GM releases new Medium Duty Truck

The chassis, for RV use, has the same shortfall as the current F-series and Ram MDT cab-chassis.... A short (height) cab. Compared to the E-series, and the Express cab used on the former Topkick/Kodiak, the pickup cabs really limit access to the back, and completely eliminate forward visibility for anyone riding in the house.

garysol1 wrote:

j-d wrote:
RAM had it made with Cummins, but transmissions were iffy till they offered the Aisin. Meanwhile Them D/A's Kep' Rollin' On.

Actually not exactly. RAM started offering the 68rfe behind the 6.7 way before the Aisin and it has proven to be a great trouble free transmission lasting for hundreds of thousands of miles.

I mentioned the RAM transmission because of remarks by a professional transmission builder on another forum:

"...this transmission has a big issue with the input drum stripping out in the drum... have experienced many stripped out drums in the diesel... just too much torque for the steel shaft and aluminum drum..."

As always, Your Mileage May Vary...

It looks like Navistar will be into this market with Chevrolet. My RV was built on a Workhorse Chassis and it has some upgrades in the suspension, that were not on the non Workhorse ones of the same vintage,I hope that Navistar will follow suit.

They announced last year that they will be building the Cut Away for the RV and other markets so they may also look into the larger chassis for them.

The Class4/5 will get The Duramax engine so it may be a possibility.

Let's see if the new GM 4500 HD cutaway chassis can/will somehow be used by mainline Class C builders to put to rest the good old Ford E450 and GM 4500 cutaway van chassis that have been so popular down through the years for up to around 31-32 foot maximum lengths.

There is a 14,500 lb. GVWR chassis nitch that really needs to be filled anew for the North American classic Class C market.

2oldman wrote:
Looks like a work truck. Probably rides like hell with spring suspension.

https://www.trucks.com/2018/03/07/chevrolet-silverado-medium-duty-trucks/ is reporting 'the availability of the factory-installed rear air suspension."

It's a noteworthy development, for sure.

I personally think the Chevy LCF (low cab-forward) truck line might be more suitable for motorhome conversion. I have not studied the question in any great detail, however.

Looks like a work truck. Probably rides like hell with spring suspension.

j-d wrote:
RAM had it made with Cummins, but transmissions were iffy till they offered the Aisin. Meanwhile Them D/A's Kep' Rollin' On.

Actually not exactly. RAM started offering the 68rfe behind the 6.7 way before the Aisin and it has proven to be a great trouble free transmission lasting for hundreds of thousands of miles.

I'm glad to see GM partnering with Navistar on this project. That D/A package has really been the consistent winner. Ford: Good Transmission but doubtful engines. I think because Ford wanted to hotrod Navistar's engines. RAM had it made with Cummins, but transmissions were iffy till they offered the Aisin. Meanwhile Them D/A's Kep' Rollin' On.