38 ' gas chassis

MountainAir05 wrote:
Our Mountainaire is list at 37.5 but measure more. Its on the F53. Has plenty of power. As most will say could use another 100 horses but have not had any issues with towing or climbing the grades out West. As other stated check the empty weight so you know how much you can load up. My vehicle came with 19.5 and have no issues with weight. Newmar balance it out pretty good.

I had a similar Mountain Aire, Ford V10, 1999. Worked great pulling a Chevy Colorada 4x4 crew cab, about 7mpg.

I have a 39 foot adventurer on the W 24 chassis. It handles great. I have crossed the Rockies several times including Teton pass, plenty of power. I did better than my two friends DP's. I get 7,9 mpg.

Our Mountainaire is list at 37.5 but measure more. Its on the F53. Has plenty of power. As most will say could use another 100 horses but have not had any issues with towing or climbing the grades out West. As other stated check the empty weight so you know how much you can load up. My vehicle came with 19.5 and have no issues with weight. Newmar balance it out pretty good.

Our coach is on the W22 platform with the 8.1 Couldn't drive or handle better and has NO mods done to the chassis. More then enough power to handle the coach and the towed. From my understanding the Mountain Aires were the heaviest gas coaches ever manufactured.

My almost 35 ft is on a 24,000 lb chassis 22.5 wheels. Just pulled over scale couple of days ago. Fully loaded ready to go RVing with my addition of W/D but no water in tank weighed in at 21,780 lb. I was surprised with all the junk my DW drags along. BTW. Those were WY highway patrol scales on WY120 near Meteetsie turn off east of Cody. No body is there. Pull on the scale and read through the window. Nice to have it available. Just useless info if you are in that area.

WyoTraveler wrote:
Keep in mind when they jump up to the longer gas rig they put them on 26,000 lb chassis. The rear axle is 5.2 instead of 4.3 if I recall so you get more power than the lighter shorter chassis.

Also the coach should have 22.5" tires with Alcoa rims rather than 19.5"/steel rolling stock. Between the high ratio differential and larger diameter tires the power train will get you down the road just fine. The longer wheel base will have a bit wider turning radius.

Just watch the weights of the model you are looking at. Probably will be a 22,000 GVWR chassis with a 26,000 GCWR. The unknowns are the empty weight, how much stuff you plan to pack in and if you tow something what it weights. The coach might be a bit closer to the limits than what you are used too.

Keep in mind when they jump up to the longer gas rig they put them on 26,000 lb chassis. The rear axle is 5.2 instead of 4.3 if I recall so you get more power than the lighter shorter chassis.