20201 Class C on Ford E-450-Heavy Hood

jolooote wrote:
WHY are you all talking about 2007 e-350's with plastic hoods???

In case someone with a 1992-2007 hood wonders why your hood is so heavy for you. They might not realize the change from fiberglass to steel in 2008 when Ford restyled the frontal area. My apologies.

Now back to solutions labeled under these names.

pneumatic hood strut
hood lift support shock strut
hood gas strut
hydraulic hood assist

Shopping around, you won't find any marketed for a Ford E-series vehicle. You will have to engineer through retrofitting struts for another application, vehicle or otherwise. Plan your mounting location with consideration to both open and closed positioning. You will also need to explore the appropriate strut mounts.

I realize you are hoping someone else has already successfully addressed this, but you may be paving a new road. I have been on RV forums since 2007 and I never read anyone else discussing this topic before.

I wish you well with a resolution.

ron.dittmer wrote:

bukhrn wrote:
I didn't realize that they used to come with fiberglass hoods, my '07 Forester on the '06 E450 chassis came with the metal hood......

Are you certain your 2006 E450 has a steel hood? Or are you "assuming" so? If it is truly made of steel, it must be an aftermarket replacement because I understand every original hood on the E150, E250, E350, and E450 made from 1992 to 2007 is made of fiberglass. Someone please correctly if I am wrong.

My apologies Ron, it is in fact fiberglass, only the hinges and latch area are metal.
I guess the old saying about assume is correct.

jolooote, maybe its possible for a body shop or marine shop that works with fiberglass to make a mold for a replacement hood. I know someone that did that for his racing corvette. Find a racing body shop and ask.

Just take the hood off and leave it home. Helps engine temps run cooler. Latching hoods were an option up until the '29 model year.

What , no wipers ?

BurbMan wrote:
Just take the hood off and leave it home. Helps engine temps run cooler. Latching hoods were an option up until the '29 model year.

Where's the Onan generator access door? :B