Very nice sardine can! For $102,000 US, I think I'll keep my GMC.

Ken H.


On Sun, May 18, 2014 at 10:33 AM, Espen Heitmann wrote:

> Here you have a link to a add for a new one in Norway.
>
>
> http://www.finn.no/finn/car/mobilehome/object?finnkode=47724463&searchclickthrough=true
> --
>
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Some months ago I speculated the Fiat / Dodge FWD truck frame/power unit MIGHT make a suitable update (with some RELATIVELY) minor modifications.

Hard to believe a Fiat could carry a GMC on its' back but.....

I just returned from a 2,000 KM "back roads" trip in Northern Italy and was shocked by the number of Fiat (and other) powered Class C motorhomes. Don't know if any were V-6 or Diesel powered. I never took the chance to talk to any of the drivers but, none seemed to have any problem climbing any of the goat paths we enjoyed (in our Fiat Panda rental).

Did you ever get to the factory near you (in OZ) to get a closer look. There seemed to be several options including a GMC-like tandem arrangement in the rear. Worth a closer look?

That axle arrangment reminds me of my '90 Airstream Land Yacht (the
fiberglass version, not the all-aluminum one). I drove across country with
it in '96, right after buying it, without doing any work on it. Shortly
after our return, at the last stop sign before our destination, the left
rear brake (the rear, not the middle on the tandem axles) began to make an
awful howling, squealing noise.

When I removed the guilty brake drum, imagine my surprise to find that it
was magnetically operated! A little further examination showed why: the
trailing axle was a Torsilastic straight from the trailer line! In a way,
that was good: a local RV dealership had a complete brake, backing plate
out, for a very reasonable price.

We soon replaced the Airstream with a '97 Safari, which also had
Torsilastic suspension, but of a completely different, more robust design
specifically for large motorhome applications.

I was completely satisfied with both of those, and I've often wondered
whether that might be a viable replacement for the GMC's somewhat weird
arrangement. It certainly has far fewer wear & maintenance points -- but
no leveling capability.

Ken H.

The frame resembles the gmc, but is not quite the qualityhttp://www.al-ko.com/406.htm Suspension is taken directly from the trailerline witha torsionbar axel

There is one on their site (I'll have to dig deeper) that show (what appears to be independent) 4 separate or independently suspended wheels. The illustration I'm referring to seemed pretty beefy (God only knows what kind of premium they get for it and whether it would be cost-effective to specify the set-up to be located where it needs to be for the 23' or 26' GMC.
I wonder if the "Integrated" models include a heavier and more flexible rear wheel set-up.


appie wrote on Sun, 18 May 2014 12:07

The frame resembles the gmc, but is not quite the qualityhttp://www.al-ko.com/406.htm Suspension is taken directly from the trailerline witha torsionbar axel