NPS Ranger
Portland, Oregon
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Joined: 01/28/2012
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We are looking at purchasing a Safari MH with a front end diesel after owning two gas MH's. The price is right, the interior is great for living 6 months of the year while I am stationed in a National Park. We was just wondering other RV's experience with a FRED. Advantages? Disadvantages?
Thanks!
Ranger
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bluwtr49
Green Valley, AZ
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Joined: 09/12/2005
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I would think that if you're buying it to live in at a single location the engine location wouldn't make much difference at all. It traveling that the DP comes into its own with a virtually dead silent experience.
Dick
2000 40" DP Beaver Patriot Thunder Cat C-12 425 HP, 1550 Tq
1997 Jeep GC Limited ---toad
2008 Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited TRD (Retired)
2009 Cougar 268 RLS ~8700 lbs road wt (Retrired)
2006 Jeep Liberty Turbo Diesel.....TV in Training
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wolfe10
Texas
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Joined: 10/08/2000
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What chassis/engine. Some good and "not so good" front engine diesels.
That would, of course, be more important if you plan on traveling vs using it in one location.
Brett Wolfe
1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
Cat 3116, Allison 3060
FMCA Forum: www.community.fmca.com/index
Caterpillar RV Engine Owner's Club: www.catrvclub.org
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Hi,
Is this a late 90's front engine 3.9L 4 cylinder engine in a Trek motorhome? The RV is only 90" wide, not the normal 96" or 102" wide, and most people are not satisfied with the low horsepower engine - I think rated at 200 HP, it might not be that high though.
Does the bed come down from the roof electrically? That was something that Trek was known for, a smaller and very lightweight design. Yet also known for the tiny engine. Most diesel pushers have 5.9 liter or larger engines, your gas RV probably had a 454 - 7.4L or 460 - 7.5L or V10 6.8L or 8.1L V8, depending on the manufacture. The Trek by Safari has a smaller engine, 1/2 what the modern GMC motorhome chassis has, and it is diesel.
Most of Safari's rear engine diesel pushers have 8.3L or 10.4 liter engines, that can handle the 24,000 pound RV, the Trek line was 1/2 the weight and 1/2 the engine size, so don't expect good performance on the hills or towing ability either. Isuzu did make a great engine, they are in many delivery vehicles, and it is strong, just not what the average motorhome driver is used to. It should provide fairly good fuel mileage, and is very comparable with the late model Sprinter van based motorhomes, probably with slightly more power and room in the Safari.
Fred.
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rjstractor
Auburn, WA
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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Golden HVAC wrote:Is this a late 90's front engine 3.9L 4 cylinder engine in a Trek motorhome? The RV is only 90" wide, not the normal 96" or 102" wide, and most people are not satisfied with the low horsepower engine - I think rated at 200 HP, it might not be that high though.
I think the 3.9L Isuzu had around 125-140 hp. Economical and durable, yes, but not powerful.
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Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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If it is a TREK and has the 6.5 GM diesel, I would look for something else.
My Kharma ran over my Dogma.
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Cat320
Somewhere in the USA
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Why get a MH if you are not going to move it? If you are going to sit at one place for six months...get a nice TT or 5th wheel.
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cbigham
orange , CA
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Joined: 01/06/2005
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Dunno bout that... had a 6.2 l GM (the 6.5 is based on) diesel blazer for many years . Towed my first RV hi lo trailer all over. Put 364k on that engine when I sold it. Engine was fine..mind you I put in two fuel pumps and injectors ..easy enough and cheap. Stuff came from someplace near Lubbock TX. What killed me was two transmissions and rear ends and rust.
Later 6.5 l engines were Turbo 'd Had some issues but manageable ..decent mileage.
Could be a diamond in the ruff. Took that blazer all over the tougher western trails so sure of it I was.
* This post was
edited 01/30/12 10:59pm by cbigham *
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frankdamp
Anacortes, or wherever we've gone.
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As a transit driver, I drove both Ford and GM "FREDs", and they put me off ever getting a MH with either chassis They were both based on the vans of the time.
The Fords were excessively noisy, and the 95's we had on fixed route services turned out to be very unreliable. It ended up as a recall, I think. They had computer controlled fuel injection and the crankshaft angle sensor was repeatedly failing. It was a Powerstroke engine, but I don't know what size.
The Chevs are better. I've retired from driving and just ride occasionally, but the noise level, both inside and outside is much less. They are also Class C style and I think are turbocharged.
Frank Damp, DW - Eileen
Anacortes, WA
'02 Georgetown 325, F53, V-10
Dog - 1 Male Yellow Lab (Bailey 9 next July).
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jgolden
Upstate NY USA
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I have a front engine diesel 5.9 Cummins. No noiser that the 454 deal I had before. More modern ones are quieter but a pusher is pretty quiet.
Power is a big issue, front or rear, but to use it stationary may not matter. Test drive it for sure, find some hills.
Mine is on a John Deere/Oshgosh/ Freightliner Chassis and I admit I like having more than fiberglass out front. A few steel crossmembers, and a chunk of Cummins.
You might want an engine brake, diesel different from gas on the down hill
1990 Allegro 30ft Diesel Puller 5.9 Cummins, 2009 Malibu
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