rear rad vs side rad

If there is not a very large opening in the rear to allow for air flow and you see a large opening on the rear side quarter then you have found a side radiator coach. You can confirm this when you open the rear one of the other openings. One or the other will have nearly nothing other than a radiator.

I miss my 1988 Xplorer 36' DP.... it had a FRONT radiator!!! nothing in the way of the engine compartment...and on the SPartan chassi, the engine/tranny was on a roll out frame.... The radiator always had good air flow to it, had 4 electric fans, and was easy to access

Side radiator ONLY... now you are at 40'.:B I can tell by the size of the opening if it's a AC condenser, a 400 HP or less engine, or more like 500+.

AC Condensor 2'X2' aprox


400 HP or less.


500+ HP

Yes, I can tell very quickly.

But the presence of vents on the side does NOT necessarily indicate a side radiator.

Side vents are also used for dash A/C condenser and on coaches with a basement A/C for that as well.

Post what coach you are looking at/link to the listing and we can help.

Can you tell if a coach has a side radiator by looking at it from the outside? I see some with vents on the side near the rear end and others are smooth or have what looks like a storage door there.

I've seen high end coaches with rear radiators and no so high end with side. I see more tag axles with side. So it's not cut and dry from what I've seen.

I thought I would always want a side. But after thinking about it this might depend on the cost and miles I would drive. If I were mostly parked all the time the rear probably wouldn't matter to me. But if driving a lot I would propbably want a side for better cooling and easier maintenance.

I have a rear rad. I do not see any problem working from the top, you just lay on the floor, it's even relaxing, and if the engine is warm, you can work in quite cold temp!

Most stuff are accessible from the top, bottom or each side. All filters are easy to get at from the bottom. On mine the only things that would be easier from the rear would be the belts, which you do not replace very often, and is doable from the top.

I did the muffler, turbo and EGR from the top and side quite easily, and alternator from the top. I think the only way to access the injectors, valves, EGR, fuel rail and many sensors is from the top anyway

On mine, if you badly have to access the rear of the engine, you could just remove the intercooler radiator, 3 bolts, 2 hoses, 2 transmission lines and you just pull it off, quite easy task.

Other than that,the engine gets quite dirty on gravel road or salty road in winter, the fan just pulls everything up. The rad is easy to clean but the engine not so easy and you have to watch not to get water in your electric connections while washing.

On our all summer trip to Alaska we talked to owners with issues with rear radiators - dust, rocks, etc.

We had a side radiator and had no problems.

My choice is side-radiator only - for easier access to engine for maintanence and repairs. I wouldn't consider a rear radiator, but that's just what works for me.

In my experience, what's considered a "deal breaker" is decided by the person who is in charge of purchasing. My point is, if you are the "decider", and you are faced with wanting to decide which one to buy (rear or side),......it's hard for me to imagine what circumstances would exist that would make it a dilema. In other words, if it's me doing it, there's no question that I would only consider a side radiator. Actually, that's what I did when I last bought one.