Serious question

[Pete Masterson]

I think you'd be happy with either one. Both have their strong points
and their weak points. The SP has two fewer tires to buy, when
necessary. It is said to handle a bit better (the tag axle on the PTs
tends to drag in tight maneuvers). The PTs tend to have a little more
carrying capacity and are a couple of feet longer, which can be a
surprisingly important feature depending on your planned use.

ZF tranny ... is great if you don't have any problems with it (and
most don't) and a major headache if you do have problems. (Important
factors are to have good grounding and stable voltage to the ZF
controller.) The Allison in the 8V92 models is a very solid
performing transmission. (It is here that my personal opinion favors
the PT -- but this is not an overwhelming choice. ZF has excellent
technology -- but they're not as widely used in the U.S. so finding
expert repair is more difficult. Frankly, if I were currently in the
market for a 'Bird, I wouldn't be concerned with either transmission
choice -- other factors are going to be more important.)

The 3208 is a "throwaway" engine insofar that you can't do an in-
chassis rebuild. The 8V92 does dribble a fair amount of oil in most
cases (but a few don't). While an in-chassis rebuild is possible, the
actual cost of the 8V92 vs. the 3208 in that situation isn't that
large. You're going to spend a lot of money in either case. Both
engines have a life span under ideal conditions that far exceed the
life-span of the chassis. (In most cases, lack of proper maintenance
and overheating are the cause of a premature rebuild. (With a dose of
bad luck.) This is actually a non-engine situation -- disasters can
happen to both engines and it's not likely to be statistically
determined that one has any advantage over the other. In ALL rear-
engine (pusher) coaches, it's vital to keep the cooling system in top
shape and especially to be on the look out for radiator clogging (and
it's hard to see).

In the end, you simply need to evaluate your RVing needs against the
coaches available to you. Even if one or the other were somehow
"superior", the condition of the actual coaches that are practical
for you to evaluate is more important than the model. e.g. a "good"
SP (or PT) will prove superior to a poor PT (or SP).

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Mt. Airy, NC



On Oct 29, 2008, at 12:37 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:

> Leroy, Don't get me wrong good points have been made as to the pros
> and cons PT to SP. <snip>