Community Forums

ehackney · 11-19-2006, 07:05 AM

We'er still looking at a 33-foot 2000 Tiffin Allegro Bay with a single slide. This one has the Vortec 454 Chevy engine? Is that enough power for this coach? We travel mostly in the west, which means mountains. We'll be pulling a Honda CRV, too.

Thanks in advance,

Hack
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ehackney · 11-19-2006, 07:05 AM

We'er still looking at a 33-foot 2000 Tiffin Allegro Bay with a single slide. This one has the Vortec 454 Chevy engine? Is that enough power for this coach? We travel mostly in the west, which means mountains. We'll be pulling a Honda CRV, too.

Thanks in advance,

Hack
--//--

Gary RVRoamer · 11-19-2006, 07:40 AM

The engine is powerful enough but it has only a four speed transmission. You will run out of gears to properly deliver that power to the wheels on long steep grades. You would be much better off if you could find one with the 8.1L engine and a 5 or 6 speed Allison (W20/W22 Workhorse chassis rather than the P30 under the 2000. That would mean stepping up to a 2002 or later, though, so there is a cost involved.

But that doesn't mean you can't use it in the West - just that you will be slow on the hills and have to be cautious about overheating. A 33 foot Allegro Bay should not be too heavy,even with a CRV on the back.

Paulin · 11-19-2006, 08:50 AM

Hack,

We used to own a 30 foot, 1996 MH with the 454CID fuel injected motor and we towed a Jeep Cherokee all over the west without any problems. We did add a Banks exhaust system and the performance was greatly improved. The rig never overheated, but we also added some DIY air dams to prevent incoming air from escaping and thereby pushing more of it through the radiator.

The biggerst problem with this MH was that it was on the P30 chassis and only had a 190" wheelbase. This chassis had a narrow front track and independent front suspension. We added about $1800 of after market suspension upgrades (trac bar, Safe-T- Plus, Bilstein shocks, etc.) and the handling was much better.

The MH you are looking at will probably have a longer wheelbase and may be on the P32 chassis which has a wider front track. And, with the addition of a Banks or other performance exhaust system, it should be fine.