Community Forums

garrydt · 06-15-2012, 03:25 PM

Hello all,
After having a class c V-10 and several TT, we have went full time rv'rs with a 1997 36' Beaver CAT 3126. Many questions so we will have a few posts. When we are driving along in 6th gear and come upon a fairly steep hill should I just leave the tranny in 6th and let Allision change the gears for me? I have seen some posts where they start down shifting until they crest the hill. What about the exhaust brake only use it when going down a steep hill.? I know that I will have more questions, I have a full set of documention about 2 foot high and will take plenty of time to go thru it all. Oh! one more thing I noticed I had a Napa fuel filter in my service bay filter # 3626 that is the only one I have seen and my documentation has a cat fuel filter # what is the best filter to use? Do I have two filters and just have not found it yet?

Gary RVRoamer · 06-16-2012, 09:17 AM

The Allision should do fine going up the hill. Sometimes on long grades the engine or tranny heat will build up and it is beneficial to downshift further to increase rpms and thus cooling.

In most systems you can leave the exhaust brake turned on [almost] all the time if you want. The only exceptions are slippery road conditions or when cruise control is in use. Other than that, it is a matter of driving style and preference.

A 1997 should have two fuel filters. The primary will also be a water separator. The secondary is a finer mesh filter and may even be buried somewhere very close to the engine. I'm not familiar with that vintage 3126 and the Magnum chassis on your Beaver, so can't offer more help than that.

NAPA filters are good quality (made by Wix) and fine to use. The Wix number for the same filter is 33626. It's a 6 micron (fine) filter, so its probably the secondary. The primary+water separator would typically be more like 15-30 microns.

garrydt · 06-16-2012, 03:01 PM

Thank you for the great information, I do have two filters, looked in the service bay and primary+water filter and secondary both in the bay. Don't know when they were changed so when we get into Alb,NM Monday will stop and have them changed and a lube job done..Just bought this rig about a 3 months ago and received with no maint records so having everything done oil and air filter changed, radiator cleaned new hoses and thermostat changed.

Thanks again.

troyrice76 · 06-16-2012, 04:21 PM

We just got back from our first big trip in a DP. Mountains to flats. Depending on the grade I was able to just drive without messing with the gear selector other grades I would down shift. I think it will just take some time to see what your driving style is.

When I have cruise on I don't turn on the exhaust brake. On downhill grades or getting off the highway onto a ramp I use it.