Why are there so few Fr.E.D.?
Been looking at Class As lately, more out of curiosity than anything. Why don't manufacturers offer more diesels in the front engine chassis? Seems like it would be a win/win other than price but at...
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Tiffin was probably one of the last of the FRED producers. Production of the Allegro Bay ended n 2010 when the Allegro Red came out. Built the Bay on the Freightliner MC chassis with a 6.7 ISB mated to an Allison 2350. Shocks/leaf springs for a suspension along with hydraulic brakes. Other than the power train not much different in general than the Ford.
The chassis did have a higher weight capacity and better fuel economy but it wasn't enough to entice potential buys past the increased cost. A 2010 Allegro 38TGB listed price was around $170,000. Same floor plan on a Ford chassis was $150,000. Economic factors at the time didn't help. The Red listed at around $180,000 at the time and was a full up DP chassis so might as well get the real thing. Many builders followed suit with the lower cost, call it "entry level", DP and the rest is history.
The chassis did have a higher weight capacity and better fuel economy but it wasn't enough to entice potential buys past the increased cost. A 2010 Allegro 38TGB listed price was around $170,000. Same floor plan on a Ford chassis was $150,000. Economic factors at the time didn't help. The Red listed at around $180,000 at the time and was a full up DP chassis so might as well get the real thing. Many builders followed suit with the lower cost, call it "entry level", DP and the rest is history.
