Tiffin Phaeton 40IH vs Fleetwood Discovery 38W

Tiffin · Class A

The difference that matters

Forty-one-foot diesel pushers, each rated to tow 10,000 lb, with different priorities. The Tiffin Phaeton 40IH runs a 450 hp Cummins L9 on Tiffin's PowerGlide XC raised-rail chassis with a 40,000 lb GVWR, 6,400 lb above the Discovery's 33,600. It is a hydronic-heat, all-electric-appliance coach with 600 W of solar, a 3,000 W inverter, six 6 V AGM batteries, a 10.0 kW Onan diesel generator, four slides and a powered windshield shade. Its gray tank holds 100 gallons against 75.

The Fleetwood Discovery 38W uses a 360 hp Cummins 6.7L on a Freightliner XCM chassis and three slides. Its layout centers on a bath-and-a-half with a private lav and dual sinks, a large master suite with dual wardrobes and a sofa sleeper, sleeping seven. It adds a pop-up living-room TV, a front generator slide, BrakeSync air supply for towed-car brakes and a 100-gallon fuel tank, with 105 gallons of fresh water.

For power, solar and an all-electric coach, the Phaeton. For a second bathroom and room for guests, the Discovery.

Tiffin Phaeton 40IH: Long seasons on the road, for couples who want a 450 hp diesel, hydronic heat and 600 W of solar.
Fleetwood Discovery 38W: Family hosts, as couples, who want a bath-and-a-half, a big master suite and sleeping for seven.

Weights

2027 maker figures

GVWR: 40,000 lb
Dry weight (UVW): not published
Occupant + cargo (OCCC): not published
Towing capacity: 10,000 lb

Weights

2027 maker figures

GVWR: 33,600 lb
Dry weight (UVW): not published
Occupant + cargo (OCCC): not published
Towing capacity: 10,000 lb

Spec for spec

	Tiffin Phaeton 40IH	Fleetwood Discovery 38W
GVWR	40,000 lb	33,600 lb
Towing capacity	10,000 lb	10,000 lb
Exterior length	41.3 ft	40.92 ft
Exterior height	13.3 ft	12.83 ft
Sleeps	6	7
Slide-outs	4	3
Fresh water	100 gal	105 gal
Gray water	100 gal	75 gal
Black water	55 gal	50 gal
Factory solar	600 W	100 W
House battery	(6) 6V 210Ah extended-cycle AGM (lithium optional)	—
Generator	10.0 kW Onan Quiet Diesel	—
Chassis	Tiffin PowerGlide XC raised-rail rear-engine diesel	Freightliner Custom Chassis XCM (Freedom Bridge)
Engine	Cummins L9 450 HP	Cummins ISB 6.7L, 360 hp
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel

Bold is the lighter or larger figure. A dash means the maker does not publish it.

To scale

051015202530354045 ft

Tiffin Phaeton 40IH · 41.3 ft long · 13′4″ tall
Fleetwood Discovery 38W · 40.92 ft long · 12′10″ tall

Drawn to one scale from each camper's listed length and, where the maker publishes it, its exterior height. Outlines are typical for the camper type, not traced from this model. The figure is a 6 ft person. The dashed blue line is 25 ft, the length about 93% of national park campgrounds accept.

Tiffin Phaeton 40IH

Full spec sheet, sources →

Fleetwood Discovery 38W

Full spec sheet, sources →