National Tropi-cal with Spartan Chassis?

[roadtriptoforev]

I am looking at buying a 2003 National Tropi-cal and I am trying to find out its tow limits but the only manual I can find on it is the one I attached here. Below is the screen shot of what it says.

Does anyone know where I can find more information? Does anyone have any opinions of this Chassis compared to the Freightliner?

Here is the entire Manual: http://www.mediafire.com/nationalrv

[msmith1199]

Gary. wrote:
If you are able to look at the hitch on the RV, a lot of the time it says right on the hitch how much it is designed for.

The numbers on the hitch are for the hitch only.

[Ken_C]

National originally introduced the Spartan GTI chassis on the 2001 Marlin. In 2002, the same coach was re-named to the Tradewinds LE. Several early 2003 Tropical models were built on what I can only assume were left over Spartan chassis.

I had a 2001 Marlin which I thought was a great handling and riding coach, although carry capacity was somewhat limited on the front due to the 235 tires. National recalled all the 39' models and upgraded the front tires.

You might try contacting Spartan for specs based upon your chassis number.

[pusherpilot]

There is another chassis out there that was used at the end of Nastional RVs run. Country Coach and national RV merged after CC stopped production in Oregon. There were several country coach dynomax chassis shipped to Perris, Ca and Tropical coaches were built on them. I looked at one on a sales lot and was expecting CC quality construction. Didn't happen. Sure liked that dynomax chassis tho.
Ron

[Ray_IN]

roadtriptoforever wrote:
The hitch is 7500, but I assume the engine can handle something different

The difference between the vehicle GVW and GCWR is 5,000#, which is the rating of your hitch.

[Sully2]

roadtriptoforever wrote:
The hitch is 7500, but I assume the engine can handle something different

Then its a 7500 lb limit hitch

[roadtriptoforev]

mtrumpet wrote:
I looked at both documents for the 2003 Tropi-cal via the link you posted and other than the section that you posted, I can find nothing to indicate that it came with a Spartan Chassis. Even the segment that you posted only mentions a Spartan GTi Chassis, but gives no specs. Seemingly as if it wasn't available on that model.

So then, the question is, are you positive that the unit you are looking at is in fact sitting on a Spartan Chassis, or is it possibly a Freightliner Chassis?

The Registration came up as Spartan

[wolfe10]

Not aware they used Spartan either.

All I have seen were on Freightliner chassis.

[mike_brez]

Link no work

[Rickieblue]

All of the reviews I have seen tend to favor Spartan slightly higher than Freightliner. I have just purchased a 2000 Damon Escaper on a Spartan chassis..I never would have considered it if it was a Freightliner because that has a Cat engine.....high maintenance..My Spartan came with a Cummins C series..8.3 liter and is twice the engine that Cat had available for mid size engines. I have worked for a fleet that had both engines and the Cummins had very few issues out of a fleet of 53 but the Cats in a fleet of 6 all had major issues with injectors and coolant consumption. Just my 2 cents but have been around alot of fleet diesels and the Cummins are great. Also for what it is worth..the Allison MD3060 World transmission is bulletproof if it is equiped with that.

[mtrumpet]

I looked at both documents for the 2003 Tropi-cal via the link you posted and other than the section that you posted, I can find nothing to indicate that it came with a Spartan Chassis. Even the segment that you posted only mentions a Spartan GTi Chassis, but gives no specs. Seemingly as if it wasn't available on that model.

So then, the question is, are you positive that the unit you are looking at is in fact sitting on a Spartan Chassis, or is it possibly a Freightliner Chassis?

[roadtriptoforev]

The hitch is 7500, but I assume the engine can handle something different

[Gary_]

If you are able to look at the hitch on the RV, a lot of the time it says right on the hitch how much it is designed for.