1998 Tradewinds, Diesel Pusher Motohome

[Pullstart 69,751]

I figured there is no need to plague Eloise with the dark cloud of the Reno Turd.    Time for a new thread!

 

This is our new to us diesel pusher.  I’m putting a video together, and will update the thread as we go along.  It’s been in the extended family since new, and always well kept.  It needs some loving, but is way more capable as a usable camper than the last pusher we brought home!

 

The trip to Colorado was quick, but great.  More details to come.

[ebinmaine 78,341]

Very nice! 

[ri702bill 11,882]

Not much room for WH toys (unless you build an upper deck.... you know you will). Nice looking "Aluminum Room".

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,484]

2 hours ago, ri702bill said:

Not much room for WH toys (unless you build an upper deck.... you know you will).

 

I was just about to say, I can't wait to see how many horses fit inside, on top, strapped to the sides, welded to the front, etc.   

[parsonsponyz 318]

That will make it easy for you to go cross country picking up wheel horses.  Nice looking RV.

[clueless 3,390]

18 minutes ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

 

I was just about to say, I can't wait to see how many horses fit inside, on top, strapped to the sides, welded to the front, etc.   

You know my man already got plans for it. 

[Pullstart 69,751]

Naw, the toy hauler dream died with our 5th wheel.  We have decided that we can sell that, get an enclosed trailer I can load and pull with the RV or a truck, and have a good RV to just camp as well, when we want to just camp.  

[WHX?? 56,147]

5 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

when we want to just camp.

I believe they call that "glamping " these days ... seriously I though of maybe going this route on a smaller scale. A class C i believe they call it. I have the enclosed to haul tractors to shows and long distance scores. Kinda like what Special Ed & Dammit Dale does. Just unhook to take the Mrs. to the UP exploring. I haven't researched them much but Dan says most are built on crappy Ford chassis. Not sure if any have any kind of towing capacity. 

 

I suppose you are going to peddle our plow day quarters ... that's ok as long as we don't have to stay in a roach coach. 

[Pullstart 69,751]

12 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

I suppose you are going to peddle our plow day quarters ... that's ok as long as we don't have to stay in a roach coach. 

Id like to build y’all a bunk house some day 😎.  With the pool area having a bath house, it should be easy to hose y’all down if you get into Dan’s hot sauce too soon for the road trip home.  🤠

[SylvanLakeWH 31,117]

17 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

With the pool area having a bath house, it should be easy to hose y’all down if you get into Dan’s hot sauce too soon for the road trip home.  🤠

 

Oh man...

 

[953 nut 65,310]

26 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

build y’all a bunk house some day

             Reading between the lines I see hammocks hanging in Colleen and a fire hose outside.                   

[Pullstart 69,751]

7 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

             Reading between the lines I see hammocks hanging in Colleen and a fire hose outside.                   

That would be way easier!

[Achto 31,608]

1 hour ago, WHX?? said:

I haven't researched them much but Dan says most are built on crappy Ford chassis.

 

Basically you have 2 choices in a class C chassis. 

 

Ford with the under powered, gas guzzling V10, POS engine or their improved choice the 7.3L V8 gas engine. Second of the 2 being a much better choice.

Mercedes Benz with a turbo diesel that gets fair fuel milage, has decent power.  

[Pullstart 69,751]

1 hour ago, WHX?? said:

Dan says most are built on crappy Ford chassis. Not sure if any have any kind of towing capacity. 

 

9 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

Basically you have 2 choices in a class C chassis. 

 

Ford with the under powered, gas guzzling V10, POS engine or their improved choice the 7.3L V8 gas engine. Second of the 2 being a much better choice.

Mercedes Benz with a turbo diesel that gets fair fuel milage, has decent power.  

Hence why we went up to the big boy Class A pusher.  It’s large, but shorter overall than a crew cab long bed and a 40’ fifth wheel.  Add an enclosed trailer and we’ll have a bit more length but that’s ok.  

[WHX?? 56,147]

16 minutes ago, Achto said:

Mercedes Benz with a turbo diesel that gets fair fuel milage, has decent power.  

Is that one of their motors? 

[Streetrodchev 1,086]

3 hours ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

 

I was just about to say, I can't wait to see how many horses fit inside, on top, strapped to the sides, welded to the front, etc.   

 You forgot hanging from the ceiling. 🤣

[Achto 31,608]

37 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Is that one of their motors? 

 

Yes 

Specs for after 2022

Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder Turbo Diesel (High Output).

Horsepower: 208 HP.

Torque: 332 lb-ft.

Transmission: 9G-TRONIC Plus Automatic.

Fuel Capacity: 24.5 gallons.

Towing Capacity: 4,200 lbs to 7,500 lbs (depending on model).

GVWR: Up to 11,030 lbs or higher on 4500 models.

Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) standard, All-Wheel Drive (AWD) available.

Chassis Sizes: 3500XD (extended duty) or 4500 (used for heavier Class

[oliver2-44 11,405]

52 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

Basically you have 2 choices in a class C chassis. 

 

Ford with the under powered, gas guzzling V10, POS engine or their improved choice the 7.3L V8 gas engine. Second of the 2 being a much better choice.

Mercedes Benz with a turbo diesel that gets fair fuel milage, has decent power.  

Our class C  was on a 2017 Chevy 4500 Chassis. We sold it back at Thanksgiving. It had fair power and got 8-10mpg on flat land. It rode like a noisy rough box truck. PO installed a rear sway bar that took the sway out but stiffens it up too much. I took it off but put back on due to too much sway when a semi passed. 
I’ve test drove a couple of the MB chassis one. They were better but still noisy. 
We’re looking at Trailers and Class A’s

I drove a 2016 Newman Ventana 37 ft Class A with the 340hp Cummins diesel. Had it floored 25% of the time to get to 55mph. Doing some research it really needed 380/400+hp. Yesterday I drove a 2022 entry level Tiffin with the 7.3 Ford chassis. Much better acceleration. Certainly not a rocket, but I never had to floor it to get it to move. The last 10?years all brands of the gas Class A have been built on the Ford chassis. Currently the RV market is flooded with all the people that bought them during Covid dumping them  Good time to buy bad time to sell. 

[Pullstart 69,751]

13 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

Our class C  was on a 2017 Chevy 4500 Chassis. We sold it back at Thanksgiving. It had fair power and got 8-10mpg on flat land. It rode like a noisy rough box truck. PO installed a rear sway bar that took the sway out but stiffens it up too much. I took it off but put back on due to too much sway when a semi passed. 
I’ve test drove a couple of the MB chassis one. They were better but still noisy. 
We’re looking at Trailers and Class A’s

I drove a 2016 Newman Ventana 37 ft Class A with the 340hp Cummins diesel. Had it floored 25% of the time to get to 55mph. Doing some research it really needed 380/400+hp. Yesterday I drove a 2022 entry level Tiffin with the 7.3 Ford chassis. Much better acceleration. Certainly not a rocket, but I never had to floor it to get it to move. The last 10?years all brands of the gas Class A have been built on the Ford chassis. Currently the RV market is flooded with all the people that bought them during Covid dumping them  Good time to buy bad time to sell. 

This 300 hp CAT 3126 and Allison 6 speed combo with 235/80R22.5 tires was very easy on the throttle.  Mind you we were traveling nearly empty, but I80 through Nebraska and Iowa have quite a selection of hills to climb.  We did the same route with the 8.3 Cummins coach, same transmission and pushing 295/75R22.5 tires.  Supposedly that Cummins was 400 hp, but all the lies she told me, I don’t believe anythings she said at this point.  It was also empty, for reference.  I really like this CAT setup.