This is an excerpt from an article on Jalopnik, a news and opinion website about cars, the automotive industry, racing, transportation, airplanes, technology, motorcycles, and more.
If you’re like a lot of folks, you may have been pretty surprised at the final tally the first time you filled up your Class A RV. Some of those monsters have gas tanks with a 150-gallon capacity. If you’re driving a gas-powered RV, you might be wondering if it would be worth it to trade it in for a diesel, since diesel pushers normally get better gas mileage.
Gas RVs vs diesel RVs: Which are more affordable?
There have probably been several RVers who were excited to find a good diesel rig, only to come away from dealerships a lot less enthusiastic when they saw how much more expensive diesels are. As an example, we checked Class A prices at Winnebago before writing this article and compared gas models to diesel pushers. Their least expensive Class A models, Sunstar and Vista, both have an MSRP of approximately $208,000. The least expensive diesel model, Forza, was at $361,000. The same is true for their most expensive models. The gas-driven Adventurer’s MSRP comes in around $252,800, while the diesel Journey starts at around $480,000.
The reason for this difference, in part, has to do with the greater complexity of a diesel engine. Diesel engines have more sophisticated emissions control systems to meet regulations and require special fuel system components. Diesel engines also require heavier-duty chassis due to the engine’s weight.
With the staggering difference in sticker prices, the choice between gas and diesel may seem like a no-brainer, especially to those on a budget. But cost and affordability aren’t just about the up-front price. The resale value of the average diesel RV is higher than its gas-driven counterparts, partly because diesel engines last much longer than gas engines. Since diesel RVs depreciate at a slower pace than gas motorhomes, you can expect a better deal when it’s time to trade in your diesel pusher.
Gas RVs vs diesel RVs: Which get better gas mileage?
You probably already know that diesel vehicles get better gas mileage than vehicles with internal combustion engines. But the difference isn’t that drastic when it comes to RVs. Average gas mileage for a gas-driven RV is six to 10 mpg That goes up just slightly to seven to 12 mpg for a diesel RV. That’s approximately an 18% difference between the most efficient gas and diesel RVs. Of course, when you’re driving hundreds of miles at a pop and filling a tank that has a capacity of 100 gallons or sometimes more, that 18% can seem like a significant difference at the gas pump.
Is it really, though? While it’s true that gas prices fluctuate wildly, diesel fuel is consistently more expensive. At the time of this writing, gasoline cost on average $3.13 in the U.S., according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Diesel, on the other hand, cost $3.71 on average in the U.S. That is a difference of around 17%, which is pretty close to the difference in gas mileage between gas and diesel RVs.
And in addition to the higher per gallon fuel prices, is the cost of DEF, or Diesel Exhaust Fluid. This is a fuel additive that is required for RVs with newer diesel engines. The amount of DEF you have to add depends on your vehicle, but it ranges from about 2% to 5% of your total fuel amount. It costs from $3 to $5 per gallon at the pump, and $5 to $8 per gallon when you buy it in a container. So, when you factor in everything, we consider the gas versus diesel RV contest a wash when it comes to gas mileage.
Gas RVs vs diesel RVs: Which performs better?
You’re going to get better overall performance out of a diesel RV than a gas RV. The more powerful diesel engine will perform better climbing steep hills, as well as decelerating more smoothly on the way down. Diesel engines produce more torque, meaning they can better maintain consistent speeds, even when loaded down with a lot of weight. Diesel RVs are also typically equipped with air brakes, while gas RVs use disc brakes. Air brakes are considered more reliable at quickly stopping a heavy vehicle, like an RV. This can be especially important when driving down mountain roads.
Towing is an important consideration for a lot of RVers. Diesel engines in general are known to be better at towing, because they are more powerful and produce more torque. The average towing capacity of a gas-driven RV is 5,000 pounds compared to 10,000-15,000 pounds for a diesel. The difference in GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is just as drastic: 25,000-40,000 pounds for Class A diesels, compared to just 16,000-22,000 pounds for gas-powered RVs.
Diesel engines often last a lot longer than gas engines, as well. The average diesel engine can go for around 400,000 miles or more. A gas engine, on the other hand, will typically go from 150,000 miles to 200,000 miles. This, of course, affects resale value. It is true that gas RVs generally have more horsepower. This also means that they can accelerate faster, which gives them a slight advantage when merging. But how fast your Class A can go from zero-to-60 mph on a straightaway is probably not that big of a priority for you. It’s not as if you’ll be trying to drag race it (please don’t).
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