no more e450's

Last I read was the E450 will continue through 2019 model year.

When the E450 does finally end, it does not mean we lose that capacity cutaway. Ford has already registered the T450/T550 names, and I've read prior speculation that Ford may stick a van cab on the F53 chassis, which makes sense since the F53 is moving into the E-series plant in Ohio.

I emailed Lazy Daze last week, inquiring about the E450's imminent demise. They wrote me back saying that the E450 would be around for a few more years. I, too, am concerned about losing the 14,500# gvwr.

rjstractor wrote:
Supposedly the Chevy beats the Ford in a drag race and a hill climb, according to a video that is on the Chevy website. Something that video does not explain is why Ford has a significantly higher towing capacity.

Maybe that is because the Ford differential and/or overall gearing is kindof optimized to tow loads not win drag races.

BTW rjstracter, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one noticing the smoothness and lack of chassis vibration coming from the Ford V10. My GMC truck's 350 V8 comes nowhere near as close ... I've noticed that our traveling companions' Ford 460 V8 powered Class C motorhome doesn't come close either. Of course if you don't believe in idling the big engine much it doesn't matter if you're using a V8 ... but we do idle the V10 ... just like is done with many V10 powered ambulances and paramedic units.

This is one of those age old debates that has been hashed over here. I own both an E450 motorhome AND a 6.0 powered Chevy pickup and love them both, so I can offer a somewhat unbiased opinion on both, although they are different vintages and applications.

Noise and vibration- The V10 is certainly smoother and quieter at idle. The 6.0 has a certain V8 rumble and lope, not unpleasant but definitely there.

OHC vs pushrod- who really cares? I'm not going to tear either engine apart, so it doesn't matter to me whether it's pushrods or fairies with magic dust that open the valves.

GM makes a 4500 series cutaway with similar weight capacities as Ford, so that's not an issue. Supposedly the Chevy beats the Ford in a drag race and a hill climb, according to a video that is on the Chevy website. Something that video does not explain is why Ford has a significantly higher towing capacity. In fact, I can't find out anywhere what the GM GCWR is. My truck's is 16,000 and the motorhome is 20,500, although the motorhome has better gearing. Loaded to about the same weight, the Ford launches better on steep hills, getting going easily where the Chevy really grunts. However, my truck will pull a 6% grade loaded to 14K faster than the motorhome by about 5 mph.

My verdict? They are both good, drive both, and remember that you will likely spend much more time living in the coach part of the motorhome than you will driving it.

Would not mined an F-450 with the 3 valve V-10. F-450 and a diesel waste of $$ for me.
Looked at a F-450 diesel back around 08. Ended up with our Aspect on an E-450
and the 2 valve V-10.

Ford has said they will continue to make the heavier e-450 in there bigger rv base factory.

You are fretting about something several years in the future, and the whole industry could change in that time.

We are losing the E-450. However, we are gaining the T-450, and the Ducato.

The Fiat Ducato has been used in Europe and around the world for years, and actually is a chassis that is built for motorhomes (fiatcamper.com), and even though it doesn't have the oomph of the Ford V-10, it is a solid platform, and will provide decent fuel economy. We are finally getting this, rebadged by Dodge, but it is a good platform with high MPG ratings, and very upfitter friendly.

Of course, there was a gas pusher that was announced by one of the chassis makers, but I forgot whom it is. Apparently, they are going Ford's route of using common rail EFI and turbos to make a gasser. Not a new technology, but something not seen since the days of King's Highway class As.

pnichols wrote:
Hmmmm ... Chevy truck V8's are overhead cam?

I sure would like to see a technical link talking about that. I believe the good old 350 in my GMC pickup is certainly push rod - I'd be happy to learn that it isn't, though.

OHC isn't in itself a wonderful thing if executed poorly. Ford did a 1.6/2 liter SOHC back in the late 60s which became a 2.3 in the 70s. Totally inferior motor to the previous generation pushrod motor. I'd take a good pushrod motor over a bad OHC any day.

Hmmmm ... Chevy truck V8's are overhead cam?

I sure would like to see a technical link talking about that. I believe the good old 350 in my GMC pickup is certainly push rod - I'd be happy to learn that it isn't, though.