Bought Another Cummings

That timing is kinda what I was finding, so I think it's going to just be a hotel this trip. I didn't like the look of the RV parks that were close in proximity.

 

Friends,

Thought I would close out this thread after putting 7500 miles on the motorhome and tackling the Smokey and Rocky Mountains. Average MPG 8.6... 70 gallon fuel range is excellent. The Cummins 6.7L never struggled to maintain speed or negotiate the grades. Maneuvering is also excellent. Cannot tell Jeep is behind it, so have rear camera on all the time pulling. Flat towing is definitely the way to go. I like the Allison the 5th Gen 2500HS with Shift Energy Management (torque management) is seamless and virtually undetectable. Temps stayed perfect the whole time. Its much easier to setup and tear down. We like the spaces and storage. Lifetime NAV system great, and allows selecting big truck... it works as it routed us past a low clearance bridge. It's a whole 12" lower (12' 6") than the former Mobile Suites. I like staying out of the trees.

Bottom line, my wife and I love the MH and glad we made the change.

Any future posts will likely be new ones about trips or maintenance... I really like the tilt hood for access to fluids and filters and standing upright.

Cheers, Ron

 

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Nick, please delete. I decided best not to reopen can of worms. Thanks for your understanding.

EDIT: Thank you, Friend!

 

We have 26K miles on our MH and still loving it. No doubt the Cummins B6.7L is a champion powerplant, the 5th Gen Allison 2500HS transmission is fantastic, never hunting gears, smooth shifts, and performs flawlessly with the EB. We've been on four major trips with separate end destinations of Utah, Florida, North Dakota, and Maine and duration of 3.5 to almost 6 weeks. We've been on numerous shorter excursions to shorter trips to New Orleans LA, Memphis TN, and closer ones throughout TX.

I relocated the truck batteries into the DEF bay, installed, and plumbed a second 70-gallon tank (140 gallons total) that gives me about 950 miles of range with about 250 miles in reserve. Great for skipping high fuel cost states and cherry picking Open Roads fuel savings. I really like fewer fuel stops and can rug the Onan 8KW diesel genset lots with about a gallon per hour use.

Getting ready for a knee replacement the end of the month, so will have some time to kill here and on RV, Mopar, and other forums.

Everyone have fun and be safe. Cheers, Ron

 

DAWG, nice to hear from you and best wishes on the knee!!!

 

Take care of the knee surgery i am currently at Anderson Air Force with company triple 777 freighter delivering supplies.

 

Schedule refueling at Kelly AFB and have some slow smoked beef ribs and smoked beans. Fly in blue skies and have fun!

 

Here's a pic of our rig... polished the tanks too. #ad
#ad

 

What’s the CAT SCALE read on Steer & Drive when fully loaded?

It’s not wholly accurate to do so, but on second weigh get the port tires off the edge, and on third, get the starboard tires off.

Mohos tend to have a bias. Can probably already feel it in steering.

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Here's my current weight ticket. No problems in steering, largely I believe this is a commercial truck carrying a home. I installed an effective HD anti-sway bar and HD steering stabilizer up front and she drives nice.

8Klbs on the front axle and 16.5KLbs on the rears. With proper tire pressures, she runs pretty smooth. #ad

 

Thanks. Wondered what was ballpark weight as I pass a fair number of that spec (and get passed by).

I’d still do the side-side tickets to dial-in tire pressure per Roger Marble.

https://www.rvtravel.com/how-heavy-is-your-rv-really-and-why-does-it-matter-rvt-1103/

(More detail on his website).

That was a real nice Loves when it opened ten years ago. Not no more.

I only use the Petro at 410/Ackermann. You “should” be able to get side-side even if you weigh from back of the call box (Drives + Tandems if a big truck; no Steer Axle; use App).

See satellite pic for scale location (near highway).

That Blue Beacon is one of the good ones.
So is the Iron Skillet restaurant.

Clays Radio Shop across the street. I’ve used his services a quarter-century. Can’t go wrong given one gets an NRC-equipped radio beforehand.

https://www.walcottradio.com/international-lt-cb-antenna-mount-pca7003-p-3703.html?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Terrific | Catch All - Low Bid | Shopping&campaign_id=530648683&utm_content=Ad group 1&adset_id=1362297397815453&utm_ad=85143981852056&ad_id=85143981852056&keyword_id=pla-4588743067926935&utm_term=default&matchtype=e&search_query=navistar cb antenna mount&AdPos=&device=m&GeoLoc=&IntLoc=&network=s



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/cb-and-ham-radios.274246/

CB is today for The Few. But have to have the right gear & install to hear and be heard past the base stations intentionally screwing up AM-19 for the working man and the traveler.

https://www.k0bg.com/

There are more wrecks, now, and they are worse than in years past. A mile or two of warning is insufficient distance to avoid entanglement.

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As a comparison — a fleet-spec OTR tractor — pulling an “ice cream spec reefer” (holds -10 even in Yuma in August), TARE is 34,500-lbs.

Must be able to load 44,500-lbs. Happily, a Great Dane trailer with a Carrier unit.

The tractor is 19,500 ready-weight. (240-gals diesel & 20-gals DEF). Reefer tank is 50-gals.

Typical load I’m at 12,400-Steer and 32-33k on each axle set rearward. 77-78k gross. (Occasionally over, rarely under). The dry vans might have but 10-20k in box some trips.

FYI, a reefer is almost always heavy. (As you figure out your upgrade & downgrade tactics).

DD-15 & 12-Auto against 2.19 final ratio.

Fleet average is 8.3-MPG. (Governed at 70).

ThermoKing APU and a big inverter.

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I use that Petro, love breakfast at the Iron Skillet. Also use Loves in Seguin. Great and fast filling up both sides at the same time. Haven't weighed each wheel yet, but have measured the frame to the ground at the ends of the frame and she sets level fully loaded. She's fun to drive, talk to a lot of truckers who like the truck based MH.

I'm pretty basic, got a stock Radio Shack 40ch NOAA weather CB and a 24" fiberglass antenna on my DS mirror. It reaches a few miles, SWRs at 1.5. Might check out Clay's. Might have to grab a cup and a bite if you find yourself in the neighborhood. Cheers!

 

1st off nice rig. Always Iiked the super C's. I've read all your posts, and particularly the info on the drive train.
This Friday we pick up our new 2022 (hold over) Winnebago Forza 36H. It has the ISB 6.7 340 hp, and 2500 Allison. Been towing trailers since we started, so this is going to be different. I hope we transition as good as you have. I'm still trying to figure out if fuel filters are the same as my 21 2500 ctd. Cheers!

 

Thanks! You will likely have the commercial Cummins B6.7L, either 15 or 17 qt oil pan. None of the filters are the same as my Ram 5500. That 6.7L is very impressive for those of us who understand economical power.

Congrats on your new RV rig. Seeing America is so much fun. Meeting nice folks in different areas. I hope to see you share pics, driving observations, and of course the trips.

Happy Trails and be safe!

 

Hey Wiredawg, what do you thing of this MH?
https://www.boykomotors.com/inventory/dynamax/isata-5/t-abt0083/

 

I like it except for these reasons: the outside storage bays are smaller limiting the size of items you can carry, it's limited to 52 gallons of fuel, and it has less cargo carrying capacity. I wanted real bad to figure put how to make it work because it's a Ram. GVWR is 19.5K Lbs, the MV607 has 26KLbs. Mine has ~5,400 lbs CCC.

But, if I didn't need bigger bays, more fuel, and more CCC, I'd be all over it.

FYI: When I decided to quit towing big 5th wheels, I tried hard to convince my wife to get a Host Mamouth even could be ordered with a Splendide combo washer dryer. But, Vivian didn't like going that small and didn't care for the steps.

If you're looking at it for you I'd say go for it and everything is familiar to you with a Ram.

Cheers, Ron

 

I have an opportunity to have a pad to park it on above Lake Chelan in Eastern Washington as a 4 to 5 month summer spot on family members 20 acres. And I could take it with the SxS on it's trailer down to the Oregon dunes or other close by trips. It can stay year round on the acreage. The sale 5th wheel and membership RV park lot on the Western side of Washington would cover the cost of this rig. At my age if I am going to make changes, I do not think I should wait to long to do that.