Forester 3011 DS E 450

[JerJ]

My wife and I are purchasing a 2016 Forester 3011 DS. We will be first time RVers and this will be a whole new experience for us. Is the Ford E450 V10 gas engine strong enough to go up mountain roads, with or without towed vehicle? We would appreciate any feedback on what others have experienced with similarly powered RVs. Thank you.

[AncientMariner]

More than enough power. Don't give power a thought. Find the layout you like and go for it.

Paul

[Wiscampsin]

Welcome from Wisconsin and congrats on your 2016 Forester 3011 DS.

[JerJ]

Thank you very much for the reply. It is reassuring. We have found the layout we like and doing the test drive tomorrow. I am a little apprehensive since I have never driven anything this large.

[SkipnTerri]

Originally Posted by JerJ

Thank you very much for the reply. It is reassuring. We have found the layout we like and doing the test drive tomorrow. I am a little apprehensive since I have never driven anything this large.

Welcome from Missouri. We took a trip to the west coast towing our Focus and had no trouble whatsoever going through the Rockies. We downsized from our Georgetown as my wife wasn't comfortable driving it. The Class C is similar to driving a big van and handles quite well with side winds or trucks passing given the air bags.

[GL1800Rider]

I have the same unit as you. Have not towed in the mountains yet but on the hills there is plenty of power. We towed travel trailers since 2000 with a V-10 all over the country and never had any power issues. They will make a bit of noise when you foot is in it though. Any questions feel free to pm me. Ours is an early 2016. When you notice the pull down shades instead of the crummy string type that is because of us. We were the Guinea Pigs.

[radman]

I had a 1997 class C with a ford V-10 and I never had any problems.

[fisherracing]

you will have more then enough power for has improved the v10 over the years........


go to U-Haul and rent a 20ft truck < ford e450 w/v10> ...... drive it in the city - highway , back-up get it in tight spots ........ < always use a spotter>




that will give you a good id on how that new one will handle.......


have fun

[Dino61]

I drive mine almost exclusively in the mountains pulling a horse trailer. Gobs of power.

[Creativepart]

Your first few drive it will feel like you're driving a bus. But in no time at all it will seem like normal. No biggie. Honest. It takes only a few hundred miles to get super comfortable. Don't let that first drive scare you.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Welcome from So Cal. I fly up the long steep I-5 Grapevine here in North LA County at 65 mph. Could go a little faster.
What part of the country do you live in?

[DnL]

Welcome from Washington state and congrats on your new RV. I have a 2013 Forester 3011 DS and, like you, I hadn't driven anything that size before either. But I'm thinking you will be very surprised how easy it is to drive and maneuver around. I know I was. Have fun.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[SeaDog]

congrats on the new purchase it takes no time to get used to the size and handling.

[brandon 2]

In British Columbia where we live, there is nothing but mountains.
Our V-10 has lots of power. Very smooth running power plant. The wife drives it with no issues and likes it very much
Enjoy


Brandon2
2500TS 2014 Sun Seeker

[bob dirt]

I had one once...never a problem towing, just needed to keep a pile of Benjamins for fuel

[Rvrphdawg]

Taking our new 3011 on its first camping trip this weekend. Not worried about it on the road- it's a breeze to drive. Do have a little apprehension about backing it in to a site for the first time but the backup camera and the great side mirrors should make it a lot easier than a TT


Forester 3011DS

[benagi]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

Welcome from So Cal. I fly up the long steep I-5 Grapevine here in North LA County at 65 mph. Could go a little faster.

What part of the country do you live in?

Sage, do you know what grade the I-5 Grapevine is? We have 7% grade we have to climb to get out of our valley to the east and I'm running about 45 mph at 4000 rpm. Don't want to push the rpms much higher than that. At the top it is 7000 ft.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by benagi

Sage, do you know what grade the I-5 Grapevine is? We have 7% grade we have to climb to get out of our valley to the east and I'm running about 45 mph at 4000 rpm. Don't want to push the rpms much higher than that. At the top it is 7000 ft.

Ben, the sign says 6% for 5 miles. I keep the pedal to the metal, but after a bit I have to left off a little as I'm getting above the speed limit off 65mph there. It's 4 lanes and I stay in the second, over one from the fast lane. Trucks creep up the hill and other are cutting each other off to maintain momentum. See a lot of MH's with toads. Going to be up there in a week, I'll check my speed again and RPM's with my ScangaugeII. Nice to have the transmission temperature. This 5 speed 5R110 runs about 10 degrees hotter than my Winnebago with the 4R100. Oh, maybe it's the 4,000 extra lbs?
To keep this on topic, OP don't worry there's plenty of power in that V10 and you'll have the 6 speed transmission too!

[Steeljag]

Congradulations on the new rig, and looking forward to you test drive review!

[Japerico]

I also have 2016 3011ds, I live in SoCal. I just took my maiden voyage up the coast about 150 miles towing my Wrangler. I had no problem at all it had way more power than my 2015 mistake of a Winnebago with a V10.