I don't get why many more FREDS aren't offered.

Roadtech wrote:
Probably a dumb question but, Why aren't there rear engine gas motorhomes available. Eliminates the noise problem and better front layout.

They did that a bunch of years ago along with a front wheel dr type that used a Toronado engine/trans axle setup. GMC I think. I think one of the rear engine gassers had the radiator up front and was a plumbers nightmare. The brands escape me now but I still see them on the road every now and then.

Ron

vacuumbed wrote:

Roadtech wrote:
Probably a dumb question but, Why aren't there rear engine gas motorhomes available. Eliminates the noise problem and better front layout.

The old VW bugs were that way, but my modern day 2003 Cadillac is much quieter!

I'm guessing that the air cooling has something to do with it, but it's just a guess

Lawrence

Roadtech wrote:
Probably a dumb question but, Why aren't there rear engine gas motorhomes available. Eliminates the noise problem and better front layout.

The old VW bugs were that way, but my modern day 2003 Cadillac is much quieter!

Probably a dumb question but, Why aren't there rear engine gas motorhomes available. Eliminates the noise problem and better front layout.

MrWizard wrote:
off topic

my brother custom ordered his 1969 Mustang mach 1, when he bought it

he still owned that car when he died Xmas day 2012 "colon cancer"

he and his wife had His & Her 69 Mustangs

That's way cool. I wish I was old enough to do business in a Ford dealership in the 1969~1970 time frame, but I wasn't born until 1971. Oh well.

off topic

my brother custom ordered his 1969 Mustang mach 1, when he bought it

he still owned that car when he died Xmas day 2012 "colon cancer"

he and his wife had His & Her 69 Mustangs

mowermech wrote:
It is very simple: The "bean counters" in Marketing!
THEY don't think a FRED will sell, so the company won't make them.
Why is it difficult to find a standard cab pickup? Marketing!
Why is it difficult to find a 4X2 pickup? Marketing!
Why are the majority of new pickups on the lots 4-door cab? Because Marketing says that is what MOST consumers want!
Why are most (in some brands, ALL) pickups automatic transmission, a manual is no longer available? Again, Marketing says very few people want a manual, so we won't build ANY!
Remember the "bad old days" when you could walk into a dealership and order EXACTLY the vehicle you wanted, built with just the options YOU wanted, if you were willing to wait for it? I guess you still can with big trucks, but that's about the only thing.

I think back in the early 70's the dealership had big books with fabric samples in them. Yeah, those days are gone. :(

I know Allegro put about the worst interior quality they have ever built onto the FRED chassis. I think they were trying to compete with low end gassers. The difference between my parents Allegro Bay and the junk they put on FRED, it is not surprise it didn't sell.

Incidentally noise, regardless of where the engine is, is a choice made by the coach builder. You can build a coach to be dead quiet regardless of where the engine is and it doesn't take much money or intelligence to do it. This is one big area where the coach manufacturers are just plain lazy, stupid or both.

I like the FREDs but not as much as a dp.

But in reality they just did not sell well.

I can not comment on the noise, but you can add an after market air ride system to a gas or fred relatively cheap so they make sense as an option to me.

The most common complaint on gas MH's is the sound of the engine. A FRED only makes that a lot worse------------and for what?? A small improvement in mpg?? In addition to the significantly higher purchase price, you also get increased maintenance costs.

It's been tried and it never sold well.