"It is my understanding that there were no F53 chassis manufactured in 98. The factory was closed in Mexico at the end of 97, and production was moved to Detroit Chassis, LLC in Michigan. Now it is possible that in late 98, chassis were built by them, but they would carry VIN's calling them 99's and they would have the V10's installed. If it has a 460, last date of production is supposedly December 97."
topflite51, for whatever it's worth, the chassis on our 2000 f53 was manufactured in Aug 1999 and on the left forward chassis rail there's a small white label with the Ford oval and black lettering that reads "Hecho En Mexico"
Here's an excerpt from a publication regarding Detroit Chassis's history which reflects the move of the chassis assembly operation from Mexico in 1999.
"Originally known as Trumack Assembly, Detroit Chassis operates as a tier one supplier from a new 218,000-square-foot plant situated on 33 acres on Lynch Road in Detroit, about two miles north of I-94 on the city's east side. It was founded in 1998 as a facility to offer a low-cost alternative for production of the Ford F-53 motor home chassis that was being assembled in Mexico. Operations began in 1999 with a lean, flexible United Auto Workers labor force and resulted in millions of dollars in savings on production and shipping for the F-53, a full rolling chassis incorporating many sophisticated subassemblies. The plant continues to produce the F-53 today, creating chassis used by 14 major motor home body builders throughout the United States"
Apparently our chassis was assembled in Mexico just prior to the move.
Jim & Sherry Seward
Las Vegas, NV
2000 Residency 3790 V-10 w/tags & Banks System
2003 Suzuki XL/7 toad
I took delivery of my HR vationer in April of 1998. It had the V10 and came off the assembly in in early march of that year. It was one of the 1st ones.
edit. Interesting side bit.
It had the NEW 1999 Ford F53 chassis. When I got my title they registered it a 1999 even though it was the 1998 year model of the coach.
* This post was
edited 10/30/09 04:03pm by RCtime *
Ron
2002 34HD Winnebago Journey DL, Cat. 330
2004 Honda CRV - Garmin 2610
Great wife & Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
TT/N
The 1999 Bounder we purchased in November of 1998 and delivered in December 1998 had a chassis and V-10 that was 1999 model year built in Mexico in September of 1998. There was no model year 1998 Ford F-53 chassis!.
Yes, the V-10 was in other Ford products before this date.
BTW, we put 85,000 miles on this chassis with only minor problems covered by the Ford warranty.
427435 wrote: In class A's I believe it was 1999. In Class C's it was at least one year earlier.
I agree, we bought late year model '98 Santara and got the 460. Could have waited and gotten the V-10 in a '99. The 460 was a proven engine, the V-10 in RV's was an unknown.
RCtime wrote: I took delivery of my HR vationer in April of 1998. It had the V10 and came off the assembly in in early march of that year. It was one of the 1st ones.
edit. Interesting side bit.
It had the NEW 1999 Ford F53 chassis. When I got my title they registered it a 1999 even though it was the 1998 year model of the coach.
That's not how Federal law says it's to be done. The only one that determines the year of an RV is the complete vehicle manufacturer, not the chassis manufacturer. You need to get that error taken care of at the licensing bureau in your state
Thanks, as I said it is interesting. I remember reading a release from FOMOCO that said plant production had ceased in Mexico in Dec of 97. As the F53 manufacturing was being moved to Detroit, to be done under contract by Detroit Chassis, LLC. When production resumed it would be producing 99's with the V10's. There would be no 98 chassis of the F53 produced, all 98 model MH's would be on 97 chassis and all chassis produced at the new plant would carry 99 VIN codes. A sufficient number of chassis had been stockpiled for manufacturers for their estimated 98 production. That was the jest of the release, maybe they didn't have a good guess estimate. Who knows? I learned something different.
topflite51, When it involves RV's, I'm finding it to be a continuing learning curve, but unfortunately I keep forgetting the things I've learned, however, so long as I can still remember I forgot something I figure I'm OK--
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I figure I'm OK--
