Gsmitty77
San Diego
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Joined: 10/09/2006
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Don't want this to become a gas vs diesel, but after reading the latest thread on rear vs side radiators, thought I'd ask for opinions on the 8.1 UFO?
Not many seen on the roads yet, and not many real world reports yet.
Road grime and dirt I'd expect to be the same as the diesel, but less diesel snot blow by would also be expected? True or false?
I have not yet seen a UFO up close. How is the access to the engine for maintenance?
For some one looking in the sub 38' size range, the lower 8.1 UFO is interesting.
Thanks for any input,
Smitty
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tatest
Oklahoma
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Joined: 05/14/2005
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There would be no blow-by from a gas engine. Road draft tubes on gas automotive engines were eliminated in the early 1960's, gas engines have to eat their snot.
Oil in the radiator would have to come from leaks 
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B
2001 Ranger Edge
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itsalleasy
USA
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Joined: 07/20/2007
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The PCV system should prevent that.
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KOG
Winterville GA
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Joined: 01/31/2001
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Should be less trouble than on a diesel, yes. And the extended length/weight is also less of a factor with the lighter gas engine.
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dontay
Mims, Florida
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Joined: 03/22/2003
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With a rear radiator you loose the thermostatically controlled fan on the engine. Either run the fan direct (all the time) or use hydraulic or electric fan as on a side radiator. I do not know if you could use a flex fan with a rear radiator. Probably not. I put a flex fan on my old IH Scout in the 70's and quickly found that when pulling a steep mountain grade in low gear a flex fan was bad news.
ISO9000 Certified Retiree
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2006 Allegro Bay 34XB with Freightliner FRED chassis, 2000 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
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wolfe10
Texas
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Joined: 10/08/2000
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ALL engines, gasoline and diesel starting in 2007 have closed crankcase systems.
And even older diesels should have their blow-by tubes extended to behind the radiator air intake.
So this aspect of it should not be any different.
Brett Wolfe
1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
Cat 3116, Allison 3060
Caterpillar RV Engine Owner's Club: www.catrvclub.org
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Lash
Montgomery, Texas
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Joined: 03/30/2004
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Have purchased a Holiday Rambler 38PLT on UFO chassis about a month ago and just got back from shakedown to South Padre Island, Texas. Having stepped up from an Allegro 35DA on a Workhorse 20.5, must say this is one sweet machine.
The Toad we have is a 2007 Honda CRV and the coach did not even know it was there. Have just upgraded to a BrakeBuddy Vantage Select and used the proportional control which is a real step up also.
As for the UFO, the simple maintenance is a piece of cake. Filter and drain is VERY accessible from the bottom. As for the engine access topside, there is a floorplate in the back bedroom retreat which is very easy to get to also.
Monaco did a nice job with this chassis configuration on the Vacationer XL base. Too bad if they do decide to discontinue as I believe if they put some effort in advertising it would be a reasonalble seller.
Performance was great from my perspective and the quit interior is something to revel in. All in all, I am very happy with the coach and am really glad I took the plunge to upgrade at this time, even with gas prices here in Texas at the $3.39 mark.
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