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10-28-2016, 10:05 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fulltime, USA
Posts: 16,706
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmytigg
New to RV world and wondering if owning a F.R.E.D. is a bad decision apart from the noise level in the front end. Do you think it has as much power as a Diesel Pusher or no? Is it easer to do self maintenance on vs. a pusher? Thank you for your help!
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Well, Jimmy, there are some that have never owned or driven a FRED that say they are noisy by pure assumption. I owned and loved my Serrano FRED for 2.5 years!
I suggest you test drive everything!
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10-28-2016, 01:18 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Anacortes, WA (Stick & Brick)
Posts: 2,643
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No experience with an RV FRED, but I had 2+ years driving the transit coach version (International chassis). What a gutless wonder it was. I think half the power went into generating the noise!
There was an uphill on-ramp to I-5 southbound in Bellingham on one route and no matter what technique I used, the best merge speed I could achieve was about 15 mph. That's not fun when you're trying to merge onto a very busy, two-lane freeway!
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Frank Damp -Anacortes, WA,(DW- Eileen)
ex-pat Brits (1968) and ex-RVers.
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10-28-2016, 07:48 PM
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#17
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,678
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About the only thing a FRED and a DP have in common is a diesel engine. In all other regards, a FRED is essentially the same as a Front Gasser (FREG?). Leaf spring suspension, hydraulic brakes, etc. The Workhorse W22D is the same as te gas W22 except for mounting a Navistar diesel. However, the Freightliner FRED is a "purpose built" diesel straight rail chassis, so maybe a bit more robust.
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Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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10-28-2016, 08:49 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 608
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181
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FREDs typically are a light weight chassis with a diesel added so his point is somewhat valid, none of the HD units in the pictures have a light chassis with independent suspension. BTW the firetruck is a mid-engine.
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1997 Country Coach Intrigue Horizon 36' (The Dinosaur Burner)
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10-28-2016, 11:42 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fulltime, USA
Posts: 16,706
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A FRED is a gasser with a superior motor! They are neither gassers nor pushers. Nuff said?
FREDs don't deserve to be under rated for what they are.
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10-29-2016, 12:01 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Chula Vista, Ca.
Posts: 538
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All I know about FRED RVs is that I have always thought the Monaco Vesta was a really cool looking unit, inside and out.
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10-29-2016, 12:03 AM
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#21
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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A front engine Diesel RV? Oh yeah...see the Truck Conversion pages here on iRV2.
They can be Class 5, 6, 7 or 8 trucks (from below to well above the GVWR's of all the Class A DP Chassis)...like this Class 8:
...to this Class 6
Here's my dream...
No DP will have an 80,000lb GCWR
Safe travels
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10-29-2016, 05:55 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 608
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scarab0088
A front engine Diesel RV? Oh yeah...see the Truck Conversion pages here on iRV2.
They can be Class 5, 6, 7 or 8 trucks (from below to well above the GVWR's of all the Class A DP Chassis)...like this Class 8:
Attachment 142932
To this Class 6:
Attachment 142933
Here's my dream...
Attachment 142934
No DP will have an 80,000lb GCWR
Safe travels
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2 Class 8 Super Cs and some exotic that cost more than any DP on the market are not FREDs,
RV Tech Library - The FRED Chassis
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1997 Country Coach Intrigue Horizon 36' (The Dinosaur Burner)
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10-29-2016, 10:06 AM
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#23
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 98
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Our older Class A gas coach is very noisy on the road. I yearn for a diesel pusher, partly because of the noise and partly because I want a heavier-duty, more stable platform with better handling.
With that said, I am also tempted by the Super C category, those with a Freightliner truck style chassis with the front fenders and hood that tip up for service like most of the trucks do. That setup gives the best access for maintenance of the engine and related items. Whjle there would be some engine noise, I suspect it would not be as bad as the FRED styles that have the engine in (or under) the cockpit area with you.
Besides, I think those Super C units with the truck-style cab, hood and fenders just plain look cool! I like the looks of the Freightliners, but can you get me one in a Kenworth or a Peterbilt?
__________________
Our "Cottage on Wheels" is a
1998 Southwind 32V on GM Chassis
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10-29-2016, 11:52 AM
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#24
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 92TNTRacing
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OK, so...in the interests of being specific (although the OP never excluded Super C's), having actually had experience with a Class A with a FRED Chassis (2009 Damon Outlaw), IMHO they are not really worth the extra cost and effort...which is probably why it is out of production.
First, the term "F.R.E.D." was trademarked by Freightliner for their MC-L chassis, but Workhorse produced the W22D about the same time and many erroneously called it a F.R.E.D.
What Dave and Gary said above is totally true...the MC-L had leaf spring suspensions front and rear and hydroboost hydraulic brakes carrying a Cummins/Allison power-set (5.9L and later 6.7L straight 6). It was basically just like a really big Cummins powered pick-up truck. The W22D was very similar in design, using the IH/Navistar Maxxforce V8 Diesel. These were good strong chassis, in 27K and 22K GVWR.
There was never any bigger engines offered that I ever found.
Monaco, Tiffin, Damon and Thor (maybe others) offered these chassis in RV's made around 2008-2011.
In an apples-to-apples comparison (2009 Outlaw 3611, available in Ford F53, Workhorse W24 or Freightliner FRED), the FRED offered only slightly better MPG than the Ford, but could not beat the W24's GM 8.1L/Allison 6speed for MPG. The drive-ability was equal with extra sound absorbing material placed in the doghouse, but heat was an issue (needed extra shielding). The W24 and F53 had better acceleration than the FRED, but the FRED had the highest GVWR with 27,000lb.
NADA puts a $3,500 premium on the FRED version of the Outlaw for sale price. This is due to the obvious GVWR boost, but also because of the Diesel vs. gas argument...those who want Diesel engines willing are pay to for it.
Best luck to the OP and safe travels to all
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10-29-2016, 02:32 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 309
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Not sure but I think turning radius is tighter on the dips, but a couple extra shimmys at the campground probabably not a big deal. Maybe once in a while in a pinch city driving.
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John and Vicki,2004 Winne Vectra 350 Cummins, 10k lb Blu Ox tow bar , 04 Dodge Ram 1500 4wd toad
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10-29-2016, 02:46 PM
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#26
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,771
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If for no other reason, I want the noise from that engine to be 40' behind me!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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10-29-2016, 04:25 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 273
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scarab0088
A front engine Diesel RV? Oh yeah...see the Truck Conversion pages here on iRV2.
They can be Class 5, 6, 7 or 8 trucks (from below to well above the GVWR's of all the Class A DP Chassis)...like this Class 8:
Attachment 142932
...to this Class 6
Attachment 142933
Here's my dream...
Attachment 142934
No DP will have an 80,000lb GCWR
Safe travels
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OK, that Class 8 Super C that looks like a Western Star front end...is that produced or is it a one off...I love it!
__________________
2016 Tiffin Phaeton 40AH
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10-29-2016, 04:41 PM
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#28
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wobster
OK, that Class 8 Super C that looks like a Western Star front end...is that produced or is it a one off...I love it!
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Oh Yeah! Isn't it beautiful?
It is a Showhauler product on the IH/Navistar "LoneStar" truck
PRODUCTS - Showhauler Motorhome Conversions
Here it is in grey:
http://www.showhauler.com/products/motorhomes/
We are not affiliated, but I (personally) would pick a MDT or HDT truck conversion if upgrading our RV...these Super C's start at Class 5's equal in price to many mainstream gas Class A's and go up...Surely not out of the reach of many buyers.
Here's a MDT using the IH TerraStar cab/chassis:
Safe travels
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