Side or rear radiator diesel pusher
What are the advantages/disadvantages of side vs rear radiator on a diesel pusher?
Forum Discussion
There's a little more to the difference between a rear and side radiator. Larger engines/coaches require more cooling and a rear radiator will not do the job. Typically, the largest engine you see with a rear radiator is the 400/450 ISL. I doubt you'll find a Cummins ISM or ISX with a rear radiator. The tipping point seems to be the ISL.
I previously owned a rear radiator Monaco Diplomat and it always performed well. When I looked for my next coach, I wanted a side radiator because it was a larger heavier coach, I do my own service and often, many builders move to the engine brake in combination with the side radiator.
Monaco's Roadmaster Chassis stacked the Charge Air Cooler (CAC) above the rear radiator, where everyone else was/is stacking them one in front of the other. The Monaco design was the best, since you could get to the front and back of the CAC and radiator without a lot of effort. The other brands made/make it a nightmare to clean between the sandwiched units. No matter if they have a slobber tube or not, you'll have to get in there and clean between the two at some point.
I think anyone looking in a price range where the majority of the coaches come with a rear radiator, I wouldn't let a rear radiator be a deal breaker.
Like "Executive", my rear radiator worked well, but my next coach had to have a side radiator, tag axle and engine brake.....just my preference after owning a rear radiator DP for nine years.
I previously owned a rear radiator Monaco Diplomat and it always performed well. When I looked for my next coach, I wanted a side radiator because it was a larger heavier coach, I do my own service and often, many builders move to the engine brake in combination with the side radiator.
Monaco's Roadmaster Chassis stacked the Charge Air Cooler (CAC) above the rear radiator, where everyone else was/is stacking them one in front of the other. The Monaco design was the best, since you could get to the front and back of the CAC and radiator without a lot of effort. The other brands made/make it a nightmare to clean between the sandwiched units. No matter if they have a slobber tube or not, you'll have to get in there and clean between the two at some point.
I think anyone looking in a price range where the majority of the coaches come with a rear radiator, I wouldn't let a rear radiator be a deal breaker.
Like "Executive", my rear radiator worked well, but my next coach had to have a side radiator, tag axle and engine brake.....just my preference after owning a rear radiator DP for nine years.
