This might be a newbie question but I'm trying to get ready for this summer and there are few things I need to get done, but I want to make sure I buy the right stuff for it.
The person I got the MH from sold it to me as 1998 Travelmaster 302xs model 621 by Shasta, but my registration is 1997 Ford E Super Duty,it has the V-10, my owner's guide, service guide and all the manuals are for an Econoline club wagon.
I remember reading here that sometimes the manufactures use one year of chassis to make the motorhome and sell it as next year model or something like that (cant find the post), I'm ok with that, I guess I have a '98 MH on a 97 ford.
My question is trying to identify what ford I have here is a list of all the info i have so far:
Date: 05/97
FRONT GAWR: 4600LB
WITH LT225/75 16E tires 16x6 at 65 PSI COLD
GVWR 14050LB
REAR GAWR 9450LB
WITH LT225/75 16E tires 16x6 at 80 PSI COLD Equipped with the Ford RV Prep PKG
E-Super Duty <-------is this a E350 or E450??? On another post i read someone breaking down all the diff ford chassis but cant find it.
The info in the panel is:
FRONT GAWR 4600 LBS
REAR GAWR 9450 LBS
14050 LBS GVWR
11541 LBS UVW
2509 NCC
18500 GCWR
my tire shop tells me I don't need to buy expensive tires because:
1- MH is only use from May to Sep (Utah's weather)
2- out of the 5 months maybe 10 times will go out with only yearly trip to California
3- total miles 4000 to 5000 a year is all
I read a lot of posts on the tire selection and I'm going with Goodyear silent armor pro grade and will replace the cracked Michelin XLT's, I just want to make sure the silent armor are a good tire for the GCWR and since we have a boat the On-/Off-Road All-Terrain seems like a good choice to pull the boat in and out of the water, and I got my dully valve- Borg from sixrobblees (great service)
I really don't have the $411 for each goodyear G947 RSS Armor Max or the Michelin XPS Ribs $272
thank you for your help. AL
I believe the E350 IS an Econoline van. What does your TITLE say because that would HAVE to be right for the sale to be legal. Might check to make sure the VIN matches the title if you have any doubts.
Don't know if the Goodyears are any good or not but Silent Armor will come in various load ranges for different applications. You'd likely need an LT tire with an E load range to handle your GVWR. I know you would on an F350. Multiply the load rating stamped on the tire X 4 and make sure it's above your GVWR of the truck.
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Ford had trouble deciding how to badge their E-series. If you have the "E-Super Duty" then it's essentially an early E-450. The 14050 GVWR confirms that. The E-350 would have been less. Because of GVWR being so much higher than E350s, you need Load Range E tires for E-Super Duty/E450. The tire SIZE is the same, but E350 can get by with Load Range D.
The E-450s from your E-Super Duty on up till late 2000's had 14050 GVWR, then they went to 14500, I think 2008. Still, their components changed along the way. If you need things like steering parts, bring your VIN.
God Bless, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100
Here is what i know on the Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor Pro Grade LT225/75R-16/E1 115R :
Features & BenefitsAdded layer made with DuPont™ Kevlar® helps provide toughness and soaks up road noise
Durawall™ Technology Helps Resists Cuts And Punctures To Sidewalls
Traction Ridges Help Provide Off-Road Traction In Wet, Muddy Conditions
Open Tread Pattern Helps Deliver Enhanced Off-Road Traction
Rim Protector Helps Protect Wheels Against Accidental Curb Damage
Severe Snow Conditions Symbol
Heavy-duty Wrangler SilentArmor Pro-Grade version, for three-quarter and one-ton trucks. The GoodYear Wrangler SilentArmor tires are designed to handle tough off-road conditions, while providing a smooth ride on the road
If the GVWR is 14050 then you need Load Range E tires to meet the GAWR for the rear axle. Doesn't matter whether that chassis was called E-450 or E-350 Superduty in that model year.
Ford ships the Owners Manual and Warranty and Service Guide for the Econoline series with E-Series cutaway chassis and chassis cab models.
Due to the weight these tires carry and the fact that, statistically, you are very likely overweight on one or more of those tires, I suggest only all-steel tires (sidewalls, too) to avoid early tire failures.
The ones available in this size are:
Michelin XPS RIB
Goodyear G947 G949
Bridgestone Duravis R250 edit: also the M895
Any of these would likely serve you well, but the G947 has the most aggressive tread (mud and snow).
The XPS RIB has been around the longest with many singing its praises, but any of them would likely serve you well.
A lot of people are happy with other choices, but one tire I stay aware from is the Michelin LTX. It is often provided as OEM, it seems, but, anecdotally, it does not seem to hold up well as an RV tire. Some like it, but there are lots of reports of these tires cracking when used as an RV tire.
* This post was
edited 05/10/11 09:07am by Westronics *
What is the first half of the chassis VIN?
That number, decoded, will tell you exactly what chassis you have, what year it was built, where it was built, what engine it was built with, and other information.
The last half of the VIN is merely the serial number.
VIN decoders are readily available on the 'net, do a google search for "1997 Ford VIN decoder".
As for tires, I put Cooper M&S Load Range E tires on my Tioga (E-350 chassis). So far, they have been excellent!
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2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
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Had same question on my 98 superduty called ford MH div started reading off
vin number soon as said s 40 she saidthat was a 450 frame,think name 450 came out in either 99 or 2000
98 Coachmen "C" Santara Model FL (Front Lounge) 304
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