Ford V10 vs Pending V8

carringb wrote:


The 6-speed transmission is being retained for the motorhome chassis (E-series and F53 stripped chassis). I suspect this is due to a combination of: 1) The tallest ratios of the 10 speed being unusable in a motorhome, and 2) the lowest ratios making too much torque for the existing drivetrain, which is unchanged. It will gain hill-start assist and "neutral idle" to reduce fuel consumption in town.

I suspect neither of these reasons are the reasons why and that it's possibly related to the old chassis design still being used (chassis modifications maybe needed for 10 speed), but not likely. All the same though, it's likely just an economic decision and not a capability decision.
In all cases, the gasser E chassis gcvws and all but the heaviset gcvw Class A chassis are less than the heaviest F350-F550 gasser 10 speed gcvw.
Considering the new trans could be the only possible "weak link" which it isn't, as it's the same trans used with the powerstrokes and non-derated gasser 10 speeds (with heavier gcvw) and the rest is standard 1 ton+ truck components (the axle) behind a de-rated engine with low final gearing than a pickup.
And the first and 10th gear ratios are not different enough to call them unusable.
First gear and the splits from gear to gear are BETTER for any heavy setup than the 6 speed and maybe 10th is too tall to cruise in, but who cares, program it to be an 8 or 9 speed if that's the case. Should take some enginerd about 5min to write that code.

Bottom line, the cutaway van chassis vehicles are designed to be more plebian, less powerful, cheaper (more economical, whatever) than the F series, not designed for maximum capacity and price.
A class C would be more capable as a gasser F450/550 super C than an E450 Van cutaway. But normal C's on van chassis's are price point vehicles, comparatively.