Ping Lon Opinion on Dolphin and Ford V10

[unknown]

I am looking at a 99 Dolphin motorhome and need to know what to look
for in the V10 motor and if Dolphin is a decent unit.

Thanks
Tom

[Chuck]

That year Ford had the spark plug blow out problem, Aluminum heads only had
4 threads holding the plugs in.Head replacement can run $2000 to $3000.There
are special inserts that can be used to repair the problem but Ford does not
approve if the repair.

Post by unknown
I am looking at a 99 Dolphin motorhome and need to know what to look
for in the V10 motor and if Dolphin is a decent unit.
Thanks
Tom

[Lon VanOstran]

Post by Chuck
That year Ford had the spark plug blow out problem, Aluminum heads only had
4 threads holding the plugs in.Head replacement can run $2000 to $3000.There
are special inserts that can be used to repair the problem but Ford does not
approve if the repair.

I know a bunch of people with 1999 Fords MHs, and don't know a single
person who has had that problem, though I did meet one guy in a
campground who claimed he had to replace his engine because of multiple
plug blowouts. Frankly, I put that one up as an urban legand.

Lon

[Lone Haranguer]

Post by unknown
I am looking at a 99 Dolphin motorhome and need to know what to look
for in the V10 motor and if Dolphin is a decent unit.
Thanks
Tom

Never owned a Dolphin but have had excellent service from the V-10 in
my '99 Itasca 37G.
LZ

[J***@aol.com]

Post by Lone Haranguer

Post by unknown
I am looking at a 99 Dolphin motorhome and need to know what to look
for in the V10 motor and if Dolphin is a decent unit.
Thanks
Tom

Never owned a Dolphin but have had excellent service from the V-10 in
my '99 Itasca 37G.
LZ

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ditto here with my '99 Rexhall Rose Air V-10.
Hums right along and does not miss a beat.

Jan

[Bob Hatch]

Post by unknown
I am looking at a 99 Dolphin motorhome and need to know what to look
for in the V10 motor and if Dolphin is a decent unit.
Thanks
Tom

What I've heard about Dolphin is mostly good.

I've got a '99 Winnebago 37G with the V-10. It's given me no problems. Been
over the Continental Divide 6 or more times, over Immigrant Hill in OR a
bunch of times. The engine just keeps on plugging along and the plugs are
still in place.

[Lon VanOstran]

Post by Bob Hatch

Post by unknown
I am looking at a 99 Dolphin motorhome and need to know what to look
for in the V10 motor and if Dolphin is a decent unit.
Thanks
Tom

What I've heard about Dolphin is mostly good.
I've got a '99 Winnebago 37G with the V-10. It's given me no problems. Been
over the Continental Divide 6 or more times, over Immigrant Hill in OR a
bunch of times. The engine just keeps on plugging along and the plugs are
still in place.

In 1999 the 35' Dolphin still had a tag axle. I wouldn't buy one with
the tag because there are other GOOD choices.

Lon

[Bob Hatch]

Post by Lon VanOstran

Post by Bob Hatch

Post by unknown
I am looking at a 99 Dolphin motorhome and need to know what to look
for in the V10 motor and if Dolphin is a decent unit.
Thanks
Tom

What I've heard about Dolphin is mostly good.
I've got a '99 Winnebago 37G with the V-10. It's given me no
problems. Been over the Continental Divide 6 or more times, over
Immigrant Hill in OR a bunch of times. The engine just keeps on
plugging along and the plugs are still in place.

In 1999 the 35' Dolphin still had a tag axle. I wouldn't buy one with
the tag because there are other GOOD choices.
Lon

Ahhh. Didn't know that. In that case I would advise the OP to start looking
for a Winnebago, same year.

[karl]

We have a 99 Dolphin Model 5360 and have not had any trouble with it.
The motor runs very smoothly burns no oil between changes (3000 mi.)
and is quiet. ours has a tag axel and I see no problems with having
one. If it is in good shape and has routine maintance documentation
and a good price I would go for it and enjoy.
Karl

[Lon VanOstran]

Post by karl
We have a 99 Dolphin Model 5360 and have not had any trouble with it.
The motor runs very smoothly burns no oil between changes (3000 mi.)
and is quiet. ours has a tag axel and I see no problems with having
one. If it is in good shape and has routine maintance documentation
and a good price I would go for it and enjoy.
Karl

Not to dis your coach, but I would avoid a tag axle at all cost if I was
shopping for a MH. You have an extra pair of tires to maintain and
replace, an extra set of brakes to keep adjusted, extra bearings to
repack, and air bags to keep adjusted so the proper portion of the load
is carried by the tag. In addition, on wet mountain roads, your tag axle
is trying to prevent you from turning as it drags sideways on those
sharp curves. It's just one more obstacle to safe driving.

If you really want to know what a "Band-Aid" those tag axles are, look
at a MH which has one and imagine the tag not being there. LOOK at that
overhang. It gives your tow vehicle that much more leverage as it tries
to push your backside into the puckerbrush. IMHO, once Ford came out
with the new F-53 chassis in 1998, any manufacturer who was still using
a tag because they were too damn cheap to redesign a coach, was just
plain negligent. You are hauling an extra 1000@ axle around to save
National from extending the frame and moving the wheel wells.

I'm glad your happy with it.

Lon

[Al Malone]

Post by Lon VanOstran

Post by karl
We have a 99 Dolphin Model 5360 and have not had any trouble with it.
The motor runs very smoothly burns no oil between changes (3000 mi.)
and is quiet. ours has a tag axel and I see no problems with having
one. If it is in good shape and has routine maintance documentation
and a good price I would go for it and enjoy.
Karl

Not to dis your coach, but I would avoid a tag axle at all cost if I was
shopping for a MH. You have an extra pair of tires to maintain and
replace, an extra set of brakes to keep adjusted, extra bearings to
repack, and air bags to keep adjusted so the proper portion of the load is
carried by the tag. In addition, on wet mountain roads, your tag axle is
trying to prevent you from turning as it drags sideways on those sharp
curves. It's just one more obstacle to safe driving.
If you really want to know what a "Band-Aid" those tag axles are, look at
a MH which has one and imagine the tag not being there. LOOK at that
overhang. It gives your tow vehicle that much more leverage as it tries to
push your backside into the puckerbrush. IMHO, once Ford came out with the
new F-53 chassis in 1998, any manufacturer who was still using a tag
because they were too damn cheap to redesign a coach, was just plain
from extending the frame and moving the wheel wells.
I'm glad your happy with it.
Lon

I certainly agree with your observations about the extra cost and
maintenance.

However, there comes a point where the additional carrying capacity that is
provided by a tag axle is required. Moving the discussion from gas to
diesel chassis, as you approach the 40' size range the cargo carrying
capacity drops to what I consider to be an unacceptable level, typically
well below 2000 pounds in a well equipped coach and frequently closer to
1000 pounds.

I believe that there is a second important factor to be considered. The tag
axle chassis for the larger rear diesel coaches are designed to be part of
the chassis system and not an add-on as I believe that the earlier gas
chassis tag axles were.

When we purchased gas chassis coaches we paid the extra for what provided
the "best" in terms of wheel base and GVWR at the time. Initially that was
the Ford 18,000 GVWR V10 in 1999 and then the 22,000 GVWR Workhorse in 2003.
Even those choices provided us a minimal cargo carrying that required care
to stay below the maximum GVWR of the chassis with our 35' coaches. Based
on my discussions with other motorhome buyers this, as well as towing
capacity and towed vehicle braking systems, is an area that get very little
attention.

Our current with a tag axle has a GVWR of 44,600 with close to 10,000 lbs
cargo carrying capacity and a GCWR of 54,600 pounds which provides a 10,000
pound towing capacity. I no longer have to worry about weights!

Al

[Lon VanOstran]

Post by Al Malone
When we purchased gas chassis coaches we paid the extra for what provided
the "best" in terms of wheel base and GVWR at the time. Initially that was
the Ford 18,000 GVWR V10 in 1999 and then the 22,000 GVWR Workhorse in 2003.
Even those choices provided us a minimal cargo carrying that required care
to stay below the maximum GVWR of the chassis with our 35' coaches. Based
on my discussions with other motorhome buyers this, as well as towing
capacity and towed vehicle braking systems, is an area that get very little
attention.
Our current with a tag axle has a GVWR of 44,600 with close to 10,000 lbs
cargo carrying capacity and a GCWR of 54,600 pounds which provides a 10,000
pound towing capacity. I no longer have to worry about weights!

Al, I was definitely NOT talking about large diesel MHs when I wrote
about tag axles. Air ride suspensions change everything, and those tags
can even be raised for low speed maneuvers.

Our 1999 Itasca Suncruiser was built on a Ford F-53 chassis with a
20,500# GVWR. Our NCC was over 4600#. No tag.

Our new fifth wheels was supposed to have well over 4,000# carrying
capacity, but $20,000 worth of options later it came in at 3300#. <G>
Thankfully, we have shed about half of the weight we started with 3
years ago. When it comes right down to it. We are too damn lazy to play
with most of the toys we started with. <G>

On the other hand, that button on the wall which makes my new awning go
out is the sort of toy I think I'm gonna really like playing with.

Lon

[bill horne]

Post by Lon VanOstran

Post by Al Malone
When we purchased gas chassis coaches we paid the extra for what
provided the "best" in terms of wheel base and GVWR at the time.
Initially that was the Ford 18,000 GVWR V10 in 1999 and then the
22,000 GVWR Workhorse in 2003. Even those choices provided us a
minimal cargo carrying that required care to stay below the maximum
GVWR of the chassis with our 35' coaches. Based on my discussions
with other motorhome buyers this, as well as towing capacity and towed
vehicle braking systems, is an area that get very little attention.
Our current with a tag axle has a GVWR of 44,600 with close to 10,000
lbs cargo carrying capacity and a GCWR of 54,600 pounds which provides
a 10,000 pound towing capacity. I no longer have to worry about weights!

about tag axles. Air ride suspensions change everything, and those tags
can even be raised for low speed maneuvers.
Our 1999 Itasca Suncruiser was built on a Ford F-53 chassis with a
20,500# GVWR. Our NCC was over 4600#. No tag.
Our new fifth wheels was supposed to have well over 4,000# carrying
capacity, but $20,000 worth of options later it came in at 3300#. <G>
Thankfully, we have shed about half of the weight we started with 3
years ago. When it comes right down to it. We are too damn lazy to play
with most of the toys we started with. <G>
On the other hand, that button on the wall which makes my new awning go
out is the sort of toy I think I'm gonna really like playing with.
Lon

Don't play with it too much, or you might attract Murphy's attention.

[Lon VanOstran]

Post by bill horne
Don't play with it too much, or you might attract Murphy's attention.

I've had Murphy's attention most of my life. I've gotten pretty good at
working AROUND him, and his handy work.

Lon

[Dapper Dave]

Post by Lon VanOstran
about tag axles. Air ride suspensions change everything, and those tags
can even be raised for low speed maneuvers.

In addition, tag axle diesel pusher chassis have a shorter turning
radius than they otherwise might. You can raise the tag to pivot on the
drive axle.

[Lon VanOstran]

Post by Dapper Dave

Post by Lon VanOstran
about tag axles. Air ride suspensions change everything, and those tags
can even be raised for low speed maneuvers.

In addition, tag axle diesel pusher chassis have a shorter turning
radius than they otherwise might. You can raise the tag to pivot on the
drive axle.

Wasn't that what I said? <g>

Lon

[Al Malone]

Post by Bob Hatch

Post by unknown
I am looking at a 99 Dolphin motorhome and need to know what to look
for in the V10 motor and if Dolphin is a decent unit.
Thanks
Tom

What I've heard about Dolphin is mostly good.
I've got a '99 Winnebago 37G with the V-10. It's given me no problems.
Been over the Continental Divide 6 or more times, over Immigrant Hill in
OR a bunch of times. The engine just keeps on plugging along and the
plugs are still in place.

In 1999 the 35' Dolphin still had a tag axle. I wouldn't buy one with the
tag because there are other GOOD choices.
Lon

Not necessarily true. The 1999 Dolphin that was built on the optional Ford
F53 V10 powered chassis DID NOT have a tag axle. We had one.

Al

[Lon VanOstran]

Post by Al Malone

In 1999 the 35' Dolphin still had a tag axle. I wouldn't buy one with the
tag because there are other GOOD choices.
Lon

Not necessarily true. The 1999 Dolphin that was built on the optional Ford
F53 V10 powered chassis DID NOT have a tag axle. We had one.
Al

They must have built some of each in 1999. Dolphin was on our very short
list of possible MHs to purchase. We eliminated it for 2 reasons. One,
the factory was too far from Michigan. Two, the tag axle. When we were
looking, the 33' Dolphin was without a tag, but the 35' was with a tag.


Lon

[Al Malone]

Post by Lon VanOstran

Post by Al Malone

In 1999 the 35' Dolphin still had a tag axle. I wouldn't buy one with the
tag because there are other GOOD choices.
Lon

Not necessarily true. The 1999 Dolphin that was built on the optional
Ford F53 V10 powered chassis DID NOT have a tag axle. We had one.
Al

They must have built some of each in 1999. Dolphin was on our very short
list of possible MHs to purchase. We eliminated it for 2 reasons. One, the
factory was too far from Michigan. Two, the tag axle. When we were
looking, the 33' Dolphin was without a tag, but the 35' was with a tag.
Lon

The Ford V10 F53 chassis was an extra cost option on the 99 Dolphin that we
owned. I believe that was the first model year that National RV used the
heavier GVWR Ford chassis that did not require a tag axle.

Al

[b b]

Post by Bob Hatch
I've got a '99 Winnebago 37G with the V-10. It's given me no problems. Been
over the Continental Divide 6 or more times, over Immigrant Hill in OR a
bunch of times. The engine just keeps on plugging along and the plugs are
still in place.
--

My 18,000 pound GVW 99 National Seabreeze has 65,000 miles on it's V-
10...no problems with plugs popping, and still burns the same one quart
in 1500 miles of oil it did when we bought it with 16,000 miles on it.
Some V-10s do that, some do not. We will take it anywhere the roads are
good and it fits...it pulls the hills just fine.

There is a TSB out on some of the 99 Ford Chassis that had a wrong
length oil dipstick. You can tell when you change oil, if 6 qts brings
it to only half full with a filter change...you have a short stick.
Mark it or try to get Ford to replace it free.

We had a "ping" like sound fixed under warranty; turns out some of them
had an idler pulley sized to allow the fan belt to hit something
creating sound much like engine ping, but at BOTTOM of hills when
acceleration started. They replaced the pulley with a bigger one, and
gave us a new belt. TSB on this too.

There is also a TSB for a fix for the air cleaner air intake to stop
water from being sucked into the air cleaner in HEAVY rain. They gave
us a modified plastic air intake shroud and new air filter under
warranty.

I'm not sure how the TSB fixes are covered once warranty has expired.

The Dolphin is a heavier National RV product, but I've heard nothing bad
about them.

FWIW, we're quite happy with our Seabreeze.

HTH,
Barrie B