Comparing motors help please

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Comparing motors help please

May 14, 2016, 08:25:35 am

Hello
Has anyone got a u@@% or U300 Grandville
I 'm looking at 2 coaches one with 5.9 and 4 speed tran and one with 6V92 turbo with 4 speed
Which one is faster or pulls a boat better

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #1 – May 14, 2016, 08:50:40 am

My 91 U300 has a 6V92TA with a 4 speed it's rated at 300hp . It pulls my 2 harleys or my jeep Cherokee ok. It's no rocket your not going to be in the left lane on any hills but it does the job.On flat land it will cruise 70+ all day long.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #2 – May 14, 2016, 10:02:31 am

Have driven both, and liked the Detroit better.

Another question you need to ask, is can you service the engine, or is there a radiator in the way? That can be a huge factor as you do anything to the alternator, AC compressor, change belts, or most anything on the rear engine coaches. And yes you can lift the bed to get to somethings

Hope you understand, that most any motorhome is not "fast". But look around at all the motorhomes that are towing something. Racecar trailers, bass boats, tow cars, trucks with golf carts, or motorcycles loaded in the beds. Plan your day, enjoy the drive, and plan for the right lane of traffic. These coaches with all their miles on the odometer did not get them sitting around.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #3 – May 14, 2016, 10:08:44 am

Quote from: Dave and Dolly Cobb – May 14, 2016, 10:02:31 am

Another question you need to ask, is can you service the engine, or is there a radiator in the way? That can be a huge factor as you do anything to the alternator, AC compressor, change belts, or most anything on the rear engine coaches.

That is a very important point; we lucked out with ours, having a side-mount.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #4 – May 14, 2016, 12:03:19 pm

The 93's with the side mounted radiator are 350hp and wide body coaches

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #5 – May 14, 2016, 12:23:17 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – May 14, 2016, 12:03:19 pm

The 93's with the side mounted radiator are 350hp and wide body coaches

Unless they are the 240's with side mount and 250hp Cats. and pre 95, the year when the 240 went wide body on the old 94 chassis.

Oh the insanity of the differences!

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #6 – May 14, 2016, 12:28:51 pm

Quote from: Dave and Dolly Cobb – May 14, 2016, 12:23:17 pm

Unless they are the 240's with side mount and 250hp Cats. Oh the insanity of the differences!

How true. Our CAT has one problem, she likes to go fast!

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #7 – May 14, 2016, 01:21:59 pm

Quote from: Dave and Dolly Cobb – May 14, 2016, 12:23:17 pm

Unless they are the 240's with side mount and 250hp Cats. and pre 95, the year when the 240 went wide body on the old 94 chassis.

Oh the insanity of the differences!

Actually, the only rear radiator in that time period was the U225. The U240, 280 and 300 were all side radiators. Yes, many earlier models were rear radiator.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #8 – May 14, 2016, 06:10:41 pm

Least we forget RRadio's, 1991 U300 with his rear radiator, and saga.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #9 – May 14, 2016, 06:23:56 pm

I like my rear radiator in my 91, I dont have to worry about $2000.00 hydraulic fan motors crappin out or HWH level system malfunctions. Its all simple on mine, manual level, simple cooling fan system, simple plop and drop toilet no vacuflush high tech,just simple,etc. Yeah my radiator might need service at some time,But so will yours.Darn camping is sposed to be fun,Not dealing with camper systems not working properly.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #10 – May 14, 2016, 08:21:00 pm

Rear radiators on other brands tend to pick up debris in the core.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #11 – May 14, 2016, 08:49:19 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – May 14, 2016, 08:21:00 pm

Rear radiators on other brands tend to pick up debris in the core.

I'm sure they will but as you know proper maintenance will greatly extend their lifespan.
It seens these simple systems have gotten so overcontrolled that they no longer work.I mean do you really need a toilet that has to suck your pile 40' to the opening on the black tank? Really! If it fails ,well your walking to the outhouse.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #12 – May 14, 2016, 09:03:16 pm

Quote from: stump – May 14, 2016, 08:49:19 pm

I'm sure they will but as you know proper maintenance will greatly extend their lifespan.
It seens these simple systems have gotten so overcontrolled that they no longer work.I mean do you really need a toilet that has to suck your pile 40' to the opening on the black tank? Really! If it fails ,well your walking to the outhouse.

I like simple myself.

Floor plans drive sales. Toilet location was never remote. Sales went down. Move toilet.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #13 – May 14, 2016, 11:12:11 pm

Quote from: ricker – May 14, 2016, 08:25:35 am

Hello
Has anyone got a u@@% or U300 Grandville
I 'm looking at 2 coaches one with 5.9 and 4 speed tran and one with 6V92 turbo with 4 speed
Which one is faster or pulls a boat better

When I was at the stage it sounds like you are in your Motorhome search I had no appreciation for the very real differences between a U225 and a U300. Unlike the Unicoachs, the difference is more than just the "trim line".

good hunting

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #14 – May 14, 2016, 11:51:11 pm

Quote from: stump – May 14, 2016, 06:23:56 pm

I like my rear radiator in my 91, I dont have to worry about $2000.00 hydraulic fan motors crappin out or HWH level system malfunctions. Its all simple on mine, manual level, simple cooling fan system, simple plop and drop toilet no vacuflush high tech,just simple,etc. Yeah my radiator might need service at some time,But so will yours.Darn camping is sposed to be fun,Not dealing with camper systems not working properly.

Stump,

Don't forget about the exploding fiberglass fan on the 91s that could cause major radiator damage and a nightmare scenario like Scott Cook had with his. Fiberglass radiator fan explosion! I don't know if you can change that fan without removing the radiator first, but it looks like a disaster waiting for an opportunity. I like the side radiator with the twin fans because I can see what's going on and work on it more easily.

My DD6v92 is rated at 350 hp and 1020 ft lbs. of torque. At 36' and under 27000 lbs, it gets up to hwy speeds fast enough for me whether I'm pulling a toad or not. With the DDEC II and a Pro-Link 9000 you can easily check on many parameters, clear codes, record trip data, run cylinder cut-out and injector tests, and even reprogram if your smart enough.

To quote Bill Chaplin..... "I just love the damn thing!"

Jerry

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #15 – May 15, 2016, 08:32:30 am

Quote from: TheBrays – May 14, 2016, 11:12:11 pm

When I was at the stage it sounds like you are in your Motorhome search I had no appreciation for the very real differences between a U225 and a U300. Unlike the Unicoachs, the difference is more than just the "trim line".

good hunting

You're telling my story here. When I first got into this I basically knew that I wanted nothing but a Foretravel because Foretravels are the best. I eventually realized that my U240 would never have a wide body, air bags, diesel generator, retarder, or tall storage bays.

Glen

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #16 – May 15, 2016, 09:02:01 am

I have a 1994 U300 40' with Detroit 6V92 4 speed. @ 56,500 miles on it. Pulls almost any hill @ no less than 35MPH towing or not. Get 6 to 6.5 MPG most of the time. Have gotten 7.5MPG running on flat land. I have a side mount radiator, Been out west through Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, AZ Desert. No problems.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #17 – May 15, 2016, 12:56:40 pm

Quote from: Gerry Vicha – May 15, 2016, 09:02:01 am

I have a 1994 U300 40' with Detroit 6V92 4 speed. @ 56,500 miles on it. Pulls almost any hill @ no less than 35MPH towing or not. Get 6 to 6.5 MPG most of the time. Have gotten 7.5MPG running on flat land. I have a side mount radiator, Been out west through Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, AZ Desert. No problems.

Same as above, except 1993 and 63,000 miles, and get 7.5 to 8.5 MPG

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #18 – May 15, 2016, 01:22:42 pm

Quote from: Bill Chaplin – May 15, 2016, 12:56:40 pm

Same as above, except 1993 and 63,000 miles, and get 7.5 to 8.5 MPG

I think both of you have the same power train. At 6.5 mpg I think something needs checking

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #19 – May 15, 2016, 05:42:04 pm

Hey Catfishbob, What should I check? Air cleaner changed about every 10,000 miles - no smoke from exhaust - What whould you suggest to get better mileage? I do travel at near the posted speed limit on Interstate highways, without any problem.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #20 – May 15, 2016, 06:15:18 pm

Quote from: Gerry Vicha – May 15, 2016, 05:42:04 pm

Hey Catfishbob, What should I check? Air cleaner changed about every 10,000 miles - no smoke from exhaust - What whould you suggest to get better mileage? I do travel at near the posted speed limit on Interstate highways, without any problem.

You are getting just about the mileage I would expect from a large coach with that engine and transmission when operated at typical freeway speed limits.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #21 – May 15, 2016, 07:12:13 pm

Quote from: Gerry Vicha – May 15, 2016, 05:42:04 pm

Hey Catfishbob, What should I check? Air cleaner changed about every 10,000 miles - no smoke from exhaust - What whould you suggest to get better mileage? I do travel at near the posted speed limit on Interstate highways, without any problem.

The advantage of this forum is to be able to compare similar models performance and driving characteristics.

Needs to go to the Detroit man just to see.

I had an 89 where the connecting plug from the trans to the motor was disconnected. Engine went to limp mode.

80% power. Less mpg. Less power. No codes....

Three connectors in the engine bays perimeter. One was unplugged.

Yours may be different. Probably is. Or maybe not.

Something seems incorrect.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #22 – May 17, 2016, 10:11:27 pm

Rick, we have a 1993 U300 (currently for sale - see Classifieds). When we were researching we knew we wanted a full-time coach. That meant, for us, a wide body and a decent towing capability. We also wanted a diesel-powered generator. That pretty much led us to the U300. Your needs are different than ours, so a U300 may not be the best choice for you. On the other hand, you may decide that the larger bays and bigger interior space are worth it. Only you can decide that.

One thing that may help you is to actually see some coaches. If you tell us where you are or where you are going it is possible that someone is near you or your route that would let you see their coach.

Re: Comparing motors help please

Reply #23 – May 18, 2016, 07:44:45 am

Quote from: Gerry Vicha – May 15, 2016, 09:02:01 am

I have a 1994 U300 40' with Detroit 6V92 4 speed. @ 56,500 miles on it. Pulls almost any hill @ no less than 35MPH towing or not. Get 6 to 6.5 MPG most of the time. Have gotten 7.5MPG running on flat land. I have a side mount radiator, Been out west through Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, AZ Desert. No problems.

@Gerry That's my story as well, only I'm @195,000 miles. Still runs great. I'm full time and have reached GVW and probably a little more. Please no cracks about Big Agnes needing to lose a little weight. She's very sensitive about that.

see ya
ken

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