When it comes to making a motorhome purchase, one of the most common questions across the board is “Should I get a Gas or Diesel Class A?” Honestly, there is no one simple answer to this question. It all depends on you, your lifestyle, and what you want to get our of your new home on wheels. These key differences though, can help you when you are weighing out all of the pros, cons, and differences between the two different but similar motorhomes.
Fuel Costs
Typically, a diesel Class A is going to be a bit more fuel efficient than a Gas class A. Mainly due to the fact that diesel fuel has a greater energy value than gas. Since it is more dense, it can offer up to 10% better fuel economy. On the flip-side though, diesel fuel tends to be more expensive than than gasoline. So this is something that can be tricky to weigh, but in the end diesel wins out slightly because the better fuel economy ends up balancing out the cost of the fuel.
Purchase Price
While both the Gas Class A and Diesel Pusher are on the top end of the expense scale when it comes to motorhomes, the Gas Class A tends to be slightly less expensive than the Diesel Pusher. On average, the Diesels tend to be $50,000 to $100,000 more expensive upon initial purchase.
Maintenance
Not only is the Class A less costly initially, it is also less expensive to maintain as well. The benefit of owning a Gas Class A is that they are easier and less expensive to have serviced because, generally, there are more shops that are able to work on them. Diesel engines are more difficult and costly to work on, yet is is possible that a Diesel engine will require less maintenance overall.
Towing Capacity
If you plan on living in your RV full time, then you will likely want an RV with a good towing capacity so you can have a vehicle with you wherever you go. If you are choosing between a Gas or Diesel Class A, then it is important to know that the towing capacity of the Diesel is significantly higher than its Gas counterpart.
Luxury Features
Both the Gas and Diesel models will have luxury features. Typically though, the Diesel models tend to be slightly more luxurious.This mainly has to do with the price point, as the Diesel Pushers tend to be more expensive, therefor they tend to have higher quality luxury features to help justify the price point.
Depreciation
The final factor to take into account when deciding on a Gas or Diesel Class A is the depreciation factor. Really, this is only a factor if you plan on trading it in or selling it eventually, but it is still nice to be aware of. Generally. Diesel Pushers hold their value better than their Gas counterparts. So if you plan on flipping you motorhome at any point, Diesel may be your best bet.
So, What Will You Choose?
When it comes down to it, the Class A Gas vs Diesel debate is really up to personal preference and finances. Both of them are going to provide you with luxury features and epic glamping experiences. So if you are in the market for a new Class A, you can see a full inventory of both Gas and Diesel varieties on RVUSA today.
