Results for "Tow Haul"

Last weekend I felt this awful engine strain and heard sluggish acceleration sounds while test-driving a 2017 Phoenix Cruiser #2351 with its E-350 chassis and V10 engine. I'll be doing extensive western touring through mountain and plains regions, which means substantial mountain grades and wind challenges. I'm comfortable driving slowly and want to understand two key things: 1) Will this E-350 chassis handle mountain grades without major issues, and 2) What's the real-world fuel consumption like? I plan to do an initial inspection this weekend, followed by a third-party mechanical review. I'm not overly concerned about fuel economy but want to understand the actual performance limitations. I'd appreciate insights from owners who have experience with similar touring conditions on an E-350 chassis. …more

Planning to tune my 2018 Ford 6.8L V10 RV but got quoted $800 for professional tuning and wondering if the 5 Star X4 is DIY-friendly. Specifically want to know about real-world performance improvements - does it actually improve throttle response and shift points? What about fuel economy gains?

Which of the 3 programs works best for RV towing? Is the investment worth it for better drivability or just hype? …more

Walked into three dealerships with my $40k budget and they're all pushing different electrical setups — can't afford to buy wrong between motorhome vs toy hauler power systems. Currently I have a 2020 F350 diesel SRW with a Reflection 29rs toy hauler, and I'm comparing a Grand Design Lineage 31ZW Super C motorhome versus a Momentum 381MS toy hauler.

The toy hauler I'm considering comes with serious electrical upgrades - 2 heated 400Ah lithium batteries with internal BMS, dual 3,000kVA inverters, four 300W bifacial solar panels, dual 50A solar controllers, and 60A DC-DC truck charging. Currently, to transport my side-by-side (SxS), I need two trucks and two trailers, which is inefficient.

I'm weighing pros and cons like overall length (truck and toy hauler would be about 60', MH and 20' cargo trailer would be about 57'), maintenance costs of keeping two diesel trucks, and transportation flexibility. I also have an F150 that could potentially serve as a toad vehicle.

What experiences can others share about transitioning between these RV types, especially considering power management and transportation logistics? …more

Since I'm planning to swap out my RV tires this Saturday — need to confirm these Sailun TerraMax HLT-C 225/75R16C E/10PLY tires are compatible with my Class C motorhome. I've been looking at the Sailun TerraMax HLT-C 225/75R16C E/10PLY tires since they seem like a good value, but I'm not sure if they're appropriate for a motorhome versus a trailer.

I know load ratings are important, but I'm honestly not entirely sure how to figure out if these tires would work safely on my rig. Should I be looking at my door placard or getting the actual weight measured? Any guidance would be really helpful since I don't want to make a costly mistake with something as important as tires. …more

I'm wondering if my grease choice is wrong for my 2003 Ford F53's front bearing replacement when my neighbor's identical motorhome runs perfectly after his service. The original grease that came out was a dark gray/black color and while there wasn't any catastrophic damage, the races showed enough wear marks that I decided to replace everything while I'm in there.

I've been researching different options and keep seeing conflicting recommendations. Some people swear by standard lithium grease, others recommend full synthetic formulations, and I've even seen mentions of specific brands like Valvoline MaxLife and Timken. I know the F53 chassis carries significantly more weight than a typical pickup truck, so I want to make sure I'm using something that can handle the load.

I have the torque procedure down (30 ft-lbs initial, back off, then final setting at 17 in-lbs), but I want to make sure I'm pairing that proper installation with the right grease. What specific grease products work best for the F53 front wheel bearings, and are there any compatibility issues I should be aware of when selecting a replacement grease? …more

Looked like just minor shifting hiccups in my F53 motorhome last month, but now the 6R140 transmission is completely failing and I'm scrambling to understand replacement options. Got an F53 chassis with the 6R140 transmission, and I'm wondering if I could source parts or even a whole replacement from an F550 that also has the 6R140.

Are these transmissions actually the same unit, or are there differences between the F53 and F550 applications? Trying to understand if parts would interchange and whether compatibility is something I need to worry about when shopping for repairs. …more

Wondering if I made the right call upgrading to the new 6.7 Cummins gas engine after weeks of research — still feels like I'm missing something important. Imagine if Freightliner built a new chassis using this specific Cummins gas engine. I would think it would be a great option. I don't imagine Ford would willingly use this engine in the F53 chassis. …more

Apparently engine braking saved me on my old Class A, but this 2016 Tiffin Allegro 36UA on the F53 chassis is absolutely terrifying on steep grades. Even in low gear, it seems to rev up and then upshift, and I end up gaining speed instead of slowing down. The engine braking just doesn't seem adequate.

I've been researching electromagnetic retarders as a possible solution, but I'm not sure if they can even be installed on an F53 or what they cost. Are there other options I should consider first? I'd really appreciate some guidance on whether this is the right direction to go or if there are better alternatives for managing steep descents safely. …more

Manual says to use Tow/Haul mode in the mountains but doesn't mention anything about using it with cruise control. Currently running cruise on the interstate with Tow/Haul off and wondering if I should be using both together. Don't want to damage the transmission doing it wrong. …more

Turned a mountain corner with my grandkids aboard and noticed my 2012 Tiffin 34 TGA's V10 TorqShift transmission running dangerously hot—should I be worried? After completing a 5,000-mile trip from Wyoming to Florida and hitting 100,000 miles on the odometer, I've noticed some unusual transmission temperature behavior.

With my ScanGauge, I've typically seen my transmission run around 175°F, but on this recent trip, it started fluctuating between 175°F and 190°F in a way it never has before. During idle stops, it would drop as low as 145°F. Despite these temperature variations, the transmission shifted perfectly normally.

I want to make sure I understand what's normal versus what should concern me. Are these temperature fluctuations something to be worried about, or are they within expected operating ranges? The RV performed well otherwise, and all systems seemed normal. …more