Transcripts from the Motor Home Video FAQ section
Pullers are the starter market, usually manufacturer have 3 – 4 models to choose from. Pushers are at the higher end of the market and tend to be higher quality and therefore more expensive. Pushers are also heavier, many being over 7 ½ tons so there are several considerations to take into account.
Pushers tend to have petrol engines and pullers have diesel engines.
It is difficult to give an accurate mpg due to the range of models, but 10 – 15 miles per gallon would be about average. The usual mileage on a motor home is 3000 – 5000 miles per year.
American manufacturers built diesel chassis specifically for export, but not enough were being bought, so they switched to the petrol chassis as produced for the US market. Petrol chassis is quieter, smoother, more efficient and has more horsepower. Many people who buy these, change them to LPG for better economy.
This is one of the biggest innovations in motorhomes and transforms what can be offered. Space is the most important thing, so slide outs give a lot more room. They also give a big choice in layout and very few manufacturers produce vehicles without slide outs any more.
Slide out rooms have been around for about 25 years and were originally invented for travel trailers (American caravans) and 20 years ago manufacturers started installing them in motorhomes.
They are either electric or hydraulic. Literally at the push of a button the room appears.
They have already evolved. Originally, there was just a single slide out, which transformed into a kitchen. Then there was a lounge slide out as well. Now there are up to 4 slide outs. The newest RVs in the US now have a full wall slide out, nearly the whole wall slides out for optimum space.
For the majority no, in this respect the Americans are the same as the European manufacturers. There are 3 or 4 manufacturers who build specifically designed chassis for motorhomes. However, Monaco Coach is the exception; they make their own chassis and running gear.
Pushers are built by a manufacturer who does the chassis, then fits an engine and transmission built by someone else. They have a mechanical spring suspension and hydraulic breaking system. Puller chassis, running gear and transmission are all built by the same manufacturer. They have an air suspension and air breaking system.
For more information on Motor Homes and RV's please see the Motor Home Video FAQ section
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