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keyman44's avatar
keyman44
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013

P32 or W20 workhorse

We are ready to buy a class A gas motor home. Looking at years 2003 - 2005, 30' - 33' in length. I see that we could end up with an independent suspension P32 or a straight axel W20 chassis. I recently drove my buddy's 30' 2003 P32 and it drove pretty good. I drove it on a 4 lane highway with one hand. It didn't seem to be affected much by the wind or big trucks. I didn't have to make a lot of steering corrections to keep it in the lane. I can't find any W20 RV's around here to test drive. How will the W20 drive in comparison? I'm wondering if I will need to add on a bunch of aftermarket stuff to the W20 just to get it to drive decent. I know that the W20 will have a higher GVWR. I would like to hear from people who have experience driving both.
Class A

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  • C350amg's avatar
    C350amg
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2013
    Bumpyroad wrote:
    a P-30/32 sucks, even if they slapped the workhouse name on it it still is a dog. a "new" and true Workhouse has to be an improvement. yes I owned 2 P-3xs and as soon as Ford came out with a real chassis in 1999 I bought a Ford.
    I remember back in the early/mid 90s there were write ups in Motorhome etc. magazine on units that were so overloaded in the front that there couldn't be somebody in the passenger seat.
    did I mention that a P-30/32 (or bread truck chassis) sucks?
    bumpy


    I think this is a matter of opinion, I would guess that newer chassis should be better thus there are improvement over the P30-32 platform. But one of the drivers is how well built/maintained the coach is and for me that is an important factor in the purchasing decision

    Nevertheless my P30 drives so nice and it is a high mileage rig it all depends about maintenance and covering the known issues of the P30 platform.

    I have posted all my experience and what I think needs to be changed on the P30 (all of which I changed).

    P30 experience
  • JayGee's avatar
    JayGee
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2013
    I am really happy with my 2005 P-32 with the 8.1 engine. So far I can say that mine does not suck. Maybe the older ones had more problems. The concern if I had one would be the yellow button parking brake. I have had no problem with it but some have.

    If you go with the W series make sure the brake calipers have been reworked. They had some problems with those locking up.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2013
    a P-30/32 sucks, even if they slapped the workhouse name on it it still is a dog. a "new" and true Workhouse has to be an improvement. yes I owned 2 P-3xs and as soon as Ford came out with a real chassis in 1999 I bought a Ford.
    I remember back in the early/mid 90s there were write ups in Motorhome etc. magazine on units that were so overloaded in the front that there couldn't be somebody in the passenger seat.
    did I mention that a P-30/32 (or bread truck chassis) sucks?
    bumpy
  • glamisorbust's avatar
    glamisorbust
    Explorer II
    Sep 26, 2013
    I have a 1994 P30 georgie boy. It's a pretty good motorhome, rides just fine and we like it. It's no diesel pusher, but it does the job and it's paid for. The airbags inside the coil springs are a joke, and can be replaced with a spring all by itself without the airbag. Even with new bags, mine still go flat after about 2 days. I have checked for air leaks and can't find any, so I just keep airing them up when I need to. Airing them up makes it handle and ride a lot better than no airbags.
  • Gale_Hawkins's avatar
    Gale_Hawkins
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2013
    Heck both will be fine. It the chassis be one factor not THE factor. The condition/quality of the house in a 10 year old MH a major consideration too.
  • keyman44's avatar
    keyman44
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2013
    wolfe10
    You said that the w20 is a much more robust chassis. Please elaborate. What do you mean?
  • keyman44's avatar
    keyman44
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2013
    rvten
    You said that the W20 is a stiffer chassis. I take that to mean that you felt more to a thud, or a jolt from any unevenness in the road. How did the W20 steer going down the highway. Did you have to make more steering corrections to keep it in the lane? Was it affected more or less by the wind and the big trucks? I assume the P32 had a 4 speed. How much would I regret not having the 5 speed?





    rvten

    rvten
  • wolfe10's avatar
    wolfe10
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2013
    The VAST majority of owners prefer the W chassis to the old-design P chassis.

    A much more robust chassis.
  • rvten's avatar
    rvten
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2013
    We had both.
    The W20 comes with the Chevy Vortec 8.1 and an Allison 1000 trans.
    The P 32 foes not.
    The W20 is a stiffer chassis. No air bags inside coil springs up front to screw with.
    Only thing I added to our W20 was a Steer Safe steering control. I also added Bilstein shocks up front at 40.000 miles. Everything else was stock.
    Would like to have that engine and trans in this class C.

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