Motorhome selection.

[Ron Ortiz]

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.

[Keith 944]

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

[jmcarter]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

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

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

[Rory McNeil]

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.

[Rich Biebel]

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.

[Keith 944]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

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

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

[NSSGTO]

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

[jamie2370]

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

[J.R. Haddad]

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.

[Glenn Briglio]

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.