Show Haulers / United Specialties

[Colorado71]

looking for a class a diesel, for a family, with a garage.

What's the word on these brands (Show Haulers / United Specialties)?

New they are in the 350-500K price range, but 8-9 year old models are a lot more reasonable. But how is maintenance/upkeep? I know they are built on commercial truck chassis and engines that are designed to do huge mileage.

The one I was looking at had live axles, no tag. Is that an advantage when is comes to snow/mud/gravel roads etc? We want to do a lot of dry camping on nation forest/BLM land.

Example

[Ivylog]

I would think it's titled as a RV regardless of the axles.

[Colorado71]

tahiti16 wrote:
Check licensing requirements in your state, 2 live axles in some requires a higher license. One reason busses and most motorhomes have a tag.

You will also wee most of the 5th wheels using a class A truck will have one axle only on the tractor.

Something to consider for sure. But I don't think I'd let that be an issue if the truck was the right fit for us.

[tahiti16]

Check licensing requirements in your state, 2 live axles in some requires a higher license. One reason busses and most motorhomes have a tag.

You will also wee most of the 5th wheels using a class A truck will have one axle only on the tractor.

[Colorado71]

PhilipB wrote:
Mileage is very low for this type of rig. I'd double check that if it were me. Upkeep on this engine/transmission/rear ends would probably be less than some lighter class A's or C's. And service for a Detroit engine can be handled by nearly any big truck shop.

The real beauty of a rig like this with a big engine is the ability to haul a very heavy trailer.

Mileage as in the odometer reading? Or MPG?

I guess you're only going to get 6-8mpg out of truck like this.

I only want to haul a 1/2 ton crew cab pickup with ~500-800lb's of motorbikes in the bed. So less than 6,000lb's total.

The real appeal for me is the manual transmission and TURBO diesel engine. We live in the rocky mountains at 10,000ft, so the gas powered toy haulers are going to be way under powered.

We're also looking at a 2016 Thor outlaw. But loaded up and towing the pickup, we'd be right at the GCWR of 30,000lb. At 10,000ft that v10 gas engine is only going to be putting out 300lbft of torque and 200hp. Where as the diesel will still be putting out close to it's rated 450hp and 1,600 lbft of tq. Massive difference. :B

But the idea of buying an older, expensive rig has me concerned. I don't want to be constantly fixing stuff.

[Colorado71]

Ivylog wrote:
Clicky Yes having both axles powered will help with the traction. There should be a locker between the two axles when you need more traction.

Thanks for the clicky link... every forum is different with that stuff 🙂

A locker... that would be even better. I assume that's a pretty rare feature?

[PhilipB]

Mileage is very low for this type of rig. I'd double check that if it were me. Upkeep on this engine/transmission/rear ends would probably be less than some lighter class A's or C's. And service for a Detroit engine can be handled by nearly any big truck shop.

The real beauty of a rig like this with a big engine is the ability to haul a very heavy trailer.

[Ivylog]

Clicky Yes having both axles powered will help with the traction. There should be a locker between the two axles when you need more traction.