V 10 mpg

ron.dittmer wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

jjrbus wrote:
Been thinking about getting a newer class C for some time, seems the most common 24 foot or under on the used market is the V10. After following this thread and reading about repair costs on the V10, The community has convinced me to keep my Toyota V6 until it falls apart like some Keystone Cops movie.

I would like to have more power so will be watching for a Toyota 3.4 donor vehicle.

You can get um with a 5.4 Ford (which yields no benefit to the V10, really) and 6.0 Chevy.
Either way, you're comparing apples to oranges between an old mini C Toyota chassis and a full size class 3 or 4 chassis with a much larger "house" on the back.
If Ford V10s scare you for repairs, then, maybe better off with a bicycle. One of the most dependable engines out there, save for spark plug spitters, which anymore is a somewhat rare occurrence and known and easy, economical repair. Other than that, bulletproof. Honestly, I wouldn't let the internet scare you away from a V10 Ford.....and I'm not even a Ford fan! lol

I do agree with Grit dog that the Ford V10 (at least ours) has been trouble-free for 12 years. We do park it indoors which helps immensely.

There are a rare few 5.4L-V8 E350 chassis rigs out there, but they will max out around 22 feet in length. From threads posted over the years, I gather it yields a 10% improvement in fuel economy which compares to the Chevy chassis with it's larger engine.

If shopping around for a low-priced used shorter rig maxing out around 24 feet, I advise to limit yourself no older than a 2005 (or is it a 2006) not only to avoid the earlier spark plug issues with the V10 engine resolved in 2004, but most beneficial to get the next generation transmission that yields better engine performance along with improved fuel economy.

As far as the Ford V-10, and I AM NOT a Ford fan, they are reliable and no more expensive than any other comparable engine out there.
Two buddies have had Ford V-10 pick-ups. One went 495,000 miles until one cylinder went bad and the other over 300k miles before he was T-boned by an elderly man. Both trucks replaced water pumps, alternators and a few cylinder coils, that's it. The totaled truck donated a bunch of spare coils that I carry with me, along with my engine analyzer, just in case.

Years ago, GM produced the 283. Maybe one of the best engines ever made, of course there was the slant 6 . Mercedes made the 5 cylinder diesel, arguably the best engine ever produced and then the Ford V-10. All great reliable engines, IMO. Toyota and their R-22.
Keep the oil clean, the coolant maintained and drive away.