We are about to purchase a Class A front end diesel motorhome. We love the motorhome as it is well maintained and has all the features we are looking for. Our concern is the front-end diesel engine. It's a little noisier than the rear-end diesels. Would love to have some feedback from someone who owns a FRED and how they like it.

We had a FRED Gulfstream and would caution you to look into several issues before you buy. Because the engine is upfront, and we had a leafspring suspension rather than air ride, the ride was very rough and noisy. The windshield popped out, the wall and floor separated near the passenger seat, and we attributed these issues to the rough ride. We were towing a Smart Car and the front end of the motorhome would porpoise badly on undulating road surfaces (like long bridges in Louisiana). We wouldn't buy another one for these reasons. YMMV.

Welcome to the forums. That advanced search box at the top has lot's of info so put "Fred" , archive more than a year, and class A for lots of reading. The above post sums it up pretty well.

I owned a FRED Kountry Star and found it to be just fine. Any coach less than 39 feet pretty much rides the same on springs or bags. Wheel base makes the big difference. As for noise, it was louder but not any worse than a pickup truck. Mileage was a plus, always got 8.5 when towing. I would have another if the floor plan fit my purpose.

The front end diesel will be a LOT noisier than a rear.

chuckftboy wrote:I owned a FRED Kountry Star and found it to be just fine. Any coach less than 39 feet pretty much rides the same on springs or bags. Wheel base makes the big difference. As for noise, it was louder but not any worse than a pickup truck. Mileage was a plus, always got 8.5 when towing. I would have another if the floor plan fit my purpose.I cannot quite agree, I have had both, Springs and Airbags, Airbags a lot smoother.Terry

Front End Diesel Class A | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

ferndaleflyer
Explorer III
Jun 19, 2015
I saw a FRED for sale here in NC last night on Craigs list.....seemed pretty cheap to me....
PastorCharlie
Explorer
Jun 19, 2015
The FREDs that Newmar built were on a Freightliner Chassis.
Ringer
Explorer
Jun 19, 2015
mike brez wrote:
If it was so good they would still be making them.

Totally agree. Tiffin (for example) stopped producing FREDS after model year 2010.
Effy
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2015
Might be helpful to tell us specifically what you are looking to buy. Some FREDs had serious issues, others didn't.
mike_brez
Explorer
Jun 17, 2015
If it was so good they would still be making them.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Jun 17, 2015
For less than $100 you can buy underhood insulation to make the engine noise disappear.
tatest
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2015
In the pecking order, it is just an A gasser that happens to have a (Cummins ISB) diesel engine. The rest of the chassis technology is A gasser.

In the years these FREDs were produced, I would prefer the gasser, because the alternative GM and Ford . gas engines were more quiet at idle and cruise, a bit more powerful than the Cummins in the rare situations when peak power was needed. However, when you stomp on it to demand peak performance for a while, the Cummins diesel will top itself out at 3000 rpm, the GM up to about 4000, and the Ford a bit over 5000 rpm, which can be pretty noisy in an external cooler kicks in.

People who have the Freds most likely prefer them, it is parallel to the gas vs diesel argument for passenger cars today.
vegasfoodguy
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2015
chuckftboy wrote:
I owned a FRED Kountry Star and found it to be just fine. Any coach less than 39 feet pretty much rides the same on springs or bags. Wheel base makes the big difference. As for noise, it was louder but not any worse than a pickup truck. Mileage was a plus, always got 8.5 when towing. I would have another if the floor plan fit my purpose.

I cannot quite agree, I have had both, Springs and Airbags, Airbags a lot smoother.

Terry
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jun 17, 2015
The front end diesel will be a LOT noisier than a rear.
chuckftboy
Explorer
Jun 17, 2015
I owned a FRED Kountry Star and found it to be just fine. Any coach less than 39 feet pretty much rides the same on springs or bags. Wheel base makes the big difference. As for noise, it was louder but not any worse than a pickup truck. Mileage was a plus, always got 8.5 when towing. I would have another if the floor plan fit my purpose.