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01-31-2018, 09:59 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Pioneer, CA 95666
Posts: 501
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Cat Power
In my search for an RV DP, should I stay from Cat motors. Im told they are good engines, but more expensive to repair. Also Caterpillar isn't installing their engines in RVs anymore. There must be a reason for that. Just wondering.
Dave
__________________
2004 Monaco Camelot 38PST 400ISL
2001 Jeep Cherokee Larado toad
Blue OX tow bar, Patriot brake box, 4" drop receiver
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01-31-2018, 10:09 AM
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#2
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Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Maplewood mn
Posts: 77
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They can’t meet US government emission specs
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01-31-2018, 10:18 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by highsticker
They can’t meet US government emission specs
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Too expensive so they pulled out of the on road market.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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01-31-2018, 10:28 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 69
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We bought our MH in Sept of 2011 a Newmar 05 year model with a C-7 Cat engine. It Has done very well. The 1st 2 summers we had it wanted to run warm on engine temp. Tried washing radiator out during 1st 2 years several times but no help. Gave up and pulled radiator and had a radiator shop clean it. Made all of the difference but it was very dirty and plugged up. I would not pass up a MH because of the Cat engine. I think a very good engine. I also had to replace the fan bearing but since I heard the noise of a bad bearing and replace it no big deal.
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01-31-2018, 10:37 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 6,573
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Caterpillar makes great diesel engines. They are very high quality and most are very powerful for their size. Unlike Cummins or Detroit, most of the Caterpillar engine business is in off road heavy equipment so it was not profitable to completely redesign their engines for the 2010 federal emissions.
However, I would avoid the small Cat 3126 and C7. They are liner-less engines and if you have a problem they can be very expensive to repair. They are commonly referred to as throw-away engines.
The C9, C12, C13, and the giant C15 are some of the best diesel engines ever produced. Replacement parts are not a problem because they are still in use in off road vehicles. You have to learn to drive them properly, or they can be fuel thirsty.
__________________
97 Monaco Windsor- Sold
07 Monaco Executive McKinley- Sold
04 Monaco Signature Chateau IV
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01-31-2018, 11:52 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Lenexa KS
Posts: 2,074
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I haven't heard anything about CAT engines being anything to stay away from. I had a CAT C12 in my last coach and it performed like a champ. Frankly I miss it. My newer Cummins doesn't even sound like a diesel engine!
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Bill & Kelli 2015 Dutch Star 4366
2002 Safari Zanzibar 3906
1995 Fleetwood Bounder 36JD
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01-31-2018, 02:41 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 277
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I agree with others, we put 90,000 miles on our Revolution with the C9 CAT engine. It performed every bit as well as the Cummins engines we have had.
Regarding the C7 not being a "liner" engine, neither is the B Cummins engine. THey call it a throw away engine, but it is onlyt"throw away" as all of the gas engines we drive are. I have had 3 of the Cummins B engines over the past 25 years, and have yet to wear one out and have to worry about overhauling it.
Ed Headington
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01-31-2018, 03:45 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,940
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveBunker
In my search for an RV DP, should I stay from Cat motors. Im told they are good engines, but more expensive to repair. Also Caterpillar isn't installing their engines in RVs anymore. There must be a reason for that. Just wondering.
Dave
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Dave,
As usual, WRONG information is being bandied about in the ole' forums. There's thousands and thousands of CAT powered motorhomes out there that climb all the way up into the '08 or '09, can't remember, year models. Just like Cummins, there's plenty of versions of CAT engines too. The 3126, C-7, C-9, C-13 and C-15 have all done well in coaches. And don't for one minute, think that Cummins is a "bullet proof" motor either. Cummins has had it's share of issues too. There are versions out there with wrist pin issues, heads cracking on some, and more.
CAT just decided that the overall cost of competing and, the smog restrictions and changes was not worth it to keep its head in the game. So, they pulled out, in or about those years mentioned. I have plenty of friends with CAT engines and none of them are dissatisfied, in any way, shape or form. One of them has right at 170,000 miles on his 3126 and it's had one exhaust manifold gasket in all that time.
As for CATs being more EXPENSIVE to fix, well, a diesel engine is a diesel engine and, it's gonna cost for repairs, no matter WHO MADE IT! Most are designed for long term mileage. No one garanties how long any engine will last without developing an issue. Not Cummins, not CAT, not Detroit, none of them.
If you find or are looking for a particular floor plan and, the year of the coach and styling is appeasing to you, BUT, it's got a CAT motor, I'd do it in a heartbeat. The floorplan is of prime importance for most folks. Other parameters usually fall into second place etc. As stated, not only are there tons of CAT powered coaches still roaming the U.S. but also, there's thousands of fire trucks, cement trucks, delivery trucks, over the road trucks and more with all the versions of CAT engines.
I just did some major maintenance on our C-7. A fan bearing, water pump, all the radiator hoses, clamps, and the two "regulators" (us old guys call them "thermostats) at 82,000 miles and, the local freightliner place had all I needed. And if there was a need for something they didn't have, it was to arrive the next day. So, parts are no big deal. Your choice.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
2018 Goldwing Tour DCT Airbag
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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01-31-2018, 07:45 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: What? Like right now? ;-)
Posts: 1,302
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FIRE UP
As for CATs being more EXPENSIVE to fix, well, a diesel engine is a diesel engine and, it's gonna cost for repairs, no matter WHO MADE IT!
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They did have some initial problems with injectors (actually it was the pumps that galled and dumped metal into the system) when they first went to common rail but so did cummins.. and still does in some cases.
__________________
2003 Scepter 40PDBB - Roadmaster RR8S - Cummins ISC350 - purch aug16
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01-31-2018, 09:14 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: OTR Western US
Posts: 304
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vito.a
You have to learn to drive them properly, or they can be fuel thirsty.
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Any tips you can pass along?
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01-31-2018, 09:32 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Siletz OR
Posts: 298
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vito.a
Caterpillar makes great diesel engines. They are very high quality and most are very powerful for their size. Unlike Cummins or Detroit, most of the Caterpillar engine business is in off road heavy equipment so it was not profitable to completely redesign their engines for the 2010 federal emissions.
However, I would avoid the small Cat 3126 and C7. They are liner-less engines and if you have a problem they can be very expensive to repair. They are commonly referred to as throw-away engines.
The C9, C12, C13, and the giant C15 are some of the best diesel engines ever produced. Replacement parts are not a problem because they are still in use in off road vehicles. You have to learn to drive them properly, or they can be fuel thirsty.
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I would not look down on a C7 unless it is in a larger MH. Main issue with the C7 was sensor issues. I have a C12 in Safari, have not pulled any hills yet, but sure is smooth.
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01-31-2018, 09:41 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Siletz OR
Posts: 298
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkK
Any tips you can pass along?
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DO not gun the throttle, diesels do not like to be hot rodded. Turbos like to wind up at a nice pace, not fast. when climbing hills, keep the throttle mat a steady position, let the transmission do its thing, dont play with the throttle trying to get the tranny to shift. If you have a jake, or tranny brake, let it do its job, do not ride the brakes, last thing you want to do is have your brakes replaces because you glazed them over.
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02-01-2018, 07:48 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 277
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In support of Scott. In 2005 I had only had Cummins diesels, but I said I would never choose the motorhome by the color of the engine (red for Cummins and yellow for CAT). Well, when we were ready to purchase our '05 Revolution, I had to put my money where my mouth was. In 9 years and 90,000 miles (as mentioned in my previous post) I never regretted the decision. So ---- I still say, don't choose your motorhome by the color of the engine.
Ed Headington
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02-01-2018, 08:41 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Olympia, Wa
Posts: 2,772
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On any diesel not just Cat, read the manual and understand your motor. Best cooling RPM for climbing, best torque may not be best cooling. Learn to use the engine braking system exhaust, Jake or trans retarder. Anticipate decent and climb. On Cats there is(on most) a slobber tube that can/will get oil on a rear radiator, oil and road dirt will clog the radiator and reduce cooling. There are commercial and home DIY ways to capture the oil.
LEN
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2004 Clss C 31' Winnebgo
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