8 cylinder or 10 cylinder

Our story: my wife and I decided to buy a motorhome in 2008 after many years of camping in tent trailers pulled by a 3/4 ton van. We first tried a 26 footer that was on special. I felt a little uncomfortable driving such a large vehicle in town while my wife wouldn't drive it at all. I was concerned that the long overhang behind the rear wheels would make it unable to get into several of our favourite campsites and, of course, it felt like a hazard making turns in traffic. We started looking at smaller class Cs. We found a 20 footer at a much more reasonable price and which we both drove in comfort because it was about the size of our full size van. We took that one home and have been very happy with it.

Tried to respond, keep getting error notice, this is a test!

I would guess that the difference in fuel consumption is minimal. The last 30,000 miles on my V-10 has resulted in a 8.5 MPG average. Fuel consumption hasn't been anything I am concerned with but trying to squeeze a mile or two is hardly worth it. Also, friends of mine have V-10's in their personal pick-ups. One went close to 500K before it lost a cylinder and the other is approaching 400K with just one water pump replacement.

I believe 2003 was the last year that Ford offered the E550 cutaway van chassis.

Here's the specifications for it: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/2003/vs_pdf/e-seriesvan_03bb.pdf

Here's a photo of an E550 based service truck:

E-550 only lasted a few years. Early 2000's somewhere. I think what happened was the Chevy 4500's (not the current 4500 Van type) pretty much stole the market.

The E-550 has 19.5" wheels and a straight (single) I-Beam front axle with Kingpins. Turns MUCH tighter than E-350/450 with Twin I-Beam and Ball Joints. Probably tracks better on the road too. It's the Axle that I'd want...

E550: I've seen this as a tow truck chassis, so did they re-introduce it, and into the RV market?

pianotuna wrote:
I wish I had the E-550.

Don,

Well ... if the long obsolete E550 was still available and had - even larger brakes, even better engine cooling, even better transmission cooling, even larger diameter front and rear torsion bars, a full air suspension system in the rear, and coil front springs instead of leaf springs in the front - then I would prefer the E550 under our Class C instead of an E450.

What year was the E550 discontinued, and how many years did Ford produce it? :h

Bare in mind there is more then one Ford V10
All class C motor homes are built on the E series, which only comes with the 2-valve engine, which produces less power

Older class A motor homes (pre 2001) also use the 2-valve

Newer class A motor homes comes with the 3-valve, which produces more power.

You can never have enough horsepower, especially in a motor home. Go with the V-10. You might not always need the extra power, but it's better to have it and not need than need it and not have it.

I wish I had the E-550.