Finally back in a Showhauler
 

Well it's been 5 years, 7 months and 6 days since I sold my last conversion and became a conversion trader first owning a pusher and more recently a Class C, but hey who's counting :-)

It was good to dip my toes on the other side, it gave me a chance to put to rest any idea that anything but a conversion would never make me happy.

This past Saturday we picked up a 2012 ShowHauler 28'6" (40' overall) motorhome on Columbia w/ 450 Mercedes & 13 speed Ultrashift. Love this setup, tons of power and the Ultrashift is awesome. Picked it up from Becks Custom Coach. Those guys were amazing to deal with, one of the best purchase experiences I have had in a long time. The improvements Showhauler have made since my 04 are outstanding!

Just got to put some of my personal touches to it, might do a wrap this fall or just a a bit of chrome down the side and leave it white. Nothings white anymore so it makes it more unique now a days.

Congrats on the new ride. Showhauler has really been improving the quality and looks recently. I have been looking at some of their new interiors getting ideas for my toter. I really like your interior colors and cabinets. I have never driven a class 8 truck with an automatic. Do they drive/shift like a car? MMM

MMM -

My first conversion had a 10 speed manual and I'm not going to lie, I pretty much sucked shifting that thing. Over time I got pretty good up shifting, but it was always a triumph on the way down when I hit it just perfect. As far as the UltraShift goes step on the gas engages the clutch and she shifts fast and smooth. I found apply about 1/2 throttle seems to give the smoothest shifting and your up to speed very quickly.

One thing to consider in your build is some sort of padded sound deadening wall material. The upper 1/2 of all of the walls in our unit have this and it's amazing how quiet it makes the interior. On my other units they just had the standard wood wall material and it was aways echo'e (if that a word)

Warpath
Thanks for the feedback. I have driven heavy trucks for the last 40 years but never had the chance to even ride in one with an automatic. The manual becomes second nature after awhile and you do it without even thinking about it. Only use the clutch to stop and take off. One of my old trucks has a 2 stick non-sycronized 4X4. Thats a little more interesting to drive. If you get both boxes in neutral at the same time you just pull over and start over! My interest in an ultrashift is for my better half. She seems to concentrate on the size of the truck and her inability to see the right front fender so much she forgets what gear she's in and what to do next. Over time I think she will figure it out. I think its important she be able to take over in the event of an emergency.
I never thought about sound deadening on the walls. I installed the FRP on the inside for ease of maint. and it doesn't absorb ordors like some materials. Since mine is less than half the size of yours maybe it won't echo. MMM

Lights. Lots of LED lights. Tons of LED lights.

Horn. A train whistle horn. Let them know your coming down the road or to get out of the way. A friend of mine had a Bluebird MH back in the 1980's. It had "The Horn". You could select the tune to "play" from a list. While at the All American 400 ASA/All Pro stock car race at the hold Nashville Fairgrounds, we wander onto the Vanderbilt University football fans walking to the stadium. We played "Here Comes the King" ... Budweiser song. I will have an honorary Vanderbilt University Alumnus certificate somewhere!

Lights and Horn! Go for them.

Welcome back, Warpath. That's a great looking t/c you've got there. I'm glad you've returned to the t/c, I couldn't understand why you switched platforms before. Just don't go posting anything about a t/c being a good chassis on that other forum, hahahahaah.

I hear ya about the other forum.

Added a few chrome pieces this past weekend

Nice visor and deflector. Next up is a chrome bumper and a cow catcher.

VERY NICE ! I love the White....as i say its very UNSUSPECTING, and white will never go out of style (certainly not as fast as some color or color/graphics package) !

Simular lay out to our coach (2 couches across from each other w/ TV over).

I'll 2nd the comment about LED's & Horn....I replaced all our marker lights w/ LEDS (28 of 'em iirc) and the SINGLE trumpet horn on our coach SUCKS.

I got my 4 trumpet train horn from ebay. It was only about $60 and it sounds great.

bob - tell me more ;)

Horn blasters has a 3 horn kit (no pump or tank) w/ the necessary air line but its still 200 bucks.

Here's one that looks similar to mine: All Metal Black Compact Quad Train Air Horn Truck RV Peterbilt Freightliner | eBay

I don't know if that's the same seller. I bought mine a couple years ago. I removed the solonoid too and just plumbed the air hose from the original single horn on my truck to these horns. BlizzardND has heard my horns. They aren't as loud as a real train, but they sound pretty cool and they're pretty loud.

ill probably order them this week (ordered some replacement / interior LED bulbs from customdynamics.com today)....im trying to pace myself ;)

I wonder if all of that would fit under the hood of my Suburban until I get a real truck?

nothin' says you cant split 'em up

Need a air tank and compressor too, to put them on the Suburban. On my Allegro (class A I owned before upgrading) I put a 7 gallon air tank from Walmart. Then I bought a Viarre (spelling?) 12v air compressor from ebay. It's the kind they use on those low riders I think. It was probably a bit overkill but I wanted to also use it to air up the 100psi tires. Plumbed the compressor into the tank. Then put a nice pair of Hadley air horns in with a electric over air solonoid, wired to the original electric horn. Worked great. Sounded like a cruise ship. When I blow out the train horns I might go back to some deep Hadleys for a change.

Thanks Bushpilot and Bob! You've given my some good ideas. I'll let you know who it works out.

OK, here's a shameless plug for a buddy of mine-

For very reliable compressors, tanks, fittings, line, solenoids or anything else you may need to hook it up, including a variety of horns, talk to these guys: Hot Rods, Sport Trucks, Mini Trucks, Import Cars, 4x4 and more | Gauge Magazine click on the online store link. You can order online if you like, or even better get the phone number and give them a call, they are a real business and glad to talk to you. Ask for Donnie or Ginger or Big Mike. They specialize in lowriders, and stock everything needed in house and can sell a whole kit with all the fittings figured out, or individual components. Compressors and tanks of all shapes and sizes. We used them when we used to do air ride installs here in our shop.

I can definitely attest to the reliability of the Viair compressors. They are a top notch unit. I use one under my dually to fill the auxiliary air bags, and it has been good for the last 5 years, and it runs a daily because my tank as a small leak somewhere and I'm too lazy to crawl my fat a$$ under truck and find the leak. I use the Viair 360C, I think it is the most reliable if not the fastest in their lineup.

Give them a call. Tell them Dave at Custom Performance sent you.