Side rad vs rear rad?

[Gary RVRoamer]

Well there is a reason ALL the expensive high-end coaches are side radiator..... It's plainly better.

Perhaps, but I think the main reason is that those high end models have larger engines that need more cooling. There is a practical limit to how many square inches of radiator you can get in a rear mount without totally obscuring the engine and the rear cap. There is also a real limit on how much air you can move through the rear, and how cool that air is. A side radiator can be larger, the fan pulls somewhat cooler outside air across the radiator, CAC and a/c condenser.

[poppopc]

My question is why have the MFG'S went to the side radiators.
If we like a floor plan, brand, or model, we don't have a choice of what Rad.
Appears to me that the later model have gone to the rear Rad.
Unless you go to the very upper price range $$$$$$$$!!

[Air Baron]

Originally Posted by poppopc

My question is why have the MFG'S went to the side radiators.

The rear radiator setup is less costly to build. The fan is direct drive, therefore no hydraulic motor, hoses and speed controls. The coolant and charge air cooler connections are shorter and less expensive. This allows the manufacturer to maintain their required profit margins under intense competition for sales in a tight market. Same reason the engine manufacturer keeps turning up the fuel on the less expensive bored block engine...such as the Cummins B. Few motorhomes ever see more than 100k miles anyhow....

[ahicks]

Serpentine belt change on our rear rad. coach can be change from the bottom in less than half an hour, using only the 1/2 breaker bar required to pull back the belt tensioning pulley. I've heard about all the other expensive nightmares, but have to wonder how many of these people are doing or have tried to do this job themselves? No it's not fun, and yes, you're going to get dirty doing it, but in my experience, if you're doing the majority of your own maintenance, this is not as difficult a job as what a lot of people make it out to be. I'm not crazy about the next chance to empty the holding tanks either...

Regarding rear rad. dirt (crud) buildup, I think this issue has been put to bed, or at least it's to the point where it's a lot less critical than it once was, since the slobber tube was discovered to be the root of all that evil. Now that everyone (hopefully) understands that issue, the previous crud buildup issues with resulting overheating seem to much less frequent?

Bottom line, I think a lot of the issues regarding rear radiators are based on hearsay, not practical experience. How many times a year to you need to service/inspect this engine and it's systems anyway? Once? And you're going to make a buying decision based on the inconvenience to do that? Not here. Not me anyway.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

Perhaps, but I think the main reason is that those high end models have larger engines that need more cooling. There is a practical limit to how many square inches of radiator you can get in a rear mount without totally obscuring the engine and the rear cap. There is also a real limit on how much air you can move through the rear, and how cool that air is. A side radiator can be larger, the fan pulls somewhat cooler outside air across the radiator, CAC and a/c condenser.

Every side radiator I've ever run across pulls the air from the engine compartment and pushes it out the side. Also, on our DSDP the A/C condenser is in front of the drivers side front wheel.
When I changed the belts it took me longer to find the correct wrench sizes than it did to do the actual change.

[smlranger]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Every side radiator I've ever run across pulls the air from the engine compartment and pushes it out the side. Also, on our DSDP the A/C condenser is in front of the drivers side front wheel.
When I changed the belts it took me longer to find the correct wrench sizes than it did to do the actual change.

My CC side rad pulls air from the outside and into the engine compartment.

[Mjay]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Every side radiator I've ever run across pulls the air from the engine compartment and pushes it out the side. Also, on our DSDP the A/C condenser is in front of the drivers side front wheel.
When I changed the belts it took me longer to find the correct wrench sizes than it did to do the actual change.

My side rad coach pulls air from outside the coach and discharges over the engine and out the back. That is how they are designed, so always pulling air through the rad, not pushing it through.

[SteveLevin]

My side rad pulls in air from the outside and then into the engine bay as well..

Steve

[pasdad1]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Every side radiator I've ever run across pulls the air from the engine compartment and pushes it out the side.

Every side radiator I've ever run across does the opposite of what you say.


Evidently this was debated before....

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/side...ow-205028.html

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by smlranger

My CC side rad pulls air from the outside and into the engine compartment.

My Monaco too. Out to in. Never over 208.

[Spinner]

Originally Posted by smlranger

My CC side rad pulls air from the outside and into the engine compartment.

Mine is outside to inside as well.

[Tha_Rooster]

Originally Posted by smlranger

My CC side rad pulls air from the outside and into the engine compartment.

Same here

[Air Baron]

Mr D, you are in trouble. Thus far, the out-to-innies are winning.

[Hooligan]

Wow- At least all us low-brow rear radiator folks know which way the air flows......