Blinzler
Rio Rancho NM USA
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Joined: 07/18/2001
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Anyone have a older (1975 -- 1995) class C with a diesel engine ?
Wondering what engine it has and how is it holding up? What kind of mileage do you get ? What kind of repairs have you done? Is it turboed
Thanks for any info
Dick
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Dinosaur
Land of Lincoln
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Joined: 03/14/2003
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Been thinkin about changin my motor to a diesel so I too am curious of milage..
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Karen 1031
santa barbara county, CA
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Joined: 03/08/2003
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hi there,
i'd been almost set on diesel (for several reasons, and certainly mileage was near the top)..however, just bought new over the weekend, dealing mostly with the owner/builder of the brand i bought (they sell gas and diesel for their units), and he said the Ford 7.3 Powerstroke gets apx *1* mile more per gallon than the Triton V-10, least in their line.
i was stunned, and went V-10 since there was so little diff. just reporting as i have no direct experience yet..and this is just one line.
best,
Karen
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SteveNTx
Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
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Joined: 04/05/2003
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My "C" has a gas 350 with a non overdrive TH400 transmission and 4.10 final drive ratio. I get 7-8mpg @ 55-60mph.
I drove a one ton work truck years ago with the same powertrain except a 6.2L diesel. Loaded, 9k lbs with trailer (about the same as my C), I got 9-10mpg at maximum speed- 56mph.
Diesel fuel is usually a little cheaper than gas and is a little less affected by fluctuations in crude oil prices, but is not normally available at any gas station. It makes more noise at idle, not to mention that brain-numbing highway drone that no amount of insulation can seem to abate.
The biggest problem I see for diesel class C's is the fact that most have generators equipped to run on propane, necessitating a large propane tank or frequent propane refills.
Steve, Joy, and Chloe
Tomas, The Camping Chihuahua
1985 Honey 26',Chevrolet G-30
1982 Honda CX500 Turbo
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wolfe10
Texas
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Joined: 10/08/2000
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Be careful comparing power or mileage of a Powerstroke installed in a Class C with that in a PU. In the PU, there is an intercooler which adds power and economy (cooler air gives more power with no increase in amount of fuel). In the vans/Class C, there is not room for an intercooler, so power and economy are down.
In talking with Ford reps at the Pomona FMCA, they do not aniticipate being able to fit an intercooler in the Class C even with the smaller 6.0 liter diesel which replaces the 7.3. That is the main reason for no large difference in mileage between the gas and diesel.
Also, many Class C's are near their weight limit. The diesel weighs more and eats into already small carrying capacity.
Brett Wolfe
1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
Cat 3116, Allison 3060
Caterpillar RV Engine Owner's Club: www.catrvclub.org
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Greyeagle44F
Stratham NH USA
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Joined: 07/21/2002
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And it stinks.
A.A.
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akgent
Deshka Landing, Alaska USA
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Joined: 02/08/2003
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I have two Class C motorhomes, both are on Dodge Truck chasis'. Both are 25 foot. One is four wheel drive, and both have the 5.9L Cummins Diesel with turbos. Average mileage is 15.8 (4x4) and 16 on the other. Friends and family have three others. exactly equipped, but one is 29 feet. Same mileage on all of them. All have plenty of power for towing trailers and carrying a lot of cargo. Only way to go as far as I am concerned. They also perform well in cold weather.
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Karen 1031
santa barbara county, CA
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Joined: 03/08/2003
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"Be careful comparing power or mileage of a Powerstroke installed in a Class C with that in a PU. In the PU, there is an intercooler which adds power and economy (cooler air gives more power with no increase in amount of fuel). In the vans/Class C, there is not room for an intercooler, so power and economy are down."
hi Brett..try as i might, haven't a clue what a PU is, pickup truck? can only report that on the Bs, mileage was significantly better with diesel (vs V10), on this C, supposedly no more than 1 mpg.
"In talking with Ford reps at the Pomona FMCA, they do not aniticipate being able to fit an intercooler in the Class C even with the smaller 6.0 liter diesel which replaces the 7.3. That is the main reason for no large difference in mileage between the gas and diesel."
that's where i bought - Pomona. soo wanted to spend more time in the chassis and engine 'booth' areas, perhaps next time.
"And it stinks."
AA, i don't know if newer diesels are cleaner-burning or what..but i swear the 7.3 is not offensive (obviously just speaking for myself). my whole idea of diesels was based on older semis, school/city buses, etc..where the sound was deafening and the stench..my god. other than at idle, the 7.3 PSD is quiet as a mouse and the smell possibly better than gasoline. or else my declining hormones have made me insane, a distinct possibility 
"I have two Class C motorhomes, both are on Dodge Truck chasis'. Both are 25 foot. One is four wheel drive, and both have the 5.9L Cummins Diesel with turbos. Average mileage is 15.8 (4x4) and 16 on the other. Friends and family have three others. exactly equipped, but one is 29 feet. Same mileage on all of them. All have plenty of power for towing trailers and carrying a lot of cargo. Only way to go as far as I am concerned. They also perform well in cold weather."
15-16 mpg, i could sob :-/ guess that's the diff between Ford and Cummins? Akgent, true diesel fans are what had me sold on diesel..those who love 'em, really love 'em and the reasons seem solid (to me anyway).
Karen, kinda wishing my 'thinker/second-guesser' would just explode
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sack1
Kent, WA
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Joined: 08/16/2002
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Before going hog wild on diesel mostly because of some very persuasive friends do your homework. Even in the pickup truck world the differences in mileage between the diesels and the big block gas engines isn't always very much. I have read that generally speaking you can expect about a 30% increase in mileage with diesel. For instance, our 8.1 delivers about 10 mpg on the open road with our rig. Some Ford 7.3 owners have stated about 11 mpg with the same weight. Then there are those who claim something closer to 15. Whatever the difference in that regard there is always the higher initial cost of a diesel and its weight, which cuts into what you have left to load yourself. Diesel fuel also varies in price all over the place. I have seen it less than gas by a few cents to as much as twenty cents higher. I believe diesel looks better the longer you own the vehicle and the more miles you drive. Other than that it becomes just a want.
In the end it's a personal choice. I do not believe there is only one right answer though. Good luck.
'03 Chevy 2500HD 4x4, LT, Ext. cab, LB
8.1/Allison, 4.10
'03 32' 2955 Montana 5er
XM Radio/OnStar
Valley Hitch
Honda EU1000i
1984 VF700F Interceptor
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Rock Gator
Central Florida
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Joined: 02/24/2003
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We own a 1995 Minnie Winnie with the Ford Power Stroke. We bought the unit used in 1999. That year we traveled (family of five) from Florida to Virginia via the Appalachian Moutains, over to Ohio to visit family, then back home along I75. The trip obviously covered flat roads and winding, moutain roads. The vehicle mileage varied from 10.5 to 12.5 MPG. What was strange is the best mileage was in the mountains. Maybe because of speed (average 45 MPH). We went to Yellowstone last summer pulling a Jeep Wrangler. The average for that entire trip was just over 10 MPG. Some of the mountain roads were so steep, I thought about having my wife drive the Jeep; not because of mileage, but because of the speed. We barely could maintain 20 MPH on some grades in the Big Horn Mountains.
Like I said, we bought the unit used, got one nice deal on it, and have felt great about owning a diesel. Some have opinions for and some against. In our situation, it fits!
Happy camping.
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