I am contemplating purchasing a used Class A Diesel pusher. It will be a older unit as I want to pay cash. I have been looking at 3 different units and am asking for opinions and warnings regarding brand, chassis, known problems. The ones I am looking at are a 1996 37' Holiday Rambler Endeavor with a 230 HP Cummins 5.9 75,000 miles on a freightliner chassis, with slide, very clean, a 38' 1995 American Dream with a 300 HP Cummins and 180,000 miles on a Spartan Chassis and a 38' 1995 Safari Serengeti 300Hp Cat with 81,000 miles on it chassis unknown. All of the major systems on these units are working ok. I am very capable with mechanical, electrical and electronics so I do not mind taking care of petty issues. I am more concerned about major money pit issues such as brakes, suspension, engine / transmissions and safety as related to driving / handling characteristics. The Holiday rambler appears to be built a little better but this is a quick observation on my part with little knowledge on these things.
> I am contemplating purchasing a used Class A Diesel pusher. It will be a > older unit as I want to pay cash. I have been looking at 3 different > units and am asking for opinions and warnings regarding brand, chassis, > known problems. The ones I am looking at are a 1996 37' Holiday Rambler > Endeavor with a 230 HP Cummins 5.9 75,000 miles on a freightliner > chassis, with slide, very clean, a 38' 1995 American Dream with a 300 HP > Cummins and 180,000 miles on a Spartan Chassis and a 38' 1995 Safari > Serengeti 300Hp Cat with 81,000 miles on it chassis unknown. All of the > major systems on these units are working ok. I am very capable with > mechanical, electrical and electronics so I do not mind taking care of > petty issues. I am more concerned about major money pit issues such as > brakes, suspension, engine / transmissions and safety as related to > driving / handling characteristics. The Holiday rambler appears to be > built a little better but this is a quick observation on my part with > little knowledge on these things.
> Any input will be appreciated.
> Regards,
> Larry
I'd go with the Holiday Rambler. I'd stay away from the American Dream as Fleetwood does not have the best reputation in the industry. The Safari might or might not be a good unit. The company was in flux in the mid 90's. Holiday Rambler was still HR at the time and thy built a good unit.
JMHO
-- Janet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life
> I am contemplating purchasing a used Class A Diesel pusher. It will be a > older unit as I want to pay cash. I have been looking at 3 different units > and am asking for opinions and warnings regarding brand, chassis, known > problems. The ones I am looking at are a 1996 37' Holiday Rambler Endeavor > with a 230 HP Cummins 5.9 75,000 miles on a freightliner chassis, with > slide, very clean, a 38' 1995 American Dream with a 300 HP Cummins and > 180,000 miles on a Spartan Chassis and a 38' 1995 Safari Serengeti 300Hp > Cat with 81,000 miles on it chassis unknown. All of the major systems on > these units are working ok. I am very capable with mechanical, electrical > and electronics so I do not mind taking care of petty issues. I am more > concerned about major money pit issues such as brakes, suspension, engine > / transmissions and safety as related to driving / handling > characteristics. The Holiday rambler appears to be built a little better > but this is a quick observation on my part with little knowledge on these > things.
> Any input will be appreciated.
> Regards,
> Larry
Larry,
I have a Holiday Rambler, an older one, and have been more than satisfied with the perfomance of the unit. You can't go wrong with it.
>> I am contemplating purchasing a used Class A Diesel pusher. It will be a >> older unit as I want to pay cash. I have been looking at 3 different >> units and am asking for opinions and warnings regarding brand, chassis, >> known problems. The ones I am looking at are a 1996 37' Holiday Rambler >> Endeavor with a 230 HP Cummins 5.9 75,000 miles on a freightliner >> chassis, with slide, very clean, a 38' 1995 American Dream with a 300 HP >> Cummins and 180,000 miles on a Spartan Chassis and a 38' 1995 Safari >> Serengeti 300Hp Cat with 81,000 miles on it chassis unknown. All of the >> major systems on these units are working ok. I am very capable with >> mechanical, electrical and electronics so I do not mind taking care of >> petty issues. I am more concerned about major money pit issues such as >> brakes, suspension, engine / transmissions and safety as related to >> driving / handling characteristics. The Holiday rambler appears to be >> built a little better but this is a quick observation on my part with >> little knowledge on these things.
>> Any input will be appreciated.
>> Regards,
>> Larry
> Larry,
> I have a Holiday Rambler, an older one, and have been more than satisfied > with the perfomance of the unit. You can't go wrong with it.
Lloyd, maybe you need to get your eyes checked. You have a fine old Winnebago but it sure ain't no Holiday Rambler.
Thanks for bravely serving this great country of ours in the military. But how in the world did you manage to get in? 5' 5"? What a little shrimp! But perhaps you were in the submarine service?
> I am contemplating purchasing a used Class A Diesel pusher. It will be a > older unit as I want to pay cash. I have been looking at 3 different units > and am asking for opinions and warnings regarding brand, chassis, known > problems. The ones I am looking at are a 1996 37' Holiday Rambler Endeavor > with a 230 HP Cummins 5.9 75,000 miles on a freightliner chassis, with > slide, very clean, a 38' 1995 American Dream with a 300 HP Cummins and > 180,000 miles on a Spartan Chassis and a 38' 1995 Safari Serengeti 300Hp > Cat with 81,000 miles on it chassis unknown. All of the major systems on > these units are working ok. I am very capable with mechanical, electrical > and electronics so I do not mind taking care of petty issues. I am more > concerned about major money pit issues such as brakes, suspension, engine > / transmissions and safety as related to driving / handling > characteristics. The Holiday rambler appears to be built a little better > but this is a quick observation on my part with little knowledge on these > things.
> Any input will be appreciated.
> Regards,
> Larry
As Janet said, HR made a good product in that time frame, the ISB Cummins in it at 230 HP probably has the 5 speed Allison behind it and feel a little anemic on the mountains, but should be pretty light on fuel. I am running an ISC 330 HP with a 6 speed Allison, and a good 6 % grade takes me back to 38 to 40 MPH pulling around 8 MPG overall.
Thanks to all who replied to me. At the very last minute I purchased a Coachman Magna which is very clean. ALL of the maintenance records were with it, tires had 90 miles on them replaced 12/07, new dometic fridge, 2 new dometic rooftop a/c's, new kubota diesel genset, all new batteries, new microwave, new washer/dryer and more. The guy did all of this last year and decided he was too old (80years)after one last trip. It is excellent overall. Got it cheap (28K) because it has no power. On test driving, it drives and handles well but lacks power. I find the turbo is not spooling up, possibly a stuck waste gate or just a bad turbo but I figure $1500.00 for another one would be worth it for the motorhome. It is a Cummins 6CTA 8.3 300 hp. I hope I made a good decision.
So I am open to opinions especially if anyone has any experience with this unit.
> I am contemplating purchasing a used Class A Diesel pusher. It will be a > older unit as I want to pay cash. I have been looking at 3 different > units and am asking for opinions and warnings regarding brand, chassis, > known problems. The ones I am looking at are a 1996 37' Holiday Rambler > Endeavor with a 230 HP Cummins 5.9 75,000 miles on a freightliner > chassis, with slide, very clean, a 38' 1995 American Dream with a 300 HP > Cummins and 180,000 miles on a Spartan Chassis and a 38' 1995 Safari > Serengeti 300Hp Cat with 81,000 miles on it chassis unknown. All of the > major systems on these units are working ok. I am very capable with > mechanical, electrical and electronics so I do not mind taking care of > petty issues. I am more concerned about major money pit issues such as > brakes, suspension, engine / transmissions and safety as related to > driving / handling characteristics. The Holiday rambler appears to be > built a little better but this is a quick observation on my part with > little knowledge on these things.
> As Janet said, HR made a good product in that time frame, the ISB Cummins > in it at 230 HP probably has the 5 speed Allison behind it and feel a > little anemic on the mountains, but should be pretty light on fuel. I am > running an ISC 330 HP with a 6 speed Allison, and a good 6 % grade takes > me back to 38 to 40 MPH pulling around 8 MPG overall.
> Dave W.
That ISB can be "BOMBed" to produce a whole lot more power (both HP and Torque) with relatively minor effort.
Visit http://www.turbodieselregister.com for details - those guys have a wealth of knowledge and love to share it. (Some of the denizens have moved into the 800 HP area with ISBs.)
> Thanks to all who replied to me. At the very last minute I purchased a > Coachman Magna which is very clean. ALL of the maintenance records were > with it, tires had 90 miles on them replaced 12/07, new dometic fridge, 2 > new dometic rooftop a/c's, new kubota diesel genset, all new batteries, > new microwave, new washer/dryer and more. The guy did all of this last > year and decided he was too old (80years)after one last trip. It is > excellent overall. Got it cheap (28K) because it has no power. On test > driving, it drives and handles well but lacks power. I find the turbo is > not spooling up, possibly a stuck waste gate or just a bad turbo but I > figure $1500.00 for another one would be worth it for the motorhome. It is > a Cummins 6CTA 8.3 300 hp. I hope I made a good decision.
> So I am open to opinions especially if anyone has any experience with this > unit.
> Thanks in advance,
> Larry
Take it to a Cummins shop for a checkup.
That ISC should provide adequate power and, if you want even more, Cummins will - for a fee - add it in for you. <G>
At $28K I, for one, think that you got a *very* good one. <VBG>
> As Janet said, HR made a good product in that time frame, the ISB Cummins > in it at 230 HP probably has the 5 speed Allison behind it and feel a > little anemic on the mountains, but should be pretty light on fuel. I am > running an ISC 330 HP with a 6 speed Allison, and a good 6 % grade takes > me back to 38 to 40 MPH pulling around 8 MPG overall.
> Dave W.
That ISB can be "BOMBed" to produce a whole lot more power (both HP and Torque) with relatively minor effort.
Visit http://www.turbodieselregister.com for details - those guys have a wealth of knowledge and love to share it. (Some of the denizens have moved into the 800 HP area with ISBs.)
>> As Janet said, HR made a good product in that time frame, the ISB >> Cummins in it at 230 HP probably has the 5 speed Allison behind it and >> feel a little anemic on the mountains, but should be pretty light on >> fuel. I am running an ISC 330 HP with a 6 speed Allison, and a good 6 % >> grade takes me back to 38 to 40 MPH pulling around 8 MPG overall.
>> Dave W.
> That ISB can be "BOMBed" to produce a whole lot more power (both HP and > Torque) with relatively minor effort.
> Visit http://www.turbodieselregister.com for details - those guys have a > wealth of knowledge and love to share it. (Some of the denizens have moved > into the 800 HP area with ISBs.)
> [BOMB = Better Off Modified, Baby!]
I am a big fan of Cummins, and have no problem with the ISB. I don't like modifying them much though. For starters, on the rig in question that 5 speed Allison is not rated for more than 250 to 300 HP. I found in my younger days that souping up is great but at the cost of engine longevity as well as other power train parts. I have seen some really big boosts done with chips, etc. I can do the same with the ISC, but not worth it to me.
> I am contemplating purchasing a used Class A Diesel pusher. It will be a > older unit as I want to pay cash. I have been looking at 3 different > units and am asking for opinions and warnings regarding brand, chassis, > known problems. The ones I am looking at are a 1996 37' Holiday Rambler > Endeavor with a 230 HP Cummins 5.9 75,000 miles on a freightliner > chassis, with slide, very clean, a 38' 1995 American Dream with a 300 HP > Cummins and 180,000 miles on a Spartan Chassis and a 38' 1995 Safari > Serengeti 300Hp Cat with 81,000 miles on it chassis unknown. All of the > major systems on these units are working ok. I am very capable with > mechanical, electrical and electronics so I do not mind taking care of > petty issues. I am more concerned about major money pit issues such as > brakes, suspension, engine / transmissions and safety as related to > driving / handling characteristics. The Holiday rambler appears to be > built a little better but this is a quick observation on my part with > little knowledge on these things.
> Any input will be appreciated.
> Regards,
> Larry
I would g with the Safari. It's either a Freight liner or Oshkosh chassis.
