First 1992 Newell was #281, built for Al Unser Jr.
After three and one-half years of fulltiming in our Safari, we made the decision to move to a large motorcoach. Our new home is a 1992 Newell Coach. Newell is a custom coach builder located in Miami, Oklahoma. Newell Coaches custom builds their own chassis and historically has used rear mounted diesel engines manufactured by Detroit Diesel and equipped with Allison transmissions. Beginning with the 2006 Newell Coaches, most coaches were available with a Caterpillar C-15 and a either a 6 speed Allison transmission or the 10 speed ZF-AS Tronic transmission. A 12 speed ZF-AS Tronic was made available beginning with the 2008 models. In 2011, Newell transitioned to the Cummins ISX engine.
Our Newell Coach is 43’6″ long. It has a 500 horsepower Detroit Diesel 8V-92 diesel engine rated at 1470 lb-ft of torque at 1200 rpm transferring power through an Allison HT-740 automatic transmission. The coach has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 48,200 pounds . Tank capacities are: Diesel fuel: 320 gallons, Fresh Water: 169 gallons, Waste Water: 173 gallons, Propane: 68 gallons (52.4 gallons at the 80% fill level), Water Heater: 20 gallons. Power service is 50 amp backed up by a 12.5 KW Kohler diesel generator and a 2.0 KW Pure Sine Wave inverter running off 2-8D coach batteries with the engine running off an additional 2 8-D chassis batteries. The inverter powers the front TV, VCR, desk outlets, microwave, bathroom outlet and 120 volt lights, and the bedroom TV and electric outlets. Leveling is handled through an automated HWH air leveling system. Climate control is provided by four 13,500 BTU basement mounted air conditioners, a pair of 35,000 BTU propane furnaces and 5 electric baseboard heater.
The chassis was designed specifically for the coach and rides on six 11R24.5 tires in the rear and a pair of 305/75R24.5 tires in the front. Suspension is handled by 12 airbags, two airbags per side on each of the three axles.