Word of CAUTION

pentastarrail · 05-08-2014, 09:07 AM

Just a word of caution:
I own a 2005 Coachman motorhome on a Feightliner chassis with a 300 HP cummins with 34,000 miles on it. Bought it new.

I'm now going on the 4th, yes, number four turbo and 2nd exhaust manifold.
From what I'm told, the issue is that this is a mongrel motorhome setup so the turbo and manifold are near impossible to get. I guess the wastegate is part of the turbo with some variable contoller that keeps crapping out. Looking for the manifold has netted nothing, Cummins is contacting the manifold manufacturer to see if they can get/make one.

Moral of the story: DON'T buy a 300 CUMMINS on a Freightliner chassis MH around 2004, 2005.
POS

offroadr · 05-13-2014, 11:54 AM

ouch! My C7 Cat has been good , knock on wood!

Mark Markow · 05-13-2014, 06:41 PM

frank I don't know what the issue is with your coach. you know I had the identical coach to your's. it had 35k on it when I traded it in. I never had a single issue with it? I changed the oil every 7500k miles. and pulled plenty of weight with it. I loved the 300hp cummins I now have a 350hp cummins and I miss the the 10+mpg the 300 would get.

pentastarrail · 05-19-2014, 11:44 PM

Hi Mark,

I remember your coach, as you said, identical.
As we all know, 2 identical engines can be different.
From what I'm told by Freightliner, the engine can't make enough power. It basically just cooks itself, hence why the exhaust manifold cracks and the turbo/waste gates go south, excessive heat.
The coach is maintained by Freightliner 100% every 4000 - 5000 miles (basically every year), oil, filters, etc. etc.
When they read the computer on it they can tell everything from throttle position vs, engine rpm, vs, MPH, egt, etc, etc. The problem is the hills, it starts off in 5th gear (as you would imagine) but drops significantly fast to 2nd or 1st (depending on the hill).
The only thing Freightliner could come up with is to chip it BUT they nor anyone else can find anything that works with it since it's a mongrel turbo/waste gate.
Believe me I've tried.
I know you had a chip in yours, maybe that was the difference, the engine didn't work as hard.
Do you know where I can get a chip for mine?

Maybe we'll see you at the Grove.
Take care,
Frank

05-08-2014, 09:07 AM	#1
pentastarrail Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 91 Likes: 1 Liked 14 Times in 5 Posts	Word of CAUTION Just a word of caution: I own a 2005 Coachman motorhome on a Feightliner chassis with a 300 HP cummins with 34,000 miles on it. Bought it new. I'm now going on the 4th, yes, number four turbo and 2nd exhaust manifold. From what I'm told, the issue is that this is a mongrel motorhome setup so the turbo and manifold are near impossible to get. I guess the wastegate is part of the turbo with some variable contoller that keeps crapping out. Looking for the manifold has netted nothing, Cummins is contacting the manifold manufacturer to see if they can get/make one. Moral of the story: DON'T buy a 300 CUMMINS on a Freightliner chassis MH around 2004, 2005. POS __________________ Alias: BIG KAHUNA Last edited by pentastarrail; 05-08-2014 at 09:16 AM.

05-13-2014, 11:54 AM	#2
offroadr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Central IL Posts: 80 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Word of CAUTION ouch! My C7 Cat has been good , knock on wood! __________________ '66 Chevelle 300 Sedan, 582 BBC

05-13-2014, 06:41 PM	#3
Mark Markow Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: east hartford ct. Posts: 539 Likes: 1 Liked 9 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Word of CAUTION frank I don't know what the issue is with your coach. you know I had the identical coach to your's. it had 35k on it when I traded it in. I never had a single issue with it? I changed the oil every 7500k miles. and pulled plenty of weight with it. I loved the 300hp cummins I now have a 350hp cummins and I miss the the 10+mpg the 300 would get. __________________ Mark Markow 171 ss/tb

05-19-2014, 11:44 PM	#4
pentastarrail Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 91 Likes: 1 Liked 14 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Word of CAUTION Hi Mark, I remember your coach, as you said, identical. As we all know, 2 identical engines can be different. From what I'm told by Freightliner, the engine can't make enough power. It basically just cooks itself, hence why the exhaust manifold cracks and the turbo/waste gates go south, excessive heat. The coach is maintained by Freightliner 100% every 4000 - 5000 miles (basically every year), oil, filters, etc. etc. When they read the computer on it they can tell everything from throttle position vs, engine rpm, vs, MPH, egt, etc, etc. The problem is the hills, it starts off in 5th gear (as you would imagine) but drops significantly fast to 2nd or 1st (depending on the hill). The only thing Freightliner could come up with is to chip it BUT they nor anyone else can find anything that works with it since it's a mongrel turbo/waste gate. Believe me I've tried. I know you had a chip in yours, maybe that was the difference, the engine didn't work as hard. Do you know where I can get a chip for mine? Maybe we'll see you at the Grove. Take care, Frank __________________ Alias: BIG KAHUNA Last edited by pentastarrail; 05-19-2014 at 11:47 PM.