Forum Discussion
Ranger_Smith
Jul 31, 2013Explorer
roam1 wrote:
Weren't the FREDs on a sprung chassis with small ful tanks?
Whenever I looked, I kept on looking.
Yes it does.
The chassis itself is very similar to a gasser chassis. It features a 55 degree wheel cut, parabolic leaf springs, 50,000 PSI ladder frames, and hydraulic disk brakes with ABS. The engine is coupled to the driveline via either an Allison 2100MH transmission (Allegro Bay) and uses the Arens push button shift selector pad. The Allegro gets the lighter duty Allison 2200 transmission. Initially these were 5 speed transmissionms but as of 2008 they now feature 6 speeds.
The GVWR of a FRED based motorhome increases to 26,000 lbs with a 30,000 lb GCWR so the extra capacity allows the coach builder to add plenty of slideouts while still retaining adequate Cargo Carrying Capacity. This gives it an advantage over gassers, who can be saddled with low CCC ratings on a well equipped coach.
FRED won't ever outdo the benefits of a diesel pusher chassis, but those benefits do come at a significant price. The target market for FRED is an RVer who wants to stay in the gasser chassis price range but needs a bit more cargo carrying capacity and wants the advantages of a diesel engine. The improved fuel economy and longer service intervals should make FRED a less expensive vehicle as far as operating costs go. The initial cost upcharge (estimated at $8,000 List price or $6,000 to the end user) can be offset by the reduced operating costs. The actual cost recovery point will depend upon how much you drive the RV. If you really don't put that many miles on your RV, chances are you won't be able to justify it strictly from an operating expenses standpoint but you still will benefit from the extra CC and pulling power. All in all, it's nice to have the option for those who choose to have it.
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