Same Under Skin Needs Advice
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Same Under Skin Needs Advice
New member. Been enjoying the site greatly. New owner to 31' Jamboree Motorhome. Before the flames start flying as to why I'm posting here note that under the skin of my oversize outhouse on wheels is a Superduty 450 cutaway chassis. That's right, V10, 4R100, Dana 80 rear end on a stretched 214" wheelbase (don't ask about U turns). So it may not look like your typical SD but I have many of the same issues as the rest of you.
My opinion so far of the truck underneath
awesome brakes
good steering/handling
good acceleration
ok hill climbing
Areas of concern:
1. Cookin' the tranny. I need to pull some hills in 2nd since I'm 13,000 lbs empty, 11' tall, 8' wide and about as aerodynamic as a barn. If the TC is unlocked in 2nd and I'm solid in the HP/torque zone and therefore tossing in lots of gas, power and heat... What happens on longer hills? Can the tranny cooling system keep up?
2. Axle loading: Due to the size and weight of the box, I'm nearly max on front axle. Since springs were fairly compressed I tossed in some Air Lift bags to help with the axle load. Result was about an inch of lift. Seems to prevent some of the bottoming out. The front suspensions seems to rattle a little more now on bumps. Also really likes to chase the ruts probably due to high loading???
3. General reliability: Assuming the constant weight and aerodynamics what precautions and/or upgrades should I consider? I'm not in a hurry with this rig. I just don't want to spend my summer vacation like Chevy Chase stuck on the side of the road - unless that Ferrari comes bye...
The RV/motorhome gang has all sorts of add-ons to help resolve some of the problems that the big boxes create but much of it seems marketed to the uneducated consumers using fear/safety as a motivation.
I'm looking for feedback from guys who've had time with these trucks. Just imagine your truck has been chowin' seriously on Girl Scout cookies and has plumped up to 13,000 pounds. Other than the 214" wheelbase and the 4.63 Dana 80 rear end, I think we're pretty much the same under the skin - this rig just has a lot of it...
Looking forward to your comments,
Jammin31
My opinion so far of the truck underneath
awesome brakes
good steering/handling
good acceleration
ok hill climbing
Areas of concern:
1. Cookin' the tranny. I need to pull some hills in 2nd since I'm 13,000 lbs empty, 11' tall, 8' wide and about as aerodynamic as a barn. If the TC is unlocked in 2nd and I'm solid in the HP/torque zone and therefore tossing in lots of gas, power and heat... What happens on longer hills? Can the tranny cooling system keep up?
2. Axle loading: Due to the size and weight of the box, I'm nearly max on front axle. Since springs were fairly compressed I tossed in some Air Lift bags to help with the axle load. Result was about an inch of lift. Seems to prevent some of the bottoming out. The front suspensions seems to rattle a little more now on bumps. Also really likes to chase the ruts probably due to high loading???
3. General reliability: Assuming the constant weight and aerodynamics what precautions and/or upgrades should I consider? I'm not in a hurry with this rig. I just don't want to spend my summer vacation like Chevy Chase stuck on the side of the road - unless that Ferrari comes bye...
The RV/motorhome gang has all sorts of add-ons to help resolve some of the problems that the big boxes create but much of it seems marketed to the uneducated consumers using fear/safety as a motivation.
I'm looking for feedback from guys who've had time with these trucks. Just imagine your truck has been chowin' seriously on Girl Scout cookies and has plumped up to 13,000 pounds. Other than the 214" wheelbase and the 4.63 Dana 80 rear end, I think we're pretty much the same under the skin - this rig just has a lot of it...
Looking forward to your comments,
Jammin31
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,859
Likes: 7
From: USA
Same Under Skin Needs Advice
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-Mar-02 AT 07:57 AM (EST)]hello Jammin!
Well I'll advise you on a few things.
First I don't know whether this is the correct website to be at but
thats not my decision.
Since I've been in an around a few motorhomes in years past here are my suggestions
1)get the best set of gauges you can,Tranny temp is highly important!
2)make sure you have the biggest tranny cooler on the aftermarket you can get in this thing1
3)consider a gearvendors over/underdrive add on
3a) I would of considered Bilstein shocks instead of airbags ,the airbags tend to destroy any ride comfort in the front.
4)I Don't know if the water cooling on the v10 is suspect in this application ,monitor the average running temp of it,when pulling hillsand
so forth.(for example all the motorhomes I've owned had 460's in them.and tended to run hot until I used a deisel thermostat in with a bigger flow rate,it brought the temp's down 15-20 degrees.makes them last longer trust me
5)Oil run the best and change it often(I won't debate oil brands)
I always ran 20w50 in mine, just because of the heat factor!
6)Tire pressure keep it monitored all the time!
it will help with fuel mileage
7)monitor all fluid levels as if your life depened on them!
8)Run the best gas not the cheap stuff!but not the most expensive either
9)load it evenly, don't be in a hurry to get somewhere,I see alot of these r/v owners driving like maniacs slow down lifes short as it is
10)last but not least ENJOY ityou deserve it!
'
')
Rich
Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out "X" Mayor of Truckville
Well I'll advise you on a few things.
First I don't know whether this is the correct website to be at but
thats not my decision.
Since I've been in an around a few motorhomes in years past here are my suggestions
1)get the best set of gauges you can,Tranny temp is highly important!
2)make sure you have the biggest tranny cooler on the aftermarket you can get in this thing1
3)consider a gearvendors over/underdrive add on
3a) I would of considered Bilstein shocks instead of airbags ,the airbags tend to destroy any ride comfort in the front.
4)I Don't know if the water cooling on the v10 is suspect in this application ,monitor the average running temp of it,when pulling hillsand
so forth.(for example all the motorhomes I've owned had 460's in them.and tended to run hot until I used a deisel thermostat in with a bigger flow rate,it brought the temp's down 15-20 degrees.makes them last longer trust me
5)Oil run the best and change it often(I won't debate oil brands)
I always ran 20w50 in mine, just because of the heat factor!
6)Tire pressure keep it monitored all the time!
it will help with fuel mileage
7)monitor all fluid levels as if your life depened on them!
8)Run the best gas not the cheap stuff!but not the most expensive either
9)load it evenly, don't be in a hurry to get somewhere,I see alot of these r/v owners driving like maniacs slow down lifes short as it is
10)last but not least ENJOY ityou deserve it!
'
')Rich
Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out "X" Mayor of Truckville
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,723
Likes: 2,648
From: SE Florida
Same Under Skin Needs Advice
>If the TC is unlocked in 2nd and I'm
>solid in the HP/torque zone and therefore tossing in lots of
>gas, power and heat... What happens on longer hills? Can
>the tranny cooling system keep up?
The torque converter is going to be locked in second gear at heavier throttles, such as when climbing a hill. It doesn't lock in second at light throttle, so you may never have noticed it.
The transmission cooling should be fine, but a gauge would be a very good add.
Mark
>solid in the HP/torque zone and therefore tossing in lots of
>gas, power and heat... What happens on longer hills? Can
>the tranny cooling system keep up?
The torque converter is going to be locked in second gear at heavier throttles, such as when climbing a hill. It doesn't lock in second at light throttle, so you may never have noticed it.
The transmission cooling should be fine, but a gauge would be a very good add.
Mark
