Community Forums

Pusherman · 12-04-2014, 05:41 PM

Freightliner showed a prototype chassis at the Louisville RVIA show this week. It had the new Cummins ISV 5.0L 8 cylinder diesel engine mated to an Allison 2000 tranny.

The Engine produces 275 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque. It is projected to have a 30% improvement in fuel mileage over an ISB. By my numbers, if you're getting 10 mpg on your ISB, this chassis is predicted to get 13 mpg.

Chassis had air suspension, air brakes, front disc brakes, on 19.5" tires.

GVWR was 24000 lbs (I think). Chassis was a demo to the OEM body builders as a concept chassis. It's intended for the smaller diesel motorhome market, maybe 28-34'. No body builder was showing anything with this chassis at the show. Again, it was a concept chassis, but fun to look at!

I'm pulling these numbers from my memory, so if I got them slightly off, I apologize to Freightliner. Cudo's to FL for a new concept in small DP chassis's.

It will be exciting to see if this chassis shows up underneath a coach in another year.

Sorry, no pics (my bad).

Scarab0088 · 12-05-2014, 01:17 AM

Was it a Front Engine Diesel (FRED)?

Freightliner is considering that for the delivery/box truck segment:
Freightliner to use the 5.0L Cummins V8 along with Nissan? - TFLTruck.com: Truck News, Views & Reviews | The Fast Lane TruckTFLTruck.com: Truck News, Views & Reviews | The Fast Lane Truck

And they have always offered a FRED with the 6.7L Diesel...just no buyers.
Freightliner Motorhome Chassis ? FRED Chassis

Heck, Freightliner even offered a Hybrid/Diesel chassis back in 2010. Can you imagine getting 15-20mpg in Class "A"? Again...no buyers.
http://freightlinerchassis.com/RV-Ch...nu-id-150.html

Safe travels

Pusherman · 12-05-2014, 05:31 PM

Rear-engine Diesel Pusher. NoFRED's in sight anywhere.

The concept chassis was designed for smaller, more efficient DP motorhomes.

andyh · 12-08-2014, 08:03 PM

Unless you prefer to drive your RV in stop and go traffic, a hybrid would not give you enough fuel economy advantage to offset the cost.

Scarab0088 · 12-08-2014, 08:26 PM

I totally disagree with the opinion above. We have a Hybrid SUV at home (and it's our toad) and a Hybrid car for work.

They both get driven mostly on the highway and the mileage is dramatically higher than the just-gas HP equal models...like 30-32mpg vs. 17-18mpg for the SUV.

The electric motor is always there to help pass and climb and the re-gen system saves brakes and harvests power at each slow-down or hill descent. I can only guess how efficient a Diesel-hybrid would be(?)

There are many misunderstandings about hybrid vehicles in America and sadly these misunderstandings have caused only the Prius to boom in this country.

Safe travels

Pusherman · 12-09-2014, 05:40 PM

No discussion from Freightliner on a hybrid chassis. Don't know where that came from.

Scarab0088 · 12-09-2014, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pusherman

No discussion from Freightliner on a hybrid chassis. Don't know where that came from.

Oh, ye of little faith...see:
http://freightlinerchassis.com/docum...4151000000.pdf
and
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f57/freig...ed-tm-738.html
and pictures
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f26/hybri...ble-61130.html
and reviews:
Freightliner Introduces First Hybrid-Electric Class A Motorhome | Domestic Fuel

It's all old news. Started in 2007...then we all know what happened to the RV business in 2008

Safe travels

Pusherman · 12-10-2014, 05:32 PM

No discussion from Freightliner on a hybrid chassis at the Lousiville RVIA show which I attended last week. My post was based on what was shown at the latest RVIA show.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pusherman

Freightliner showed a prototype chassis at the Louisville RVIA show this week. It had the new Cummins ISV 5.0L 8 cylinder diesel engine mated to an Allison 2000 tranny.

The Engine produces 275 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque. It is projected to have a 30% improvement in fuel mileage over an ISB. By my numbers, if you're getting 10 mpg on your ISB, this chassis is predicted to get 13 mpg.

Chassis had air suspension, air brakes, front disc brakes, on 19.5" tires.

GVWR was 24000 lbs (I think). Chassis was a demo to the OEM body builders as a concept chassis. It's intended for the smaller diesel motorhome market, maybe 28-34'. No body builder was showing anything with this chassis at the show. Again, it was a concept chassis, but fun to look at!

I'm pulling these numbers from my memory, so if I got them slightly off, I apologize to Freightliner. Cudo's to FL for a new concept in small DP chassis's.

It will be exciting to see if this chassis shows up underneath a coach in another year.

Sorry, no pics (my bad).

Mekanic · 12-10-2014, 06:16 PM

The 5.0L diesel would be a good idea. I like Cummins engines.
That is a very good idea to target such a big hole in the market.
(Smaller RV with diesels.)

I just not so sure I'd want it wrapped in a Freightliner. That is somewhat unfair, It not Freightliner I'd not trust but their parent company Daimler.

After seeing what has become of the Frieghtliner and Thomas School Buses, I have lost all faith in anyone under that umbrella