Diesel Pusher vs Canyon Star 3920 - RV-Dreams Community Forum

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Diesel Pusher vs Canyon Star 3920

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

The normal rule of thumb is above 36' you want diesel. Check those weight numbers closely, on any RV. Fulltimer couples need 3,000 lbs of carrying capacity for stuff, that is after accounting for full water, propane, fuel, yourselves and any tongue weight the trailer adds.

We had a 35' gas motorhome, using the GM 8.1 liter, and it was fine in the mountains towing a Honda CRV. But we had only 150lbs of carrying capacity left and no tongue weight from the CRV.

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Bill, you are right about the figures, I already knew the spec but took a chance in asking in the event I forgot something. My other option could be a Mid-Engine by Newmar but again Newmar doesn't sell this model anymore and from my understanding Newmar was the only manufacture buying the Spartan chasis for the mid engine. That is probably why I will pobably have to go with a DP with a trailer behind the rig.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Take a look at Kirk's postings on the Escapees forum for a different point of view of the gas versus diesel question. If you are buying new, and I don't recommend that for you, a gasser will be cheaper to buy but may not have the weight capacity you will need. I'm assuming that you have already done your homework about MH vs towable, and a MH fits your plans better. DO NOT buy a MH just because you think it would be impressive. If the coach doesn't fit you, you will soon come to hate it. Get your "mission profile" down first, then decide on the type of coach.

Whatever you decide, I'd strongly suggest that you buy a used coach first. Most people go through 2-4 coaches before getting the right one, and some of them do that in less than a year. Spend some time looking at the various floor plans, and practice living in then. "Cook" breakfast, lunch, and dinner. "Take" a shower. "Make" the bed. If you are looking at a coach with slides, pull them in and then see what you can do. There are some coaches that, with the slides in, the refrigerator or bath is not accessible. There are only so many ways to arrange the space inside of a box, so you can visit other brands to try a floor plan that looks like it suits you, even if your dealer doesn't have that particular model in stock.

Look also at quality. You've mentioned Newmar a couple of times, but take a look at some of the other brands in that price range and above. By buying a used coach you may be able to get a couple of steps above a Newmar in quality for the same price. I'm not knocking Newmar, since they were on our list of possible brands, but don't lock yourself into a particular brand.

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the reply you are right when you are saying that I 've done my homework and still looking. As of today with all the info gathered I don't think we will go for the Canyon Star because it doesn't suit our needs. About buying used or new I don't have a problem with buying a used but we don't have the intention of changing every two years or three. Our spec or defines it's only a matter of finding it.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

"About buying used or new I don't have a problem with buying a used but we don't have the intention of changing every two years or three." Some friends of ours bought a new DP a couple of years ago, with the intention of using it full-time. Less than a year later they realized that the quality just wasn't there, so they started looking for something else. They ended up buying a 10-year-old Foretravel for about what they got for the year-old other coach. No, I don't remember what they had, but it was a well-known brand as I recall. They thought they had made the right decision, and found out to their cost that they hadn't. Buying used lets someone else take a major hit on the price of the coach, and often some upgrades have been done. Yes, there is still some risk, but probably not as much as you might suspect. You might check PPL to compare the price of a fairly new coach to what a new one like it sells for. You may be surprised.

As I mentioned above, "live" in the coach. Many people advise spending several hours in the prospective coach, trying out various normal activities, including watching television. Getting the "right" coach is as much about the quality as it is the arrangement and colors. Those who buy their "third" coach first are very few, but every one of them spent a lot of time thinking and discussing details. Both of you should be 100% satisfied with any coach you buy OR you both agree on the changes that you will make. For example, if I was the only one in the coach there wouldn't be a television set because I simply am not interested it it. My wife, on the other hand, wouldn't have a coach without one. Our Foretravel had the original 1993 sets in it, and we both agreed that the small one in the bedroom would go and not be replaced (we don't have a tv in the bedroom here in the house), and the one in front would be replaced by a flat screen. We bought the new television and took it on the one trip we made in the coach since then. The rest of the time the new set is in the house. In fact, it is being watched by my wife right now.

While you are looking you two ought to be discussing each coach you see. What did you like, what didn't you like, etc. As you narrow your search you will be focusing more on smaller details. You will be amazed at how much each of misses that the other one spots.

"Make haste slowly" is good advice when preparing to spend a large amount of money. When we were in the research phase I used to say that I'd rather ask 1,000 questions before writing a large check than ask the same question a thousand times afterward. Enjoy the hunt, and when you finally get the right coach, be sure to post pictures.