Tennessee

samcrimm

samcrimm

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2015
Messages
361
Location
Tullahoma
Hi,

I am living in Spencer TN but from Tullahoma,TN. Just bought a 2005 Renegade RV on a Freightliner M3200CM chassis 12 speed auto Engine brake. Drove it 500 miles home and it was a dream! MPG was not the best @ 6.95 but I did run the gen and some secondary roads, not all interstate. I believe it was a great deal too!
I notice not much goes on this site. But the other rv sites don't have any information about TC's. I have lots of questions too!

Sam
 
Bob86ZZ4 said:
Great! Another T/C owner!! Yes, this is a pretty quiet forum, as forums go. I have a theory that we are all having so much fun in our trucks because they hardly ever break so we're not typing away on this thing. Looking forward to seeing more posts from you. Pictures of the rig would be greatly appreciated. Renegade is a nice unit. Is this your T/C?: 2005 Renegade Freightliner Model M3200CM-450 for Sale in HATTIESBURG, MS | RacingJunk Classifieds
Click to expand...


Yep, you keep up with things pretty good
 
That's a beauty! Looks just great. I think 7 mpg while running the generator is maybe a bit low. How fast where you going? Headwind can cut the mpg's pretty good too. I travel from MN to Ohio every summer and I almost always get better mpg going east with the tail wind. I think you got an amazing deal on that one too. Good job!
 
I have things like yellow turn signal lens to replace and a backup light not working. Ebay has not been very good on these parts, either I am not using the right search term or just don't have them. Where do find these items? And a kitchen blind too.
 
Blinds might be found at rv surplus places around Indiana. I think I've heard "Bontragers" mentioned. Or maybe just Lowes or Home Depot? Might not be able to find blinds that secure at the bottom like RV type blinds do though.

Truck-lite makes the lights. But I think you need to buy them at a truck parts place. There are lots of them on line. I'd search around on Truck-lite's site and find what you're looking for and then search for that. I replaced all the clearance lights on my rig with l.e.d. ones made by Truck-lite. Can't remember where I ordered them from though.
 
Sam - WELCOME

lights/turnsignals (might as well upgrade 'em to LEDs) can be found online or at area truck stops / chrome shops.

i got all my marker lights (in LED version) on line 20 or so of them, like bob suggests.

your M3200 (i did some quick googling) and it looks like its built on a columbia chassis like mine.

that MPG sounds low....how fast were you running ? the Generator shouldn't cost you that much, maybe 1/2 a gallon per hour tops (depending on the size/load). If i keep it to 65 or so i can easily eek out 9.9 mpg (between houston tx & northern tip of virginia).

Ive seen as high as early 13's (between blackburn va & fort walton beach) and that included some overnighting in a rest area w/ generator running ...and that was on some mixed interstate / secondary roads (it was a little foggy so i was running 55/60).

if the i start running more than 72 (cruise set) the mpg falls off fast...but i don't believe we've ever seen anything below mid-8s....although the longer we own it the worse the mpg gets (its related to my right foot).
 
Do you know what rear axle ratio you've got? I think it should be on some label somewhere. I found mine on a build label of some sort behind the fuse box cover I think?
 
Bob - how many Liters is your motor ? your tranny is manual isn't it ?

our coach has the Mercedes MBE4000 12.8L (same as the DD13) rated at 450/1550 (hp/tq) - w/ the 12speed smart shift.
 
I've got the Cat C-12, 10 speed three pedal autoshift trans. Looks like my gearing is pretty close to yours? You're mpg is slightly better than mine. I've heard those Mercedes engines are good mpg's. Mines rated 430 h/p 1650 tq.
 
Here's about where I cruise most of the time:

SDC11787.JPG
 
funny Bob! Just like my brother...you cops can get away w/ it ;)

COMMENT - your oil pressure is lower at higher RPM's than my coaches Oil pressure at lower RPM/Speed.

QUESTION - why is your secondary (suspension?) air so much lower than the primary ?
 
Hahahah, I was just going the flow of traffic.

That's normal oil pressure for Cats. Here's a snip from their web site:

What is normal oil pressure?
Typical oil pressure range for engines running at rated speed and operating temperature with SAE 10W-30 or 15w40 oil is:

C-10, C11, C-12 & C13: 30-45 psi


I'm guessing MB runs higher oil pressures? My son has a N-14 Cummins in his truck and his pressure is higher too. My truck had 52k miles on it when I bought it and that's where the oil pressure always read. I found it pretty hard to believe they would have damaged the engine in such a short time. I checked with the mechanic at the Kenworth shop I take it to and he said that's just the right pressure for that engine.
 
And that's where my secondary air is always at too. Oh well. Nobody seems to think it's a problem at the shop where they work on it.
 
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