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Old 04-03-2015, 08:50 PM   #1
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Radiator fireworks

hello all, I would love to hear from y'all about the pro/con of rear/side radiators. The Freightliner website says the maxum can be ordered with rear or side radiators - and Winnebago chose rear. One class A maker that sells side radiators says that rear radiators are prone to road debris damage. One class A maker that sells rear radiators says that side radiators are prone to road debris damage. And the conversations usually follow with more rhetoric. Is there anything you can tell us that is not anecdotal about the pros/cons of side vs rear radiators?

Thank you, Nancy and Phil

(yes, we surmise this might be a dead horse that is covered in previous forums. Just point us there if you prefer.)
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Old 04-03-2015, 10:23 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by peterson View Post
hello all, I would love to hear from y'all about the pro/con of rear/side radiators. The Freightliner website says the maxum can be ordered with rear or side radiators - and Winnebago chose rear. One class A maker that sells side radiators says that rear radiators are prone to road debris damage. One class A maker that sells rear radiators says that side radiators are prone to road debris damage. And the conversations usually follow with more rhetoric. Is there anything you can tell us that is not anecdotal about the pros/cons of side vs rear radiators?

Thank you, Nancy and Phil

(yes, we surmise this might be a dead horse that is covered in previous forums. Just point us there if you prefer.)
Well Sir,
ANYTHING on the road, "Is prone to road damage" but, does that mean it's going to receive any? Nope, not normally. Of the zillion posts here on IRV2 and, other RV forums posted by diesel pilots, I'm pretty sure I've not read anything about any real damage being done to a rear radiator from road debris. Can it happen, sure it can. Does it happen, out of the many, many rear radiator rigs out there, it's pretty darn rare.

One of the real, main advantages of a side radiator vs a rear one is, the ability to have access to the engine, if and when, any maintenance and or, repairs need to be done. Many would give their "I-teeth" to have easy access to engine components that have a rear radiator. Me being one. But, there are so many other parameters that need to be fulfilled when in search of new coach that, whether it's a side or rear radiator kind-a falls down the priority list for many.


But, to answer your question, if, you find a floor plan, body, layout etc. that tickles your fancy and all other parameters have been filled, AND it's got a side radiator, to me, that would be a major bonus. But, not anywhere near a deal breaker if it didn't have one but, everything else was perfect.
Scott
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Old 04-03-2015, 10:54 PM   #3
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Well said about radiators. My Freightliner has run strong for 11 years now. That said the rear radiator and air-charge unit is like a vacuum. Research on this great forum about overheating. I followed one members advice and cut a access panel in the fan shroud. Now every spring I take the engine cover off and clean between the two radiators and remove trash, plastic bags, leaves and hay from that truck I had to follow. My engine temp is steady and cool now.
High maintenance is what these DP are. Pick one you like and wear it out.
Enjoy the adventures.


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Old 04-04-2015, 12:07 AM   #4
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Everything post above is right on, if you like the floor plan and can live with a rear radiator, go for it. But for me it was a deal breaker
I look at it down the road when a coach gets a few miles on it and you have to start looking at things. My daughter has a rear radiator and all you see is radiator and if you need to change belts and you take it in for service, maybe 3 to 4hrs at $125hr= I changed my serpentine belt in about 2min, took longer to get the tools than to change the belt. I can get to both fuel filters, hyd tank, coolant look at things to see if I have any problems plus I think it runs cleaner, as I said this is just my take of things.
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Old 04-04-2015, 06:51 AM   #5
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Here's your pointer, grab a couple of adult beverages and start reading!

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f26/maxxu...ler-42693.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f123/rear...tor-73728.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f26/looki...is-185957.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/side...or-112172.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/clea...or-186894.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/side...ar-191869.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f106/rear...on-232946.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/side...or-127069.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f24/rear-...on-216786.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f123/anyo...ome-57100.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f25/radia...al-167879.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f106/acce...or-191835.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/side...or-174983.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/dp-s...or-218487.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f84/side-...ad-217983.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/side...or-176542.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f106/bene...or-183044.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/side...ps-143438.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f84/class...rs-155084.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f106/tiff...or-160620.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/side...ar-150300.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f101/no-s...tra-27305.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f107/dies...ss-234926.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f101/ques...rs-235276.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f101/driv...tor-22159.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f26/maxxu...ler-42693.html
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Old 04-04-2015, 07:29 AM   #6
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Well Sir,
Of the zillion posts here on IRV2 I'm pretty sure I've not read anything about any real damage being done to a rear radiator from road debris. Can it happen, sure it can. Does it happen, it's pretty darn rare.

But, there are so many other parameters that need to be fulfilled when in search of new coach that, whether it's a side or rear radiator kind-a falls down the priority list for many.

But, if, you find a floor plan, body, layout etc. that tickles your fancy and all other parameters have been filled, AND it's got a side radiator, to me, that would be a major bonus. But, not anywhere near a deal breaker if it didn't have one but, everything else was perfect.
Scott
[QUOTE=Gary CA;2495610]
High maintenance is what these DP are. Pick one you like and wear it out.
Enjoy the adventures.

These posts by FIRE UP and GARY CA are the most reasonable posts we have ever read on this subject.

FIRE UP said to focus on what really matters - floor plan, body, layout, etc.
GARY CA said to choose one and use the coach and enjoy it.

Both are wonderfully said.

And TURTLE-KENT, thank you VERY much for your efforts to provide the many links to this topic. I've had two cups of coffee and will start reading. And I may wind up following your advice and be switching to adult beverages before it's all done. I will read all those posts with a little less worry thanks to the posts by FIRE UP and GARY CA.
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Old 04-04-2015, 08:08 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by peterson View Post
hello all, I would love to hear from y'all about the pro/con of rear/side radiators. The Freightliner website says the maxum can be ordered with rear or side radiators - and Winnebago chose rear. One class A maker that sells side radiators says that rear radiators are prone to road debris damage. One class A maker that sells rear radiators says that side radiators are prone to road debris damage. And the conversations usually follow with more rhetoric. Is there anything you can tell us that is not anecdotal about the pros/cons of side vs rear radiators?
Thank you, Nancy and Phil
(yes, we surmise this might be a dead horse that is covered in previous forums. Just point us there if you prefer.)
Nancy and Phil
My coach has a rear radiator, (I have never had one with a side radiator).
That said....IMO a rear radiator is a PITA for a number of reasons.
#1 being the fact that the air passing through the CAC and radiator comes from beneath the coach and has to pass through the engine compartment before it gets to the CAC and radiator.
When the coach is moving that air ALWAYS contains road dust, (and can often contain other debris, as well as oil residue from the engine and/or transmission).
On side radiator coaches much cleaner outside air is drawn IN from the outside of the coach and forced through the radiator/CAC... into the engine compartment.
Second is the fact that side radiators allow better/easier access to the rear end of the engine.
(If I had my druthers... I'd druther have a side radiator coach).
Mel
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Old 04-04-2015, 09:14 AM   #8
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I prefer the side radiator. Leaves the engine clear for routine servicing!
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Old 04-04-2015, 07:10 PM   #9
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I have a side radiator on the Eagle, two friends have rear radiator Dp's, they both envy me. I just yesterday had my alternator replaced, it took less than one one hour because it was so easy to get to plus I have done other repairs/replacements which were very simple because of the access. Side radiators for me.
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Old 04-04-2015, 07:51 PM   #10
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I've had both a rear radiator and now a side radiator. A couple of facts that don't change. As the level of the coach (price) goes up, the radiator moves from the back to the side. Second, as the HP increases, the radiator moves from the back to side. So no matter how much this may get argued, it's hard to dispute that a side radiator is the better design and more expensive design.

With that said, the rear radiator coaches have been working well for many years, but need constant upkeep. There are a couple of rear radiator designs and the one Monaco used is the better of the two. On a Monaco coach, they stacked the charge air cooler (CAC) on top of the radiator. This made it much simpler to clean because you can get to both sides of the CAC and radiator.

The Freightliner design and other brands stack their CAC and radiator one in front of the other. As "Gary Ca" stated, it's tough to clean between the two without pulling one of them...I know, because "Gary Ca" is my BIL and I've spent hours helping him clean his, a difficult job.

The side radiator is used when more cooling is needed on larger engines. They're easier to access and so is the engine. They also use a hydraulic pump to turn the fan blade and often draw more engine power for this operation than does a rear radiator with the fan blade attached to the engine like cars of the past.

Soooo.....it's all about what level of coach you intend to buy. Either way, radiator location doesn't have too much impact on floorplan which is one of the most important factors.
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Old 04-04-2015, 08:02 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don View Post
I've had both a rear radiator and now a side radiator. A couple of facts that don't change. As the level of the coach (price) goes up, the radiator moves from the back to the side. Second, as the HP increases, the radiator moves from the back to side. So no matter how much this may get argued, it's hard to dispute that a side radiator is the better design and more expensive design.

With that said, the rear radiator coaches have been working well for many years, but need constant upkeep. There are a couple of rear radiator designs and the one Monaco used is the better of the two. On a Monaco coach, they stacked the charge air cooler (CAC) on top of the radiator. This made it much simpler to clean because you can get to both sides of the CAC and radiator.

The Freightliner design and other brands stack their CAC and radiator one in front of the other. As "Gary Ca" stated, it's tough to clean between the two without pulling one of them...I know, because "Gary Ca" is my BIL and I've spent hours helping him clean his, a difficult job.

The side radiator is used when more cooling is needed on larger engines. They're easier to access and so is the engine. They also use a hydraulic pump to turn the fan blade and often draw more engine power for this operation than does a rear radiator with the fan blade attached to the engine like cars of the past.

Soooo.....it's all about what level of coach you intend to buy. Either way, radiator location doesn't have too much impact on floorplan which is one of the most important factors.
We like the Winnebago Tour 42HD floor plan. The features we like on this coach are probably available on other coaches as well. We are very new to motor coaches (have never owned one but want to) so are not familiar with brands other than those sold locally.

What other brands have rear radiators, 450 hp minimum, are 42 to 45 feet, and between $400K and $600K?
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Old 04-04-2015, 08:29 PM   #12
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It’s also important what’s in the radiator. I doesn’t just cool it protects the engine from cavitation.
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Old 04-04-2015, 08:30 PM   #13
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The side radiator is easier and cheaper for maintenance, yes. Albeit usually included on a more expensive coach. One should consider the added capital expenditure for a rear radiator coach vs. the savings in service expenditures.
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Old 04-04-2015, 08:38 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don View Post
I've had both a rear radiator and now a side radiator. A couple of facts that don't change. As the level of the coach (price) goes up, the radiator moves from the back to the side. Second, as the HP increases, the radiator moves from the back to side. So no matter how much this may get argued, it's hard to dispute that a side radiator is the better design and more expensive design.

With that said, the rear radiator coaches have been working well for many years, but need constant upkeep. There are a couple of rear radiator designs and the one Monaco used is the better of the two. On a Monaco coach, they stacked the charge air cooler (CAC) on top of the radiator. This made it much simpler to clean because you can get to both sides of the CAC and radiator.

The Freightliner design and other brands stack their CAC and radiator one in front of the other. As "Gary Ca" stated, it's tough to clean between the two without pulling one of them...I know, because "Gary Ca" is my BIL and I've spent hours helping him clean his, a difficult job.

The side radiator is used when more cooling is needed on larger engines. They're easier to access and so is the engine. They also use a hydraulic pump to turn the fan blade and often draw more engine power for this operation than does a rear radiator with the fan blade attached to the engine like cars of the past.

Soooo.....it's all about what level of coach you intend to buy. Either way, radiator location doesn't have too much impact on floorplan which is one of the most important factors.

Tiffin quit using the hydraulic fan years ago. Now they have a drive train that goes to the fan on side mount radiators.
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