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01-31-2018, 04:15 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SE Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,850
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What Exactly is a PowerGlide Chassis?
I know this question may seem a little odd to some, but I'm considering the purchase of a 2016 Allegro Bus with a Cummins ISL 450 on a PowerGlide chassis. I can find lot's of information on the internet, and on this forum about the Bus, but not much about the chassis - even on Tiffin's own website.
So I'm sort of wondering... What EXACTLY IS a Powerglide Chassis? Did it start out as a Freightliner or a Spartin that's been highly customized? Or is it a chassis that is completely different from either of those that has been built specifically by Tiffin from the ground up (like when Monaco used to build the old Roadmaster chassis)?
If it is completely proprietary - unique to Tiffin - then what other commonly available chassis would most folks say that it most closely compares to? And why did Tiffin decide to go this route, rather than using a customizable modular chassis from Freightliner or Spartin as most manufactures do today?
Lastly, if anyone can recommend some links to more information about the PowerGlide Chassis, either on this forum or elsewhere on the internet, I'd be very grateful. All I've been able to find is one Youtube sales video by Tiffin and a 10-year-old PDF fact sheet on rvtechlibrary.com.
Thanks.
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01-31-2018, 04:39 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Warren, Oregon
Posts: 2,560
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Here is a good one along with others
2 stroker
__________________
2006 Country Coach Inspire 360 40ft Genoa Designer Series, Samsung 197 RR
Cat C9--STEEL & COPPER Bolt Together Radiator w/ updated rubber mounting
SilverLeaf 330 Magnum 2812 PSW 2011 Ford Edge Sport-Air Force One
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01-31-2018, 05:29 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 266
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We have a 2011 AB on PowerGlide chassis. It is a Tiffin designed and built chassis that used a combination of front and rear axles and some good manufacturing ideas to make a unique chassis.
One thing I really like about our bus is that (with full fuel and 1/2 full of water), we can carry 2,400 lbs of stuff before we are overweight. I put Koni shocks on both axles, I think the chassis rides very well.
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01-31-2018, 07:35 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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Tiffin built chassis. Very popular with owners. Running gear and active components are not proprietary to Tiffin, so readily serviced most anywhere. Plus Tiffin has authorized powerglide service facilities around the country.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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01-31-2018, 08:21 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SE Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,850
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Thanks for the answers. 2 Stroker, I hadn't seen that video before and it was informative. I appreciate the link.
heathtx, how much difference did the Koni's make over the Bilsteins? I put Koni shocks on my 2007 Diplomat (which came with Bilsteins) and they did smooth out the ride quite a bit. My 2017 Diplomat (Freightliner XCM chassis) came with tuned Sachs shocks, and they perform beautifully. Does anyone know if Tiffin still uses Bilsteins on newer chassis?
It's good to hear you can get the chassis serviced almost anywhere. That makes sense.
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02-01-2018, 07:29 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Somewhere Nice
Posts: 1,466
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin_M
Thanks for the answers. 2 Stroker, I hadn't seen that video before and it was informative. I appreciate the link.
heathtx, how much difference did the Koni's make over the Bilsteins? I put Koni shocks on my 2007 Diplomat (which came with Bilsteins) and they did smooth out the ride quite a bit. My 2017 Diplomat (Freightliner XCM chassis) came with tuned Sachs shocks, and they perform beautifully. Does anyone know if Tiffin still uses Bilsteins on newer chassis?
It's good to hear you can get the chassis serviced almost anywhere. That makes sense.
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The video indicates the shocks are Bilstein.
Informative video. Thanks 2 stroker.
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02-01-2018, 09:09 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SE Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,850
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pduggs
The video indicates the shocks are Bilstein.
Informative video. Thanks 2 stroker.
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True, but the video is 10 years old. I was wondering if they might have changed the shocks on the newer more recent PowerGlide chassis.
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02-01-2018, 12:30 PM
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#8
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Community Administrator
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 21,565
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Here is an updated video on the dedicated chassis plant that was opened about three years ago.
__________________
2017 Phaeton 40IH XSH Maroon Coral - Power Glide Chassis with IFS
Previous '15 Tiffin Allegro RED 38QRA and '06 Itasca Sunrise 35A
'16 Jeep JKU Wrangler Sahara or '08 Honda Goldwing
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02-02-2018, 10:33 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Somewhere Nice
Posts: 1,466
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin_M
True, but the video is 10 years old. I was wondering if they might have changed the shocks on the newer more recent PowerGlide chassis.
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From the video posted above, which is from ten months ago, it looks like Bilstein shocks are on the Powerglide. Go to the 1:50 minute mark for a shot of the front suspension, showing the shock.
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02-02-2018, 05:06 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SE Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,850
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pduggs
From the video posted above, which is from ten months ago, it looks like Bilstein shocks are on the Powerglide. Go to the 1:50 minute mark for a shot of the front suspension, showing the shock.
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Good Catch. I saw that too. I was hoping they were using something better now. The good news for future customers is that the recent video also hinted that they are planning some upgrades to the PowerGlide chassis. Wonder what they'll be.
I'm in Florida tonight. Be at Lazy Days Resort tomorrow. Excited that I'll soon see that 2016 Allegro Bus that I put a "hold deposit" on. I hope it's as sweet as it looks in the pictures.
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02-02-2018, 10:07 PM
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#11
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Community Administrator
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 21,565
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I don't know if you can tell the difference just in the shape and design of the shock since they are painted, but here's the one under the 2017 Power Glide chassis. You are looking at a whole different suspension system from the Freightliner so you will just have to drive it and decide for yourself about the ride.
__________________
2017 Phaeton 40IH XSH Maroon Coral - Power Glide Chassis with IFS
Previous '15 Tiffin Allegro RED 38QRA and '06 Itasca Sunrise 35A
'16 Jeep JKU Wrangler Sahara or '08 Honda Goldwing
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02-03-2018, 06:59 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SE Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,850
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lt Dan
...You are looking at a whole different suspension system from the Freightliner so you will just have to drive it and decide for yourself about the ride.
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Thanks for the picture. You are correct - that is completely different than the suspension system on the Frightliner XCM that I currently own.
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02-06-2018, 04:18 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin_M
Good Catch. I saw that too. I was hoping they were using something better now. The good news for future customers is that the recent video also hinted that they are planning some upgrades to the PowerGlide chassis. Wonder what they'll be.
I'm in Florida tonight. Be at Lazy Days Resort tomorrow. Excited that I'll soon see that 2016 Allegro Bus that I put a "hold deposit" on. I hope it's as sweet as it looks in the pictures.
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Just be sure you look it over thoroughly , and check every system....at least twice, We bought our 2018 Phaeton new from them ,and any issues we had their techs took care of. We did find a few minor things that we didn"t notice but i was able to take care of them myself. But overall the buying experience was excellent
__________________
2021 Riverstone 39 RKFB , 2021 Ford F350 XLT DRW
2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
2021 Palomino HS 2910 max
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02-06-2018, 08:44 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SE Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,850
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Defiant530
Just be sure you look it over thoroughly , and check every system....at least twice, We bought our 2018 Phaeton new from them ,and any issues we had their techs took care of.
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That's very good advise - especially on a pre-owned coach, as they only guarantee fixes for 30 days. I'm here at the campground for a month, so I'll have the time.
Glad your experience was a good one.
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