F550 thoughts?

[johndeerefarmer]

Thinking about a F550 chassis motorhome with the 6.7 diesel.

I will need to tow around 6k lbs and will go over Raton and/or Monarch Pass frequently.

Thoughts on power?
Ride quality?
Fuel economy?

Thanks

[johndeerefarmer]

Lumpty wrote:
My concern with a Ford F550 chassis-based rig would be there are any number of engine repairs where Ford designs things in such a way that the cab is supposed to be lifted off. The house cabover is going to prevent that.

From what I have read it can be serviced from the top. If the engine has to come out it comes out the front

[johndeerefarmer]

rjstractor wrote:

MDKMDK wrote:
You must be clairvoyant.
Where did you get all those "stats" on the as yet unnamed vehicle/motorhome?

Unless the OP edited the original post, the motorhome is not unnamed. It's an F550, which has hydraulic brakes, and the GVWR and GCWR figures are readily available online.

I don't have a clue as to what he's talking about either. Post hasn't been edited

[johndeerefarmer]

fredandkathy wrote:
We have a Thor Magnitude with an F550 chassis and love it. It has the power to tow my Wrangler 4XE with no problems and I get just about 10 mpg while towing. The Wrangler weighs about 5500 pounds. You should have no problems on any hills that you encounter. My Magnitude is 19500 pounds.

Thanks

[JaxDad]

MDKMDK wrote:
Does it require an air brakes endorsement to drive?

The chassis numbers for GVWR and GCWR will tell the tale on that.

LOL. It’s a pickup truck chassis, they have never made one with air brakes, and there is only one F550 chassis so there is only one GVWR and GCWR number, no options.

We have several of those chassis (albeit with flatbeds or dry van bodies) and with a cheap plug in tuner they are a very spirited drivetrain, even with a pretty big load on. Even empty they have a very civilized ride. The older one a have here as a farm truck has a *far* nicer ride than my cousins Dodge 350 does.

[Lumpty]

My concern with a Ford F550 chassis-based rig would be there are any number of engine repairs where Ford designs things in such a way that the cab is supposed to be lifted off. The house cabover is going to prevent that.

[rjstractor]

MDKMDK wrote:
You must be clairvoyant.
Where did you get all those "stats" on the as yet unnamed vehicle/motorhome?

Unless the OP edited the original post, the motorhome is not unnamed. It's an F550, which has hydraulic brakes, and the GVWR and GCWR figures are readily available online.

[MDKMDK]

You must be clairvoyant.
Where did you get all those "stats" on the as yet unnamed vehicle/motorhome?

[bobndot]

Should be fine driving it with air-brakes and a regular operators drivers license.
Under 26,000 lbs , non- commercial privately owned vehicle.

[fredandkathy]

We have a Thor Magnitude with an F550 chassis and love it. It has the power to tow my Wrangler 4XE with no problems and I get just about 10 mpg while towing. The Wrangler weighs about 5500 pounds. You should have no problems on any hills that you encounter. My Magnitude is 19500 pounds.

[MDKMDK]

That's potentially a big rig.
Does it require an air brakes endorsement to drive?
Should have enough power for reasonable hill climbs/descents. The chassis numbers for GVWR and GCWR will tell the tale on that. You're probably not going to win any races with it.
Ride quality is pretty subjective, bad roads, bad ride, good roads, ???
I wouldn't worry too much about fuel economy on anything that large. The old saying,"if you have to ask MPG, you're probably in over your head". (paraphrasing)
Engine braking on one of those bigger rigs would be a benefit, particularly if you're climbing and descending grades over 3%-4% - safety factor?