Itasca Cambria 23D V-10 problem??

[rob755]

Hello All, My wife and I just started looking for a semi full-time rig as we're pretty much actually all retired now. and want to hit the road and go "sing for our supper" so to speak... We have worked our b+++s off all our loves and want to pursue family, friends and devote more time to performing as we are musicians as well. We saw a 2005 Itasca Cambria 23D with F350 chassis on line at a well known large rv dealer in Junction City, OR and lo and behold, are back home today with contracts in hand. It all happened fast and after mulling over all our options (run the full gamut there...) figured this size and scenario may work well for us at least for now. It is still being cleaned up and given their "clean bill of health", but don't know anything about the dealership nor the Triton V10 within. On getting home last night I started reading of all the mixed views on that engine....all the usual blows plugs, manifold troubles etc. I don't know which version of the Triton it has as from what I've read in 05' they switched between the 2-valve to the 3-valve, and not sure which one of those is considered desirable yet either. I also notice that the following year 2006 on, they also switched to the 450 chassis. We do want to pull a CR-V 4-down and have our sound equipment, multiple instruments, some tools, our personal items etc. as well. Sorry for probably being way too long winded here, but just trying to pick some experienced rv'ers brains here for feedback and any possible recommendations? Any and all thoughts you may want to share would be very much appreciated! Best Regards, Rob

[rob755]

Make that "lives" (as well as loves...as far as that goes...) & it is an E350 chassis. Thanks.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

rob755-

Winnebago has a lot of information on your coach, all of it available from their product info page, at this link.

According to the 2005 Cambria brochure, your E-350-based coach has the 306 hp V-10, with either a four-speed or five-speed transmission (more is better). All E-series chassis use the two-valve version of the V-10, as the three-valve version is too big to fit under the hood. The listed tow capacity of the hitch is 5,000 pounds flat-tow, and 350 pounds maximum tongue weight.

I am not a V-10 expert, but I believe the bugs were worked out of the engine by 2005. It would pay to have things checked out, such as the manifold bolt tightness.

2005 was the chassis year that Ford introduced the Tow-Haul feature. Your chassis manual should tell you whether or not your coach has it. I believe there's a dash light that says "Tow-Haul," too. Prior to that Ford had an overdrive feature instead of Tow-Haul.

Load the CR-V up with all your stuff and take it to a scale. You want it to weigh no more than 4,700 pounds or so when loaded. The 300 pounds left over is reserved for the stuff you have to add (like baseplate, lights, braking system) to tow the car, and a margin in case the scale reads low.

[rob755]

Thanks Mark! I really appreciate it.

[Dave11]

Good luck with your new RV. I would be worried about the condition way more than any other issue. The V10 is a good engine, in the E series it is the 2 valve version, as mentioned. In that size RV it will offer good performance with your CRV. Hope you enjoy it.