towing with a ?

[Rick Bailey]

Anyone towing an enclosed trl, with a 2000 HR Vacationer 33ft, v10, curious as to power and how the trans holds up. been using a 93 class c with a 460, and it's been ok. Have a chance to up grade.

Any help here guys?

Thanks
Rick

[Bill Harris]

My MH is a 33 ft 2004 Ford chassis with the V10 and 4R100. I have towed a 26 ft enclosed trailer with my junk for several years and about 20K miles. That vintage V10 (the two valve engine) does a pretty decent job. I just recently put a deep aluminum pan and trans temp gauge on it since I was a little worried about the trans too. The fluid coming out was spotless, much to my delight. I have only made one trip with it since then, to Gainesville, and I was astonished to see how low the trans temp was. The Ford MH chassis has a pretty large cooler for the trans fluid and it does not route through the radiator like it does on cars and light trucks. On my trip to Gainesville the temp never went above 130 degrees, and ran almost the entire distance at 100 to 110. It was COLD outside however, so it will be interesting to see what it does in August.

The engine likes RPM when you pull hills. You just have to get used to that thing screaming at 4500 RPM right next to you when your really pulling a hill. But it will pull!

Be aware, especially on a 2000 vintage engine, is that these things have two issues. First, they have a tendency to spit out spark plugs due to a problem with threads on the early heads. Second, they frequently break exhaust manifold studs causing exhaust leaks at the head, which would be really noisy with the engine sitting next to you. The studs usually break right at the head surface and are a bitch to get out. Newer engines don't have these problems.

[Keith 944]

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

Be aware, especially on a 2000 vintage engine, is that these things have two issues. First, they have a tendency to spit out spark plugs due to a problem with threads on the early heads. Second, they frequently break exhaust manifold studs causing exhaust leaks at the head, which would be really noisy with the engine sitting next to you. The studs usually break right at the head surface and are a bitch to get out. Newer engines don't have these problems.

don't forget the 6 mpg! mine tows great ,E450 chassis but cant pass a gas station....

[Rick Bailey]

Bill, is there a way to tell if this might be one of those problem engines! The plug thing dosent sound very good to me ....nor does the stud thing. Is there a fix for either of the problems?

Rick

I have a '99 35' Gulf Stream with the Ford v10. Only things I have ever towed are a Olds van and a F150. I am on my 3rd transmission. 50K miles and driven gently. The last time the trans blew the commercial Ford garage that replaced it said that chassis had the same trans as the same model year Ford Excursion. Slightly small for the motorhome application IMO.

[Larry Munk]

2000 HR Vacationer 33ft. Weigh it before you buy it as some Vacationers were at max weight empty if memory serve me correctly. We had looked at a Vacationer and that may be why we went with the Chieftain.

[Bill Harris]

Go to www.RV.net/forum/ and do a search for V10 problems and it will give you some insight.

I'm not slamming them, I'm pleased with the performance and reliability of my MH so far. I'd rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy, even though I am a GM stockholder without my permission. Just be aware of the issues.

[treessavoy]

I have a Monaco with the V10 but have yet to tow anything. I made a point to talk to a Ford Service Manager about towing a trailer and he said the transmission was too weak for the load but a deep pan and the biggest cooler available might help it last longer.

I wonder if there is a later model transmission that is stronger and will fit.....anyone know?

JimR

[dartman]

Originally Posted by treessavoy

I have a Monaco with the V10 but have yet to tow anything. I made a point to talk to a Ford Service Manager about towing a trailer and he said the transmission was too weak for the load but a deep pan and the biggest cooler available might help it last longer.

I wonder if there is a later model transmission that is stronger and will fit.....anyone know?

JimR

I have a 2000 gulf stream with the v10 and 4R100,pulling a 28ft pace gt trailer load with tools and car. work good last 9 years (90 000 km).only the 4R100 will fit.

[Dave Casey]

I towed an enclosed 26' trailer with a 1999 adventurer with the same chassis and motor.55000 miles plus towing, including 1 trip cross country. The motor is a great piece in my mind , yes it revs alot, but that is the way it is designed. I have never seen the plugs come out of a v10, the early 5.4 v8's did it sometimes. I put 1 coil pack in my v10 in those miles and that's it. After owning it for 3 years I put a complete banks kit on it and that is a good move, but not required. I don't "go like hell" when towing, the main reason i got the kit was to get a little more power to keep it from shifting as much.

I took the trans out after 2 years because i didn't like the residue in the pan. Went thru it, it was ok , and put a heavy duty converter in it which is one of the weak links in the trans.

a few years later the trans just plain broke as i was going down the interstate. It was not the converter. A shop fixed it for me for a grand and i put it back in, reused the converter and it has been fine.

There never was any overheating issues with the trans, I had a gauge on it.

Sold the coach to another racer and he is towing with it now, no more problems to date.

The trans is the weak link , but it can be ok , just keep an eye on it. That coach had about 70000 when i sold it and probably has 80000 on it now.

The engine and the ford chassis are excellant pieces in my mind