DazedNConfused
Explorer
Joined 13 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: 2015 Winnebago Forza 34T, 340 HP enough?
DazedNConfused wrote: FrontRangeRVer wrote: I am the OP, and after driving our new unit up and down some of these mountain passes here in Colorado, the 340 HP from the deisel wins hands down over my hopped up 8.1 Workhorse. My 8.1 I traded in had the Banks full headers system, dual exhaust with Magnaflows, and an UltraPower ECM tune, and this new deisel blows it out of the water....at least in these high altitudes. Anyone that says their gas unit is as good as a deisel pusher (in high altitudes) are crazy! I would totally believe this. When the air gets thin, there ain't much a normally aspirated engine can do to overcome that. The turbo will really help. I've towed my 12,000 lb fiver up the steepest stuff I have access to in the NC mountains. It isn't as gnarly or high elevation as the Rockies...but there is one 8-mile stretch of an 8% grade that I pulled up this past summer with my 3/4 ton 2012 Super Duty pickup. I didn't know what to expect. It was a total non-event. I tow in tow/haul mode with the cruise control at 67mph while on the highway. Ford engineers are smarter than I am...so I let the truck make the decisions on gear selection and such. On steep grades my truck will downshift out of 6th into 5th...and can accelerate up anything. On the above mentioned grade, when it got really steep, the truck downshifted into 4th gear. There was power and torque to spare...and I had plenty of acceleration. I actually enjoyed towing up that big steep hill at the same 67mph that I always run on the highway -- passing every Class A and tractor trailer that was in front of me. Would like to have seen what one of the big horsepower (500+) big boy class As could do up that hill. Guessing it would have also been a non-event for them. Anyway...I bring this up...because part of the reason I am entertaining a Class A is to simplify the setup/teardown in hopes of doing more trips...including frequent summer trips to our NC mountains. I'll be hitting that 8-mile 8% grade every time I head into the mountains. I'm looking at a gasser Tiffin. Am sure it will make it up the hill...but was trying to figure out what pace it would be capable of. Guessing engine screaming all the way up...and about 30-35mph will be all it can muster. I'm sure I'll love the Class A -- but heading into the mountains I'll wish I had my old setup. :) Just wish big boy diesel rigs weren't so pricey. College for my girls is on the horizon...and given the choice between sending them off the college and having a gasser Class A or getting a big boy diesel rig and local community college....well...you get the point. :) Of note, when I sent my above message, we were sans motorhome. We ended up ordering a Tiffin Allegro Red 38QBA. It's a diesel pusher bunk model that came with a Cummins 340HP, but was given a chance to get in early on a 360HP engine upgrade that also came with an Allison 3000 instead of the 2500. This is not an option on the 2016, but wasn't on the 2015. of note, the extra 20HP is nice, but where this engine makes a big difference is the extra 50ish ft lbs of torque all across the rev range. It really rips and is a rock star on all but the steepest hills and still gets 9.5 - 11.5 mpg depending on terrain.1.2KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Need help with class B road test in NC, will pay/compensate
bshpilot wrote: Congrats ! Question for you - did you learn anything from either the written or driving test ? Funny you mention that. As a Class B license, not a CDL B, you technically do not have to get the air brake certification since that is a CDL thing. The DMV guy didn't know that...so he issued me the Air Brake cert test -- which I passed. In studying for that...that is where I learned the most. The General knowledge section was pretty intuitive. So yes...I did get something out of it as this was my first air-brake equipped vehicle. Rob958Views0likes0CommentsRe: Need help with class B road test in NC, will pay/compensate
Most people probably won't really care, but wanted to post up on how this all panned out. The day before we left for FL to pick up our new coach, I got a call from a Penske truck rental place. The guy said they had a "CDL Truck" that he would rent me if I could find a driver that had their CDL A or B to pick it up. As luck would have it, one of my trucker friends was in town and on vacation. We headed straight to Penske, got the truck, headed to the DMV and asked them to give me an unscheduled road test -- which they were happy to do -- and I passed my test. So I was able to legally drive back -- which made me feel a lot better and made the trip much more enjoyable. :) Rob956Views0likes0CommentsRe: Need help with class B road test in NC, will pay/compensate
Yeti plus wrote: Around here all the school bus operators are always looking for drivers, and will train you to drive a school bus. Perhaps you could try the school bus route, more like driving a Class A MH than a truck would be. Might also lead to a part time job as well.:) Good luck in your quest. Brian You know what...this is actually a really good idea. I hadn't even though about calling a school bus transportation outfit. They may even have shorter buses that still are above 26,001 GVWR -- which would be perfect. Alternative is paying an hourly rate to the truck driving school to have someone meet me at DMV with their bus. Planned on calling tomorrow to ask...but I will also call a local school bus outfit. Thanks...I really like that idea. :) Rob613Views0likes0CommentsRe: Need help with class B road test in NC, will pay/compensate
camp104 wrote: Rob I agree with Down the Avenue. Just drive it back to Florida and deal with there. Don't stress out so much. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!! I'm really not worried about handling the motorhome. My 5th wheel setup was far bigger and I could drive and back into places like a champ. I'm more worried about being involved in an accident and not having the proper license. I'll admit I'm pretty conservative about this stuff. Hoping I'll score a suitable truck next week - fingers crossed. Rob613Views0likes0CommentsRe: Need help with class B road test in NC, will pay/compensate
rgatijnet1 wrote: Have you thought about taking someone with the proper license with you to drive the coach back to NC? This will probably cost less than $950, especially if you have a licensed friend. Once the coach is in NC than you can use it to take your test. That is my fallback plan...and have someone that can do this. Since I have my permit, if they are with me, I can drive it...which of course is the purpose of the permit. I also have a driving test officially set up for April 13th, the day after we get back...so if I have to go this route I will. I prefer to not have to put my friend out and fly down to FL with us and try to find a truck to take the test in and have the license before I leave. I posted something to Craigslist and offered to pay someone for their truck and their time if they can help me. We'll see if I get any bites. Unfortunately, most trucks 26,001 and over are going to be a manual. I prefer an automatic. One stall and game over for the test. And nobody local seems to want to lend me their big heavy motorhome to take a test with. :)606Views0likes0CommentsRe: Need help with class B road test in NC, will pay/compensate
The class of truck that a rental place will rent that will quality for my test is referred to as a CDL truck by the rental companies. Ryder has very few that will work for my road test and none available within my region. Penske only has one...about an hour and a half from where I live. I actually had an arrangement worked out with a local truck driving school. But...they only test for a full CDL. So my plan was to return to DMV already having taken the general knowledge test as well as the air brake test. The plan was to add the passenger test and then I could use the truck driving school's bus to take my test. Turns out DMV gave me the non-CDL class b test yesterday...which was correct....but was actually not required to test me on air brakes since that is a CDL license thing. So...to work with the truck driving school...I had to take the CDL class b exam, re-take the cdl air brake exam, and then also take the cdl passenger exam. THEN...I could pay the truck driving school, $950...yes...$950...to have them give me a few hours of instruction and then use their bus for the test. But...it being a CDL test...I had to memorize the pre-inspection booklet which is 16 items, about 60 or so sub-items, and the full descriptions and how to measure each, do that perfectly, and then do the driving test. I just don't have the time between now and Monday to do all that. On the plus side, the DMV said if I can come up with a rig, they will test me as a walk-in without an appointment which was nice of them. Incidentally....there is no air brake non-CDL test...and therefore...any 26,001 lb rig...with or without air brakes...will quality for the non-CDL class b driving test. And even if it DOES have air brakes, they do not do the walk-thru of the air brake system, make you fan out the brakes to check to make sure the lower air warning goes off...and the parking brake pops out when it gets low enough. It's simply a driving test. Get in the RV or truck, don't run over any curbs, stop at stop signs, don't hit anyone...done. I already took an RV driving class before getting my 5th wheel...and have driven that for a few seasons now....with a total length of 61' when I had the bike rack on the front of my truck. So while a motorhome is different, I have experience driving a long rig, backing it up, using mirrors, turning, etc. etc. Just need to take my class b driving test and all this goes away. :) Rob606Views0likes0CommentsNeed help with class B road test in NC, will pay/compensate
Okay..so I'll admit right up front...I'm a total idiot. Let's just get that out of the way. Wife and I purchased a Tiffin Allegro Red diesel pusher. We live in the Raleigh area of NC. We take delivery in FL next Friday -- April 10th. Mid last week I just found out I need a non-CDL classified B license. I didn't need one for my pickup and 40-foot 5th wheel I that I drove for several seasons. So this never ever crossed my mind. I was wondering if someone with a vehicle (it can be an RV, a box truck, a flatbed, etc.) that has a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more would be willing to accompany me to a DMV road test and let me use their vehicle for the test. I insist on paying someone for the use of their vehicle and time. This is a very big request that I'm actually embarrassed to even ask...but I'm up against time here and running out of good options. Of note, I took my written test and have my class B permit. I could also look for someone that has a class b/a or cdl class b/a to come to FL with me and hang out in the passenger seat while I drive it back...but I'd rather get my license, if possible. Please...you don't need to tell me I'm an idiot. I already know this. If you have suggestions for me, I'm all ears. Thanks so much, Rob8.8KViews0likes33CommentsRe: Help determining if I can get a motorhome into my driveway
JimM68 wrote: DazedNConfused wrote: dieharder wrote: Stop overthinking it. You'll be fine. The first couple of times you might need to reposition yourself a couple of times, but after that you'll probably do it faster than with your TT. Nope...I'm sold. The question really came into play because the MH doesn't articulate in the middle is all. But with the 20' wheelbase and lots of input from others, this should be a snap. I sometimes have to reposition my fiver as well -- not to get it into the driveway -- but to move it all the way to one side. Now the big decision....new 35QBA gasser or used 38QBA Red :) But that's a whole other topic... Not a discussion at all. DP's are better, period. That is why they cost more. If you have a line on a DP that has a floor plan you can live with at a price you can afford, go for it. You'll never look bac k and will never regret it. We did just that. In the process of having a Tiffin Allegro RED 38QBA pusher built. Hoping it will make it into my driveway without dragging anything. Driveway is very flat...just worried about anything that may drag before the rear wheels hit and start travelling up the apron. I'll find out in early April when we bring it home.1.1KViews0likes0Comments
Groups
Fifth Wheel Group
Interested in fifth wheels? You've come to the right spot.Feb 16, 202519,006 Posts Motorhome Group
Join in here to discuss all things motorhomes.Feb 13, 202538,707 Posts RV Newbies
We all start out new. Share lessons learned or first-time questions!Jun 15, 20174,026 Posts Travel Trailer Group
Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Feb 06, 202544,025 Posts
