New guy with Fleetwood ?'s

[Russ T Nut]

Hi everybody
I'm doing research in hopes of buying a 2011 Fleetwood Southwind 32VS. My questions are, is the Chevy 8.1 dead?. I'm finding ads that list the 8.1 in the 2011. Are these 8.1's leftovers that are being used and when there gone thats all there is?. Being a Chevy fan I would like to have one, but not if there will be no repair parts available in the future.

Question 2: Brochure lists "Dual roof A/C High Efficiency w/solar panel, heat pump and chill grills" Do the solar panels help run the A/C and what are chill grills?

Last question: whats a winterizing pickup tube?

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide me.
Hope to see you on the road soon.
Russ

[JMonroe]

The solar panel is a small one, intended only to help keep the chassis battery charged when sitting idle for a long time. It's not large enough to run anything, let alone the A/C. It is, however, mounted to the A/C until.

I'm assuming the 'winterizing pickup tube' is a syphen tube you'd drop into a bottle of anti freeze to help pump it through your plumbing system.

[ljr869]

The Southwind model may be a 2011 but it may be on an older chassis. The VIN will tell you what year the chassis is. For example, my Bounder is a 2009 but it's on a 2007 Ford chassis.

[UFO Pilot]

You should probably also post your question on the Workhorse Chassis forum on iRV2 for better responses about the 8.1.

In my opinion, the 8.1 coupled with the Allison transmission is the best there is in gas RV's. My 2008 Winnebago is on a 2007 Workhorse chassis which is quite common with RV's. The 8.1 is no longer being produced but parts are available and will probably be available for a long time.

[Gary RVRoamer]

GM stopped producing the 8.1L engine several months ago, but parts will be available for a long, long time. 10 years at least, but there are so many of those engines out there that the aftermarket will assure parts indefinitely.

The 8.1L is a terrific engine - I would not hesitate on that score.

The solar panel is just a mini-charger and has nothing to do with a/c power or operation. It's just mounted on top of the a/c cover. The "chill grill" is a feature that lets you dump cold air direct out of the bottom of the a/c instead of through the ceiling duct system. It is said to be useful for rapid cooling when the interior is real hot.

[NLOVNIT]

I don't know to answer your engine questions, but I can answer the others.

Jay is correct. The winterizing pick up tube is connected to the water pump & has a shut off valve attached. After you've drained & blown out all the water from the lines & faucets, you can put that syphen tube directly into the antifreeze bottle (or into a bucket you've put antifreeze into) to suck up the pink stuff when it's time to winterize (after closing the valve to the fresh tank & opening the valve on the syphon tube).

He's also correct about the solar charger. Just enough power to keep the batteries charged - on a sunny day.

Chill grills are slide openings on the A/C units that come through your ceiling. By opening those, you can quick cool the area immediately below the A/C units because it allows the cold air to come through those openings rather than going through the entire coach ductwork. It's useful to quickly cool down the main living area of the coach, like when it's hot out & the inside of the coach is warmer than you'd want - maybe because you went away & turned the thermostat up since you wouldn't be around for hours or for after it's been sitting closed up in storage & you're getting ready to go on a trip. Once you get the main living area cooled enough, you close those grills & force the cooled air to circulate through the overhead ductwork to the rest of the coach.

Oh, &

Lori-

[The General]

Nlovnit,

You stold my thunder and stated it better then I.

One item I would like to add is all of this information is in your owner's manuals.

The most important thing I do is read the manuals and outline the critical
items before tinkering.

Steve
2008 Bounder 35E/Ford

[mikron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljr869 The Southwind model may be a 2011 but it may be on an older chassis. The VIN will tell you what year the chassis is. For example, my Bounder is a 2009 but it's on a 2007 Ford chassis.

Our 2000 Windsport had a 1999 F53 v10 and our current 2008 Windsport has a 2007 f53 v10.

[The General]

I'd like to address the 8.1 if I may:

The reason it is no longer made is the new smog regulations which it can't pass.
You will find it has less HP; 340 vs. Ford 362hp. 6 speed Allison is great but the 5 speed Ford is also super duty. The Workhorse brake system has had recall after recall and is highly suspect, in my opinion. Both chassis are very good but my 08 Ford Triton is better in mpg, torque and power without the brake problems and is a smooth riding vehicle with great carrying capacity plus no extra charges for the Ford.
If you test drive both you may find a new love in the Ford with many more years of parts availability.

Steve Bernard
2008 Bounder 35E/ Ford Triton V-10

[Russ T Nut]

Thanks for all the info. I did post the 8.1 question on the Workhorse site and there is some doubt that there are new MH's being sold with the 8.1.
My research continues.
Thanks again.
Russ

[Gary RVRoamer]

The Ford V10 may not be around much longer either. In 2011 it is only available in medium duty trucks and the motorhome chassis - it is gone form the pick-up and van arena.

I'd seriously consider a front engine diesel in the Workhorse chassis now that they finally seem to have the brake problem licked.

[The General]

Gary and Russ,

This article, by Ford, tells us that the V-10 will not only be here for the future, in RVs and medium duty trucks, but will be combined with a new 6 speed transmission, in the future.

Ford to Offer V-10 Gas Engine for Medium-Duty Chassis Cab Trucks - PickupTrucks.com News

Steve Bernard
2008 Bounder 35E/Ford

[Gary RVRoamer]

I don't know that saying something will be offered next year is much of a "future" and auto makers are well know for changing their minds quickly if the political winds change or if sales don't justify it. All we can say for now is that Ford intends to continue with the V10 in the medium duty chassis for the next year and maybe more.

[The General]

Russ,

The facts we do know are:
Workhorse is finished with the 8.1 Vortec
Workhorse is not manufacturing a gasser
Workhorse has had critical brake problems
and has reluctantly recalled only by necessity

Ford 6.8 Triton, with more HP and more torque, has
none of those problems and continues
to make the 6.8 which was less expensive than
the 8.1.

What would I buy and what did I buy... Ford
What is available..... Ford.

If you can wait for 2012 you may have more of a choice.

Steve Bernard
2008 Bounder 35E/Ford