E350 Ford Chassis
In my research for a new motor home, I looked for comments on the E350 Chassis. I found some disturbing comments concerning the stability and handling of the Chassis. I contacted Pleasureway and w...
Forum Discussion
Ford E-Series cutaway van detailed specifications to make E350 versus E450 comparisons are not easy to come by.
I made the effort years ago and came up with the differences when we were shopping for our 2005 Itasca which was built on the optional 2005 Ford E450 chassis - the chassis was built in the fall of 2004 and the coach was built by Winnebago sometime after that. We chose the E450 over the E350 for specific "heavier duty built" reasons to provide a superior (albeit stiffer riding) platform for our small Class C ... over and above the obvious reason that we could then load our rig up with no concerns for overall gross vehicle weight.
I would really like for someone to make the effort to find specs this detailed on a how Ford builds their 2015 E350 & E450 van cutaways so that we could see the major and minor late model differences between the two chassis.
Here's one set of specs: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckBBAS/topics/2005/specs.html
These specs for 2005, if you click to open the "2005 E-Series Van / Cutaway / Stripped Chassis" .pdf file, show such things as -
1) Both the 2005 E350 and E450 had 130 amp alternators back then. (Stock alternators on both may be only 120 amp, now.)
2) The E350 rear axle contained a Dana 10.5”, while the E450 rear axle contained a Dana 10.75" HD.
3) The E350 rear axle driveline attachment was a smaller diameter than that of the E450.
4) The E350 rear axle tube diameter and material thickness was smaller than that of the E450.
5) The ring gear of the E350 differential was smaller than that of the E450.
6) The E350 master cylinder was vacuum operated. The E450 master cylinder was hydraulically operated.
7) The frame section modulus of the E350 was less than that of the E450.
8) The E350 had only a front stabilizer bar. The E450 had a stabilizer bar in both the front and rear.
9) The total swept area of the rear brakes for the E350 was lesser than that of the E450.
10) Unless I missed it, the spec does not mention a front steering shock absorber for either the 2005 E350 or E450. Our 2005 E450 had one ... so I wonder if Winnebago installed this?
Here's another set of specs: http://www.ford-trucks.com/specs/2005-2/2005-ford-e-series-2/
These specs for 2005 clearly show that the van cutaway rear track width for the E350 was 73.2 inches, while that of the E450 was 77.7 inches ... for a difference of 4.5 inches. This of course adds lateral stability on tipped/rutted off-roads, on highway curves, during passing vehicle air pressure pushing, and in high cross-winds on the open road.
I made the effort years ago and came up with the differences when we were shopping for our 2005 Itasca which was built on the optional 2005 Ford E450 chassis - the chassis was built in the fall of 2004 and the coach was built by Winnebago sometime after that. We chose the E450 over the E350 for specific "heavier duty built" reasons to provide a superior (albeit stiffer riding) platform for our small Class C ... over and above the obvious reason that we could then load our rig up with no concerns for overall gross vehicle weight.
I would really like for someone to make the effort to find specs this detailed on a how Ford builds their 2015 E350 & E450 van cutaways so that we could see the major and minor late model differences between the two chassis.
Here's one set of specs: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckBBAS/topics/2005/specs.html
These specs for 2005, if you click to open the "2005 E-Series Van / Cutaway / Stripped Chassis" .pdf file, show such things as -
1) Both the 2005 E350 and E450 had 130 amp alternators back then. (Stock alternators on both may be only 120 amp, now.)
2) The E350 rear axle contained a Dana 10.5”, while the E450 rear axle contained a Dana 10.75" HD.
3) The E350 rear axle driveline attachment was a smaller diameter than that of the E450.
4) The E350 rear axle tube diameter and material thickness was smaller than that of the E450.
5) The ring gear of the E350 differential was smaller than that of the E450.
6) The E350 master cylinder was vacuum operated. The E450 master cylinder was hydraulically operated.
7) The frame section modulus of the E350 was less than that of the E450.
8) The E350 had only a front stabilizer bar. The E450 had a stabilizer bar in both the front and rear.
9) The total swept area of the rear brakes for the E350 was lesser than that of the E450.
10) Unless I missed it, the spec does not mention a front steering shock absorber for either the 2005 E350 or E450. Our 2005 E450 had one ... so I wonder if Winnebago installed this?
Here's another set of specs: http://www.ford-trucks.com/specs/2005-2/2005-ford-e-series-2/
These specs for 2005 clearly show that the van cutaway rear track width for the E350 was 73.2 inches, while that of the E450 was 77.7 inches ... for a difference of 4.5 inches. This of course adds lateral stability on tipped/rutted off-roads, on highway curves, during passing vehicle air pressure pushing, and in high cross-winds on the open road.
