Community Forums

cucotx · 03-02-2014, 06:35 PM

I saw a video on YouTube the other day from an owner of a 2014 Mountain Aire coach. He was complaining that the 450 hp Cummins did not have enough power to get the coach up a 6 degree hill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qthuJMClblg

Are there any owners of the 2014 Mountain Aire that could comment on this issue?

nforus · 03-02-2014, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cucotx

I saw a video on YouTube the other day from an owner of a 2014 Mountain Aire coach. He was complaining that the 450 hp Cummins did not have enough power to get the coach up a 6 degree hill.

2014 Newmar Mountain Aire power problem - YouTube

Are there any owners of the 2014 Mountain Aire that could comment on this issue?

Hard to tell since the video didn't show how long the hill was, and what was being towed, and at what elevation. It would be interesting to know the RPM's, sounds like the motor got below the sweet spot.

PDR John · 03-02-2014, 06:50 PM

I'm thinking he is having a fuel or air problem. His coach isn't much heavier then mine and I don't have that problem.

It'll go has fast as I want to pour fuel through it. He needs to have Freightliner look at it.

lass · 03-02-2014, 06:58 PM

Curious why the OP joined today and immediately posted this as his first video. If you go to utube and read the details, it was uploaded by hartcool1 and I'm wondering if this OP is the same guy. He may have a legitimate gripe but is it Newmar bashing?????

SarahW · 03-02-2014, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lass

Curious why the OP joined today and immediately posted this as his first video. If you go to utube and read the details, it was uploaded by hartcool1 and I'm wondering if this OP is the same guy. He may have a legitimate gripe but is it Newmar bashing?????

I must have missed the "bashing." Whether it's his video or not, he's just asking if others have had the problem. Let's make a new member welcome.

**CLIFFTALL** · 03-02-2014, 07:17 PM

Thank you Sarah. My thoughts exactly.

"007" · 03-02-2014, 07:30 PM

Welcome to irv2.
Another location to ask is this forum or one of these chassis forums dependent which chassis it is.

tom chelbana · 03-02-2014, 07:43 PM

We have an 04 Essex with a 500 ISM. We were in Lake Tahoe 7000 plus and a new Mountain Aire from Florida came into the RV park with the same issue as you. He said he was down to 30mph on some grades in to Tahoe. When Essex was new we never were lower then 45 out here in the west were we do a lot of our travels. With your emissions you can't do anything with the exhaust which I did. But something I have been working with is water/methanol system from Snow Performance. I am working with another irv2 user on the Cummins page and you might follow what we are talking about. You can pick up at least 5 mph on 6plus% grades with the Snow system. I have seen 10mph on those grades out west were we are with a 50% methanol mix but since I am able to pull those kinds of grades at 58 to 60 in 5th thats what I am using. Only use system for 6plus% grades and that sounds like what you need or a KING AIRE. Tom

tom chelbana · 03-02-2014, 07:52 PM

Do want to check fuel filter and also look at air filter restriction gauge to make sure it's not above 17 or 18. From my experience there is small improvement in performance and boost with a air filter upgrade.

cucotx · 03-02-2014, 07:53 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by lass

Curious why the OP joined today and immediately posted this as his first video. If you go to utube and read the details, it was uploaded by hartcool1 and I'm wondering if this OP is the same guy. He may have a legitimate gripe but is it Newmar bashing?????

//////

Hi Iass,

Not bashing. I'm looking forward to buying an RV for full timing. I have done a lot of research and I have been impressed with Newmar as a company and the Mountain Aire as the RV to get. I love the full slide out, the Comfort Drive technology, the 1.5 baths, Oasis heating, etc etc. It's a beautiful RV. But, I did get concerned when I saw the video and the fact that Newmar did not seem to be proactive to look into and try to help fix the problem.

I knew about this forum, so I saw it as the right place to go to for answers.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly people do try to help others with questions in this forum.

Thank you.

**CLIFFTALL** · 03-02-2014, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cucotx

Quote: Originally Posted by lass Curious why the OP joined today and immediately posted this as his first video. If you go to utube and read the details, it was uploaded by hartcool1 and I'm wondering if this OP is the same guy. He may have a legitimate gripe but is it Newmar bashing????? ////// Hi Iass, Not bashing. I'm looking forward to buying an RV for full timing. I have done a lot of research and I have been impressed with Newmar as a company and the Mountain Aire as the RV to get. I love the full slide out, the Comfort Drive technology, the 1.5 baths, Oasis heating, etc etc. It's a beautiful RV. But, I did get concerned when I saw the video and the fact that Newmar did not seem to be proactive to look into and try to help fix the problem. I knew about this forum, so I saw it as the right place to go to for answers. I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly people do try to help others with questions in this forum. Thank you.

You're in the right place. Welcome to irv2.
Cliff

Luv2go · 03-02-2014, 08:02 PM

cucotx! With that relatively small hill there's definitely something wrong with his coach. I climb similar hills on the Mass turnpike at about 55 and routinely get passed by 400 and 450hp DP's going 65+. I could climb them at 65+ too if I wanted to listen to my V10 scream and get 2.2MPG!

I'm surprised he says that Newmar is not interested, my experience with them is quite different. They are very responsive and interested in making sure I'm happy, both during the warranty period and after it. For sure Freightliner would be interested in helping him, they should be able to diagnose the issue fairly quickly.

Sky_Boss · 03-02-2014, 08:19 PM

I don't know that I have enough mountain experience to be too critical but...

One thing that I do is actively control the tranny. When I went to the Spartan owner's course, we were taught that while the tranny is smart...it ain't that smart. I attacked the few big grades of around 6% that I have run into early with a manual down shift to 5th and punched the RPM right up to 2000-2100. That almost immediately reduced my water temp 20* and shortly later my tranny fluid temp dropped about the same. I will punch down a gear after RPM get below 2000 and repeat as needed. I guess I'm just not worried about what speed that makes.

Now...this was over Mount Eagle on I-24 in TN so elevation was not excessive at all. I am running at about 40,500# GCWR with my toad with a 400 HP Cummins ISL.

I'm just thinking that I would have considered manually doing the same in his situation. Not sure it is right but it seems to work for me.

nforus · 03-02-2014, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky_Boss

I don't know that I have enough mountain experience to be too critical but...

One thing that I do is actively control the tranny. When I went to the Spartan owner's course, we were taught that while the tranny is smart...it ain't that smart. I attacked the few big grades of around 6% that I have run into early with a manual down shift to 5th and punched the RPM right up to 2000-2100. That almost immediately reduced my water temp 20* and shortly later my tranny fluid temp dropped about the same. I will punch down a gear after RPM get below 2000 and repeat as needed. I guess I'm just not worried about what speed that makes.

Now...this was over Mount Eagle on I-24 in TN so elevation was not excessive at all. I am running at about 40,500# GCWR with my toad with a 400 HP Cummins ISL.

I'm just thinking that I would have considered manually doing the same in his situation. Not sure it is right but it seems to work for me.

X2 Sky_Boss,

Manage the RPM's, and don't push the tranny/water temp and you'll go over the hill as fast as you can safely. Or just slow down and take it easy. It's the downhill side of the mountain that we pay the most attention to!!