Been trying to narrow my decision down on a Class C. Now we have found that the later models (2008-on, I believe) have the heavier duty front axle rated at 5000#. The pre 2008 has the 4500# axle, I believe. The 2008 also has the 5 speed trans I believe.A few questions....1. What are the correct years for heavier front axle and 5 speed trans?2. Is the heavier axle and 5 speed trans a MUST for someone looking to purchase a used unit in the $35K range? In other words, should my focus only be on the models that have the heavier axle and 5 spped trans? The pre 2008 units are not much lower priced than the 2008-on models.Thanks!

I think you answered your own question. If you can get the latest for about the same price, why not do it?1. The 5-speed 5R115 "Torqshift" is a nicer-driving transmission. We have 4R100 and have driven the 5R. To me it isn't the extra gear, but the overall shifting behavior of the 5R that sets it aside2. That heavier axle has substantially larger brakes and I believe it also incorporates stronger ball joints. Old axle is rated 4600#. New has an improved front sway bar. I'd say the need depends on the front axle loading of the specific coach you're considering. You WANT a well-loaded front axle, say 75% or more of its rating, to have good handling and tracking. Recent weight on our coach showed 95% and I'm planning to replace the 4600# axle with the 5000#.3. And you missed one: The "early V10" from 1997-99 was well known for sparkplug thread problems which were "corrected" starting 2000 (CHASSIS model, remember, may be earlier than COACH model), BUT some of the corrected heads (called Performance Improved or PI) were not machined correctly and problems lingered in a small portion of the engines. If you get one new enough to have a Torqshift, you're also beyond the years where some PI heads were troublesome.2008 chassis and up gets you into all the above improvements. I believe 2005 and up gets you all but the axle.

J-D has is right on the dates. '05 for the TorqueShift and '08 for the front end.Besides larger ball joints, it also replaces the radius arm donut bushing with hyme joints. Less binding, much longer wear life. Also the upgrade includes larger brake calipers, or on the E350, also larger rotors as all E-series adopted the E450 rotors in '08. The new sway-bar design also is a big improvement because it eliminates the consumable thru-axle bushings in favor of hard end-links.

PS - upgrading the front end on an older E-series is pretty painless, with the exception of freight costs if you can't pickup a take-off axle in person from one of the 4x4 converters.

Another reason I ask is we may want to lower our budget down to $25K which puts us looking at late 90's early 2000 models.I will be looking also be considering a 2001 Jamboree 31 with 35K miles on a 2000 E450 chassis. One owner, always stored in covered parking, very clean. Just not sure about this year/model with the lesser rated axle. Would it be a 350 or 450? From the post above, it should be the V10 without the spark plug problems. What axle issues would I encounter with a 4600# axle?It has a cabover window which I am not found of (potential spot for leaks), but at a price between $20-$25, it may be something we have to live with. Is it worth the extra $15K for a 2008 with the updates? We will use on one cross country trip per year (3 weeks) with all remaining trips local 4-7 day trips(CA, AZ, NV, NM). Thoughts? Thanks

I purchased a 2006 on a E450 chassis recently. Paid under 30K for it. Drives and handles fine. There are thousands of pre 2008 E's on the road. I would not worry about it, just watch your weight which you should do anyway. Only thing I was looking for was the E450 and not E350 as I wanted the wider wheelbase.If you look carefully you should be able to find a clean low mileage mid size C built in the mid 2000s for under 30K. I kept watching for a month and found one. You will have to look and be ready to purchase quickly when you fine one. Getting close to the beginning of the season though so prices will be inching back up. Middle of winter is a good time to buy.

Ford Pre 2008 Frnt axle 4500# VS 2008-on heavier axle 5000#?

carringb
Explorer
Feb 18, 2014
PS - upgrading the front end on an older E-series is pretty painless, with the exception of freight costs if you can't pickup a take-off axle in person from one of the 4x4 converters.
carringb
Explorer
Feb 18, 2014
J-D has is right on the dates. '05 for the TorqueShift and '08 for the front end.

Besides larger ball joints, it also replaces the radius arm donut bushing with hyme joints. Less binding, much longer wear life. Also the upgrade includes larger brake calipers, or on the E350, also larger rotors as all E-series adopted the E450 rotors in '08. The new sway-bar design also is a big improvement because it eliminates the consumable thru-axle bushings in favor of hard end-links.
j-d
Explorer II
Feb 18, 2014
I think you answered your own question. If you can get the latest for about the same price, why not do it?
1. The 5-speed 5R115 "Torqshift" is a nicer-driving transmission. We have 4R100 and have driven the 5R. To me it isn't the extra gear, but the overall shifting behavior of the 5R that sets it aside
2. That heavier axle has substantially larger brakes and I believe it also incorporates stronger ball joints. Old axle is rated 4600#. New has an improved front sway bar. I'd say the need depends on the front axle loading of the specific coach you're considering. You WANT a well-loaded front axle, say 75% or more of its rating, to have good handling and tracking. Recent weight on our coach showed 95% and I'm planning to replace the 4600# axle with the 5000#.
3. And you missed one: The "early V10" from 1997-99 was well known for sparkplug thread problems which were "corrected" starting 2000 (CHASSIS model, remember, may be earlier than COACH model), BUT some of the corrected heads (called Performance Improved or PI) were not machined correctly and problems lingered in a small portion of the engines. If you get one new enough to have a Torqshift, you're also beyond the years where some PI heads were troublesome.

2008 chassis and up gets you into all the above improvements. I believe 2005 and up gets you all but the axle.

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Ford Pre 2008 Frnt axle 4500# VS 2008-on heavier axle 5000#?

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