FREDs vs DPs

You are correct that FRED class A's never seemed to catch on. Not unlike the Workhorse UFO rear gas engine coach.

The idea of a diesel engine in the front was interesting, offering the torque, fuel efficiency and durability of a diesel engine without all the added costs of a diesel pusher. It would seem they would be noisy but that would depend on how well the coach builder insulated the coach floor and dog house cover.

IIRC, Tiffin was perhaps the only coach builder who embraced them. I don't think Winnebago offered any in their class A coaches.

I thought you meant Flashing Rearend Device used on Trains. Too long a drive line I suppose but we used to have 300 inch wheel base tractors in NM. However they were that long because of the Bridge formula for weight distribution and the Frost Laws in Ut and Co. I'd have to say it's WOW (Wt on Wheels. Rides the same, fuel 6.1-7MPG. Probably just as quiet.

I think of a FRED as a diesel powered gas motorhome. What I mean by that is that the chassis is much closer to the gas chassis, springs instead of airbags etc. Normally a rear diesel chassis is heavier duty, with air bag suspension etc. I always thought there was a place for the FRED's in the market lineup. It gives someone the reliability of the diesel engine without the major cost increase associated with going up to a diesel pusher.

Ed Headington

Long drive shaft assemblies can absorb a good bit of power and are known to be difficult to tune out vibration and 'thrum' @ higher speeds.

Than Sprinter diesel-based ClassC are priced out of common sense.
Somebody got to love front diesels... when they are done right.

Mike Hohnstein wrote:
Long drive shaft assemblies can absorb a good bit of power and are known to be difficult to tune out vibration and 'thrum' @ higher speeds.

What? Do gassers have this problem? Do medium duty trucks have this problem? They actually have some advantages over pushers, such a better cooling, easer access, 50+ more hp to be useable, no hot drivetrain under the bedroom. Yea, I know, no air suspension or brakes, more noise, well maybe. The front diesel has a redline of 3,200 RPM, compared to 5,400 RPM for the ford gas. If the suspension is properly tuned, with enough travel, it will ride pretty good. FORD has engineered their suspension per the manufactures requests for a soft ride, and they got what they asked for, when the MHs are empty. What they need is stronger springs with more travel before hitting the bump stops.

And noise does not to be a problem for a diesel engine in the front. I have a Ford F350 with a 7.3 l International Navistar diesel V8 engine. That engine is at least as large as most engines in diesel pusher need. The engine is only noisy when idling, When on the road, one can hardly hear a diesel engine working in front of me!

Hudsoner wrote:
And noise does not to be a problem for a diesel engine in the front. I have a Ford F350 with a 7.3 l International Navistar diesel V8 engine. That engine is at least as large as most engines in diesel pusher need. The engine is only noisy when idling, When on the road, one can hardly hear a diesel engine working in front of me!

That's because whole darn truck is noisy like hell.
When I drove 7.3l to my customers, they were already standing in front of their gate waiting for me >>> did hear me coming 4 block away in quiet neighborhood.
But 7.3l is at least 3 generation of technology old.
Try to listen to Sprinter with diesel engine idling. It is like Honda generator.
Sprinters are 20 years old technology as well, although updated on newer models.

Kayteg1 wrote:

Hudsoner wrote:
And noise does not to be a problem for a diesel engine in the front. I have a Ford F350 with a 7.3 l International Navistar diesel V8 engine. That engine is at least as large as most engines in diesel pusher need. The engine is only noisy when idling, When on the road, one can hardly hear a diesel engine working in front of me!

That's because whole darn truck is noisy like hell.
When I drove 7.3l to my customers, they were already standing in front of their gate waiting for me >>> did hear me coming 4 block away in quiet neighborhood.
But 7.3l is at least 3 generation of technology old.
Try to listen to Sprinter with diesel engine idling. It is like Honda generator.
Sprinters are 20 years old technology as well, although updated on newer models.

That's the point I tried to make. Modern front diesel engines can be as quit as any gas engine.

There are SO many gas Class-A floor plans that I like, when I find one that is similar but has a diesel engine (always pusher) the price increase by about $75k-$100k.

I don't understand why in the world they cannot make one with a diesel engine instead of the Ford V-10 for about $12-$15k more?

Its what, an $8k option in a 3/4 to 1-Ton Truck? The transmission is a little different, but that's accounted for in that option cost. I would guess the front axle on an F-53 chassis would have to be upgraded, and maybe the fuel delivery system.

So, in short, I wonder why the Ford F-53 Chassis cant be made with a diesel engine option?