RV REVIEW BY HOWARD J. ELMER
Tiffin Allegro Red 37PA Top to bottom, this Class A is high end Ask non-RVers to describe a Class A motorhome and they might reply: “It’s a bus with beds.” Ask someone who owns a Class A motorhome and they’ll take up your whole weekend describing the minute details and differences among brands. These varied descriptions are both right. But what both of these groups may have in common is that they dwell on the visible physical features of the coach. In other words, they’re describing the things they can see. However, having driven many coaches across a very wide price range, I’ve found that the higher the retail price the more likely it is that what you are really paying for is something you can’t see—and that’s the chassis and powertrain. Tiffinmotorhomes of RedBay, Alabama, builds thehigher- priced coaches I’m talking about; but the construction of the chassis they leave up to Freightliner. So, when I recently had a chance to take a 2018 Allegro Red out for a drive I ended up spending about the same amount of time researching the chassis as I did driving and doing my walk-through. Before I get into the spec’s involved in building a superior chassis, let me answer a question you might be asking about now: “How do you know how good a chassis is— especially when all the bits are under the coach?” Good question.
Straight answer—the quality of the ride. With this Freightliner, you feel the road-confidence of the chassis. Slip it into gear and it powers up smoothly with a supreme sense of confidence. At speed, it glides down the road, without any grinds, whistles, creaks or groans. As you pull through curves you can feel that the center of gravity on the coach is low and planted—there is simply no swaying of the body despite its height. The steering feels connected, yet it’s gentle on the hands and gives no rough feedback. In the case of the Allegro Red, the rear diesel engine design also offers a very quiet interior and the power comes on smoothly—there is no drive- line shudder or transmission noise; the air suspension supports the coach softly and firmly—simultaneously; the set-back front axle offers short turning circles and easy steering. Freightliner Custom Chassis is part of the Daimler Group, which includes Mercedes Benz and Western Star trucks. These companies have a reputation for engineering leadership, a decent pedigree for FCC that builds what drives and supports the Red—but unlike some other cookie-cutter chassis makers they customize each and every chassis to the specifications of each brand, model, and respective floorplans. No manufacturers get the same chassis. This fact is key to achieving the quality of the ride I felt the first time I drove the Red. So, while Freightliner finishes the chassis there are a few other well-known name brand suppliers that are integral in this chassis’ construction. Cummins supplies a 6.7L turbo-diesel engine (360hp—800 lb-ft torque)
RV REVIEW
COAST TO COAST FALL MAGAZINE 2017
34
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