Based on MD license requirements of a Class B non-CDL, we might have to change our rv purchase from a diesel to a gas so my wife and friends can help with driving. We will have to stay with a GVW of no more than 26,000#s but will also be towing a car as a toad.Can anyone jump in with their experience with a Class A using the Ford V10? Seems like that it the chassis most builders are using. How do they tow and how is the MPG. Any other observations would be appreciated.We would like to do trips in the West so lots of mountains.Thanks,

Our 34' Ford V10 powered Class A tows a 3600 lb toad up the 6-7% Fancy Gap pass on I-77 between NC and VA quite well. We can't quite maintain the speed limit all the way up, but we do routinely pass many trucks and some DP's struggling a more than we are. We also climb I-40 between Knoxville, TN and Asheville, NC without much of a struggle. Over all, we average 7-8 MPG.

I once owned a 2001 Dolphin with a Ford V10. Performed well. Only downside was when going up a long hill where the tranny downshifts the engine noise which was between the front seats was very noisy as the RPM's significantly increased.

My 2016 31 ft has plenty of power to make the above mentioned "hill" in NC pulling our Chevy Sonic. I haven't read many complaints about the power of the V10.

We have a 35 foot Pace Arrow and tow a PT Cruiser we have traveled Pa., WVa, NC, Tn, VA with no difficulty. It does slow down as do most trucks on steep grades. We are going west this year and I have no apprehension taking on the Rockies.

5-Star tuning out of SC. does a tune for the V10 that was my first purchase after picking up our Winnebago Vista 32K. It unlocks some of the engine HP and Torque (I think it's about 30hp and 75 ft/lbs torque on average) I've not done many big hills/mountains in it yet so I can't say the performance.

Class A Ford V10 performance | Good Sam Community

Dutch_12078
Explorer II
May 12, 2017
Our 34' Ford V10 powered Class A tows a 3600 lb toad up the 6-7% Fancy Gap pass on I-77 between NC and VA quite well. We can't quite maintain the speed limit all the way up, but we do routinely pass many trucks and some DP's struggling a more than we are. We also climb I-40 between Knoxville, TN and Asheville, NC without much of a struggle. Over all, we average 7-8 MPG.
DaveG39
Explorer
May 12, 2017
I once owned a 2001 Dolphin with a Ford V10. Performed well. Only downside was when going up a long hill where the tranny downshifts the engine noise which was between the front seats was very noisy as the RPM's significantly increased.
wildtoad
Explorer II
May 12, 2017
My 2016 31 ft has plenty of power to make the above mentioned "hill" in NC pulling our Chevy Sonic. I haven't read many complaints about the power of the V10.
bigred1cav
Explorer
May 12, 2017
We have a 35 foot Pace Arrow and tow a PT Cruiser we have traveled Pa., WVa, NC, Tn, VA with no difficulty. It does slow down as do most trucks on steep grades.

We are going west this year and I have no apprehension taking on the Rockies.
ThomBoles
Explorer
May 12, 2017
5-Star tuning out of SC. does a tune for the V10 that was my first purchase after picking up our Winnebago Vista 32K. It unlocks some of the engine HP and Torque (I think it's about 30hp and 75 ft/lbs torque on average) I've not done many big hills/mountains in it yet so I can't say the performance.
Effy
Explorer II
May 12, 2017
The Ford V-10 and F53 chassis are pretty bullet proof. Plenty of power. It's not the most quiet engine and expect mpg about 6-9.
irishtom29
Explorer
May 12, 2017
A 24,000 pound, 320 HP Ford V-10 gasser has a better power to weight ratio than any DP at GVWR I'm aware of; I did the ciphering on quite a few. The gasser power comes at a higher RPM so needs to rev higher than a diesel. But the Ford V-10 runs high revs reliably.
Goldencrazy
Explorer
May 12, 2017
38 foot winnebago suncruiser 2016. Does great. I tow a Smart Car but also towed a Grand Cherokee that weighed 3900 ok. Love the 6speed. Love my layout too.
Ivylog
Explorer III
May 12, 2017
Without a turbo charger some of the passes out West will be interesting...even unhooking the toad and driving it over. Depending on what your normal driver's licence says about what you can drive...once out of MD most LEOs will not know about the B. If your normal Class C licence list the 26,000 weight have the DW get the B.
2chiefsRus
Explorer
May 12, 2017
the back of my Florida Driver's license reads - "Class B - Any non-commercial vehicle with a GVWR less than 26,601 lbs, or any RV."

I read that to mean I can drive ANY RV regardless of weight. I asked at the license branch a few years back and they confirmed my interpretation.

However, I can't find anything on the FL DMV website that says anything like the above. Maybe your state is the same?