Community Forums

Ohio44718 · 12-10-2016, 11:20 AM

I am in the process of looking at Tiffins and it is getting confusing. Originally looking at a tag axle Allegro Bus thinking that I needed the higher HP for a rig that size. Planning on pulling a trailer but doubt if it would even come close to the 10K limit. Then I started looking at '09-'10 Phaeton models thinking that I could get essentially the same length but a couple of years newer plus get some of the more current layouts. My concern is giving up the 425HP for the 360HP in the Phaeton. For those of you who have or ever owned one of the tag axle Phaetons, did you ever feel the motor was a little undersized for that size rig?

twogypsies · 12-10-2016, 12:24 PM

We traveled constantly and mostly in the western mountains with our '04 370hp Cummins engine. We had plenty of power towing our Jeep.

2 Stroker · 12-10-2016, 12:50 PM

If you are thinking of a Tiffin, 3 things to check
1. Roof rails for cracks.
2. Front DS slide for leaks, some have had the slide replaced.
3. Wet bay floor rotting out from water, fix a fiberglass liner
Most all fixed by Bob Tiffin
2 stroker

vsheetz · 12-10-2016, 12:52 PM

Our is enough, but more would be good on those long grades. 5000 lb jeep in tow. ISC with 360 hp / 1050 torque. Larger coach with more horsepower would probably be about the same net performance.

mccrob · 12-10-2016, 03:13 PM

In my opinion Tiffin is another coach builder who under powers there coaches. My friend a Phaeton owner always adds it's 800lb-ft of torque whenever he talks about his 360. My ISL 400 has 1200lb-ft torque do the math bigger is always better

CampingCajun · 12-11-2016, 12:51 PM

What is the weight of the Coach?
Mine is right at 33,000 # towing a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
360 HP & 1050 Torque is plenty for this set-up.

JCM · 12-11-2016, 01:45 PM

I have always worked with 10 hp per foot. I have a 40 foot and it has a 400 hp motor.
Even then I have to downshift manually on the occasional steep long hill to maintain higher rpm (2000) and cruse along at 55 mph.
I have a 34,000 Triple E empress and we travel with full water and as full as possible fuel.
I think 360 would be good for the flat states.

luvlabs · 12-12-2016, 10:01 AM

We have a 380 hp Cummins ISL and it has more than enough power. Good acceleration on freeway on ramps, climbs hills well, no complaints from me.

curtsr · 12-12-2016, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvlabs

We have a 380 hp Cummins ISL and it has more than enough power. Good acceleration on freeway on ramps, climbs hills well, no complaints from me.

+1 Our Phaeton has the 380 Cummins also. After 10k miles to California through the Rockies and back to Mississippi towing a 4200# toad, no lack of power.

Crasher · 12-12-2016, 12:09 PM

Depends on the weight of the coaches being compared. My coach with trailer weighs just over 51,000#, has 450hp w/1250# torque. My son's Mountain Aire and trailer weighs 60,000#, and has 500hp with 1650# torque. When going up to the pass west of Denver on I-70 with him leading, I gain on him and have to back off on the long climbs. If I am leading, I slowly walk away from him and he catches me on the other side. We both get about the same fuel economy. Weight determines if your engine is big enough. I had a 40' Phaeton with the 380 Cummins engine and it was fine for the 45,000# combined weight I had at the time.

BobGed · 12-12-2016, 12:12 PM

To some of the previous posters, the OP is talking about a 42' tag axle Phaeton, and for the year models he is interested it, Tiffin used the ISC 360 engine.

To the OP, please take the following for what it may be worth.

I have an 09 Phaeton 40' coach, and a friend has an 09 Phaeton 42'. We both live on the west coast and therefore do a lot of mountain driving. We both tow vehicles with mine being a little heavier. When we have traveled together, on grades that I can pull at ~45 mph, he is in the 35 to 40 mph range. Also I can get up to speed on freeway on ramps a little faster than he can.

On the other side of the coin, his coach does handle better on the road, particularly in windy conditions.

I have been to Red Bay three times with one of those being a 2-1/2 month stint, and the items in 2 Stroker's post, commonly referred to as "the big three", are right on for Tiffins in the year range you're looking at. They were doing so many of them they had dedicated service bays for each one.

I have had all three done to my coach. Tiffin used to pick up the entire cost of these repairs, but I believe the time period was six years. If you take the coach to Red Bay they may still cover all or part of the cost of these repairs.

Personally if I were looking for a coach in the 2008 to 2012 year range, I would be looking for something other than a Tiffin.

Ohio44718 · 12-13-2016, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobGed

I have an 09 Phaeton 40' coach, and a friend has an 09 Phaeton 42'. We both live on the west coast and therefore do a lot of mountain driving. We both tow vehicles with mine being a little heavier. When we have traveled together, on grades that I can pull at ~45 mph, he is in the 35 to 40 mph range. Also I can get up to speed on freeway on ramps a little faster than he can.

On the other side of the coin, his coach does handle better on the road, particularly in windy conditions.

When adding the extra couple of feet with the tag, that is exactly what I was concerned about. I think JCM mentioned the 10 hp per foot which for some reason I had the same in the back of my mind and thus the reason I was originally looking at the Tiffin Bus which offered the 425hp. If I go with a 40 footer, sounds like either will do fine. Thanks all.

smlranger · 12-13-2016, 05:56 AM

As noted, it is all about the weight. I had a 36' pusher with a 330 hp, 860 Ft pound CAT. Coach weighed 25K and toad weighed 4,000. It did fine on grades.

Our current coach is 42' with tag, weighs 38,500 loaded and we pull a F150. I have 425 hp. 1250 torque. On long, steep grades I can drop to 35 even with rpm's up.

relaxn · 12-13-2016, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smlranger

Our current coach is 42' with tag, weighs 38,500 loaded and we pull a F150. I have 425 hp. 1250 torque. On long, steep grades I can drop to 35 even with rpm's up.

We have very similar numbers with our 42' Monaco and we can go up to 44,000 +/- pounds. Even without towing, we can get down to 35/40mph on long, steady grades. I wouldn't want even one HP or one pound of torque less than what we have on a coach similar to the size and weight as ours. Thats my .02.