Diesel Motorhome

For those who are serious about motorhome quality and durability, a diesel motorhome can offer what you’re looking for in a great motorhome.

Over the years, diesel powered trucks have earned a reputation for durability and heavy-duty everything. and rightfully so. Especially over the last decade or so, the evolution of the diesel powered, non commercial personal truck has really pushed the development of the diesel engine for more than just 18-wheel over-the-road trucking use. Of course, there are (and have been) diesel-powered cars sold in the US – Mercedes-Benz comes quickly to mind – but these are strictly passenger cars, with no pretense as a heavy-duty hauler, like a diesel motorhome.

Now that diesel trucks for personal use have become commonplace, it was only natural that motorhome manufacturers would turn to the heavy-duty diesel chassis offered by Dodge, Chevrolet, Ford and GMC. These diesel chassis are a great basis for a class C motorhome, as well as the Dodge Sprinter, which makes a great van chassis for a class B motorhome.

Admittedly,  a diesel motorhome will cost more than gasoline-powered counterparts. But, what exactly do you get for your additional cash? For one, you get the heavy-duty diesel engine. Most modern gasoline engines will easily last, without major failure, for 150,000 miles – or more. But, that is considered the upper limit for reliability – used beyond this point and you’re risking a catastrophic engine failure far away from home. But the modern diesel engine is a heavy-duty appliance indeed. It is not unusual for them to reliably last 300,000 miles – and beyond. And, last reliably as well.

Then, there is the additional fuel economy you get from a diesel. I estimate that a diesel will give about 20% – 25% better fuel mileage than a comparable gas engine, due mainly to the inherent characteristics of the diesel design. But, diesel fuel often costs more than gasoline, so your actual cash outlay for fuel may be about even.

A diesel motorhome usually have a heavy-duty transmission and driveline to go with the diesel engine. Gasoline-powered motorhomes usually have a strengthened automotive-type transmission – this is usually the weak link in a gasoline-powered motorhome. Not so with diesels, they often come with a super heavy-duty transmission made by Allison (essentially a modified heavy truck transmission) to cope with the diesel’s prodigious power output.

A diesel motorhome is a premium motorhome, usually worth every penny of the additional costs with increased performance and durability.