mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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I have towed our Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited over the Continental Divide many times with our Tioga 29H Class C.
It is on the E350 Chassis with the 460 V8.
It works for us.
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 275,000 Miles
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Hemi
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
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AstroRig57
near Tehachapi, CA
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Joined: 01/15/2009
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Coach-man wrote:The only thing I would be concerned about is braking! On my A I had an exhaust brake, and would only have to tap the brakes once or twice or the longest steepest down grades. On the C you only have your brakes and a really limited engine brake! I would worry that the brakes would overheat?
This absolutely a non-issue. Diesels have exhaust brakes because, without them, they have virtually no engine braking at all.
The Ford V-10 in a Class-C has more than ample engine braking. We regularly take ours to many remote, mountainous sites, with our astronomy club. One route we take, in the White Mountains has a short section of road with an 18% grade.
We frequently drive California 18 north of Big Bear City. The grade is impressive, descending (and ascending) at 11%, which is almost double the allowable grade percentage for Interstate highways (which is generally 6 to 7% depending on waivers and exceptions for specific climbs).
We travel this route several times a year. I have never had an issue with it in our Class-C...creeping down in first gear and never any faster than 25 mph. The engine holds our large and heavy 31' Class-C at manageable speed with only an occasional tap of the brakes when the RPM's and speed climb. I have, however, seen numerous RV'ers towing travel trailers or fifth wheels smoking their brakes while going down this one. I've also seen a few toads smoking behind big Class-A's as well.
In like manner, our 2005 V-10 powered rig climbs anything we ask of it. Don't be afraid to use a low gear and wind them out...they thrive on it.
2005 31' Coachmen Freelander 3150SS, Stargazer II - Mobile Astronomy Unit
Do you remember when the sky was dark, and the stars were bright?
The International Dark-Sky Association
American by birth...Scottish by the Grace Of God.
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tatest
Oklahoma Green Country
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Joined: 05/14/2005
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The engines in the newest A's may be 50-60 hp stronger, but only at peak horsepower RPMs, RPMs and power levels you will almost never use unless trying to accelerate to pass something going even slower. At the engine speeds most RVers find comfortable for a climb, available torque and power will be the same.
On the other hand, your C is likely a couple thousand pounds lighter than smaller A's, maybe 10,000 pounds lighter than the heaviest A's on the F-53 chassis. Compared to an A with the V-10, you are driving a hot rod.
I've had no problem maintaining speed limits on long 5-8% grades like US-50 over the Rockies, and the cooling system has been adequate to the task in summer. I've had spare power to accelerate, pull out, and overtake slower moving heavy trucks. Engine braking down those grades has been adequate to maintain the speeds I used to climb them, usually in the same gear I used for the climb. There has usually been adequate braking in one gear lower to decelerate, although it is not that much of a problem to brake to a lower speed, then use the next lower gear to hold that speed.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B
2001 Ranger Edge
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A/C Inspector
St. George Ut.
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Joined: 09/03/2002
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If only they would have put the three valve engine ine the E450s..I would have been more at ease with the RV I used to have. I was one of those that didn't like the high RPM HP and gas guzzling. I went back to the venerable diesel lower RPM and high torque. 6.5 to 7.5 milage for the V10 verses 9.5 to 11.5 while the super C is nearly twice the weight.
Denny
2006 Seneca 35GS.4" turbo back.Edge/Attitude/GPS/Bilsteins/. Ford Ranger toad.
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ColoradoRon
Arvada, CO, US
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Joined: 09/06/2004
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I have a 2010 Jayco Grayhawk 31SS. I have been over most of Colorado central and southern passes, with not problems. This included 2006 Ion3 as a toad.
ColoradoRon
2010 Jayco Grayhawk 31SS
2006 Saturn ION 3
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twmonroe
Collinsville, IL
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Joined: 12/31/2007
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Thank you all for your responses. Purchase will happen in May, see you out there somewhere this summer.
Tom
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Bordercollie
Garden Grove, CA, USA
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Joined: 03/07/2002
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Have old brake fluid replaced, it attracts moisture over time, causes brake fade. And use your gears. Don't let local yokels and yahoos pressure you to take grades and curves too fast. Use turnouts when it's safe and let them by.
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dmatt
Ventura County, CA
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Joined: 07/29/2003
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Ours is a 2007 E-450 V-10 and we been all over the west with it. We have never had a problem with it. We take the back way to Lake Tahoe going up the 395 through Mammoth Mtn and it pulls fine up that hill. When we tow the Matrix, it will struggle a little bit.
Heck, back in 2008, we took it up Colorado Route 82 over Independence Pass (12,095 feet) (purely by accident since I didn't realize how high it was!!!) That was the only time I had to drop it down to 3rd gear to maintain speed. Coming down the other side into Aspen was a little tough with the curves, but the V-10 maintained low speed nicely.
* This post was
edited 01/18/12 02:35pm by dmatt *
Don, Jackie and the Boyz
Madison, our loveable Austrailan Shepard
Our new to the clan baby Black Lab, Riley
O'Malley the Alley Cat
2007 Four Winds Dutchmen 29R-Ford E-450 V-10 towing a 2008 Toyota Matrix XR
2009 Kawasaki Ninja 650R
Our camping photos
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