TyroneandGladys wrote:
In other posts on this subject it seems that the passenger in the Chevrolet has less heat issues from the doghouse than on the Ford. I do not know about anyone else but if DW is more comfortable then she is probably be happier and remember Tyrone always got smacked by Gladys's purse when she got mad.
Our E450 chassis (under a 24 foot Itasca Class C) has heat shields around the engine exhaust manifolds underneath both the driver and passenger areas. Neither myself or the DW have any interior heat problems coming from the Ford V10. Per the Ford dealer these shields are not a normal factory item so it looks like installation of these may be something Winnebago does, or has done, to the E450 chassis before they build the motorhome on it.
For several reasons we love the Ford E450 chassis with it's superb V10 and 5-speed (6 speeds internal) computer controlled TOW/HAUL transmission. I'm 6'2" and have no problems with the driver's seat going back far enough - but that may partially be the case because the dinette seat back that is right behind the drivers seat can be folded down so that the driver's seat can be tilted back nicely for comfort of a tall driver.
The E450 is chassis overkill for only a 24 foot Class C, but we wanted as much small motorhome as we could get mounted on as short and rugged a chassis as possible. Since we are under-stressing our E450 chassis .... it's (larger) brakes last longer, it's extra transmission cooling is beyond normal 24 foot MH requirements for long term durability, it's power steering is a better design, it's rear differential gear is larger diameter (hence stronger) and has a lower ratio for better pulling up steep grades, and it's rear duals are set at a 4.5 inches wider stance for improved laterally stability in side-winds/passing vehicles/on highway curves/when offroad on canted road surfaces.
Probably a 4500 Chevy chassis would offer some, or all, of the same advantages over a 3500 Chevy chassis for a small Class C motorhome where one could specify - or otherwise shop for and find - the same floorplan on either the 3500 or 4500 chassis. I would never want a small Class C motorhome on the smaller (1 ton) Ford or Chevy chassis over the 1 1/2 ton chassis - regardless of the better ride of the lighter duty chassis. It only stands to reason that the E450/4500 chassis is going to be more safe, reliable, and cheaper to maintain over the long run than the E350/3500 chassis - given the same motorhome weight that either the light or heavy chassis will have to carry continuously over their lifetime.
