pnichols
Santa Cruz Mountains
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Wow ... a 31 Class C on a one-ton (350/3500) chassis seems to be really pushing it ... especially one with a couple of slides. IMHO, that's the size where the E450 comes into it's own and across the line to where Chevy has abandoned the longer Class C market.
Just curious - how much extra weight capacity is left for your unit?
Phil, 2005 E450 Itasca 324V Spirit
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ron.dittmer
Northern Illinois
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I recall someone on this forum (was it j-d?) that had an oppertunity to crawl under and visually compare the diffferences in the frame between the Chevy and the Ford. That person said the frame of the Chevy was dimensionally smaller than the frame of the Ford, by a whole lot.
Weight ratings don't seem to align with frame dimensions, unless the chevy frame is made from some kind of stronger or super thick steel.
One of these days, I will have to crawl under a Chevy 3500 and Ford E350 motor home side by side. Maybe at the next RV show I attend.
BTW: Frames between the E350 and E450 is the thickness (or guage) of the steel used, visually identical from what I recall.
* This post was
edited 01/14/12 12:26pm by ron.dittmer *
2007 Phoenix Cruiser model 2350, with 2006 Jeep Liberty in-tow
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RobertRyan
Australia
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ron.dittmer wrote:Given the complaints about the handling of the E350 and E450 with independant front suspension and coil springs, I wonder how the complaints would pile up over the handling and rough ride of the E550.
That was commentated on by a review of a Class C Coachman that was reviwed by a local Caravan and Motorhome magazine. They made comments about the "vagueness" of the steering. The Class C Coachman was quickly replaced by the basic Mirada Class A.
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snowdance
Yreka, Ca
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ron.dittmer wrote:I recall someone on this forum (was it j-d?) that had an oppertunity to crawl under and visually compare the diffferences in the frame between the Chevy and the Ford. That person said the frame of the Chevy was dimensionally smaller than the frame of the Ford, by a whole lot.
Weight ratings don't seem to align with frame dimensions, unless the chevy frame is made from some kind of stronger or super thick steel.
One of these days, I will have to crawl under a Chevy 3500 and Ford E350 motor home side by side. Maybe at the next RV show I attend.
BTW: Frames between the E350 and E450 is the thickness (or guage) of the steel used, visually identical.
I have been under perhaps 50 Fords and 25 or so Chevy/GMC. Never saw any real difference in the frames. Except for the Front ends. Think perhaps this is really more along the lines of mine is better than yours. So they want you to think the Chevy has a tin frame . I really do not remember any of them having any frame problems with broken frames ect. Like some pickups.... I will say we drove a coustom built GMC 550 from Texas to Nor Cal for a friend that got ill on a trip. Not bad but a rough ride.
* This post was
edited 01/14/12 08:20am by snowdance *
Snowdance
We spent most of our money traveling... Just wasted the rest..
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j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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I think the guy with the chassis info was Bryan (carringb) and as I recall the E450 spec was higher than the 350 and still more than the Chevy. He also pointed out that there was a Workhorse C chassis with GVWR matching the E450 a few years ago, but I don't think that one was included in his comparison.
God Bless, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100
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pnichols
Santa Cruz Mountains
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Quote:I have been under perhaps 50 Fords and 25 or so Chevy/GMC. Never saw any real difference in the frames.
Check about 2/3rds of the way down on Page 17 of this Ford spec. Read under the "Suspension" section in the sub-section titled "FRAME SPECIFICATIONS":
https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckBBAS/non-html/2005/vs_pdf/05e-seriesvanbb.pdf
Note that the Ford E450 cutaway has one larger Maximum Side Rail Dimension and a higher Section Modulus than the E350 cutaway.
It would be real interesting if someone would compare the E350 cutaway chassis frame specs from the document above to those of the Chevy 3500 cutaway chassis frame specs.
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rsinalski
Ct
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triple, I was immediately questioning the ccc/occ numbers of that size coach on a 350 chasis, its gotta be a whole lot over weight, a whole lot.
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ron.dittmer
Northern Illinois
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I didn't recall a different frame height difference, but do know the E450 stands 3" taller than an E350. I assumed it had solely to do with a higher stack of leaf springs. My motor home on an E450 would not fit through my garage door.
Good catch pnichols! Thanks for the correction on E350 to E450 frame comparison.
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Kamphiker
South Florida (this 'aint paradise anymore)
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Don't get caught up in the workhorse chassis for the class C, it has little more to do than badging unlike the Workhprse chassis for the Class A.
When I was looking I found the Ford Torqshift transmission far superior to the 4l80E available under a GM chassis. If the 6.0 on the 3500 series would have been available with the Allison A1000 transmission it would have been a much harder choice for me.
The 6.8 v10 w/ the Torqeshift is a great combination.
2006 Winnebago Outlook WF324V
2009 Honda CR-V 2wd TOAD ......Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains NP
Last Camping trip ->2011 SUMMER SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
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TippleUnduly
Cranbury, NJ
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So, it was said "Wow ... a 31 Class C on a one-ton (350/3500) chassis seems to be really pushing it ... especially one with a couple of slides. IMHO," ..... That's what counts, the IMHO factor with no Chevy experience. After personally experiencing 12,000+ miles on our Chevy, it is MHO that this is absolutely the right chassis for us and our 30+ foot B+! After our Ford-Chevy comparison, the total weight was something I considered an issue, but was so impressed by the Chevy's performance in all respects that I decided on the spot to never get overly worried about weight. It does such an impressive job that there's no reason to actively look for things to get worried about. 'nuf said!
Bill K
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