Hello again - back with a new to me "used" RV

[eXodus]

Hello,

after having a classic Winnebago till 2015 - I've been away in the #Vanlife world in Chevy Express 3500 Van.

Now back on a P32 Workhorse with Chevy smallblock.

From R-Vision - the Trail Lite 241





So basically I got a newer RV from an Orphaned Brand with a lot of old stuff (p30) underneath.   

Looking forward to work on it.

[Oz]

Good to see you back with us!
Might fine looking rig you got there. You musta won the lottery!

[tmsnyder]

Hi, very interesting rig!

Can you tell me about it?   What's it weigh?  I'm interested b/c it has the 5.7L engine?

What do you think of the way it drives?  How is it in the hills?  Enough power or no?

[eXodus]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

R-Vision Class As was built by Monaco Motorcoach from like 2000-2004. They only made trailers before.

Stats:
This is the 241 - there had been also a 242 both are  roughly 25ft long.
It sits on the short p32 GVWR 12300lbs - with 158 inches of wheelbase - for comparison My 3500 Express Van has a 155 wheelbase.

I think it has 4.56 gears in a GM 14 Bolt rear axle (which looks very similar to the one underneath my van)
According to the sticker the whole RV should weigh in around 8600lbs - my Van is at 7800lbs. Going to take it to a scale soon. Seems low on the sticker
At that generation the 350 should make around 255-260hp 330lb ft@2800. But Workhorse/R-Vison put in different ECU and it has a huge air intake. So it's every bodies guess what thing is making.
It's mated to a 4L80E (or 4L85E)  have not verified that yet. The pan looks the same as under my 3500, literally the whole drive train looks like 1:1 from the Van. Got the 5.7 in that one as well.

Driving:
I don't have it long enough to give a full report, have not taken it out of flat Florida.
It's cruising along nicely at 70 mph down the interstate without to much white knuckle what I was used from my other p30 vague steering.
Further it gets going from a red light, really surprised.
It has a surprising small turning radius - I can make a U-turn in a 2 lane (both directions) from the left lane - without hitting the curb on the other side.

The former owner put in some new steering parts - a Taskmaster reflex, new airbags etc. 




Wasn't that crazy large expense and I needed to spend all those stimulus money back in the economy
(The RV has some small issues, delamination underneath the passenger window and cracked rear cap)

- and I'm going to sell my Van.  Those things got soo expensive.  I bought the Van for $2000 and realistic could probably sell it for $15k huge demand.

[tmsnyder]

Very interesting.  Definitely let me know the weight!   So it gets up and goes ok it sounds like ?

I'm just curious.  The engine in my GMC is a Olds big block 455, yours is similar in length and probably bigger in frontal area and doing it with a small block 350.   It's interesting. I've been wondering for a while now how the last version of the 350 would do in a GMC, the version with the roller cam and vortec heads. That's what's in yours.

[eXodus]

I love the GMC Motorhome, was looking at a few during my search.
But I needed something where I can tow a trailer and there are not that many short RV chassis options.  The Dodge and Ford chassis have low GCWR ratings.

This p32 has a GCWR of 19.000 lbs. If the sticker weight is somewhat correct I could tow a 10.000 trailer.  Which I know I shouldn't do because the brakes on these things are mediocre.  W%

Engine:
I think I figured out the large cold Air Intake - those 2003 chassis had been often built with the 8.1L Vortec, the part numbers are matching with that.
The 492 cubic need to breath   so that's probably one reason why the 350 is doing so well.
At least no major restrictions on intake site. Will try it out for a few trips and see how it does power wise. The block has an large external Oil cooler attached, probably from the 8.1 as well.  So lot's of potential

What I did in my Van, was change the injector assembly center to multi port injection "Spider"
ACDelco 217-3029 GM
That made it run a bit smoother and woke it up.  I don't know if that upgrade is already in this RV.
The spider could deliver a lot more fuel, in case I want to add some shorty headers to get some more power.

[eXodus]

filled up tanks, few a tools and fluids and went to the scale:

Front 4320
Rear 5820
Total 10,140 lbs

It's about 700lbs heavier then the sticker "ready" weight.  (and I was sitting inside)

I think they under account for the tanks- there is a 400lbs for the tanks on the calculation;
The RV has a 40 gallon water - 30 gallon propane and 40 gallon fuel.  All those add up to roughly 740lbs.


GVWR is 12380 lbs  so I got over 2200lbs for our items and hitching the trailer - which is about 500-600lbs tongue weight.