frederick w
Wenatchee, wa
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Lets say a 2001 model, 32 ft gas motor home.
Does a Ford chassis handle any better than a Workhorse chassis.
My 30 ft Flair ( Workhorse)with steering enhancements does quite well. Don't know how it was without the add ons. The enhancements were already on it when I got it.
Thanks in advance.
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wolfe10
Texas
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Joined: 10/08/2000
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Sorry, lots of variables here-- probably too many for you to get an accurate "the chassis is responsible for....." conclusion.
Workhorse P or W
Long or short wheelbase-- very different WB/OL
Long or short rear overhang
Well underweight or overweight axle and/or very good/very bad weight distribution
Said another way, a well designed coach on either chassis will out handle and ride a poorly designed coach on the other. Neither chassis can overcome a badly done coach.
Brett Wolfe
1997 Safari Sahara 3540
EX: 1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
FMCA Forum: www.community.fmca.com/index
Diesel RV Club:http://www.dieselrvclub.org/
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bsinmich
Holland, MI
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Joined: 11/18/2000
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Which chassis on the WH? W 20?
2003 Newmar Mountain Aire, Workhorse W22, 2008 Saturn Vue, Falcon 5250, & US Gear Unified Tow Brake
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Alfred622
Rochester, MN
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I'll share one fact.... When I got new tires on the front end (due to age) I had the front end realigned. The technician said it was close, but that it had drifted out of alighment a little in the past 5 years. Now, I don't know if it was the tires or the alignment, but my Workhorse chassis is so much more stable and easier to drive now. I'm no longer fighting to keep it in a straight line....I can almost drive hands free now. I had no idea a "little bit off" in the alignment could make that much difference.
Alfred
2005 Sightseer with Workhorse, ReadyBrute Elite towing 2003 Honda CRV
Map below shows states where we actually camped.....
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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The closer the wheels are to the bumpers the better.
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RayChez
Barstow, Ca. USA
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The motor homes with the least over hang handle the best. When you have a long over hang and a lot of gasoline motor homes have it, you get the wag the tail symtoms. Very hard to control with cross winds and on coming traffic on two lane roads. But as far as difference between F-53 chassis vs workhorse, not much difference.
2002 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser
330 HP Caterpillar
3000 Allison Transmission
Neway Freightliner chassis
2013 Honda CR-V EX
Aventa II
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jerseyjim
New Jersey
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Unless one can drive the 2 different chassis for, say the same trip (over the same roads)I don't think anyone can really say one is "better" than the other.
As far as the chassis "add-ons"...how much you wanna spend? Keep in mind most, if not all these motorhomes are top-heavy....so they will "wallow". The stock shock absorbers are marginal....I changed mine out at about 28,000 miles...the mechanic showed me they were usless. Improvement? Yes....but the coach remained top-heavy...and that's the way it is.
Aligment? If the coach pulls to one side...or if the front tires show uneven wear, y' gotta do it. Balance? Steering wheel shimmy? Balancing is done when new tires are purchased...but things can happen.
My 2001 Ford f-53...when driving, you gotta concentrate. Lose the concentration, you almost immediately start wandering.Is there a cure for that? Probably, but it will cost. I prefer to concentratae and put that "cost" into the gas tank.
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rgatijnet1
Florida
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The way any coach is loaded makes a huge difference in the way a coach handles. If it is loaded with the rear heavy or the front light, it will tend to wander all over the road. I find that the best handling is with the front end loaded close to the maximum axle weight. I would always suggest shifting loads around before I would spend one penny on aftermarket parts.
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PackerBacker
Montreal (Qc) Adirondacks (NY) Myrtle Beach (SC)
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All I can add is prior to buying our HR Admiral new in '08 with the W22 Worhorse chassis, I test drove both identical 33SFS coaches; one with the Ford chssis and the other a Workhorse. I found the Workhorse quieter and responded better during acceleration. The difference with the Allison transmission was also a factor in our decision.
This may not apply to different 2001 units, but it was just my experience with our's.
Eric
2009 Holiday Rambler Admiral 33SFS (34' 3")
2008 Jeep Liberty - North Edition (4x4 auto)
FQCC/Camping Quebec, KOA, Good Sam, Coach-Net
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I am still wayne_tw
everywhere
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Is a Ford better than a Chevrolet? That is really what you are asking. And of course, there is no answer.
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