pnichols wrote:
... except for a couple concerns that I have ... and am probably the only one with these concerns:
1) How long can they hang on still using the (superb, IMHO) E450 chassis? Class C builders and buyers seem to be pushing/wanting the various lighter duty small gasser or diesel chassis nowadays - even with fuel prices lower than they're been in a long time.
2) Why does LD stick with wood framing inside their walls? Aluminum framing - to go along with their aluminum outer skin - seems to make a lot more sense. Even though wood may work, for several reasons aluminum has got to be better.
Ford has said they'll continue making the E series cutaway chassis at least through 2020. There's a market for it in a number of non-RV applications, too: shuttle and small school busses, ambulances, etc.
If the E-series chassis is dropped eventually, I would guess that LD et al might transition to a truck-based cutaway chasis, such as the F-series (or GMC or RAM or whomever's equiavalent). It's also conceivable some other company might start making a heavier-duty van sort of chassis; I could possibly imagine Nissan being interested in that, for instance. At any rate, the differences between truck and van chassis are fairly small, mostly where the dashboard, front axle, and engine are in relation to each other. I know I wouldn't complain too much if my class C had the engine in front under the hood instead of 1/3 under the hood, 1/3 under the dashboard, and 1/3 in the cab floor.
As to wood framing, I might guess that LD does not have the equipment or skilled workers around to weld aluminum frameworks. I guess also when you have a pretty long waiting list, there's not very much incentive to change production technology.
