Gas mileage E450
Could some of you give me an estimate on the gas mileage I would expect on a E450 Class C 32 foot long? I realize driving conditions, weight, personal driving habits all are factors however, I woul...
Forum Discussion
We have only a 24 foot Class C (~11,800 lbs. loaded for travel) on the over-kill E450 chassis.
However we have reduced the V10's revolutions per mile by putting tires on it of a larger diameter than is usually used on Class C motorhomes (in the U.S.). These tires and the E450 chassis gives us: Better ground clearance all around, a stiffer chassis frame (slightly higher strength/thicker steel) for less coach structural stress on rough roads, longer brake life and reliability than an equivalent weight E350 Class C due to the E450's larger brake disk swept areas, a larger diameter main driveshaft for perhaps less vibration at certain speeds, and a wider (than the E350) rear stance for improved stability in cross winds and on road curves.
Chassis over-kill is usually a better way to go - if it's available - for a given size Class C and if one can afford the higher cost for it up front, and if one can put up with it's harsher ride. By the way, we have helped our harsher rear ride by installing Koni Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) shocks in the rear where the stiff leaf springs are located.
This whole "Ford E350 versus E450 or Chevy 3500 versus 4500" chassis option thing relative to small Class C motohomes really has me wondering what we would do in the future if planning to buy a later model small Class C. With all this OEM migration to use of the "more modern" lighter duty chassis ... when the E450 and 4500 options are no longer available ... it looks like future small Class C buyers may have to live with a no-other-choice chassis under their smalll Class C that is loaded very close to it's advertised maximum.
We can load our Class C with the freedom of no consideration for over-loading while at the same time it's "over-kill" chassis provides handling and stability that have been excellent under all conditions during it's over-60K mile life.
Note and FWIW: There a few Class C manufacturers that still at this time offer their small 23 - 25 foot long Class C motorhomes ONLY on the E450 chassis ... even though based on the finished weights of their products the E350 chassis is rated for it.
However we have reduced the V10's revolutions per mile by putting tires on it of a larger diameter than is usually used on Class C motorhomes (in the U.S.). These tires and the E450 chassis gives us: Better ground clearance all around, a stiffer chassis frame (slightly higher strength/thicker steel) for less coach structural stress on rough roads, longer brake life and reliability than an equivalent weight E350 Class C due to the E450's larger brake disk swept areas, a larger diameter main driveshaft for perhaps less vibration at certain speeds, and a wider (than the E350) rear stance for improved stability in cross winds and on road curves.
Chassis over-kill is usually a better way to go - if it's available - for a given size Class C and if one can afford the higher cost for it up front, and if one can put up with it's harsher ride. By the way, we have helped our harsher rear ride by installing Koni Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) shocks in the rear where the stiff leaf springs are located.
This whole "Ford E350 versus E450 or Chevy 3500 versus 4500" chassis option thing relative to small Class C motohomes really has me wondering what we would do in the future if planning to buy a later model small Class C. With all this OEM migration to use of the "more modern" lighter duty chassis ... when the E450 and 4500 options are no longer available ... it looks like future small Class C buyers may have to live with a no-other-choice chassis under their smalll Class C that is loaded very close to it's advertised maximum.
We can load our Class C with the freedom of no consideration for over-loading while at the same time it's "over-kill" chassis provides handling and stability that have been excellent under all conditions during it's over-60K mile life.
Note and FWIW: There a few Class C manufacturers that still at this time offer their small 23 - 25 foot long Class C motorhomes ONLY on the E450 chassis ... even though based on the finished weights of their products the E350 chassis is rated for it.
