Looking again at a switch from fifth wheel to motor home again, looked around last year and was very disappointed with quality. My current question is for those that have larger gas motor homes on the ford chassis 26K and how they handle the load? It seems from my test drives of coaches in the 36 foot range were taxing the chassis. I have found two floor plans that we like but they are 38 footers, the Winnebago adventurer 38 Q and the Itasca same model as well as the newmar canyon star 3914 . Just looking for real world advise on how these coaches handle long grades towing a small suv or should I be looking at a diesel in this size? Thanks Mike

one thing to consider - biggest reason I would not want a 38 foot GAS coach is having to navigate regular gas stations with such a large coach with a toad. Being able to use the trucker pumps is a huge factor for me when considering a coach.

Devocamper wrote:Looking again at a switch from fifth wheel to motor home again, looked around last year and was very disappointed with quality. My current question is for those that have larger gas motor homes on the ford chassis 26K and how they handle the load? It seems from my test drives of coaches in the 36 foot range were taxing the chassis. I have found two floor plans that we like but they are 38 footers, the Winnebago adventurer 38 Q and the Itasca same model as well as the newmar canyon star 3914 . Just looking for real world advise on how these coaches handle long grades towing a small suv or should I be looking at a diesel in this size? Thanks Mikewe have a 2016 Itasca Suncruiser 38Q-U1. this is essentially a 2015 38Q made for just a short time in '16 before the U2 models were produced. apart from a totally different cab and a 6-speed tranny, the U1 model is identical to the 2015 F53. we've got a bit over 5K miles on it in the past 12-months and so far, so good. we tow a 3800-lb Jeep Liberty and while we haven't pulled over the rockies or Appalachians yet we have pulled up some grade, most notably the climb up SB I-17 from Camp Verde, AZ. while we didn't make that climb as fast as I would've liked (55-mph) about the slowest we got was 30-35 mph. most of the time we were 40-45 mph. not bad. i was in 2nd most of the time but didn't want to tax the engine too much and so dumped it down to 1st in the steepest parts.

We tried a few with a gas and a few with diesel. I didn't like the was the ford handled. We ended up with a 35 ft Winnebago an a workhorse chassis. Getting to big and still have the lighter chassis I what I didn't like. Look at the carrying capacity and see how much is left over after they put the house on. Some are right at the limit before you start putting anything in it.

Devocamper wrote:Looking again at a switch from fifth wheel to motor home again, looked around last year and was very disappointed with quality. My current question is for those that have larger gas motor homes on the ford chassis 26K and how they handle the load? It seems from my test drives of coaches in the 36 foot range were taxing the chassis. I have found two floor plans that we like but they are 38 footers, the Winnebago adventurer 38 Q and the Itasca same model as well as the newmar canyon star 3914 . Just looking for real world advise on how these coaches handle long grades towing a small suv or should I be looking at a diesel in this size? Thanks Mikeyou are correct you should be looking for diesel pusher @37ft and longer and make sure you have a ISC minimum and preferable ISL if going that route

K Charles wrote:We tried a few with a gas and a few with diesel. I didn't like the was the ford handled. We ended up with a 35 ft Winnebago an a workhorse chassis. Getting to big and still have the lighter chassis I what I didn't like. Look at the carrying capacity and see how much is left over after they put the house on. Some are right at the limit before you start putting anything in it.that can be true. when we were searching for a new MH back in 2000 one model that we were very interested in ended up being overweight on the rear axle the moment we stepped inside. as a result I am very weight conscious. with a full load of fuel, fresh water, lp, food, clothing, supplies, people, pets and stuff on our 2016 38Q-U1 F53 chassis I have just under 900-lbs of payload left on the rear axle and and about 1500-lbs on the front. there are just the two of us and Maggie the beagle. but the OP would be wise to not depend on the sales critter or the sticker in the closet for weight information (if buying new) and instead insist on taking the MH to a certified scale to determine the empty weight. the wet weight can then be calculated. our dealer was happy to do this. the empty weight of our specific MH was 6800 on the front (2200-lbs payload) and 14,000-rear (3500-lbs payload). the measured wet weight (full tanks of fuel, fresh water and LP) was 6295 on the front (2075-lbs payload) and 15,100 on the rear (2400-lbs payload). the actual wet weight was roughly the same as my calculated wet weight.

Ford Gas Chassis for 38 footers ? | Good Sam Community

wildviking
Explorer
Sep 03, 2016
usersmanual wrote:
I guess I will start to look at some used pushers, I did test drive a forenza and the Itasca model but they also seemed under power at 340 HP, the search goes on. Tahnks again for all you help
MIke

Yes That's why I have suggested to the distain of some that you try and find at least a 400HP unit when thinking DP MH

Plenty of very good motorhomes with out 400 HP Sure if your only goal is to get to the top of the pass first why stop at 400 hp when you can go bigger? That 340 will be just fine 360 will be better. This discussion has been going on for years and its always who has the bigger one LOL. We test drove different rigs with bigger and smaller engines diesel as well as gas.
Dont forget the added cost of diesel service go to freightliner get a quote on a full service coolant flush transmission service. just because you do not put the miles on you still need it done.

Now if i start running the motorhome 20 thousand or more miles a year I might not have wanted to go for gas but we do not do that.
usersmanual
Explorer
Sep 03, 2016
Goldencrazy wrote:
Always amazed at how many responses of people who don't own one. I have a 2016 38Q. It is fantastic and plenty of power. I had smaller gas before the six speed and they were fine but this is fantastic. Up and over Monteagle without trouble. Haven't been west yet.

BINGO Quote: Haven't been west yet.
Goldencrazy
Explorer
Sep 03, 2016
Always amazed at how many responses of people who don't own one. I have a 2016 38Q. It is fantastic and plenty of power. I had smaller gas before the six speed and they were fine but this is fantastic. Up and over Monteagle without trouble. Haven't been west yet.
Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Sep 03, 2016
The torque curve is much better - but I agree, more is ALWAYS better.

I really don't have a dog in this hunt, as we have a Cummins ISL in ours. 400HP, 1200 Torque.

I was just clarifying some misinformation that was being compared.
timmac
Explorer
Sep 03, 2016
Bruce Brown wrote:

And not only has the chassis changed, even the engine specs have changed. The newer V10s are rated at a lower HP, yet torque is up. Torque is what you need in MH duty.

.

The Torque is only up 2 to 3 ft lbs, I don't think that does much.

I have a 33 ft 08 Bounder with the V-10 with Banks Power Pack and 5 Star Tuning rated at 420 hp and 510 lbs of torque and I tow 6000 lbs and even than I feel its at max when I hit the big hills, a 38 foot with slides towing 4000 lbs will have problems in the big hills, yes it can do it but the wear and tear on the motor will not be good in the long run.

Its better to have spare HP/Torque than to use every bit moving down the road.
rk911
Explorer
Sep 02, 2016
wildviking wrote:
BY the way for those that have a issue with getting gas at gas stations you can get a card lock card like pacific pride and they all have gas as well as diesel and never a problem at the pumps. My local pacific pride dealer is where we get all our fuel for all our rigs. except the new nissan leaf our little toy car.

yup, we have that card. don't use it much mostly 'cuz the prices aren't posted...or at least they didn't used to be posted. but other than that it is a very good alternative.
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Sep 02, 2016
I prefer the RP (rocket propelled) motorhome.
usersmanual
Explorer
Sep 02, 2016
I guess I will start to look at some used pushers, I did test drive a forenza and the Itasca model but they also seemed under power at 340 HP, the search goes on. Tahnks again for all you help
MIke

Yes That's why I have suggested to the distain of some that you try and find at least a 400HP unit when thinking DP MH
hanko
Explorer
Sep 02, 2016
usersmanual wrote:
Devocamper wrote:
Thank you all for the replies they all are very helpful, we currently have a 35' fifth wheel and tow it with a one ton diesel so I get the power and torque comparisons. From the units I have test driven I also understand the high RPM and heat and noise in the cab area and the handling issues that I think are the same on most gas coaches. We spend between 3 and four months in our current fifth wheel a year so what ever we do will get used. The problem I have found is that having had the fifth wheel with a residential type floor plan which we like very much (don't have to sit sideways or break your neck to see the TV) there are not many floor plans in gas coaches like that so that's why the 38Q and the newmar 3914 are what I was looking at thinking the motorhome would be easier as we get older , with leveling jacks, on board generator and maybe a bit easier to setup since do a lot of dry camping , I guess I will start to look at some used pushers, I did test drive a forenza and the Itasca model but they also seemed under power at 340 HP, the search goes on. Tahnks again for all you help
MIke

Like I already suggested Don't go below 400HP even in a 38ft pusher
theres tons of Diesel floor plans out there with mid living area eye level Tv system etc.I have a 2008 AB with a 42 inch mid MH Tv system
and slides opposing so its just like home for room

BS
usersmanual
Explorer
Sep 02, 2016
wildviking wrote:
RedJeep wrote:
FWIW. My motorhome is a bit smaller, 2008 36 foot f53. I tow a 5k lbs toad. Just did a coast to coast 9k miles trip this summer. On some big hills DPs would pass me and some I would pass. I travel with a full water tank. I'm happy with my setup. I've had diesels. I don't see an issue with gassing up at regular pumps.

We just sold our DP and bought a new gas 2016 36 ft 3 slide winnie. Thought I would really miss the DP but comparing this to the diesel it handles well, rides well, goes up the hill loaded to my house at the same speed the DP does. I suppose when I get in the mountains i may notice a difference in speed so it may take me 10- 15 minutes longer to get to eastern washington over hwy 20? I bet it will not even be 10 minutes in 150 miles because how many miles are you driving up hill. What I did notice was the cost difference. So I guess for now we will enjoy the gas RV and if and when we decide to start driving 20000 miles or so a year I may be tempted to get a DP again. But it would be tough to pull the wife out of the floorplan she loves. And to us its all about the floor plan as when the rig is parked it does not matter what engine is in it.

But again that's not the point.what DP did u sell? tons of useless poor powered etc DP out there..just because u have a DP means nothing as there far from equal. DP units for the most part have air ride, high quality cabinets,larger fuel tanks, better brakes.heavier sidewalls, better storage, heavier floors, no engine heat or noise(#1)
better seats,better options,double to triple the tow capacity
mine has a 15K hitch system from the factory and much better power to weight ration than any 320HP V10 has
NOW that being said there a hell of a lot more money and that's the main issue for most all people