New Tiffin Owner/DC

[Ezyrider202]

Hello all, I've been a member of the forum for a while, but only recently, finally, found and bought the rig I've been looking for. Its a 2011 Allegro Open Road 34TGA. I need to get some work done on it, and I have a pretty tight time frame.

I am asking for your recommendations and feedback. I have two main questions:

1) Most/least trusted garages within a 100 mile radius of Washington DC.
Work: buy and install steering stabilizing equipment; replace back up camera and screen with up to date equipment; buy and install battery charge level meter; buy and install tire pressure levels meter. And, maybe, motorcycle lift (see below).

2) I am grateful for help and others sharing their experience. However, if I wasn't already insane, the variety of conflicting advice I've been getting on this subject would drive me there. Why a lift? I want to avoid unnecessarily dragging a trailer behind.

I have a Harley that weighs about 760lbs. I've been looking at Hydralifts and Cruiserlift systems, and mostly pricing out used Cruiserlifts.These two seem to be the top of the line, and from the pictures and claims, lift the bike up nice and high to avoid scraping the surface on gas station ramps and uneven roads. Almost all the recommendations I've gotten were to go with Cruiserlift because of the relative simplicity and price.

But now I'm not sure if I can have a rack/lift put on at all. I spoke to a mechanic who told me that I couldn't have either one installed because my Tiffin was gas, not diesel. The second mechanic I spoke with said it shouldn't be a problem. I could buy a Hydralift from him and have it installed for $10k. Then, another one who wanted pictures of my chassis. A friend with one tells me I should just go ahead and do it. My online research (and I also asked on this forum many months ago) is not at all definitive. I'm stuck in a cul-du-sac.

Apparently the issue (or not) is the design of the rear end of the chassis, and whether it can carry the weight. The chassis, according to the specs online, is a Ford F Series Super Duty. Using that information, I have not been able to advance the ball any further online. Before I call and get another $10k quote, I wanted to check in here once again.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and guidance.

ezyrider202

 

[Gramps.busa]

Check your manual, but I think max weight on trailer ball is around 500 lbs. Others will chime in with better info.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Can’t help with a shop within 100 miles of DC; just don’t know the area that well.

The motorcycle lift issue for the smaller, gas motorhomes is in finding enough structure to support the weight of the lift and the motorcycle. These smaller coaches just weren’t designed to support that kind of weight. I’m guessing that the combined weight of the lift and bike would substantially exceed 1K pounds. As has been stated previously, that chassis was designed to support a 500# hitch weight. When you put more than twice the design weight on the back of the coach, it can have impact on the handling as well as overload the rear axle.

I would be talking directly to the manufacturer of the lift you want to see what their recommendation is. And, if they say it can be made to work, I would take the coach to them for a factory install. Yes, that will probably be pricey, but having them do it would ensure that it is done correctly and that all necessary chassis reinforcement is done.

When you consider the safety aspects involved in this kind of installation, this is not the time to be pinching pennies!

TJ

 

[Ezyrider202]

Can’t help with a shop within 100 miles of DC; just don’t know the area that well.

The motorcycle lift issue for the smaller, gas motorhomes is in finding enough structure to support the weight of the lift and the motorcycle. These smaller coaches just weren’t designed to support that kind of weight. I’m guessing that the combined weight of the lift and bike would substantially exceed 1K pounds. As has been stated previously, that chassis was designed to support a 500# hitch weight. When you put more than twice the design weight on the back of the coach, it can have impact on the handling as well as overload the rear axle.

I would be talking directly to the manufacturer of the lift you want to see what their recommendation is. And, if they say it can be made to work, I would take the coach to them for a factory install. Yes, that will probably be pricey, but having them do it would ensure that it is done correctly and that all necessary chassis reinforcement is done.

When you consider the safety aspects involved in this kind of installation, this is not the time to be pinching pennies!

TJ

Thanks TJ

 

[skychs]

In regards to motorcycle lifts here is a link that may help. It has a variety of options. I personally have a Hydralift on my Class A and love it. My lift is welded directly to the frame not the hitch so hitch limitations may not be an issue. Since the lift sits so far behind the rear wheels there is a formula to calculate the weight. I will try to find it.

https://rvnstyle.com/rv-motorcycle-lift-systems-differences-and-comparison/

 

[Neemer]

As far as shop recommendations go, I have used RV Service of Virginia several times over the past decade and they are excellent. Located in Ashland, just north of Richmond.

Welcome to RV Service of Virginia

RV Service of VA is Central Virginia's leading RV service provider, now celebrating over 36 years in business.

www.rvserviceofva.com

 

[skychs]

Here is one of the discussions with the formula for weight.

Motorcycle carrier on diesel pusher - iRV2 Forums

I'm the new owner of a 2007 Holiday Rambler Vacationer XL powered by a 5.9 Cummins ISB with a rear radiator. In the manual by Monaco, it shows a slash/circle prohibition sign on a graphic of a

www.irv2.com

 

[Ezyrider202]

As far as shop recommendations go, I have used RV Service of Virginia several times over the past decade and they are excellent. Located in Ashland, just north of Richmond.

Welcome to RV Service of Virginia

RV Service of VA is Central Virginia's leading RV service provider, now celebrating over 36 years in business.

www.rvserviceofva.com

Neemer,
Thank you for this reference. I have spoken with them and from that first contact I am beginning to feel confident that this shop is the right one (as opposed to the franchise dealerships, which I've heard nothing good about. RV Service of Virginia has called Tiffin on my behalf, and using my vin, are gathjering the necessary information.
Thanks again, Good lead!
EZY202

 

[skychs]

Neemer,
Thank you for this reference. I have spoken with them and from that first contact I am beginning to feel confident that this shop is the right one (as opposed to the franchise dealerships, which I've heard nothing good about. RV Service of Virginia has called Tiffin on my behalf, and using my vin, are gathjering the necessary information.
Thanks again, Good lead!
EZY202

I also recommend RV Services of VA. They sometimes us OEM parts so it can get pricy but they have been very fair with us. There are two RV dealers/service centers within 5 miles of their shop. I still go to RV Services of VA.

 

[pkolmus]

Another long-time, top-notch RV repair/maintenance service is Queenstown RV in College Park, Md. We have been going to them for years and they take excellent care of all of the house systems for a wide variety of RVs of different ages. They do the maintenance on many of the RVs used by medical services and other service RVs.

M&M Fleet (Queenstown RV Service now under M&M Fleet Maintenance) 301.779.4545

Examples of our work…….

queenstownrvservice.com

 

[jknomad]

In regards to motorcycle lifts here is a link that may help. It has a variety of options. I personally have a Hydralift on my Class A and love it. My lift is welded directly to the frame not the hitch so hitch limitations may not be an issue. Since the lift sits so far behind the rear wheels there is a formula to calculate the weight. I will try to find it.

https://rvnstyle.com/rv-motorcycle-lift-systems-differences-and-comparison/

How much does your motorcycle weigh? We are looking at a 34' Ventana but not sure I can put one on with my 800lbs Roadmaster

 

[Ezyrider202]

My bike weighs approx 750. It’s a 2016 Dyna Street Bob.

As we near the end of what’s been a very frustrating summer for me, which included two cancelled appointments at two different shops for two different reasons, I decided to purchase a Cruiser Lift for the same reasons I’ve seen over and over again: it’s good track record, the price (about $1500 less than the Hydra Lift) and that if it needed any repairs on the road, the system on the Cruiser is much more simple, parts for an electric winch are common to come by, and more mechanics would be familiar enough with to make repairs. The Hydra Lift is a beautiful thing, but the reasons above defeat them in the selection process. Plus, I was able to deal with one of the company’s owners.

The season is basically over for the but there is one in production with my name on it. I expect it to ship in about a week.

As for viability, I have a Tiffin Allegro Open Road 34 TGA. I have received a ton of well meant but contradictory advise that fills the spectrum from absolutely not to absolutely yes. Tiffin was nice, but really didn’t give me a straight answer. A number of people on here along with a couple of mechanics said the rule of thumb is that if it were gas, and mine is, the chassis would not be strong enough to support it.But, there were exceptions. Others swear by the formula above.

But what seemed like the most common thus easier to get repaired a very frustrating summersense, at least fir me, is that if the two principle steel beams of the chassis span the full length of the coach, uninterrupted by any welded joints, on the specific Ford chassis I have, and that the lift was welded to the chassis by a new three point hitch, it would be sufficient to not put too much weight on the rear axle nor affect the the handling re: the front end. A plurality of experienced hands agreed with those guidelines. That’s my story. I took way too long to tell it. But I hope to be on my way just after Labor Day.