Want a DD8 in a Ventana or New Aire?

[joes2901]

In the past few months Daimler/Freightliner has introduced a new DD8 (Detroit Diesel 7.7L engine) that has specs that beat the ISB and compete with the lower HP ISL. While browsing their website I noticed the DD8 for RV use has 375 HP @ 2,200 and 1,050 lb-ft @ 1,400 RPM . It uses a 2 stage fixed geometry turbo vs the ISB's variable geometry turbo. It has an optional integrated engine brake too; pictures in the online brochure showed rocker arm and valve parts, not an exhaust brake. Among other improvements were variable cam phasing technology, variable speed fan, and it weighs about 300 lbs more than the ISB.

It sounds like a real winner for buyers of a Ventana or New Aire if Newmar has the courage to use it with its options and not worrying about it making the Ventana too attractive. The DD8 with the optional engine braking would be a great improvement for those who regularly drive in mountains, like the Rockies in the Western States . A side radiator chassis would be the icing on the cake.

Attached are pictures from one of the brochures, for more info browse their web site.

[Finance]

Thanks, but no. I'll stay with the red ones.

["007"]

Whats the cost difference and chassis makers would have to offer it.

[joes2901]

Spring 2018 was the supposed to be the availability date. I have no clue regarding how alert to new improved technology the RV builders are. I would hope that if I asked Newmar to build a Ventana 3715 with a DD8 engine on a XCR chassis and asked for it with a side radiator and an engine brake that Diamler and Freightliner would be happy to build it because Detroit Diesel is part of the corporate family. They and Newmar would increase their profits too when consumers have more choices.

Are there recent horror stories about Detroit Diesel engines?

[TJ]

I don't think it has anything to do with "courage." Newmar needs to evaluate why bringing in a new engine manufacturer into the mix with only a marginal improvement in power would work better. They surely won't drop Cummins, so do they want to add Detroit (who does make a good engine) to the mix? And, would Freightliner or Spartan be interested in adapting the DD8 to their chassis.

These decisions involve a lot more than "courage.".

TJ

[turbopilot]

Looking back at the history of the innovations from Freightliner in the New Aire. It looks like Freightliner first announced these features (like Optiview and On Guard) in 2015 but it did not show up until the 2018 New Aire. So it appears it takes several years to get new stuff to the RV market.

[tom chelbana]

It would be nice to see a Spartan Chassis on the Ventana and New Aire. It's really hard to beat Cummins in the RV side with their great engine line up. Our new London Aire with the K3 X605 is really a dream to drive.

[Newaire1]

No thank, takes to long to work out emmisions and EGR problems on all of these new engines.