Your new coach looks great, good luck with it.

Bill - what is the distance from the bottom of your storage compartments to the ground?

Have you had any trouble scraping in driveways, etc?

I am guessing close to 12". I will try to check that soon.

Nope never drag butt anywhere, though came close on some steep entrys.

....how's your fuel mileage with that MB Bill?....been waiting for a road report.....geofkaye

It was pretty bad at first, maybe 6.5 mpg, but it has gotten better through the break in period and I am at about 8.5 now with 5700 miles on the OD.

The motor was a real dog when new and has gained power ever since. Even still I will probably have the motor turned up to 330hp/1000tq from the current 300/850 configuration. With that increase I think this setup would be perfect for any RV application, and many of the race guys that don't run major mountain grades all day.

The thing drives awesome! I easily run 70 - 75 all day long towing my jeep behind. Very stable in the wind as well. Love the 6 speed auto, makes back road driving a blast. I do have a weight issue where the drivers side is considerably heavier than the passenger side. With both slides, generator, batteries and the majority of the waste tanks all on the drivers side I am listing over on that side and notice it even more when cornering to the right. I need to get a side to side weight and think I have a possible solution depending how far off it is.

Driver comfort is awesome, leg room is not a issue (I am 5'11") love the big windshield. I thought the 14,600 lb front end would make for a rough ride, but it rides great. Weights are 11,450 front & 18,890 back and that was full fuel, loaded and with a about 70 gallons of water.

Definetly love this truck.

Very curious, what's the "possible solution" as I'm faced with the same right/left weight balance issue.

Hey Alan -

The first thing I need to determine is my side to side weight difference. I did one weigh and I do have my front side to side and I am only 100 lbs heavier on the drivers side which is no big deal. But the rear is my issue. So I am going to add a second air valve in back so each bag is on it's own leveler. Similar to the way pushers are setup. Just don't want to push to much weight to that passenger side front tire.

I will know more when I get a side to side on the rear.

Welcome back to the site. missed your informed converstaion. I had a left side bias with my new Showhauler 32. Leaned very noticably to the left. After a quick measurment underneath everything looked to be correct. Drove that way half way back to Alaska until one day I couldn't stand it anymore. After picking a dry spot and ceasuring carefully, I determined that the lower bracket for the leveling valve had been welded 1" lower than the other one onto the rearend housing. So when i varied the adjustment 1/4-1/2", it was nowhere near enought to level the body. The solution is dual leveling valves adjusted correctly. Dave

.....how could it leave Showhauler with a left side bias?.....don't they do a test ride?......geofkaye

Hey Dave,

Thanks for the info, and glad to here that will correct my problem.

Geof, this maybe a new issue?

On another note, do any of you Showhauler owners now what type of screw they use on the exterior? I think it has 7 points and none of the hardware stores around me have anything thing that will fit it.

Have checked a #2 square point bit for the screws?

bil, i checked some search engines for screw head types and found nothing with seven points as far as heads go---- could it maybe be a torx? they have six-- mase

Here is the bugger! It actually is a 8 point.

https://www.truckconversion.net/photopost..._113_13011.jpg

Looks like a standard Torx screw.

How much does adding a second leveling valve cost?

Where does one go to have this type of change made?

I would bet (but not a lot!) that a piece of keystock of the correct size might handle that without stripping it. That way you could turn it with a square-head socket. I would also bet, though, that there IS a correct tool for it, and that Show Hauler could advise on where to get it. Good Luck, Bill!
Gary

Definitely not torx. Torx is 6 point.

I got to call SH tomorrow to find out where th heck to get the bit for that.

Alan, Freightliner will have it. I have 2 short trips coming up over the next few weekends and than I am taking my in to have a periodic check engine light checked out, head lights aligned, and the motor turned up to 330 hp and a second valve put on.

Warpath - you're right, of course, that isn't a torx.

Please post more info on the HP upgrade: price, what hardware is involved (or software upgrade only, perhaps). And what about your Allison 3000TRV... can it be upgraded to a 3200TRV to handle 300 HP and 1000 lb-ft of torque?

Yep it's a Square bit #2 I'm pretty sure. My Race trailer has the same screw.
David

David -

So your saying a square #2 will fit that? That maybe the only bit I did not try.

Kinda strange that they make a 8 sided recess.

I will give it a try tonight

Thanks
Bill

Yes, I know it's a square bit and pretty sure it's a #2. I had to call my trailer salesman when I needed to do repairs thats what fit it.
David

#2 square bit for sure. Dewalt bits seem to last longest and work best. The 8 points make it just that much quicker to get the bit set in it. They actually do work better than a phillips, not sure on a comparison to a torx one.

.....they don't pop out so often and mess up the white aluminum[fubar].....also if S/S screws-they don't drop out of the bit...magnets don't work on S/S like coated steel....its a #2 square for sure....keep the fingerprint grease off the bit or it pops out easy....clean with alcohol rag when driving so as not to get any oil or grease on screw tip.....change often maybe every 100 screws....they do wear somewhat as they are used.....geofkaye

The Freightliner service manager that I spoke with says that Mercedes engines cannot be upgraded in the field -- whatever rating they leave the factory with is what they stay with.

Let us know if you find out that your Freightliner dealer will 'field tune' your MBE926 engine up to 330 HP from the as-shipped rating of 300 HP.

I thought that the main advantage of the 330 HP engine is that also torque raises from 860 to 1000 lbf. Can this be done with upgrade chips?

Walter

That elevation of the torque rating MIGHT also create issues with the drivetrain(or not?). The higher rating might require (on paper anyway) a tranny upgrade.
These are all speculation on my part, but may be the reason that field upgrades might be difficult if not impossible.

#2 Robertson.

Very common in aviation.
When you look at the robertson tip it is square. Your screw is an 8 point kind of like how you can get 12 point sockets for hex heads.

As I mentioned I would have never thought to use a square bit for that. Actually, finding alot of screws are using combined phillips and that #2 square bit.