I was asked a few days ago by one of my blog readers which is better Gas or Diesel on a motorhome. Since I have only owned diesels I had to go talk with some of my friends that own Gas models and discuss with them what they like and don’t like. As I have only owned Diesel’s I am a little bias towards those.
 
From my many discussions the first and most obvious was the power for climbing mountain and hills. I have driven the Colorado and Montana mountains and my diesel takes them like they are not even there. The gas models struggle a little but they are able to make the climbs without too much issue.

Diesel’s you will find have the following concerns and advantages: they are usually larger motorhome so you have more room in them and due to the engine sizes do not have as strict carrying capacities as most gas models. They also will last much longer than 150000 miles with little issues but if you have a gas model you may start with issues around the 60000 to 70000 miles range. This also effects your trade in value in the future if you ever plan to upgrade or downsize.

Photo is of my current diesel pusher which my wife and I drive. Its carrying capacity is well over whatever I could put in its storage bays. I even carry with me 4 steal scuba tanks which anyone will tell you are not light in themselves.

Gas models are much cheaper in general than the diesels. So your budget will play a large part in any decision making you have. The diesels you also will have the added cost of adding DEF to your exhaust system every couple thousand mile or so where the gas doesn’t require this additive.

As I had never been in a gas model before one of my friends took me for a drive and I did the same for him for comparison. We discovered that the Diesels are much more quitter in the front when driving due to our engines being in the rear and the gas is in the front under the driver. Also the gas model seemed to get warmer in the front due to the engine heat.
 
However, the gas model is much easier to have the engine worked on as it is in the front with easier access. The diesel is in the rear under the bedroom on most models so for most repairs the closet has to be taken apart a little to work on the top of the engine.
 
You also will find in floor plans that on most gas the door entry is mid vehicle and on the diesel it in at the passenger seat. Entry in and out is much easier on a gas as you don’t have to maneuver around the seat to get things in and out the door.

I found the consensus with all my friends that everyone but one that owned a gas model would change it for a diesel if they could have afforded the difference in price. The size and carrying capacity as a full timer is well worth the added costs.

I look forward to hearing from others as to what they think on this matter.