2018-19 Nexus Viper Class C
Does anyone have one and what are your impressions, good or bad? Would appreciate your comments. Thanks
Forum Discussion
Hmmm ... I really have to disagree on the E450 cutaway van chassis - inherently by itself - being 2000 lbs. heavier than the E350 cutaway van chassis ... as may have been implied in another post (therefore meaning it has slightly poorer mileage as a result of this extra inherent bare chassis weight).
The E450 cutaway van chassis is rated and designed to CARRY MORE weight if required due to coach size and/or coach contents - if needed by the coach manufacturer or RV owner ... but in itself it is not too much heavier than the E350 cutaway van chassis. It's only a bit heavier because of the thicker steel in it's frame, it's larger brake discs, it's longer rear axle's left/right housings due to it's wider rear dually stance, and it's larger rear differential ring gear.
What makes the E450 cutaway chassis slightly heavier is exactly what we wanted under our 24 foot Itasca Class C in order to provide for "chassis overkill". Right from the start we wanted more truck under our small Class C for as much as possible reliable and rugged performance under all conditions, including off-highway use whenever in our RV exploring and rock hunting. Usually the E350 cutaway van chassis is what is used under Class C motorhomes up to around 24-25 feet long.
Our total RV vehicle weight is probably averaging around 1800 - 1900 lbs. UNDER what our year E450 chassis was designed to carry day-in day-out. The result is we have longer brake pad life, and a rock solid, stable, and completely under control feeling when traveling under all conditions. We can load it up with no concern for overall weight - including all tanks full and any equipment - with no affect on handling that I can notice. This sometimes includes probably bringing way too many rocks home!
The overkill leaf springs in the rear did make for a lot of up/down pounding back there for a few years until I had Koni FSD shocks installed in the rear. Now stuff stays put in the rear - i.e. stuff now stays put on open shelves and the latch to our shower door in a rear corner stays latched.
The only thing I occasionally wish it had was 4WD, for a more feel-good effect whenever we're out there off-highway.
The E450 cutaway van chassis is rated and designed to CARRY MORE weight if required due to coach size and/or coach contents - if needed by the coach manufacturer or RV owner ... but in itself it is not too much heavier than the E350 cutaway van chassis. It's only a bit heavier because of the thicker steel in it's frame, it's larger brake discs, it's longer rear axle's left/right housings due to it's wider rear dually stance, and it's larger rear differential ring gear.
What makes the E450 cutaway chassis slightly heavier is exactly what we wanted under our 24 foot Itasca Class C in order to provide for "chassis overkill". Right from the start we wanted more truck under our small Class C for as much as possible reliable and rugged performance under all conditions, including off-highway use whenever in our RV exploring and rock hunting. Usually the E350 cutaway van chassis is what is used under Class C motorhomes up to around 24-25 feet long.
Our total RV vehicle weight is probably averaging around 1800 - 1900 lbs. UNDER what our year E450 chassis was designed to carry day-in day-out. The result is we have longer brake pad life, and a rock solid, stable, and completely under control feeling when traveling under all conditions. We can load it up with no concern for overall weight - including all tanks full and any equipment - with no affect on handling that I can notice. This sometimes includes probably bringing way too many rocks home!
The overkill leaf springs in the rear did make for a lot of up/down pounding back there for a few years until I had Koni FSD shocks installed in the rear. Now stuff stays put in the rear - i.e. stuff now stays put on open shelves and the latch to our shower door in a rear corner stays latched.
The only thing I occasionally wish it had was 4WD, for a more feel-good effect whenever we're out there off-highway.
