GAS PUSHER

[David0725]

Good evening. I would like your opinion on a 2008 39ft Forest river Gas pusher. I don't know much about gas pushers and being 39ft will it be under power with the chevy workhorse? 3 slides w/d combo. I appreciate any and all feedback.

[Up_DownDeCoast]

Bruce Brown wrote:

Up&DownDeCoast wrote:

PastorCharlie wrote:
Except for a front wheel drives all vehicles are pushers.

Not so. Only vehicles with the engine mounted behind the rear drive wheels are considered pushers.

The rig the OP is referring to has a Workhorse UFO chassis. They did not last very long for several reasons.

While earlier models of gas pushers suffered from overheating problems, Workhorse was able to solve the overheating problem with the UFO. However they could not shake the overheating fear from potential buyers.
Its introduction also came alongside the 2008 recession which devastated the RV Industry at the time with many coach builders going out of business.
At the same time Chevy also discontinued the 8.1 Vortec engine upon which the UFO was based and had no gas replacement. They did however offer a diesel version, thus the name UFO (Universal Fuel Option)

Workhorse also left the RV Market in 2009.

I test drove one back when I was shopping for my rig. I believe it was 36ft. It handled well with plenty of pickup for a gasser and really quiet. However, I was not towing anything nor did I have any of my stuff on board. Those factors along with another 3 feet of coach can make a big difference. I didn't end up buy one because it was 20K more than the typical front engine gasser and I needed bunks which was not an option.

As with any RV purchase take it for a test drive get a feel for it. Find out as much as you can with respect to maintenance records. Have it checked out by a good RV mechanic.

One other thing to consider since there were not many built is the supply of spare parts.

Good Luck.

I think you missed his sarcasm. :W

Maybe so.

[Bruce_Brown]

Up&DownDeCoast wrote:

PastorCharlie wrote:
Except for a front wheel drives all vehicles are pushers.

Not so. Only vehicles with the engine mounted behind the rear drive wheels are considered pushers.

The rig the OP is referring to has a Workhorse UFO chassis. They did not last very long for several reasons.

While earlier models of gas pushers suffered from overheating problems, Workhorse was able to solve the overheating problem with the UFO. However they could not shake the overheating fear from potential buyers.
Its introduction also came alongside the 2008 recession which devastated the RV Industry at the time with many coach builders going out of business.
At the same time Chevy also discontinued the 8.1 Vortec engine upon which the UFO was based and had no gas replacement. They did however offer a diesel version, thus the name UFO (Universal Fuel Option)

Workhorse also left the RV Market in 2009.

I test drove one back when I was shopping for my rig. I believe it was 36ft. It handled well with plenty of pickup for a gasser and really quiet. However, I was not towing anything nor did I have any of my stuff on board. Those factors along with another 3 feet of coach can make a big difference. I didn't end up buy one because it was 20K more than the typical front engine gasser and I needed bunks which was not an option.

As with any RV purchase take it for a test drive get a feel for it. Find out as much as you can with respect to maintenance records. Have it checked out by a good RV mechanic.

One other thing to consider since there were not many built is the supply of spare parts.

Good Luck.

I think you missed his sarcasm. :W

[ArchHoagland]

David0725...I suggest you check around your area and see if you can find any shops that will work on that coach's engine.

I doubt you'll find one.

Parts are hard to find for it too. Ask me how I know,,,

[RLS7201]

The over heating that keeps being mentioned was an Oshkosh chassis with a Ford 460 mounted in the rear. The cooling fan direction was not changed and sucking air on a rear engine coach don't work well.
When WorkHorse built their rear engine, 8.1L coach, they did change the fan air flow direction. But that imposed an inverse load on the water pump bearing and there was water pump failure.
Work Horse said the problem was an over active fan clutch and patched the problem with a less active fan clutch. DUH.....
There also was Bosch brake caliper issues on WorkHorse chassis. Took 7 or 8 years before WorkHorse admitted to the brake problem and issued a recall.
Their unique front sway bar was not made of strong enough material and there was a recall for that too.
Even with those failures, I would not hesitate to buy a WorkHores 8.1L chassis. Once those minor failures are fixed, it's a good driving, powerful chassis.

Richard

[Horsedoc]

I haven't seen anyone in all the years we were on the road that had good things to say about them.
With the new technology these days it might be possible but with the new generation of diesels, unlikely one would ever be produced

[Up_DownDeCoast]

PastorCharlie wrote:
Except for a front wheel drives all vehicles are pushers.

Not so. Only vehicles with the engine mounted behind the rear drive wheels are considered pushers.

The rig the OP is referring to has a Workhorse UFO chassis. They did not last very long for several reasons.

While earlier models of gas pushers suffered from overheating problems, Workhorse was able to solve the overheating problem with the UFO. However they could not shake the overheating fear from potential buyers.
Its introduction also came alongside the 2008 recession which devastated the RV Industry at the time with many coach builders going out of business.
At the same time Chevy also discontinued the 8.1 Vortec engine upon which the UFO was based and had no gas replacement. They did however offer a diesel version, thus the name UFO (Universal Fuel Option)

Workhorse also left the RV Market in 2009.

I test drove one back when I was shopping for my rig. I believe it was 36ft. It handled well with plenty of pickup for a gasser and really quiet. However, I was not towing anything nor did I have any of my stuff on board. Those factors along with another 3 feet of coach can make a big difference. I didn't end up buy one because it was 20K more than the typical front engine gasser and I needed bunks which was not an option.

As with any RV purchase take it for a test drive get a feel for it. Find out as much as you can with respect to maintenance records. Have it checked out by a good RV mechanic.

One other thing to consider since there were not many built is the supply of spare parts.

Good Luck.

[PastorCharlie]

Except for a front wheel drives all vehicles are pushers.

[Ranger_Smith]

RUN . . . RUN . . . RUN

[Bikeboy57]

Physics issue. Gas engines produce way more reject heat the diesels. Harder to keep in cool in the rear. Do some research on FMC motorhomes

[way2roll]

They didn't make them very long and they weren't well received.