Buying a 1998 american tradition 40tvs

thank you i have not seen the motor home yet but that was from the vin The vin also says its a spratan/alpine now what the odometer says 64k but the fax ck says 145k two years ago any ideas

I cannot imagine why this 98 Tradition would have the small block Cummins.

All 98 Americans were C8.3 side radiator Cummins with Allison 3060 six speed transmissions.

The single slide VS versions have a GVWR of 31,000 pounds and the C8.3 has plenty of power and is truly bullet proof mechanical engine.

If an engine replacement was needed it must have been due to poor maintenance. If a small block 5.9 was selected as a replacement, that must have been due to a thin wallet.

Having said all of the above, it may be that the seller is simply mistaken.

If it indeed powered by the small block, you can find another American of that vintage. If it were me, I would look for an Eagle in order to have a fiberglass roof, pantograph cargo doors (a la Prevost or a tour bus) and the generator on a slide.

98's were the last year of the mechanical C8.3....and they are sweet to their owners!

The 5.9 is a very reliable Cummins engine, probably good for about 250000 to 500000 miles. It will also give you better fuel mileage than the 8.3. If you find it doesn't pull wheelies from the light like you expected, you can add Banks kits. Our first DP had a 5.9 and was totally ok. remember, the 1998 weighs less than the newer coaches, and doesn't have as much pollution equipment on it. One thing you could check is whether it is the "mechanical" or "electronic" version. Both are the same basic engine, the phrases refer to the type of fuel injection I believe.

mccoydetlef wrote:
ok need HELP QUICK the 1998 american tradition i plan to buy has a5.9 cummins really i thought all the american motorhomes had a 8,3 help should i buy it

As I said in my earlier post, my American Dream had an 8.3 Cummins with a side radiator. I personally would not want the 5.9 because it has a lower torque rating and possibly hp too. The 8.3 did okay power wise, but I wouldn't have wanted any less.

Does this 5.9 have a side radiator?

ok need HELP QUICK the 1998 american tradition i plan to buy has a5.9 cummins really i thought all the american motorhomes had a 8,3 help should i buy it

Thanks Ido all my own work as much as i can Has alot of clear coat peeling 63k needs wheel simulators beside good have to pick-up and drive back about 700 miles thanks look forward

We had a used 03 Tradition and liked it a lot. Support from American and its new parent company was great at the time. It was on a spartan chassis with IFS and that also was very nice. One of the things about that year would be that it still had the rubber roof. It should be looked at carefully as some I have seen had shrunk and pulled out at the front or along the sides a little and had leaked. Other than that, American is a well built quality coach. You might also check for any delamination in the fiberglass exterior. And as others have stated, maintenance is important. Good luck in looking. Hope this may help, Happy trails Bert

Much of the answer on that age coach is "how has it been maintained/cared for"?

Second question is how much mechanical work do YOU do? If you hire it all out, an older coach, even a high end coach can be an expensive proposition.

I bought a 1995 American Dream in 2003 and kept it for 10 years. It was a very solidly built coach with quality material and workmanship throughout. It still had the original AC's, water heater, micro, washer/dryer, furnaces, etc, when I sold it and they all worked perfectly.

It had a Spartan chassis with an 8.3 Cummins. I had the normal expense of regular scheduled maintenance of fluids, filters, etc. I did have to replace an alternator and serpentine belt, but those were the only other expenses.


In comparison to my Allegro Bus(which I think has good quality materials)I would say that the American was a little more robust in materials.

Mitchell’s made one hell of a coach. :R