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Wrinkles,
You are correct. Our Vacationers use the pickup based Allision 5 speed 1000 transmission. The switch to the 6 speed 2500 transmission occurred late in 2007. It uses the same spin-on transmission filter as the GM Duramax pickups of that era.
Some words about our RSR chassis. It uses more Gas Workhorse chassis components than it does Roadmaster parts. It was a poorly engineered attempt to build an entry level chassis to produce a diesel pusher with a $136,000 MSRP when new. Our rigs have hydraulic brakes instead of air brakes. It rides on leaf springs instead of air bags, has the steering components from the Workhorse chassis and was nearly overweight when empty. (Mine weighed in only 400 lbs less than is max GVW before I put anything in it.) The shocks are also from the Workhorse chassis. Its max tow rating is 4000 lbs.
Many of us have discovered that all the above results in a rig that looks good, but drives poorly. I, and others, have found that adding a steering stabilizer, sway bars, new shocks, better tires and insuring that there is adequate caster angle in the front end dramatically improves the handling characteristics, especially on windy days. But.... had I have known then what I learned during my first cross country trip, I would have bought a year or 2 older Diplomat or similar for about the same cost as mine after all the modifications.
There are a lot of positive points about our rigs though. The required maintenance is far simpler than on the "big boys." No coolant filters, SCA additives, air dryer maintenance, air valve issues, failed trailing arms (like on the Roadmaster 4 airbag chassis), whole house inverter/charger systems that can sometimes be temperamental, etc. If you think of our rigs as being more like a really nice Class A gas rig, only equipped with a rear diesel engine, then you will better understand our rig's characteristics.
Bruce LaHargoue,
'06 Vacationer 34PDD, Cummins ISB
Clovis, CA
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