Motorhome selection.
 

Looking for motorhome for my U/SA wagon. Open trailer, wagon, golf cart, etc weighs about 8,000 pounds. Seems class C's don't have tow capacity, class A's are too long and rated at 5,000 lbs, would like to stay 28' or under.
No, I do not want to go the truck/enclosed trailer route.I know it is the most economical, but me and the crew are getting up there in age and want some comfort and a little room.
Also, some comments on the standard Triton V10 as a power plant, I would like to go diesel. And why do people avoid Chevrolet.
Thank you in advance for the comments.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Sounds to me like a super C would be ideal for you
many of those have diesel engines. Some under 28 foot and no special license required. and heavy enough to tow just about anything. Or do as I did and just build your own lol

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Ron, I just went through this exercise. Everybody told me to get a diesel,
and I agree they have more power. However, everyone I know, in the
area I live, spends a ton on diesel maintenance, and I wouldn't know
how to fix one. So, knowing I was going gas, I would have liked an
8.1 Chevy, for the Allison Trans, but I couldn't find one in a Motorhome I
liked. I ended up with a Ford V-10, and I'm OK with that, as they are
supposed to get 2 miles more per gallon. Do they, I don't know. Like
you, I'm after the comfort, I like having real food and cold beverages
and cold air conditioning. Nothing is cheap to tow with anymore,
so you might as well be comfortable.

J.R.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Check out the Thor Axis model. I have the 25.2 version. 26 feet long ford e450 chassis with standard V10 engine. I pull a 24 ft enclosed aluminum trailer. It weighs 7500 with all the spare stuff I carry in trailer. Gets 8.5 -9 mpg. I tow at 65-75 mph no problem.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Had a 32' class C on a Chevy Kodiac chassis with a 6.6 Duramax, towed our 24' enclosed with no problem and was easy on fuel. That said, it was a 2005 LLY, before all the excess emission stuff.

Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

I thought Joe Costello had done a “Inside the Pits” segment that included your rig….got a link? I couldn’t find it.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Regarding gas mileage with a Ford V10, although it is not a motorhome, I have a 99 F350 Dually 2wd with a V10, 5 speed, and 3.73 gears. Last year, I did a 4000 mile move from the West coast of Canada, to the East coast. My truck was loaded, the 24 foot enclosed trailer was packed full of car, tools, parts, furniture etc, total combined weight was right around 20,000 pounds on a truck scale. I kept tracked of my gas mileage for the entire trip, the worst mileage was 6.97 MPG going thru the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia and Alberta, best was 8.59 MPG on the flat land.I towed in 4th gear (no overdrive), at 62-63 MPH, taching about 2700 RPM. Empty, the truck has gotten 15 MPG on the freeway in 5th gear. I really like the V 10, very smooth and quiet. My truck has the early version, which has 2 valves per cylinder, later in the mid 2000s, Ford went to a more powerful 3 valve version in the F series trucks, but my understanding is that the Econoline and motorhome platforms were all the 2 valve model.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

I have a 25’ Class C E-450 V10
Tow a 26’ enclosed with dragster and lots of spare parts
Have used it since 2014 with no problems

I re-enforced the hitch and rear frame. Added air bags, good shocks and steering stabilizer up front. Have a real good hitch with sway control.

It’s certainly not the best rig possible but has worked fine

I don’t have a lot of room at home for anything bigger and used my Duramax pickup with a Lance camper for over 10 years.

My little motorhome is way more comfortable

If I had it to do over I’d have bought the next larger length MH. About 2 feet longer overall length and wheelbase. The longer wheelbase would handle better I believe.

Gas mileage is around 7-8 at best with or without towing. 4:56 gears and 25-2600rpm+ at 65/70+
5 speed AOD trans.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

They did and I never saw it either I know there was a problem with my stereo playing Van Halen they said they wouldn’t be able to use that due to copyright so I’m not sure what happened. And I call my motorhome a redneck renagade. Maybe problem with that too. I would post a pic of it but not sure how I don’t have a photo account

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

My advice go with a Super C on a Chevrolet Kodiak 5500 Chassis.

I had a E450 32ft with the V10. It pulled my 24ft @ 8000lbs ok. I braced the rear frame, Coil over shocks, Air Bags, sway bar, load distribution hitch etc. Still just pulled OK. Gas mileage was 6MPG no matter what and it only had a 38 gallon fuel tank and only a 35 gallon water tank. Problem was stopping it. If you had to hit the brakes hard it would slide the front tires. After about 6-8 hrs I would be wore out.

Sold it and bought a 2006 Gulfstream Super C 36ft with the Duramax on a C5500 Chassis. It had airbags on it, I added front and rear track bars and Bilstein Shocks. I also added a PPE programmer and did the EGR delete.

I pull a 28FT ATC with car and golf cart with total weight of 10,500lbs. Pulls it with no problem, Stops well, has a 100 gallon water tank, and a 80 gallon fuel tank. Pulling the trailer it gets about 10MPG. Flat towing my Jeep Rubicon it will get close to 12MPG. Can drive one handed and go all day if needed.

Here's one for sale
https://www.ebay.com/itm/11512229660...AAAOSwo8php~gO

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

I would advise to stay away from the 8.1 chevy. Big block chevys do not like rpms and most all gas rv's have 5.38+ rear gears. The ford v10 is a great engine(and I am a chevy guy lol)Just get one thats newer than 07(more hp and better longevity). Super C's are overpriced in my opinion. You can get a diesel pusher with a cummins and allison for about the same price. One with a 5.9 cummins would be plenty, just make sure it's an 06 up. The earlier ones had pump problems

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

What ever you decide keep a few things in mind.

Get the biggest and best braking system available. Air brakes with a Jacob break are best. Sometimes drums are as good as disks.
Get the best chassis available. Surprisingly, some don't require added sway bars, special shocks and stabilizers.
Do check the posted Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). Stay three or four thousand pounds from that number. I try to go 8,000 #s. Believe me, this is hard to do.
Get the largest HD tires that fit. They are done in about 6 or 7 years, no matter the miles. All tires are DOT dated.
Finally, I kind of like the bigger motors. They are generally cheaper to maintain.

Motor homes built after 2008 are not as well built. It was 2008 when the really good companies were forced into bankruptcy (economic issues). Construction quality changed after that.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Really appreciate the feedback, would like to hear more from all of you out there. I see lots of nice MH in the 32'-38' range with diesels but only have 5,000 capacity, along with being beyond my vision with the trailer.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

find whatever you like and take it to a fabricator and see what they could do to reinforce the hitch??? i would also be aware of motor homes with extended frames if at all possible. for what you are hauling maybe a trailer toad? it seems to me you are barely stressing anything with an open trailer and your wagon.....

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

2020 GPS Trailer weighs 2,250, length 25' wood floor. Car weighs 3,600. Golf cart ?? Support equipment, grill, etc.should be close to 7,500+

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

You should know that welding on a MH frame is a no-no and will void any warranty.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

So the coach builders that do that very thing have already voided any. I have owned 6 different motor homes from the van style to the diesel pusher class a. Most had frame extensions. Some where very sketchy. Ron thinks his stuff needs a tracker trailer to pull 8k. And with that thinking I am saying he will want a toter home or a super C to make him happy. I think it’s overkill but I understand. Like I said before I wanted the safest I could afford so I built my own. It started as a international 4300 class b truck. Just like many toters and super C’s

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Keith, if I could just use a Class C that would be fine with me. Don't want a big MH, just enough to haul what I've got with a little comfort.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Yes I get it. Have you ever considered a trailer toad? If you wanted just a c class…

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

A coach builder would have it's own warranty. If you've owned 6 different coaches then you have seen the plates that say "do not weld".

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Don't know much about trailer toads. Class A, is fine but I'd like to stay 28' or under. The old Imperial Palace, '79 Holiday Imperial Rambler was just about 30' and was braced underneath, and that was big enough. Oh, the memories. What happened in the Imperial Palace, happened.
So, if I can get say, 25'-28' that can haul my setup, that would be fine.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Get the longest wheelbase you can if possible. You won't regret it. I know a few that have bought 25ft MH and with a 20ft trailer couldn't hold it on the road.
Weight distribution hitch goes along way on one of these.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

The wheelbase on my Thor axis 25.2 is 194". Mh is 26.5' oal

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Glenn, the 25.2 has 194" wheelbase as you stated, all the other 25's the 24's and the 26's have a 188" wheelbase. 27's go down to 178"

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Yes one of the reason's for buying that one.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

I have a 27' E450 class C. The new 7.3 V8. Handles great and pulls the Fat Girl very well. 9+ miles to the gallon. Thor FE 27.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

I have a 2012 E350 with a V10 in it. It is a 25.5 (26 Foot). I tows our approximate 8000 pounds of car and equipment down the road just fine. All motorhome have a sweet spot and this one's at 2500 rpm. I can set the cruise at 2500 and it just hums along. I get about 9 to 10 miles to the gallon and the speed is about 62 to 68 depending on the head wind.
What I think is important is the length of (Natural or original) frame to where it hitch is bolted to. Some manufactures add piece on to the back and change it to 4X6 or smaller tubing. Just be aware of the change of frame work.

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

I really recommend a toad!!
We towed our 2 car 25' stacker loaded to the hilt
with a Gulfstream 38' 330 Cat for years with a toad!

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

A Toad is a excellent option!

Re: Motorhome selection.
 

Thank you all. I purchased a Thor Vegas 25.2 with a 194" wheelbase. V-10 on a 450 chassis. Looking forward to seeing you all again.