four wheel drive conversion

It handles Great on the highway. Feels like an SUV not a 30 ft motorhome. The extra suspension probably made it more stable than it was before the package.

Garyhaupt, and Tioga4x4, How did the 4wd conversion affect your rv highway driving handling? Carringb, Do you know about what Quadvan charges for their basic 4wd conversion on a class c?

We bought our 2008 30Ft Tioga Fleetwood Class C E450 Triton V10 with a Salem-Kroger 4x4 Ford 350 front end with a 3inch lift, roadmaster stabilizer bars, larger tires (M+S) wheels, Banks Headers and performance kit, etc.

It's been a dream come true after we added 900 amp hours of battery and 5 170 watt solar panels to get down BLM and forest roads within reason.

We have used the 4x4 to escape muddy slick unimproved country roads that would have required a tow, not needed to chain over snowy Hwy and mountain passes, used low 4x4 low gears to get into some steap camping spots (ever so carefully) and have always babied our rig crawling into boondocking spots we would not have otherwise have gone.

We won't really take it down extremely rough 4x4 roads but have eased down gravel or dirt roads and out to beautiful camp spots usually reserved for truck campers. The turning radius is greatly improved and the low gear really helps easing up on rocks for getting close to level.

Knowing the coach is not designed to flex much with frame ... Ah not at all. We are extremely careful and scout the road well before taking our rig in however having the optional capability freedom and added safety of the 4x4 is well worth the investment in a E450 Chassis.

carringb wrote:
That is correct. Ford dropped leaf springs in 2005 for good reason, in trucks up to the F550.

That year sounds right.

The 2005 E450 under our 24 foot Class C has coils in the front and it rides great under the driver and passenger. It's those leafs in the rear that keep things jerking up and down. I hope to help tame that rear end when I eventually change to Koni's FSD shocks for the E450.

By the way if things are just right and you feel lucky, you can travel a bit around high river water in CA with only a 2WD E450:



P.S. Without the pylons I wouldn't have tried it without 4WD, however!

chloe's ranch wrote:
Advanced uses a leaf spring suspension and Quadvan uses (I think) coil springs. Any pros and cons for a heavy duty vehicle such as an rv on the E450 chassis?

That is correct. Ford dropped leaf springs in 2005 for good reason, in trucks up to the F550. The coil sprung front axle allows for a sharper wheel cut angle, and has some ride and steering benefits too. A leaf sprung steer axle has negative traight of changing caster angle whenever a torque load is applied to the axle, be it crawling in 4x4-low, or more commonly during braking. Under hard braking, you can lose caster completely, and the rig can be hard to keep brake a straight line. Granted, under normal conditions this may not be noticeable, but the extra wight of a motorhome might make that condition more apparent.

Also, leaf spring tend to transmit more vibration, which you feel as harshness over rough roads and expansion joins. Again, not a huge difference, I don't think any newer Ford owners wish they had their leaf springs back.

Also, the newest Ford axle have many other improvements too, like higher weight ratings, much larger brakes, longer lasting bearings, and other changes that make them superior to the older axle, aside from the suspension design.

If you really want leaf springs, I'd suggest also looking at U-Joint Offroad. Their conversion kit allows for upsized F550 brakes, crossover steerings, and longer leaf springs which offer a better ride.

I drive a converted a 24ft C. Mine was done by Kamloops Light Truck, in Kamloops BC. After 4.5 years ownership, I can't imagine not having it. I have used the 4 wheelin ability maybe a dozen times and each one of these would be because I had it, so went into places that I would not have otherwise.


http://youtu.be/FhANZhUG6WE


http://youtu.be/7ZsDmjS2XbU


Lockers....and other stuff. There is no end of things one can buy for a conversion. You will want to be judicious in your shopping.



Gary Haupt

I'd put some good all terrain tires on the back and a selectable locker in the rear axle. Then get some tire chains and put a winch on the front. I suspect all of that could be done for about $4,000 tops.

A basic 4wd conversion at Advanced for a class c motor home is $12K. I think Quadvan charges more.

how much does a conversion of that kind cost these days?

Would not a selectable locker in the rear be a worthwhile option?