New Realm Review

Topic: New Realm Review (Read 2569 times) previous topic - next topic

Follow-ups
- Tire Pressures

New Realm Review

September 28, 2015, 05:13:46 pm

Just got my October issue of the FMCA magazine. Nice complimentary article on the new Realm starting on page 64. Beautiful picture of the Realm on the cover of the Magazine! 600 ponies makes our 200 look sick!!

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #1 – September 28, 2015, 06:55:54 pm

And on the back cover is a Newell coach. I'll take the Realm. Better looking, mirrors more accessible for cleaning, and less resemblance to a bug (rear view mirrors), compartment doors open like doors, front end is cleaner, less "busy" looking, and the door doesn't look like an afterthought. The overhead clearance lights are more inconspicuous and do not need a gaudy piece of chrome that looks like an afterthought also.

WAY TO GO REALM DESIGNERS!!!

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #2 – September 29, 2015, 08:45:39 am

600 Ponies, with that, you'll pass everything on the road...except fuel stops!

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #3 – September 29, 2015, 10:07:42 am

John/Brett/Roger: I feel better following your advice.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #4 – September 29, 2015, 11:37:15 am

Getting back on topic about the Realm

I have a friend that has a new Entegra Anthem. For the money he paid for the coach it has about every bell and whistle you can put on one, or so I though. It also has a Spartan chassis as the Realm but has the MMGT chassis . When I went to the Spartan Chassis web site http://www.spartanchassis.com/rv/rv_chassis.asp

they offer a number of different chassis's The Foretravel Realm uses their top of the line K3GT, 200 gallon fuel tank. Cummings ISX 15L 600 HP with 1950 lb-ft @ 1,200 rpm of torque, a massive frame compared to the others, 270 amp alternator, disc brakes all around (does not say what size they are) (I thought every motor home had disc's all around these days but the Anthem has drums on the back.) and 20,000 lb towing capacity.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #5 – September 29, 2015, 01:04:18 pm

What Realm discussion?

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #6 – October 01, 2015, 07:06:56 pm

Quote from: turbojack – September 29, 2015, 11:37:15 am

Getting back on topic about the Realm

I have a friend that has a new Entegra Anthem. For the money he paid for the coach it has about every bell and whistle you can put on one, or so I though. It also has a Spartan chassis as the Realm but has the MMGT chassis . When I went to the Spartan Chassis web site http://www.spartanchassis.com/rv/rv_chassis.asp

they offer a number of different chassis's The Foretravel Realm uses their top of the line K3GT, 200 gallon fuel tank. Cummings ISX 15L 600 HP with 1950 lb-ft @ 1,200 rpm of torque, a massive frame compared to the others, 270 amp alternator, disc brakes all around (does not say what size they are) (I thought every motor home had disc's all around these days but the Anthem has drums on the back.) and 20,000 lb towing capacity.

A better comparison would be the Cornerstone, which has the K3 chassis. Same engine at transmission, disc all around, and same towing. However no passive tag, 210 amp alternator and 150 gallon fuel tank. Also $250,000 less.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #7 – October 02, 2015, 07:02:50 am

Or the coach it is designed to compete with is the Newmar King Aire.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #8 – October 02, 2015, 10:12:09 am

Does this chassis have a transmission retarder?

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #9 – October 02, 2015, 10:33:54 am

Quote from: Peter & Beth – October 02, 2015, 10:12:09 am

Does this chassis have a transmission retarder?

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #10 – October 02, 2015, 10:41:46 am

Quote from: Michelle – October 02, 2015, 10:33:54 am

No

But doesn't it have an engine brake?

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #11 – October 02, 2015, 10:51:36 am

Quote from: Peter & Beth – October 02, 2015, 10:12:09 am

Does this chassis have a transmission retarder?

Funny thing is, Spartan would gladly add one, but Foretravel doesn't want it.

That decision is either due to price or a desire to differentiate this from the IH.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #12 – October 02, 2015, 10:56:57 am

Quote from: krush – October 02, 2015, 10:41:46 am

But doesn't it have an engine brake?

3 stage engine compression brake.

Part of the 250 K difference

Foretravels K3GT frame

Cornerstone's K3 frame

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #13 – October 02, 2015, 12:12:22 pm

Wow, looking at these two chassis, it appears that accessibility is getting almost as bad as our rear radiator GV!!

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #14 – October 02, 2015, 01:04:04 pm

I guess the the unihome / unicoach build style doesn't work with these big new beasts.

Must be the all the slides ? ( just continuing on with the dumb questions ).

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #15 – October 02, 2015, 01:09:01 pm

Nice pics Turbo.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #16 – October 02, 2015, 01:15:12 pm

Quote from: Bob & Sue – October 02, 2015, 01:04:04 pm

I guess the the unihome / unicoach build style doesn't work with these big new beasts.

Must be the all the slides ? ( just continuing on with the dumb questions ).

I believe the IH45 is built with the semi-monocoque chassis, proprietary to Foretravel. Realm uses the Spartan, which results in siginificant cost savings.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #17 – October 02, 2015, 01:40:18 pm

Quote from: bogeygolfer – October 02, 2015, 01:15:12 pm

I believe the IH45 is built with the semi-monocoque chassis, proprietary to Foretravel. Realm uses the Spartan, which results in siginificant cost savings.

I know those cost savings are supposed to be "significant" but it's not all that clear to me how it saves $500,000.00 or so.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #18 – October 02, 2015, 02:39:10 pm

The travel ride chassis is suppose to ride better but the new FT will also have a steering tag too.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #19 – October 02, 2015, 02:42:18 pm

When I questioned that exact price difference I was told that the unit cost of the Foretravel chassis is almost twice the cost of the Sparten. Remember Sparten buys hundreds of engines, transmissions etc. Foretravel a dozen a year. I would guess the power train including retarder HWH ride system, and the differences with labor times is easily $100,000 difference. Add the other options Glass dash, total coach, four airs and many other features you can see with a markup to allow a dealer profit you could see the price differential. Remember the IH actually sells for around $850,000 out the door. They are selling a 2016 Realm for $724,000 out the door. Actual difference isn't near $500,000 as both list prices are just a figment of their imaginations to make you think that you are buying a million dollar or more coach.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #20 – October 02, 2015, 07:54:48 pm

The advantage of a trans retarder might be much less with a three stage 15 liter inline six cylinder engine exhaust's brake to hold you back?

Plus the trans heating up with 50,000 pounds would be significant.

If you have enough displacement the trans retarder is not needed it seems.

And can' be overheated.

8.3 or 11 liters is probably not enough to hold back my GCWR with an engine brake.

I remember a n14 444hp/1850 torque would slow hard down large grades with the jake on. Put a smile on your face....

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #21 – October 02, 2015, 08:25:43 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – October 02, 2015, 07:54:48 pm

The advantage of a trans retarder might be much less with a three stage 15 liter inline six cylinder engine exhaust's brake to hold

It would be an engine compression brake-- MUCH stronger than an exhaust brake, and mechanically totally different. Many engine compression brakes generate close to the same braking HP as motive HP. 600 HP of braking is a LOT of braking. If someone has the braking HP of the ISX, would be interesting to know.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #22 – October 02, 2015, 08:54:28 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – October 02, 2015, 08:25:43 pm

It would be an engine compression brake-- MUCH stronger than an exhaust brake, and mechanically totally different. Many engine compression brakes generate close to the same braking HP as motive HP. 600 HP of braking is a LOT of braking. If someone has the braking HP of the ISX, would be interesting to know.

I knew I misstated the engines use of a compression brake. Thanks for the input.

I understand it's 60% efficient if my memory is correct.

Still a lot. Retarder is even higher I understand. 80%. Out of my technical league here.

The old cat 3176 with a three position jake would hold back a 37,000 pound total combined weight Marquis on a six percent interstate grade without using the service brakes.

Past that you needed the brakes.

The retarder will do much steeper but does heat up finally.

Love to have both. Someone here has both I remember.

Especially if both could be on at the same time?

If the jake is over run then the retarder could be added. Why not?

May dig up the parts and install it on my m11 just for fun

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #23 – October 02, 2015, 10:25:55 pm

All that hot piping and emissions parts look hard to access just in the bare frame let alone with a body of any kind on it.

Re: New Realm Review

Reply #24 – October 02, 2015, 11:17:37 pm

Quote from: its toby – October 02, 2015, 10:25:55 pm

All that hot piping and emissions parts look hard to access just in the bare frame let alone with a body of any kind on it.

Looked at a cummins power plant for a fire department water pump and its in a steel frame. Tubes and hoses and mufflers and cat converter with spark igniters (I think) in the converter.

Wow. Big slide in smog compliant unit.

Affiliate Notice