What is the best transmission??

[Robert Wesner]

Hey'all!

I'm running an old Winnie with a BT6 Cummins and 4 speed Allison.

it's getting old and tired and we're hoping to upgrade in the next year.

I'd like another diesel and Allison because I can make my own biodiesel and Allison transmissions are tried and true bullet-proof!

but, also considering going with a gasser and converting to propane - dunno where you are, but around here propane is WELL under $2 a gallon!!!

since we log about 15,000 miles a year that can add up to some serious savings!

but, I don't know what the best power plant and tranny to look for is.

I'm told the ford 460 with the C6 tranny is good and the C6 is really dependable

we're always pulling a trailer and doing trade shows so WE HAVE to GET THERE or we lose more than time.....

I'm open to any and all input on the subject - thanks!!!

~Robert and Leah

[John "T" Nordhoff]

  Robert, for yearsssssssssss I ran them dern old 460 Fords and C6 Trannys and I will admit if you use an auxiliary cooler the C6 holds up pretty well. In earlier years I ran 360 or 413 or 440 Dodges with the Torqueflite 727 Trannys AND THOSE WERE GREAT TRANNYS...............HOWEVER its the new millinium and I far prefer my Chevy 454 Vortec with the 4L80E Overdrive Transmission now. I run a huge aux cooler and Synthetic Fluid and Im a happy camper.........

 

 John T's  Dry Camping Special

 2001 Four Winds 29 ft. Class C

 454 Vortec with 4L80E OD Tranny

 110 Gal Fresh water storage, 80 Gal Gray water storage, extra 10 Gal (beyond stock) black aux holding tank

 460 Amp Hrs of battery storage (Four 6 volt Golf Cart Batteries) and a Xantrex Truecharge2 Smart 3 Stage Charger

 200 Watts of Rooftop Solar panels 

[John "T" Nordhoff]

 Geeeeeeeee Pat, 5 or 6 MPG on a gasser?? (Of course, pulling a heavy trailer explains it)

 Just kidding, to each their own. On my Class C on the way to Florida (perfect level 60 MPH Cruising with no wind)  WHILE TOWING A PONTIAC GRAND AM I got 11.12 MPG.

 

 In 30+ years of RVing Ive had em all, big Class A's, Class C's, Truck Campers etc etc but for our road trip lifestyle and lots of mountains and some towing a toad, I prefer a Class C. Less wind drag, better MPG, lower center of gravity, easy to get in n out the cab doors, not so tall n bulky, easy to drive...........

 

 I agree with you however, a Cummins with an Allison, now thats a COMMERCIAL kinda rig not a wimpy yuppy RV like most of us drive lol

 

 Meet you in Florida this winter??? Or maybe Texas this October??? Or Utah, Colorado, Cali in 2014???

 

 John T 

[Robert Wesner]

oh, ya... I love my Cummins...

we're pulling 12-14,000lbs on a regular basis now.

just had to drop a pile of cash to swap the stock 3500# axles for a pair of 7k axles with new tires

we found this listed local - what a beauty of a rig - but it's out of our budget.... but I sure would LOVE it!!!

http://eugene.craigslist.org/rvs/3851029395.html

[john nancy]

I don't know if you get through a small  dip in the road with that Kenworth

kinda a long way to the back end

I really like the 3060 6 speed  allision 

[Robert Wesner]

ya, I think that's the longest kick-out I've ever seen....

[Matthew Tritt]

I know this is an old thread now, but I have to vote for a well tuned Dodge 440 with a 3 spd 727 as the strongest, most reliable combo. I've had C-6's in a couple of Ford trucks that were needing rebuilds about every 50,000 miles, and have no love at all for the breed. The 727 (which is made by Allison) is as good as they get.