Super C Motor Home Questions

For the mass market RV, what is now called Super C showed up in 2003 with the introduction of the third generation General Motors Kodiak/Topkick platform, continuing on with lightweight International platforms when General Motors left the medium duty truck market as one of the provisions of the Federal bailout.

Since then, their have been similar offering on Ford MDT platforms (F-550, F650), International, and Freightliner "Business Class" chassis, DOT weight classes 5 and 6.

Many of the RV industry Super-C models were not diesel. For most Chevy/GMC offerings the Vortec 8100 V-8 was offered in preference to the 6.6 liter Duratec (about $10,000 difference in price), and for similar cost reasons your will usually find Ford chassis Super Cs with the 6.8 liter Triton V-10 rather than a PowerStroke diesel, or a larger Cummins as one goes up in chassis size. However, anyone building Super-C on International or Freightliner chassis, the engine will be diesel, just not one you might find in a diesel pickup truck.

Well before the RVIA Suoer-C era, Dynamax had been building motorhomes on DOT class 5 to class 8 chassis, and several custom converters have been building living units on DOT class 6 to class 8 chassis since time eternal. As since none of these converters are RVIA members, their products are not RVIA Class C, of which Super-C is a subset. It is another market entirely, just as entertainer coaches, and crew road coaches, are not RVs.

Towing capacity of a DOT class 8 conversion can be upwards of 60,000 pounds, assuming you can keep the chassis and house down to 20,000 or less. You have 40 tons of GCWR to work with, how much for the house, how much for the tow, you work that out when you plan your custom build. Set aside a couple million dollars.

tatest wrote:
Well before the RVIA Suoer-C era, Dynamax had been building motorhomes on DOT class 5 to class 8 chassis, and several custom converters have been building living units on DOT class 6 to class 8 chassis since time eternal. As since none of these converters are RVIA members, their products are not RVIA Class C, of which Super-C is a subset. It is another market entirely, just as entertainer coaches, and crew road coaches, are not RVs.

Renegade RV has been making Cs on Chevrolet and Freightliner Class 7 and 8 chassis long before that, and they *are* RVIA. They used to call them "Toterhomes," as their towing capacity allowed for 30' stacker trailers weighing in at over 20,000 lbs to be pulled safely.

I have a 2015 Jeep Wrangler 2 Door that I plan on using as a toad.

What about ride comfort on Medium Duty chassis based Super C's?

Specifically, by "Medium Duty", I am referring to "real" medium duty platforms with a Front GAWR between 7.5K lbs to 9.5K lbs.

Examples would include Super C's based on the Freightliner M2-106 & M2-112; International Durastar & MV Series; Ford F650 & F750; GM 6500 & 7500, with GVWRS between 19.5K lbs to 33.5K lbs.

Even more specifically, I'm interested in hearing feedback on the M2-106 platform (such as what some Jayco Seneca models referred to upthread are based on).

For those who have transitioned upward from van based cutaway platforms (such as the E-450 and G-4500), or from HD light truck platforms (F-450/550 & C4500/5500).... was the move upward to a true medium duty straight truck (M2-106 or Durastar) "jarring"?

Or did the additional coach weight of the new platform balance out the increased capacity for a zero net change in ride comfort?

Or did the ride actually improve?

Likewise, for those who have transitioned "downward" (stereotypically speaking) from Class A models into Super C models, did you find the driver experience more pleasant? Or less pleasant? I suppose a distinction should be made between front engine vs rear engine Class A models, as front engine Class A's might have equal engine noise as a Class C, whereas rear engine Class A's might be more enjoyably quieter.

Yet this is conjecture on my part, and I would rather seek the opinions of those seasoned with personal and comparative experience.

So what say you?

Not sure I can answer your specific questions, but have a Renegade Verona Frieghtliner M2. What I would say is the ride comfort is similar or better than Ford 350s F 450s. The difference is in cab creature comforts......M2 is more cramped, no map pockets, glove compartments etc. The Freightliner is reminisent of 70s era big 3 offerings with hollow doors a truck like appointments.