Sportsmobile ProMaster prices are out...

SkiMore wrote:
What is the consensus of opinion on FWD? Is that what they are using on the European motorhomes that use this chassis? I know it makes the floor lower. Are there any issues with FWD pulling that much weight?

Winnebago is already showing their floorplan
http://winnebagotouring.com/products/2014/travato/floorplans/

European motorhome manufacturers (making models we would call C or B+, and even Ducato-based integrals, our A but much smaller) are all FWD, but except for some of the A's they keep GVWR down to 3500 kg. Similarly, all MH on Renault Master and most on last two generations of Transit have been FWD. To some extent, the light FWD chassis is a market preference, i.e. there are MHs built on heaver RWD chassis like Sprinter, Iveco, and MB 500 series, but not many sold.

B's in Europe are something else. While the VW T-series, last seen as T-4 Eurovan here is popular, and Transit used to be, I haven't seen many Ducato or Master B's in the places I've been (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary). There is a tendency to build a "camping conversion" that is less like a motorhome, into what we would consider a minivan, or even smaller, a compact high-roof wagon (only one we get currently is Transit Connect, but Renault, FIAT, Citroen-Peugeot all have equivalents). What is most like our B conversion van in size and luxury of fittings is the class of C they call a "profile." And yes, whatever the size, what fills our B niche in Europe is FWD, but under 3500 kg, sometimes well under 3500, like 1800 or less on the compacts.

How are market accepts a FWD light truck, or a RV based on FWD light truck, remains to be seen. VW tried, failed, we weren't ready and oil prices went back down. Ford is betting with the U.S. version Transit that we will not accept FWD in this size, but can likely come up with a drivetrain should the ProMaster prove them wrong. Starting from the Ducato, I don't think FIAT has a choice, technically, so they've stretched the specs on their FWD platform. If that doesn't work in the market, and they want to keep the Ram brand in the market, they have alterative platforms to Ducato.

I have no problem with FWD trucks at this weight. In other market segments, a brand that was actually named FWD did quite well using front drive up to at least 40,000 pounds GVW.

Never mind, FWD was 4x4, not front only.