. Sort of like a new day.
We have now discovered that traveling is what we want to do and have been in Florida 3 times since January and will be going to Washington DC, Wilminton, Delaware, Amherst, MA, and Nahant, MA the last two weeks in April. This all via, plane, hotels, rented cars, etc. So, it seems appropriate to revisit the idea of traveling by motor home. I don't mind 200/300 mile trips in the 85 Regal/454, but any serious hauling will have to be a diesel. So, what will the Regal bring? Gear Vendors, Henderson stuff, headers over $10000 documented expenditures. And what will I pay for a 30' diesel with at least a 5-speed and 190hp. Will tow a 96 Chevy 2-door Cavalier on a tow dolly. Any thoughts and ideas are appreciated. Tere is not at all on board about buying another motor home. And I will not travel long distances unless it's a diesel.
Humbo

Have you checked out the 28' Barth Diesel in Edwardsville IL?

It's a great idea. Prices are the best they've been in years on DPs. Don't be too worried about what you lose on your gasser as you will make it up in spades on the DP.

Go with a 5.9 Cummins or a 8.3 Cummins if a Barth, you know the only other brands worth considering and then you might consider a Detroit S60 or the L10 like Bill's Barth (probably the only one out there).

I can honestly say you will not regret the move, it's a big step up in safety, reliability and drive-abilty.

Thanks for the encouragement. I want a 30' or 32' since we may be gone for 1/2 months at a time and need the extra space. I'm only considering Barth and that is because of all of you out there willing to lend a hand when needed. Does anyone think I can get close to 10K for the Regal? Over 30K in it.
Humbo

So, while I'm at it, I would much prefer an 8.3 with a 6-speed Allison. Did this combination ever come in a 30' Breakaway?
I had an 8.3 in a 95 Dynasty. What a sweet ride. Never even knew it was on at 70mph.
Humbo

Jim,

My old 97 Monarch sounds close to your desires (now owned by Tonka). Wide body, 8.2, 6 spd Allison, 34'.

Just a little too long. I can only fit 32' maybe 33' in my garage.
Humbo

Corey, Garyp from Arizona has an m11 400 hp with a allison hd 4060 in his. I think that is the biggest engine in a Barth except I seem to recall a larger one in a front diesel. sky

GaryGarybarth

Nice! The bigger the better when it comes to power.

quote:

Originally posted by sky:
...I seem to recall a larger one in a front diesel.

yeah, someone had an N-14 Cummins in a Barth on an International Chassis as a puller. The doghouse was huge on that one - Dave had pictures on Barthmobile, deleted now from his PB account, and I can't find it on the Barth CD.

Sorry Jim, I agree with Tere, Do You understand the thousands of Gassers running all over this Great Country of ours. Gas is and will be cheaper, safety doesn't enter into it, you are carrying an propane bomb, there are many Gassers with lots and lots of miles. They are a hell of a lot cheaper to rebuild. Plus you have yours the way you want it. The money spent, why not enjoy it. If you buy a pusher you are going to spend a bunch of money fixing it.

Ok folks give me a rash of sh--.

ok just last week I done some math. MH A gets 9mpg on gas, MH B 12mpg on diesel (obviously not Coreys thirsty Detroit). Bot go on a 1000 mile trip. Diesel is on average 40 cents more a Gallon (except IN), at the end it is only maybe $20 difference in fuel spent. Most campers never drive so many niles to wear a diesel out. Safety? Heck you are driving a vehicle with no "crumple" zone upfront, the windshield then you. And maybe a propane genset on a Breakaway. We had both, 35' bus diesel, 28' gasser (fulltimed for a yaer in that) and now my personal favorite, the 25' versatile Barth. Fits anywhere and even a packrat like I has enough room. Doris

ooops, forgot the 30' diesel puller (5.9 Cummins), a powerless but pretty coach, a good example against diesels.

quote:

ok just last week I done some math. MH A gets 9mpg on gas, MH B 12mpg on diesel (obviously not Coreys thirsty Detroit). Bot go on a 1000 mile trip. Diesel is on average 40 cents more a Gallon (except IN), at the end it is only maybe $20 difference in fuel spent. Most campers never drive so many niles to wear a diesel out. Safety? Heck you are driving a vehicle with no "crumple" zone upfront, the windshield then you. And maybe a propane genset on a Breakaway. We had both, 35' bus diesel, 28' gasser (fulltimed for a yaer in that) and now my personal favorite, the 25' versatile Barth. Fits anywhere and even a packrat like I has enough room. Doris

Doris,
Because diesel fuel is more dense (or has more stored energy) - diesel engines get much better fuel economy than gas in all cases. This easily makes up for the current cost differential and then some. Can you imagine what your tractor trailer would get for mileage loaded if it were gas powered? Like a mile per gallon. Have you ever seen a gas powered tractor trailor in the last 50 years? Think that's a coincidence?

Diesels are safer (not in impact necessarily), but because they almost always have air brakes which are much, much safer in mountainous terrain. Hydraulic brakes have and will kill people driving heavy vehicles in long downgrade situations. Diesel pushers are also usually larger rigs, and size continues to matter in all collisions. Although our RVs don't have crumple zones, if your sitting above the impact area you will fare far better than being down in it.

You are correct that most RV owners will never wear out a diesel. Unfortunately, you only need to look at the classifieds to see how many gas powered RVs have been re-powered. I believe you and Marvin put (nearly) 1 million miles on a Detroit S60 (I tell your story all the time)

Look, diesel pushers are expensive. Heck, all RVs are expensive. But the DPs are a definite upgrade if a person wants to commit to a higher level machine. Same with cars, a Prius and a Mercedes 500 are not very comparable, but they are both very good at what they were intended for.

Corey,

I think you'd be much better off if you just yanked out that Detroit Diesel and went back with a 454....


Ha!



K&E