Limitations to gas Class A

[Kwalsh]

Can anyone speak to traveling in the mountains with a gas Class A? My husband and I are ready to purchase a new or almost new motorhome to carry us through our retirement years. I am also afraid that a gas motor will leave us stranded in places where we can't find rental cars and I understand it is not good to tow with a gas engine. We are not sure we can afford a diesel right now so just trying to be well informed before we make a big decision. We are national and state park campers for the most part but long to see the Black Hills and places like Yosemite and Glacier National Forest. Thank you for your comments!

[Hikerdogs]

We put over 100,000 miles on our 2001 gas powered motorhome (Ford F53 chassis) pulling either a Jeep 4 down or a Buick on a dolly. It went to Alaska, Newfoundland, Florida, California, and every place in between. Power was never an issue even on the steepest of inclines. It's gone through the Eisenhower and Johnson tunnels (7% grade) on I 70 more times than I can count. It went in and out of Skagway Alaska which is a 12% grade for 12 miles. It went through the Icefields Parkway in Alberta which has several stretches of 8% to 11% grade. Never once did we have a problem.

We now have a 2013 gas powered motorhome (again a Ford F53 chassis). It has over 17,000 miles on the odometer. Almost 12,000 of that was going to Alaska. It's also been to Florida, and just recently to North Dakota, Minnesota, and the UP of Michigan. All the time pulling our Jeep along behind. Again we've never had a problem.

[Kwalsh]

Wow thanks so much you guys!! This makes me feel so much better and my husband will breathe a sigh of relief to read these posts! Really appreciate the feedback and will most likely have a picture to post on my profile soon !!

[sunny_jeep]

Have a 38ft motor home with an 8.1 Chevy big block.tow a jeep wrangler.never had a problem up hills. I won't be the first one there but I will be there. I the think the trick is make sure you get a 6 speed Allison tranny with that gasser.gets same miles per gallon as the do that I had.

[Matt_Colie]

Believe these other people...
We recently climbed across the Big Horn (peak at 9200') on the way to Yellowstone in our antique with little difficulty. I had difficulty beathing, but the coach didn't.

Matt

[darsben]

Make sure whoever told you all the lies has nothing to do with your purchase. If it was at a dealership please do not buy from them as they are already fibbing

[wa8yxm]

I drive a Class A (or rather did and will again soon) drove it over 9 years before the engine blew but that was not an overload issue, fairly flat ground, light weight towed Well under Max CGVW. Lost oil and bad things happened. (I do suspect physical damage to the engine caused the loss, went through over a gallon in less than 300 miles, no evidence of burning oil).

I have driven Detroit to las Vegas (And beyond) twice crossing the continental divide and I have driven in the East both Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains, Most of those towing a 4,000 pound Chevy Lumina APV.

The only problem I had in all that time was the towed.. it died of old age (200,000 miles) and I junked it. New towed is 2500 pounds of NEON.

So you can tow with them.. Just be aware you have two tow limits and you pick the lower of the two

1: Difference between MAX Combined Gross Vehicle Weight and actual Gross Vehicle Weight of the Motor home as loaded for travel.

2: Hitch Rating (Usually 5,000 pounds), NOTE that if you need to use a drop/rise hitch to get your hitch points to line up (Tow bars need to be more or less flat/Level) you DE-RATE that hitch big time. My 4,000 pound Lumina was too much for the hitch it had to be re-built and re-designed for the job.

The 2,500 Neon works much better.

As for Stranded. I am an Extra Class Ham Radio operator, I have 1 Cell phone, 2 (Plus one) CB's (The plus one is a hand held with no batteries) A Kenwood TS-2000 (All band/mode ham rig) another Kenwood (VHF/UHF FM) and some hand held Icom and Yesau ham rigs, one of which actually works. (One needs a minor repair wnen I get the old round tuit) Not much chance I can not yell for help.

[rr2254545]

Totally incorrect, towed with my V10 Ford gasser for years before we went diesel. Had over 22,000 miles on it from north to south and east to west

[10forty2]

If you plan to tow 10K lbs or more, then you might want to consider a DP...otherwise, the gasser will be just fine. Your main limiting factor for towing on the majority of Class A coaches is going to be the capacity of the hitch that's installed. And that can easily be changed.

And honestly, does it matter how fast you get to the top of the hill as long as you get there? Like someone above said, find a floor plan you like and go for it!!! Good Luck!!

**EDIT** - Oh, and you won't be able to brag to everyone about how much money you spent on your coach... LOL! J/K with you diesel guys...I'm just jealous...... :B

[tinkerer]

As a DP owner I will tell you I have a lot of friends who pull a toad with a gasser without problems.

[hottubkid]

WE have done Chicago to Yuma AZ and many many grades out west. Their has been two places in nine years that slowed us down but made it with no problems. First place was because the brakes over heated and the second we slowed to about 15 miles an hour. Both places they told us we shouldn't be there with the MH. (0 degree turns at 5 moh and 50 degree up hill. Gasser are not a problem

[Rodz]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
I've never had any problems in the mountains and have passed many DP's on the way to the top. Anyone that says that the current crop of gas powered motor homes cannot navigate the mountain passes is either lying or ignorant of the facts. Perhaps it is a salesman trying to get you to spend more money for a DP when a gas coach will serve your needs just fine.
If you find a floor plan that will suit your needs, do not worry about mountain travel. They will all make it to the top and down the other side safely.

^^^^^truth^^^^^

[rgatijnet1]

I've never had any problems in the mountains and have passed many DP's on the way to the top. Anyone that says that the current crop of gas powered motor homes cannot navigate the mountain passes is either lying or ignorant of the facts. Perhaps it is a salesman trying to get you to spend more money for a DP when a gas coach will serve your needs just fine.
If you find a floor plan that will suit your needs, do not worry about mountain travel. They will all make it to the top and down the other side safely.

[RetiredBob]

We have a 2011 Newmar Canyon Star on a Workhorse W22 chassis, 8.1L gas engine. We've traveled throughout the west towing a 2007 Saturn Vue. Never had a problem going up (or down) steep grades in the Rockies, although we wouldn't win any speed contests. I believe a Ford V-10 would give similar performance. For us, the gasser has been ideal--much lower initial cost, cheaper (and easier, if you do your own) maintenance. If I were full-timing, I might consider a diesel, given it's higher Cargo Carrying Capacity. Go for the gasser!

[Bumpyroad]

you certainly have been misinformed. many of us tow toads behind gas motorhomes. "stranded", don't understand that comment. my first big trip out west coming east towards the eisenhower tunnel I did unhook the toad and we drove up the mountain separately. found out that was certainly not necessary. just get in the right lane, pass the semis, and you will be OK.
bumpy