Lazy Daze Owners' Group

newbie

February 10, 2003, 01:42:26 am

Yahoo Message Number: 18894

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First of all I would like to say what a great group this seems to be.
I am in the process of finalizing plans to purchase a 26 1/2 rb LD.
I will be fulltiming in about a year and plan to tow a 20ft boat.  I am single with three teenage boys who will be joining me at various times of the year.  One of the first questions I have is which engine would seem to be the best choice for towing a 2800 lb boat, the V-10, or the 7.3 diesel?  If anybody has suggestions they would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!!

Re: newbie

Reply #2 – February 10, 2003, 11:44:24 am

Yahoo Message Number: 18910

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I would stick with the standard v10 engine because it has plenty of power to tow a 2800lb boat or anything else up to the GCWR of 20,000lb provided you have a hitch made that goes to the original frame that can support more than the 4000lbs LD rates the frame extension for.
 If you go with a diesel you lose about 500lbs of cargo capacity just with the engine weight difference and that's all on the front axle.
That can cause you to overload the front axle Then you lose more because they put either a larger propane tank or a second one in for the propane generator they use on the diesel model and also diesel fuel weighs 1.2lbs more than gas does. In all you lose over 600lbs of cargo capacity and get very little in return for that. The specs for both have been listed here before and there is only a 5lb-ft of torque difference in the diesel they put into the E-series chassis as opposed to the v10. The v10 has more horsepower but just a little less torque of which 90% of the torque is developed at 1800 RPM. Both engines will most likely outlast the mileage you would put on the motor home so the longevity of the diesel is a moot point for most owners and it will cost you $5000.00 more from the start for a diesel due to the premium Ford charges and the increased costs to LD for other modifications needed to utilize that engine (i.e. propane tank and generator). That money would be better spent on other options you would want to add either from LD or aftermarket.

As for fuel economy with diesel there is actually very little difference in what you will see with a Class C motor home. Most people get typically about 1mpg more with diesel than gas and since in most areas of the US diesel costs more than regular gas the v10 requires you may not realize any benefit at all in fuel economy. It depends on what the prices are like where you live and where you'll do most of your traveling. I don't own the diesel in my LD but had seriously considered it as well. I have rented several box vans with both engines and the gas ones always end up being cheaper to operate due to the fuel cost difference in the areas I've used them. I also know people with both types in E series box vans and they claim the gas engine vehicles have been less costly to operate overall, again mainly due to the fuel cost being higher in the areas they operate them.

The reason you find so few diesel Class Cs is that once people look at all the pros and cons of each the v10 ends up being the best choice for most people. The choice though is ultimately up to you to make but I suggest you consider at all the pros and cons and also talk to Steve Newton at LD about it first before making the decision.

Mike

Re: newbie

Reply #4 – February 10, 2003, 11:25:17 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 18927

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Diesel Pushers make sense on big class A's because they need the power and because the NOISE is 40 ft back under the bed.   The whole thing seems different when the NOISE is sitting between you and your wife with a quarter inch of doghouse engine cover and a little bit of carpet to dampen it.

Of couse, if you're tired of talking to your wife then a diesel might be just the thing!