Just got back from a swing around Arkansas (and Memphis) looking at some diesel pushers. Saw many we liked but couldn't make the price work. With our budget most salesmen were steering us toward gas coaches. I told them I had a 99 Holiday Rambler with the V10 and didn't like how sluggish it was especially on some of the hills we took it on. They assured me that the later model Ford V10's are much more powerful and would pull more. They are definitely better priced. But I would love to buy my last coach, retire in a few years, and full-time for a while.Would love some feedback, especially from someone who has a newer gas burner.

I see we are in the same neck-of-the-woods. Big rain coming tomorrow!Anyway, I saw a big TV ad for Davis camper sales this weekend. Have you looked at the Tiffin product?You don't mention your budget but my brother bought a 36 ft. Tiffin with four slides in 2014 and it just does everything right. Has tile floors, leather furniture, washer and dryer, etc.As a lot of people say, if you want to go used, you can get a lot of diesel coach for the money if you go back a few years.Good luck,MM.

My previous coach was a 2005 38ft Adventurer with the Workhorse 8.1 gas engine. Winnebago made a fine coach and we enjoyed it for 11 years. We now have the Allegro RED 38ft 340 diesel. If it is in your budget, get the diesel! Remember, I really liked the Adventurer, and the Pace Arrow before it and the Holiday Rambler before that. Driving down the road the diesel is quiet, I can talk with my wife, I can hear the radio, it is a pleasure. With the gas engine going up a grade any form of conversation was impossible, I couldn't even hear myself think. I never had a problem going up the western mountains with the gas coaches, even pulling a light weight toad. I could generally maintain close to freeway speed (55mph) however I would often run up in the 4000 rpm range, and again, the noise, not to mention the mpg dropped to about 4. With the diesel I can and have pulled my new Ford Explorer (about 4,700lbs which is 1000lbs more than the Saturn Vue) with ease over the mountains. I keep my rpms below 2500 and ride comfortably at 45 to 55 mph. But again, quiet. The gas coaches are getting very close to the diesels in amenities. Some have residential refrigerators, probably don't have tile floors but may have vinyl tile, but are really nice as they approach the GVWR max. With my Allegro I have 100gal of fresh water and 100 gal of diesel. Don't remember the numbers on black and gray, but we went 4 days with kids and grandkids at the beach and really didn't have to dump, just did so for an abundance of safety. Even running a couple of loads of laundry barely moves the gauge on the gray.Yeah, you can guess I really like diesel now that I have one. However, if it is not in the budget, or it would make a big difference in how or where you could travel, I have nothing bad to say about my previous gas motorhomes.Happy Trails.

The new gassers have a lot more power than your 99 had and the transmissions are much better. I had a 09' V-10 with a 5 speed and it was no slouch. If your budget calls for gas coach, you should drive one of the later models before you write off the idea

I have a 2007 Winnebago (39 ft.) gasser workhorse with allasion transmission . been from TX to Ma to WA . pulling a Honda CRV . the only time I wished we had a diesel was when we went over the Rockies at 11,000 ft. Slow going, but every where else we travel at 55 miles per hour and I love that gas is less the diesel fuel and maintenance is cheaper . lots of luck on your new RV.

If you had a V10 and didn't like it I wouldn't buy another thinking something magic happened..They may be faster up grades but doubt you would notice the difference.I like my V10 but I'm retired and no great hurry to zip up or down grades or get anyplace fast.

Should I consider gas burner | Good Sam Community

AllegroD
Nomad
Feb 27, 2019
V10 changed from 2 to 3 valves in 2007. We had an 2004 Coachmen Aurora 36' V10. Put a Banks on it to be happy with power. Very noisy. We now have a 2013 Tiffin Allegro 36LA. Yes. The 2013 has more power. Can do 50-65 up most climbs. A couple of long, steep high climbs dropped to 40-45. We do not need a banks to get performance from it. It is also much quieter. Not just because of the engine but because Tiffin insulated it. Not all gassers are made the same. In the 04 we could not hold a conversation traveling flat ground. In the 2013 we hold a normal conversation, even hold a phone calls through the bluetooth stereo - microphone on the dash. Only time it affects conversation is when it goes into high rpm on hills. We are very happy.
Fifty4F100
Explorer
Feb 25, 2019
WILDEBILL308 wrote:
" But so far it's got us where we want to go." Well that is the important part right? Just querious what are your complaints on the Navistar engine?
Bill

Navistar doesn't have the HP or torque. Same Allison transmission. I'm not about to do an engine swap. 2012 was the last year (at least for the Tiffin chassis) NOT to have to use DP fluid. I like the fact I can fuel up and go. I think we're getting about 11 MPG towing the Smart. So far no problem getting up some of the hills on I40 in Middle TN. It also has 19.5" tires which I just had to buy 6. At $2400, I like that.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Feb 25, 2019
A $100K MH with a MaxForce 7 engine will bring $15-20K less than one with a Cummins. Much the same on $50K 2.5 ton IH trucks...$7-15K less than other brands. Is the bad rap deserved??? If you are one that had repeated EGR and engine deraiting problems probably YES. In not then NO.

Now with the MaxForce 13 engine there is no doubt you do NOT want one. The 10 appears to be somewhere in between.

There is a Canadian company that deletes all the pollution stuff and reprograms the engine computer but depending on the engine, it’s $5-10K.
WILDEBILL308
Explorer II
Feb 25, 2019
" But so far it's got us where we want to go." Well that is the important part right? Just querious what are your complaints on the Navistar engine?
Bill
Fifty4F100
Explorer
Feb 25, 2019
Just came across this old thread and went through it again. We wound up buying a 2012 Tiffin Allegro Breeze 32BR. It has been some journey. Some unexpected maintenance.The main thing I would change is the Navistar engine. I would much rather have the Cummins. But so far it's got us where we want to go.
TNGW1500SE
Explorer
Mar 31, 2016
Fifty4F100 wrote:
RLS7201 wrote:
The 99 V10 at 275 HP was a dog. Ford recognized the problem and increased the HP to 310 in 2000 and then again increased the HP to 362 in 2006. The 2016 has reduced the HP to 320 but increased drivability with both HP and torque at lower RPMs and a 6 speed transmission. Don't shy away from the newer V10s until you drive one.

Richard

I wish I could drive a new gasser up some of the hills in East TN or the Ark. Ozarks. There was one hill 2 years ago our MH almost didn't make in Sylamore National Forest near Blanchard Springs Caverns. It was long and steep. And we weren't towing a car that trip. But that would be a 300 mile test drive.

Came home from KY to TN just last night on 75 in a 2003 Sunova 31' V10 pulling a 10' cargo trailer with two motorcycles in it. Passed big trucks all the way up Jellico mountain. Topped it a 65 MPH. Just floor it and let it run. The V10 did great.
AllegroD
Nomad
Mar 31, 2016
Mr.Mark wrote:
AllegroD wrote:
dezolen wrote:
My gas motorhome has more outside storage than many DP's. All are pass thru. Not full height but very useable.

Mine has 203 sq ft outside storage.

We have 300 acres of outside storage...... oh......., do you mean basement storage???.... then we have two good sized bays with slide-trays and the other bays having built-in drawers, etc.

MM.

Well, uh. Yes, silly rabbit. Basement or outside compartment storage.

The reason I stated my basement storage was because some were saying that gassers had little basement storage. In general, I agree with them. There are those that have very good storage, though.
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Mar 31, 2016
For us, the bottom line is the floorplan "liveability" in any RV we buy. Nearly all RV'ers spend far more time living in their RV than they do driving it.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Mar 31, 2016
AllegroD wrote:
dezolen wrote:
My gas motorhome has more outside storage than many DP's. All are pass thru. Not full height but very useable.

Mine has 203 sq ft outside storage.

We have 300 acres of outside storage...... oh......., do you mean basement storage???.... then we have two good sized bays with slide-trays and the other bays having built-in drawers, etc.

MM.
AllegroD
Nomad
Mar 31, 2016
dezolen wrote:
My gas motorhome has more outside storage than many DP's. All are pass thru. Not full height but very useable.

Mine has 203 sq ft outside storage.

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