34 Foot vs. Longer Models

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34 Foot vs. Longer Models

August 28, 2016, 07:03:06 pm

Well, I just drove the 97 34' 270 about 2,200 miles, almost all on the freeway. Had lots of rain and wind. I was anxious to compare the 34 footer to the 36 and 40 foot models we've had.

DRIVABILITY: I have to say I am very pleased. I expected it to be a noticeably rougher ride but it was not. It also tracks very well. The only real difference I noted was blowing to the right when the big boys were passing me on my left.

MANEUVERABILITY: This is why I bought this one. I love the ease of backing into a space and found driving around in tight spaces much easier. I'm thinking about taking it downtown in Tucson and doing some parallel parking.

POWER: Well, the 915 pounds of torque won't allow it to pull those hills the way the M11s do but I would say it is adequate. It doesn't spool up as quickly but still merges well from the onramps. I found that using the Allison Mode function and doing the shifting manually gave me the best performance on the hills. Probably have to go with a resonator though.

RETARDER: The Jake on our last rig worked very well (2 speed with 5th gear pre-select) but it's nice to have a retarder again. You just can't beat it for versatility.

INTERIOR: We don't have the impression of really losing much space inside. The bathroom is much smaller than the 40 and the kitchen is configured differently (a plus for us). It has plenty of storage and we really like the closet setup better. Also, the oak cabinets make for a much brighter interior which we like.

EXTERIOR STORAGE: This is adequate for us but full timers would relish more. There's only one full bay just like the 36 but it is much narrower.

EXTERIOR SIZE: This has got to be a plus for me. I tore my rotator cuff making our 40 footer shine.

SIMPLICITY: I think we will enjoy the simplicity of the 270. No more latching relays and three pump switches, Aqua Hot and so on. However, I'm adding reels (spring, of course - thank you, Rich) and will likely do some of the common upgrades like EMS and SeeLevel. I'll add a direct water fill too to obviate the need for the clunky water fill process in the 270 (ball valve under sink). The Splendide may be on the chopping block too.

VMSpc: Sadly, the mechanical 8.3 won't allow this great addition. On the plus side though, I found that I spent a lot more time actually looking where I was going rather than obsessing over those wonderful VMS gauges.
jor

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #1 – August 28, 2016, 10:03:13 pm

We love our 36ftr, I can't imagine some of the places we've been and trying to shoe- horn a 40ftr in there. Have a great day ---- Fritz

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #2 – August 28, 2016, 10:57:13 pm

You wouldn't believe where an old 40 ft. 96" wide can get into

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #3 – August 29, 2016, 08:03:14 am

I have owned a 34, 36 and now a 42 qnd I have gone over 100 k in each. I have not had a problem getting into any campground. Sure a couple like Fishing Bridge have a 40 foot limit but we stay at grizzly now anyway. It may take a coupke of extra pivots but we get in. So get what you need to live in up top and worry about the size later. If I wanted to go into seriously undeveloped spots or very small forest service campgrounds I would get a 29 foot Born Free on a four wheel drive F 550.

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #4 – August 29, 2016, 08:25:16 am

Jor, you might want to look into a Safe T Plus steering control. It makes a huge difference when being passed by this 18 wheelers and adds piece of mind for dealing with a blow out.

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #5 – August 29, 2016, 10:22:20 am

+1 on John S comments.

The limitation of a 40' coach vs 36' coach is 98% in the mind of the operator and 2% having to do with the actual campground. Yes, maybe 1 0r 2 out of 100 it might matter, but even low % that has not been my experience.

That being said, if you seek out campgrounds that have small sites (lots of the public ones in western Canada suit up to about 25 feet, a born free is an awesome option.

But 36 vs. 40? it really is insignificant

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #6 – August 29, 2016, 11:19:37 am

Going from my old Vogue 33' to my first 40" Foretravel didn't give me as much problems as the difference from the 96" wide Foretravel to the newer 102" wide. My gates open with 9" clearance between house and property line. That extra 6" makes going through the gates and clearing the house eaves an adventure.

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #7 – August 30, 2016, 09:08:21 pm

I can get my 34' in to a lot of places my friend can't spin his 40 footer around in! Welcome to the short-bus club!

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #8 – August 30, 2016, 11:00:19 pm

...and now if you can travel without a toad you'll really have an advantage

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #9 – August 31, 2016, 12:27:31 am

You can get a 40 footer in just about anywhere...Floor it...*

(* Note from Legal Team: DO NOT ACTUALLY FLOOR ANYTHING!)

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #10 – August 31, 2016, 09:14:39 am

Note from legal guy...I'm floored at your advise.

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #11 – September 01, 2016, 11:39:11 pm

scooter or motorcycle on the back of my 34' and I can parallel park in cities!

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #12 – September 02, 2016, 01:25:00 am

The c8.3's can be very successfully up powered.

Gale banks made a kit for years. 400hp roughly.

Allison rep oked my country coaches customer trans warranty after the increase. Said the light weight of the Rv made the power increase not a problem.

Did a lot of these. Brought a grin to every owners face.

If it were mine I would be trying to find the kits parts, fuel plate.......

The Bosch injector pump was another easy externally adjustable part. Ten minute adjustment was easily noticeable.

Banks sold thousands of the kits.....

Btw your confirmation/help on my over zealous hydraulic fan controller temp setting from Foretravel seems to be correct.

Freed up a lot of Torque/hp.

Going to post my today's driving experience here in a bit. But your feedback on my observations on the RMPG on the silver leaf seem to have been corect.

I would upgrade the power in a c8.3 in a heartbeat. Did a lot of these brand new long ago. Totally reliable. Better mpg.

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #13 – September 02, 2016, 12:38:32 pm

Jor,

If your 8.3 is mechanical, I have done the legwork on getting more power and torque, with dyno work to prove it out.

This is a very long thread on the work, and final conclusions on how to best get bang for the buck on upgrading power:

Brazel's Performance RV (BMC Service) - Wanderlodge Owners Group

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #14 – September 02, 2016, 03:16:14 pm

I loved my 93 U280 with Banks kit (and new u320 intercooler).

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #15 – September 02, 2016, 07:22:29 pm

My C8.3 with the Banks Stinger is something I will be very sorry to loose should the "Tuner" in the Ottomind ever go as they do not have a replacement for it

and consequently do NOT sell any more kits for this engine upgrade. I am just a tad over 400 hp and climbing hills is a breeze plus the MPG is very nice too.
JohnH

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #16 – September 02, 2016, 09:10:46 pm

Hey John,
Yours is a rare bird because you have the Banks for the ISC 8.3... You can still get a variety of packages for the mechanical C8.3 engine. I have had feelers out for an ISC Banks package, but they are rarer than Hen's teeth so far. I wish they would find a workaround for the Ottomind (Sp?) and start making ISC 8.3 tuners again.
Don

Quote from: John Haygarth – September 02, 2016, 07:22:29 pm

My C8.3 with the Banks Stinger is something I will be very sorry to loose should the "Tuner" in the Ottomind ever go as they do not have a replacement for it and consequently do NOT sell any more kits for this engine upgrade. I am just a tad over 400 hp and climbing hills is a breeze plus the MPG is very nice too.
JohnH

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34 Foot vs. Longer Models

August 28, 2016, 07:03:06 pm

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #1 – August 28, 2016, 10:03:13 pm

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #2 – August 28, 2016, 10:57:13 pm

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #3 – August 29, 2016, 08:03:14 am

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #4 – August 29, 2016, 08:25:16 am

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #5 – August 29, 2016, 10:22:20 am

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #6 – August 29, 2016, 11:19:37 am

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #7 – August 30, 2016, 09:08:21 pm

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #8 – August 30, 2016, 11:00:19 pm

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #9 – August 31, 2016, 12:27:31 am

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #10 – August 31, 2016, 09:14:39 am

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #11 – September 01, 2016, 11:39:11 pm

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #12 – September 02, 2016, 01:25:00 am

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #13 – September 02, 2016, 12:38:32 pm

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #14 – September 02, 2016, 03:16:14 pm

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #15 – September 02, 2016, 07:22:29 pm

Re: 34 Foot vs. Longer Models

Reply #16 – September 02, 2016, 09:10:46 pm

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