Buying first motorhome DP

[Diesel-Lover]

What is with having to replace thermostats every three years. I read that and cannot understand how such a design even if meant to pump up maintenance revenue is accepted by the consumers! A move like that should be driven to the engineer who approved the design and make him change out the thermostats on the units while the engine is still warm ! Have the idiot do it for a week and he will redesign the thermostats so they never fail.

[rvjimmy]

I have a 3126 CAT with 58000 miles on it and have never changed the thermostats. Had 68000 miles on my last 3126 CAT and no problems. I don't know what problem you are talking about it's not detailed enough. Jim

[docj]

Even though I agree that the Monaco product will be higher quality than one built by Coachmen/Forest River, IMHO people who claim that having a Cat engine is an issue don't understand how many Cat on-highway engines are out there in trucks of all kinds. I don't expect to get my engine service advice from forums like this one. When I need engine service I find my nearest Cat service center and they seem to be everywhere in the country in which I have looked.

[Diesel-Lover]

Originally Posted by rvjimmy

I have a 3126 CAT with 58000 miles on it and have never changed the thermostats. Had 68000 miles on my last 3126 CAT and no problems. I don't know what problem you are talking about it's not detailed enough. Jim

RVJimmy you may want to stroll around this forum where the CAT drivers hang out. I recall reading a thread about the thermostats in the Caterpillar cooling system going bad repeatedly and some of the drivers were complaining where as others had accepted that every three years or so they would replace em and had been doing so as part of the cost of owning a CAT.

Via quick search I found this one but there is another thread right here on our board.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f101/repl...cat-81386.html

[phil57]

One more caution to weigh the MH before you buy it and do the math. You will find all the weight stickers in the MH and can plan on adding 800 -1200# of gear. Add passenger weight and make sure you have capacity to safely tow the boat. It will cost 9$ at a cat scale and its good for 24 hours for reweigh. Take the time to get the right MH for your needs.

[Deucenut]

Originally Posted by phil57

One more caution to weigh the MH before you buy it and do the math. You will find all the weight stickers in the MH and can plan on adding 800 -1200# of gear. Add passenger weight and make sure you have capacity to safely tow the boat. It will cost 9$ at a cat scale and its good for 24 hours for reweigh. Take the time to get the right MH for your needs.

This is a great idea...I had not thought of that. I would think the RV dealer would be willing to do this wouldn't they?

[bukzin]

Originally Posted by phil57

One more caution to weigh the MH before you buy it and do the math. You will find all the weight stickers in the MH and can plan on adding 800 -1200# of gear. Add passenger weight and make sure you have capacity to safely tow the boat. It will cost 9$ at a cat scale and its good for 24 hours for reweigh. Take the time to get the right MH for your needs.

Phil, So what you are saying is get a coach which will handle all
your people and everything fully loaded?

Looks like most of the larger DP's claim to have a 10,000 lbs
towing limit.
Is that correct?

[phil57]

Yes that's it. They will let you weig the coach. The gvcw will be listed as well you will have gaw gross axel weight for steer and drive. Two passengers 100%count on front axel. We camp not full time and have around 850 lbs of cargo plus 400 for passenger or more you decide. What's left is A: how you load the MH to balance the load and B: what does your toad weigh plus tow bar. Make sure there is capacity to tow what you want. Just because the hitch is 10000 doesn't mean you will safely tow a 10000 lbs toad. If your loaded MH has a loaded weight of 31500lbs and the sticker gives you a capacity of 35500 GVCW you can tow 4000lb toad not 10000.
I'm just saying check it out!

[bukzin]

Originally Posted by phil57

Yes that's it. They will let you weig the coach. The gvcw will be listed as well you will have gaw gross axel weight for steer and drive. Two passengers 100%count on front axel. We camp not full time and have around 850 lbs of cargo plus 400 for passenger or more you decide. What's left is A: how you load the MH to balance the load and B: what does your toad weigh plus tow bar. Make sure there is capacity to tow what you want. Just because the hitch is 10000 doesn't mean you will safely tow a 10000 lbs toad. If your loaded MH has a loaded weight of 31500lbs and the sticker gives you a capacity of 35500 GVCW you can tow 4000lb toad not 10000.
I'm just saying check it out!

Phil,

I am not clear on 'gaw' vs 'gvcw'

I assume each of the four points (tire locations) are weighted independently,
Is that correct?

If one side is heavier than the other, how much out of balance is considered OK?

[wah864]

You and the DW need to like/love the floorplan Then and only then will you both be happy.

[CHS32]

I bought a Coachmen Sportscoach Encore 380DS back in April 2012. I bought it because the price was right (52K), with 57K miles and otherwise in pretty good condition. I just got back from my first major trip out west, about 5K miles. My wife also liked the interior configuration.

I weighed mine at a FlyingJ. With full fuel and water, empty black and grey tanks, and enough gear for a week, plus all the normal stuff in the kitchen I weighed in at about 27,500, well under GVW of 31K. I pulled a 4K pound jeep all the way out west and back without a problem. At most, we added another 200 pounds of stuff for three weeks. It was a little pushed on steep hills and the temps started to climb on hot days (on the steeps), but I just geared down, went slow at higher RPM, and everything worked just fine. The Cat C7 is rated at 330 HP in this configuration and it has the allison transmission.

This unit is well supported by Forest River, who bought the brand, and also by freightliner. I have gotten great info from both.

Bottom line, I am very happy with this unit, my first DP.

[trux]

Before deciding on any coach, be sure to go to rvcg.org
You'll be glad you did and it will potentially save you thousands!
A real eye opener. Ask about the data base they have for Motorhomes and all RV's.

[cmpncrsaider]

When the Queen is Happy there's peace in the Kingdom!

[Deucenut]

Originally Posted by cmpncrsaider

When the Queen is Happy there's peace in the Kingdom!

There couldn't be a truer statement!!!