Diesel Pushers...

[macgyvr]

I drive a 38' Bluebird front engine for work quite often. (Bloodmobile) It weighs in at ~22k lbs. With a Cummins 6BT rated at 175hp, it wouldn't be much fun to tow with.

I used to know a guy who had a 40-something foot class A pusher that he pulled an oversize car trailer (open) and whatever he was driving at the time, from a Subaru Baja to a Suburban, from Michigan to Baja Mexico every year. He sprang for the big horse though and got a Detroit Series 60 with something like 450 hp.

Then there's my brother-in-law's father, he's got a 40' Geeorgie Boy that pulls a custom built car trailer with his Wrangler on the bottom and his 19' boat, on it's own trailer, over it. All I can say from what he's told me is, don't skimp and get hydraulic brakes on the coach. Insist on full air brakes.

Well I'm not buying new, not even close...and my search is in the under 35, hopefully closer to 30 ft club. Seems in that range the popular set up is a 8.9 cummins with a 6 speed allison automatic transmission. Most of the pushers that I think I can afford are 00 to 03...40 to 60k miles...

Recently I've been looking at the Kodiac (sp?) GM workhorse chassis (Class C or super C motorcoaches)with the 6.6 duramax and an allison trans. I've found these in as new as 05's in what I think is my price range and they have rated 10k hitches on them...also claims of over 10mpg unloaded and over 8mpg with an 8k trailer. They are also about 32 to 34 ft long and 10 to 20k miles...

I'm looking at all options...

Still looking for more folks that are towing lots of weigh with motor coaches...

mac 'saving for down payment' gyvr

 

[knucklehead 61]

not a pusher, , but i have a 2001 S&S built fl112 conversion. 26' long box, 37' overall, 8' ceiling, 10k onan quiet diesel generator, no slides. 430 hp, 1,680 ft. lbs. tq., 10 speed auto stick. we love it. has 70,000 miles on it now. we used to drag race & towed our trailer with it. sold the racing operation 6 years ago & still love the S&S hauler. we camp in it at least 4 weeks a year. i would definitely buy another S&S built conversion, only longer. it will tow up to 40,000 lbs., but all we haul now is my XJ & one of my Harleys on the hitch platform.

 

[macgyvr]

now that sir, is dead sexy...

when you were towing big weight what kind of mileage were you getting?

I have looked at some toterhome type stuff as well. My problem is that they have newer boxes on them but then have a 90's chassis under them with a billion miles...I know that the motors are good for a long ways but what about everything else around the motor falling apart with 500k on it...

If i could find something like your set up in my prices range i definately wouldn't worry about towing...I will do a better search for S&S conversions...

Very nice tow rig!

mac 'my kind of towing' gyvr

not a pusher, , but i have a 2001 S&S built fl112 conversion. 26' long box, 37' overall, 8' ceiling, 10k onan quiet diesel generator, no slides. 430 hp, 1,680 ft. lbs. tq., 10 speed auto stick. we love it. has 70,000 miles on it now. we used to drag race & towed our trailer with it. sold the racing operation 6 years ago & still love the S&S hauler. we camp in it at least 4 weeks a year. i would definitely buy another S&S built conversion, only longer. it will tow up to 40,000 lbs., but all we haul now is my XJ & one of my Harleys on the hitch platform.

 

[macgyvr]

Here is the lastest thing I'm considering...or one like it:

mac 'supposed to be able to haul 10k' gyvr

 

[knucklehead 61]

the issue with the one pictured is the L-O-N-G rear overhang past the axle. that translates into great turning radius (mine sucks ass for u-turns!) but whipping while pulling a trailer. typically the frames have been extended with that much overhang. my old pace arrow had a massive overhang with added length frame rails. it was very hard to make a bulletproof trailer hitch assembly.
as for milage, i get the same towing or not, ideling or going up a hill. it is bad! approx. 8.5 mpg, but i drive it like a pickup truck. foot to the floor up hills passing every other truck or motorhome! :scottm:

Here is the lastest thing I'm considering...or one like it:

mac 'supposed to be able to haul 10k' gyvr

 

[macgyvr]

the issue with the one pictured is the L-O-N-G rear overhang past the axle. that translates into great turning radius (mine sucks ass for u-turns!) but whipping while pulling a trailer. typically the frames have been extended with that much overhang. my old pace arrow had a massive overhang with added length frame rails. it was very hard to make a bulletproof trailer hitch assembly.
as for milage, i get the same towing or not, ideling or going up a hill. it is bad! approx. 8.5 mpg, but i drive it like a pickup truck. foot to the floor up hills passing every other truck or motorhome! :scottm:

these enduras in the 32 foot length are supposed to be real close to the factory frame rails with no extension so they are set up well to tow 10k. i haven't looked one over yet but that's what i've read.

if i could tow 10k+ and get over 8mpg i would be giggly like a school girl, my 06 megacab would only get 9ish with 14k trailer weight and while it towed good the truck didn't weigh anywhere close to what yours does...

there is a guy locally with a fl112 toterhome forsale. its a 2000 with 30 or 40k miles and he only wants 40k less than it was brand new ten years ago...i think its a little over priced and about 40k out of my price range...

mac 'tow me' gyvr

 

[RedHeep]

I was thinking the same thing when I looked at that picture. The distance from the rear wheel to the trailer hitch is forever.

I don't have any experience. I wonder how that would play out towing a trailer around.

 

[knucklehead 61]

there is a guy locally with a fl112 toterhome forsale. its a 2000 with 30 or 40k miles and he only wants 40k less than it was brand new ten years ago...i think its a little over priced and about 40k out of my price range...

mac 'tow me' gyvr

is it a toterhome or a motorhome (like mine)? i have a friend seriously in the market for one like mine.
if it is like mine can you give me some details to pass along?

also, these type rigs hold their value W-A-Y better than any traditional motorhome would. something to consider...

 

[macgyvr]

is it a toterhome or a motorhome (like mine)? i have a friend seriously in the market for one like mine.
if it is like mine can you give me some details to pass along?

also, these type rigs hold their value W-A-Y better than any traditional motorhome would. something to consider...

its on craigs list. looks a lot like yours.

i'll send you a link to the ad and his email this weekend some time...

mac 'wish i had 99k for it' gyvr

 

[harleydrifter]

a little late on the response ,its not the towing its the stopping,check under the chassis for real air brakes.you dont want a pac brake you want the availability of a real (jacobs) brake which depresses the valves in the head instead of blocking the exhaust.your head is smok"n hot from climing the hill the last thing you want is to plug the exhaust going down and keep the head hot!sold my freightliner m/h got 71/2 mpg loaded.13spd + progressive 4 behind double o/d split to high gear at 78 mph.look under racing junk .com for a toter home or busnut.com something w real brakes and jakes!atriot: