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Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Yahoo Message Number: 86032
Curious as to what the typical miles per gallon that LD diesel owners get.  I did a quick message search, and checked out the FAQ on diesel, and while it mentions a long payback period, I didn't actually see any MPG figures.
 Could diesel owners mention their typical MPG, and what floor plan you're driving?  And if I missed a previous message that covers this, I would welcome a pointer.

Thanks in advance,

Steve Crisp (wannabee)
Steven & Carol Crisp -- 2000 26.5' Blue Mid-Bath named Thistle Dew Too
Our RV Motto:  "No place to be ... and all day to get there"
2024 Adventure: The Great Eclipse Escapade!  HI(Air),NV,AZ,NM,Mason,TX(Totality!) ...
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86042
Quote
Curious as to what the typical miles per gallon that LD diesel owners get.  I did a quick message search, and checked out the FAQ on diesel, and while it mentions a long payback period, I didn't actually see any MPG figures.
Steve, We have a 2000 MB with the 7.3 Powerstroke Diesel. We regularly average 10MPG towing a 3200# Jeep Wrangler. Driving speed averages 60-65. I never considered payback to be an issue. I just prefer a diesel.

Ron in Ohio Red 26' MB
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG? - to Steve
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86044
Quote


"Curious as to what the typical miles per gallon that LD diesel owners get.  I did a quick message search, and checked out the FAQ on diesel, and while it mentions a long payback period, I didn't actually see any MPG figures.

Steve, We have a 2000 MB with the 7.3 Powerstroke Diesel. We regularly average 10MPG towing a 3200# Jeep Wrangler. Driving speed averages 60- 65. I never considered payback to be an issue. I just prefer a diesel."

Ron in Ohio Red 26' MB
 Steve, are you aware that Lazy Daze Inc. doesn't sell diesel-powered coaches anymore?

Chris Horst
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86047
I have a 2002 Lazy Daze purchased new from the factory. It is a rear bath  26 1/2 foot model. Presently has a little over 106000 miles.  Has the Powerstroke 7.3 diesel engine and has given me no problems.  Every oz.  fuel put in since day one is in my computer and the mileage is just a  shade over 12 MPG. The diesel was a $5000 option and appears to have been a good  choice for me.
Last time I checked on used car valves it was worth far more than  the V-10 gasoline engine. A picture of my coach appears on the cover of the FMCA  magazine October 2007.
Sacramento Jim

See what's new at http://www.aol.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG? - to Steve
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86049
It may have been a $5K option from LDs, but in the light truck
 
Quote
market, a diesel often cost more like $15K more and had limited selection.

 If by "light truck" you mean Ford, Chevy, and Dodge, their diesel engines have never cost anywhere near $15,000 more than their gas engines!
 The Cummins engine on our 2007 Dodge (bought in 2006, so doesn't have the ULSD engine), cost just $5,600.  We've owned a 1996 Dodge Ram with a Cummins and a Chevy Silverado with the Duramax.  While I don't remember the exact cost of those engines, it was in the $4,000-$5,000 range, not $15,000!!!

Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Linda Hylton
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86052
The $5000 was the cost of the option, gasoline powered trucks are discounted more....they often have to, in order to move them. Diesel trucks, are seldom disconted, or discounted far less. Diesels also come with more bells & whistles, many of which are very expensive, or have questionable value. GPS was $2500, on the trucks I looked at, you can buy GPS from Tom Tom, which is better, for $400-500. When I talked about this, they gave me the standard answer "this truck is not for you". This was in 2003, by 2006 more competition in the market place, meant they couldn't pull this any longer.
======================================= If by "light truck" you mean Ford, Chevy, and Dodge, their diesel engines have never cost anywhere near $15,000 more than their gas engines! The Cummins engine on our 2007 Dodge(bought in 2006, so doesn't have the ULSD engine), cost just $5,600.
We've owned a 1996 Dodge Ram with a Cummins and a Chevy Silverado with the Duramax.  While I don't remember the exact cost of those engines, it was in the $4,000-$5,000 range, not $15,000!!!
Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86055
Quote
I have a 2002 Lazy Daze purchased new from the factory. It is a
rear bath  26
 
Quote
1/2 foot model. Presently has a little over 106000 miles.  Has the Powerstroke 7.3 diesel engine and has given me no problems.  Every
oz.  fuel put in
 
Quote
since day one is in my computer and the mileage is just a  shade
over 12 MPG. The
 
Quote
diesel was a $5000 option and appears to have been a good  choice
for me.
 
Quote
Last time I checked on used car valves it was worth far more than
the V-10
 
Quote
gasoline engine. A picture of my coach appears on the cover of the
FMCA  magazine

Quote
October 2007.
Sacramento Jim Hello Sacramento Jim-
I am a 10 year plus member of FMCA.  I saw your cover picture and read with interest the article that appeared in FMCA's October 2007 magazine regarding your long-time passion for RVing.
 My wife and I love RVing as well and have owned a 24'Chinook Destiny since 2002 and a l998 21' Chinook for 4 years prior to that. We prefer a smaller-size motorhomes and not the big Class A models.

We are currently considering the purchase of a 2008 Lazy Daze to replace our Chinook and have noted that your current RV is exactly what we think we want - a 26.5' LD Rear Bath model.  We believe the twin sofa layout with the entertainment center option is a good choice for our motorhome requirements.

We would be interested in hearing from a long-time RVer like you...
Why did you chose to purchase a Lazy Daze over other brands? Would you again choose the 26.5' Rear Bath floorplan? Do you have likes and dislikes when comparing your current LD with other RVs you have owned?

Also, if you and your wife are able make that "around the world RV trip" you've dreamed about, we hope FMCA will feature it in a future issue. I know there are many, many RVers who have dreamed of making such a trip themselves.

Frank Jones

Since you have owned and driven RVs for many years, I would like to get your input on the following

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See what's new at
http://www.aol.com

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG? - to Steve
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86061
Quote
A diesel engine will last a lot longer and help the RV retain better resale, they are also lower in maintenance costs, or at least should be. It may have been a $5K option from LDs, but in the light truck market, a diesel often cost more like $15K more and had limited selection. Light diesel trucks were very profitable for Ford & Dodge, it's too bad a 1/2 ton model was not developed.
You can't compare an RV Econoline diesel to a light truck diesel. It's not apples to apples.
 With the RV class C diesel, you don't get an intercooler and you don't get a diesel generator like you would with a class A diesel or with a Super-C diesel.
 I would love it if Lazy Daze decided to get in to the Super-C market with a real full featured diesel engine and a diesel generator.
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG? - to Steve
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86066
"With the RV class C diesel, you don't get an intercooler and you don't get a diesel generator like you would with a class A diesel or with a Super-C diesel."
 The lack of the intercooler severely downgrades the diesel. The diesel has less horsepower than the V-10 and only gets a couple more miles per gallon. With diesel's higher cost per gallon, the payback period may never be reached. So lets see little gain in mileage, less power and the noise of the diesel engine, hummmm. Forgot to mention that diesel LDs have less cargo capacity due to the heavier weight of the engine.
Another disadvantage of a diesel LD is that they have a propane powered generator. Generator runtime is short due to the relatively small propane tank. Refueling becomes a bigger hassle.
 "I would love it if Lazy Daze decided to get in to the Super-C market with a real full featured diesel engine and a diesel generator.'

Lazy Daze does have a Kodiak in their lot that is slowly coming together as 30+" model. How it works out is still a mystery. The existing Kodiak does not seem to have enough GVW to overcome the chassis higher base weight and potential cargo space. A diesel Kodiak will have an even higher base-weight.
A new Kodiak chassis is supposed to have a 22,000 GVW but at what point does it make sense to buy (or build) a Class A? I have heard that the Kodiak will sell for $120,00+, a big increase.
Part of LD's appeal has always been its low profile, light weight and easy of handling. A Super-C gets away from all of these advantages.
It would be better for full timers who could use all of the extra basement storage. It sure is going to look different.
 I do not know of any small RV diesel generators.  If one is developed, it will probably be heavier than a gas genset.  Heck, I'm still waiting for Honda to build a 4000 watt gas RV generator.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86107
Ron, We put 175,000 miles on our Ford 350 full timing for 6 years.  With the exception of one $1,000 fuel injector we had good luck with the truck and got a good price when we sold it for the LD.
Things to look at before you buy one.

1.  Check the price of the Oil and Gas filters. $$$ You need to change both each time you change oil..
2.  The motor takes 18 quarts of oil.
3.  If you keep it over the Ford warranty it is a very expensive motor to have worked on.
4.  There  is much more noise in and out of the camper
5.  Where we live the fuel is $.40 a gallon more.
6. You need to be more selective where you buy your fuel.
7.  You need to keep up with the treatment in the antifreeze.
 If you do all the maintenance on the truck it will cut the expense a lot but if you rely on the dealer to do it all it will offset any saving you may have on fuel. Even if you do it yourself which I did it is much more costly that the gas.
Good luck, Ray

Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86127
Quote
5.  Where we live the fuel is $.40 a gallon more.

 It's true that in most locations, diesel fuel costs more than regular gasoline.  However, most diesel engines get better fuel mileage than gasoline engines.
 For example, during the time we had our LD, we averaged 8.883 MPG (that includes towing our Element).  During the year we've owned our Dodge diesel truck, we've averaged 11.904 MPG (includes towing our nearly 15,000# fifth wheel).
 If you make the assumption that diesel fuel costs $.50 more per gallon than regular gasoline, then over 50,000 miles, we'd save $2,900 in fuel costs by having a diesel engine over a gas engine.  Diesel would have to be around $1.20 more per gallon than gasoline for that savings to completely disappear.

Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Linda Hylton
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86131
"It's true that in most locations, diesel fuel costs more than regular gasoline. However, most diesel engines get better fuel mileage than gasoline engines.
For example, during the time we had our LD, we averaged 8.883 MPG (that includes towing our Element). During the year we've owned our Dodge diesel truck, we've averaged 11.904 MPG (includes towing our nearly 15,000# fifth wheel)."

Linda
 Unfortunately, the diesel used in the motor home chassis (E-series) is not the same as what is used in the pickups (F-series). Due to the lack of space, it is missing the intercooler, which significantly reduces power and economy. It will be interesting to see is the 2008 Fords, with its longer nose, have the extra room for a intercooler.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86132
Quote
Unfortunately, the diesel used in the motor home chassis (E-series) is not the same as what is used in the pickups (F-series). Due to the lack of space, it is missing the intercooler, which significantly reduces power and economy. It will be interesting to see is the 2008 Fords, with its longer nose, have the extra room for a intercooler.

 Besides which, the Powerstroke has never been known for being an efficient engine, anyway, even in a pickup.  We get much better mileage with our Cummins diesel than do the people who are pulling the same weight with a Ford Powerstroke.

Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Linda Hylton
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86139
The RV.net forum has a pretty good post about this...diesel vs. gas powered RVs. If you use your RV a lot, a diesel is cost effective.
The 7.3 L. was a good engine, Ford had problems with the others. The
7.3 was discontinued due to emissions, so if you are looking at a used
7.3 diesel, it maybe a good buy. Otherwise , you are pretty much stuck
 with the V-10 gas guzzler.
 http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/13990963.cfm
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86143
douglascphillips wrote:

Otherwise , you are pretty much stuck

Quote
with the V-10 gas guzzler.
I don't consider the Ford V10 a gas guzzler. What gas engine would you put in a 15,000 pound box and do better?

Tom Johnston
Re: Diesel owners -- what's your MPG?
Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86145
Thanks all the feedback, suggestions, and this reference.  I've learned quite a bit more than just the mileage trade-off.  And I appreciate all the insights.

Steve Crisp
Steven & Carol Crisp -- 2000 26.5' Blue Mid-Bath named Thistle Dew Too
Our RV Motto:  "No place to be ... and all day to get there"
2024 Adventure: The Great Eclipse Escapade!  HI(Air),NV,AZ,NM,Mason,TX(Totality!) ...
Re: Ford V-10 "gas guzzler"
Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86160
Quote
douglascphillips wrote:

"...Otherwise , you are pretty much stuck with the V-10 gas guzzler..."

"I don't consider the Ford V10 a gas guzzler. What gas engine would you put in a 15,000 pound box and do better?":

Tom Johnston
Come on, Douglas. Fess up.  You just don't like Ford trucks, right?

Chris Horst
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Ford V-10 "gas guzzler"
Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86167
Ř      douglascphillips wrote:

Quote
"...Otherwise , you are pretty much stuck with the V-10 gas guzzler..."

Doug just hasn't had the 'opportunity' to own a rig with a carbureted 460 and a C-6 three speed transmission! Then he'd know the true meaning of 'gas guzzler'!

Glen w/2000 V-10

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Re: Ford V-10 "gas guzzler"
Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86171
I did own a 77 460 with the C6 in a 23' Roll-A-Long.  As long as I kept the speed at 55,  I got 8.5 MPG.  Same conditions with '02MB, 10.5 MPG, unless the wind is blowing then you can get some dramatic reductions.

Quote

Doug just hasn't had the `opportunity' to own a rig with a
carbureted 460
 
Quote
and a C-6 three speed transmission!  Then he'd know the true meaning
of `gas

Quote
guzzler'!

Glen w/2000 V-10

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Checked by AVG Free Edition.
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11/19/2007