Class A towing

[ezra]

me and the war dept have been thinking about a motor home.
she wants one so we can vacation with the dogs with less hassle.
I am not arguing because I am picturing rolling in style all winter with the boys.
question how do these things handle driving on snow packed roads yanking a 26ft behind at 10k ft?
or rolling across the wide open with heavy gusting wind pulling a big enclosed .
pulling with a big block Gasser do they have the power?
yeah I would like a non Gasser but add 10g kind of puts them past money I am willing to drop on something that will prob get out less than 8 times a yr.
looking in to early 2000s 1999 to say 2004
most run ford v10 or big GM
I am guessing MPG will be 10 at best not pulling 7 pulling colse?

 

[trailshredder]

I have a 1999 Coachman 34' with a V-10. We are on our way back from Florida right now. Pulling a car behind us we are getting about 7.2 MPG running at 65 MPH. Pulls the car great with no problems. I think it would struggle with a big trailer. And most gassers don't have the air ride suspension so in windy conditions it can get a little hairy. To me it is worth the extra money for the diesel....mine will be for sale as soon as we get back to Michigan and I will be getting the diesel for sure.

 

[anonomoose]

Like anything you do, there is always a give and take.
Insurance and tags
Tires, brakes and general service
Plumbing to keep from freezing up and more

While it doesn't sound like you are going to use it a bunch that is the norm so you will need to store it somewhere too.

Nice to have your personal space but winter use of these things is not the same as gett'n there and unloading in a motel..all nice and warm and ready for you to ignore all that to go sledding.

As far as fording thru the snow...it's a truck..it will work pretty well assuming you have good rubber under it. If it is really windy....you will have to drop it down below 80!

Remember too that the engine life is much shorter than say a truck. Major work can be the norm with as little as 40-50k..particularly tranny work. Exception on this seems to be the diesel jobs...seem to hold up better...over the long haul.

If you are like most you will use it a bunch the first year half that the second and third and a for sale sign goes on it for the next extended period of time. Do yah want to join the ranks of been there done that???

Head to florida and drive around the retirement communities...they are on every corner down there....most with Ontario plates....take a megaphone because those folks can't hear very well.

Oh, and when you see a guy with a white hanky at the gas station wiping his nose....it isn't because he has alergies!

 

[ezra]

If I get one it would most likely be out of ft Myers/ Naples.
lots around looked at a few around there with 20k or so on them bit of a smell like ben gay and dirty adult dippers but what are u going to do.
I have no issue with not using hotel .the places I have been ridding as of late have no hotels or gas close. we have been staying in the trailer and liking it.
think I would like more with a few more amenities and allot more on the ride to and from.
I cant think of to many guys not willing to spend a extra 150/200 each on fuel to ride 20 hrs in a rv and not a truck.
cant be much worse than the 7.9 mpg my truck got last time out pulling the enclosed .
I was looking in to the 18 to 24k range that gets u in to the lo mi 99/2004 range gas
glow plugs drops in to the mid 90's with closer to 80k on them .
but nothing but time may be worth waiting for a killer deal on a pusher

 

[srt20]

Most, if not all, gassers have a max tow of 5000 lbs. Weak frame extensions past the stock ford or Chevy frame, along with the lack of power and brakes is the reason. Not saying it can't be done, just telling you how it is.

I have a 38 ft Winnebago with a v-10. Mpg not towing is anywhere from 5-8 mpgs on flatlands. Going up to 10k would really work it. I'm sure it would make it fine, but might need to find a gas station at halfway and again at the top. Brakes would be little warm on way down.
I've towed car trailer behind it full of atvs and stuff. Can't really feel it back there other than slightly slower on take off, 5.38 rear gear.

V-10 in motor homes, easily go 100k miles.

 

[Hoosier]

I have heard many of these arent built to handle all the winter road salt, since most dont' see that kind of use. Or so says one guy i talked to pulling a fishing boat to ontario in august.

 

[Firecatguy]

I am at work and cant add much now but I do have a 2003 infinity 43ft class a for sale got it 2 years ago you wont find one much cleaner I did the shop from Cali to Fla then Ia to ND after 1year of looking got this one....super slideout love it I do have an ad on craiglist but need to find it to link it...I will try and remeber tonight if you dont hear back from me you can email me at rusty1577@aol.com glad to show ya and take test spin just waiting for snow to go to uncover it....

 

[2TrakR]

We've ran an 34' Class A Winnebago (GM chassis, 454 vortec) for about 9 years. Pulled three different enclosed trailers (6x10, 7x16 and 8.5x25 which was actually longer). The big trailer, with my S15 Jimmy, quad, bikes and other gear made it work. We were down in the ~6MPG range. Normally we hit 9-10 with the other trailers, depends on wind and right foot.

If you get into the bus chassis, they handle the wind much better, our is on the GM P Chassis, which is not the "bus chassis". A strong side wind makes you pay attention while driving. I've found the right trailer behind you can help in the wind.

I would NOT run it in the winter on snow/ice. Lots of things underneath that will rust, not to mention the issues with keeping things thawed (including the propane regulator). Handling in snow/slush would just take all the fun out of things as well. That and getting in/out of gas stations would just plain suck if you were say, in the UP or elsewhere with real snow.

We've since moved to a toyhauler 5th wheel which was due to the 2 main drawbacks of motorhomes (and we've done motorhomes since 1990): 1. No run-about vehicle once camped; 2. No dedicated sleeping area for the kids.
We always had to set up the couch and table every day for their beds, the one on the table would be grouchy when it was breakfast time and they wanted to sleep in.
The big trailer with vehicle was our way to compensate for the run-about vehicle. It worked, but at ~64 foot on the road, we were really limited on which fuel stations, which campgrounds and so on.

 

[Firecatguy]

provos chassi starts at 250,000$.....

I must been off my rocker yesterday its a 34ft infinity fourwinds 32,000miles

satellite tv,generac generator, 2 roof air ducked throughout coach, 20i flat screen in back bedroom and 30 in front!!put all new awnings on it last summer both the deck awning and slide out awning....

I have been in 50-60mph winds going down 52 and this thing did great also took to AZ last nov thru MO and KS snow storms and it run thru that great but no trailer.

34,000BO$

I looked and looked and know what your saying about the smell yikes!!!I did not find any better deals across USA I looked every nook and cranny you can and after many miles in truck looking and hr on internet and phone this one stood out found it here in Mn was a cpl who spent winter in warm weather and upgraded to provos chassi......

 

[Firecatguy]

market must be good this year got 3 calls this week to set up test drive good luck in you endevors seems the market just went up....

 

[ezra]

every one I have talked with is saying not good to tow big trailer in bad winter situations so my flame is dim on the idea now.
wife wants one but I am not so hot if it wont be used for what I would really want

 

[Deleted member 10829]

Firecatguy,

What is the engine and tranny, a Cummins and an Allison automatic? Is the chassis maybe a Prevost? They are a maker of large motorcoaches and entertainer coaches.

 

[Firecatguy]

this is not a prevost I was just pointing out that a prevost chassi starts at 250g.....someone brought it up...

this is a ford workhorse it is a gas motor

 

[srt20]

this is not a prevost I was just pointing out that a prevost chassi starts at 250g.....someone brought it up...

this is a ford workhorse it is a gas motor

Ford F53.
Workhorse was Chevy.

 

[Firecatguy]

doh......I spent so much time looking at them that my brain is mixed up....lol.....yes ford chassi and motor.....

 

[Deleted member 10829]

this is not a prevost I was just pointing out that a prevost chassi starts at 250g.....someone brought it up...

this is a ford workhorse it is a gas motor

Ok, I just wasn't sure if you spelled it wrong or if there was also a provos chassis I hadn't heard of. I have financed about 30 Snap On Tool trucks in the past 9 months and many of them are the F53 or Workhorse, along with Peterbilt, Kenworth and Freightliner.

 

[Firecatguy]

Ok, I just wasn't sure if you spelled it wrong or if there was also a provos chassis I hadn't heard of. I have financed about 30 Snap On Tool trucks in the past 9 months and many of them are the F53 or Workhorse, along with Peterbilt, Kenworth and Freightliner.

The Snappy guys here are going to 5th wheel trailer set up......yea i spelled it wrong.guy i ride with was looking for Prevost and found just to build the way you want it the chassi starts at 250....yikes

 

[Deleted member 10829]

The Snappy guys here are going to 5th wheel trailer set up......yea i spelled it wrong.guy i ride with was looking for Prevost and found just to build the way you want it the chassi starts at 250....yikes

Yeah, Prevost make a quality product. I've heard of guys towing trailers behind their tool trucks, but not that yet. Do they buy like a Super Duty and a nice trailer? It makes sense as you could use the truck for personal use as well and write it off on your taxes!