Workhorse Chassis future?

topflite51 wrote:

harold1946 wrote:

topflite51 wrote:

moodier wrote:
Been out of MH for long time but just sold my Eagle Bus and going to something smaller.Looking at a 2008 26'Itasca Sunova really neat but sounds like Workhorse chassis is no longer with us?After 15+ years with a unit that had to really hunt for parts don't want to get into another unit that won't be able to get easily fixed.If they are no longer produced means parts and mechanics will get harder to find!Any thoughts on this??

It can and will be a problem down the line, and in some cases it already is. How much of a problem nobody really knows at this time. Make no mistake, those who claim that it will not be a problem are simply whistling Dixie.

Thats quite a bold statement. What parts are there that are not available? Its a Chevrolet truck chassis, using the same components .
The only component not being produced is the 8.1L V8, but there are crate engines available.
I believe you have the chicken little syndrome.

No chicken little syndrome here. First it is NOT a Chevrolet truck chassis as you claim. There are a lot of parts that are not the same as you claim, as Workhorse used and exercised the practice of cheapest supplier, hence the use of Bosch brakes on the W20 and 22 series. Actia, the dash display manufacturer is having problems locating certain parts for repairs, as that is not a Chevrolet truck chassis part, either. A friend has resorted to a piece of black electrical tape to cover his ABS warning light as the sensors on HIS rig are not available from ANYONE according to his Workhorse dealer (who is also a Chevrolet truck center). I know of someone who had to replace his MH's 8.1 engine had to order a different water pump as the new crate engine's water pump supplied by Workhorse was incorrect. Same chassis, I think not.

More like the typical ramblings of Ford vrs GM. Every part you just mentioned is readily available but "your friend" just doesn't know where to go. There are places that still repair the Actia dashes. Geeze, some even advertise on eBay. The ABS sensors are available online overnight. The new crate engine water pump will work, but it will not last as long because the standard WH water pump, which is still available, has a larger main bearing. The larger bearing water pump can be bought from RockAuto. The facts are that those like you that have always loved Fords, will always feel that GM's are bad, and vice versa. The real facts are that your electrical tape "friend" doesn't have the intelligence to find his own parts, or find a mechanic that knows how easy it is to find WH parts.

harold1946 wrote:

None of the components that you named are manufactured by workhorse. They are sub-assemblies. The ABS sensors are available for the W series through OEM Engineering for 2001-2010 models. The Workhorse part number to cross reference is W80011709.
There are three different waterpumps for the 8.1 depending on the application, just as there are at least three air filters. None of which are made by Workhorse. Workhorse never made the 8.1, it was always a GM product.

Never claimed any part was made by Workhorse, in actual reality they made very few parts. The ABS sensor number you posted is NOT the one on his Workhorse chassis, at least that is what the WH dealer(also Chevrolet truck dealer) said. I told him to call Navistar(International Harvester), they have a history of buying parts from every Tom, Dick and Harry parts supplier in existence and then not knowing where it came from. But, all I want to know is what happened to your claim that the Workhorse W chassis' is just a Chevrolet truck chassis? Which it never was... After all, if it were shouldn't they know where to get something as easy as an ABS sensor or has it already been obsoleted? Don't bother answering, my original point was as things are discontinued parts become difficult to find, its a simple fact, proven by history. Have a good day.

Anything built that contains electronic parts is at risk of breaking with not easy fix from Auto-zone, etc.

CAT may be the last company out there with a real commitment to spare parts. Spare parts cost too much build and inventory to be sold 10 years later. To make one $40 part 20 years later might cost $50K. If there is no volume demand for a part it may not be around.

Used parts sources are doing OK today they tell me.

topflite51 wrote:

harold1946 wrote:

topflite51 wrote:

moodier wrote:
Been out of MH for long time but just sold my Eagle Bus and going to something smaller.Looking at a 2008 26'Itasca Sunova really neat but sounds like Workhorse chassis is no longer with us?After 15+ years with a unit that had to really hunt for parts don't want to get into another unit that won't be able to get easily fixed.If they are no longer produced means parts and mechanics will get harder to find!Any thoughts on this??

It can and will be a problem down the line, and in some cases it already is. How much of a problem nobody really knows at this time. Make no mistake, those who claim that it will not be a problem are simply whistling Dixie.

Thats quite a bold statement. What parts are there that are not available? Its a Chevrolet truck chassis, using the same components .
The only component not being produced is the 8.1L V8, but there are crate engines available.
I believe you have the chicken little syndrome.

No chicken little syndrome here. First it is NOT a Chevrolet truck chassis as you claim. There are a lot of parts that are not the same as you claim, as Workhorse used and exercised the practice of cheapest supplier, hence the use of Bosch brakes on the W20 and 22 series. Actia, the dash display manufacturer is having problems locating certain parts for repairs, as that is not a Chevrolet truck chassis part, either. A friend has resorted to a piece of black electrical tape to cover his ABS warning light as the sensors on HIS rig are not available from ANYONE according to his Workhorse dealer (who is also a Chevrolet truck center). I know of someone who had to replace his MH's 8.1 engine had to order a different water pump as the new crate engine's water pump supplied by Workhorse was incorrect. Same chassis, I think not.

None of the components that you named are manufactured by workhorse. They are sub-assemblies. The ABS sensors are available for the W series through OEM Engineering for 2001-2010 models. The Workhorse part number to cross reference is W80011709.
There are three different waterpumps for the 8.1 depending on the application, just as there are at least three air filters. None of which are made by Workhorse. Workhorse never made the 8.1, it was always a GM product.

jhilley wrote:
There are some parts for the F-53 chassis that Ford has discontinued, so although it is still being produced, some of the older parts aren't available. A friend couldn't get his Cruise Control repaired because of this.

You got that right. Another problem area is the ECM's, as they are no longer made by Ford and most of the rebuilders have only the truck versions available instead of the earlier F53's, and they won't work in an F53. The problem is only going to get bigger and it is slowly involving all chassis manufacturers.

jhilley wrote:
There are some parts for the F-53 chassis that Ford has discontinued, so although it is still being produced, some of the older parts aren't available. A friend couldn't get his Cruise Control repaired because of this.

does this also apply to new f-53 chassis or are they different from old f-53 chassis. just wondering

There are some parts for the F-53 chassis that Ford has discontinued, so although it is still being produced, some of the older parts aren't available. A friend couldn't get his Cruise Control repaired because of this.

robatthelake wrote:
Thanks to this wonderful invention called a Personal Computer and the equally amazing Internet. Finding Parts for Out of production Vehicles has become rather simple.

Even when a part is designated "No longer available" the specs can usually lead You to a substitute that will fit and perform properly, or to a skilled machinist who can make You a part!

Using a 3 D Printer it is possible to reproduce just about everything imaginable in plastic.

It is also possible to have a metal duplicate machined or cast using a computer operated machine.

Most of the Suspension parts on any chassis are available from other sources than the original manufacturer anyway! There are very few proprietary parts used on Recreational Vehicles.

All things are possible, BUT at what cost. I have been involved in several vehicle restorations in my life, and have had parts manufactured and modified in that process, all very costly.

harold1946 wrote:

topflite51 wrote:

moodier wrote:
Been out of MH for long time but just sold my Eagle Bus and going to something smaller.Looking at a 2008 26'Itasca Sunova really neat but sounds like Workhorse chassis is no longer with us?After 15+ years with a unit that had to really hunt for parts don't want to get into another unit that won't be able to get easily fixed.If they are no longer produced means parts and mechanics will get harder to find!Any thoughts on this??

It can and will be a problem down the line, and in some cases it already is. How much of a problem nobody really knows at this time. Make no mistake, those who claim that it will not be a problem are simply whistling Dixie.

Thats quite a bold statement. What parts are there that are not available? Its a Chevrolet truck chassis, using the same components .
The only component not being produced is the 8.1L V8, but there are crate engines available.
I believe you have the chicken little syndrome.

No chicken little syndrome here. First it is NOT a Chevrolet truck chassis as you claim. There are a lot of parts that are not the same as you claim, as Workhorse used and exercised the practice of cheapest supplier, hence the use of Bosch brakes on the W20 and 22 series. Actia, the dash display manufacturer is having problems locating certain parts for repairs, as that is not a Chevrolet truck chassis part, either. A friend has resorted to a piece of black electrical tape to cover his ABS warning light as the sensors on HIS rig are not available from ANYONE according to his Workhorse dealer (who is also a Chevrolet truck center). I know of someone who had to replace his MH's 8.1 engine had to order a different water pump as the new crate engine's water pump supplied by Workhorse was incorrect. Same chassis, I think not.

Thanks to this wonderful invention called a Personal Computer and the equally amazing Internet. Finding Parts for Out of production Vehicles has become rather simple.

Even when a part is designated "No longer available" the specs can usually lead You to a substitute that will fit and perform properly, or to a skilled machinist who can make You a part!

Using a 3 D Printer it is possible to reproduce just about everything imaginable in plastic.

It is also possible to have a metal duplicate machined or cast using a computer operated machine.

Most of the Suspension parts on any chassis are available from other sources than the original manufacturer anyway! There are very few proprietary parts used on Recreational Vehicles.