Holiday Rambler Atlantis
Looking at a 31ft HR Atlantis on a E450 V10. After doing a search on the forum, I found very few hit to read for this model. Any of you have this rig? If so how do you like it? I did a few searches...
Forum Discussion
Rear Track Bar is one. A Class A might use both Front and Rear Track Bars but a Class C doesn't need a Front Track Bar. Front AND Rear Sway Bars. Steering Stabilizer like Safe-T-Plus.
Class C tires carry an 80-PSI max pressure and many inflate all six to that. If you look at axle ratings, the front should never be above about 65.
Front End Alignment is critical! On Ford, the CASTER needs to be 5-deg or even a little more if it can be done (max is 7-deg) without getting Camber out of spec range. And Toe should be just slightly IN.
I've heard tell that adding a Stabilizer/Centering Device like Safe-T-Plus is equivalent to adding CASTER, but I personally would do the Alignment then consider an add-on device.
And, of course, before doing an Alignment, verify that all the Front End Components (ball joints, bushings, tie rods and steering linkages) are all in good shape. It seems odd, but both an alignment shop and the service manager for a large RV rental operation told me RV's are rougher on front ends than you'd think.
If the CHASSIS year under this Atlantis is 2000 or later, its V10 engine has "Performance Improved" cylinder heads. These upped the HP from 275 to 305 AND added adequate threads to the sparkplug holes. Ford had machining tolerance issues with some of the "PI" heads till around 2004 but 2000+ is a good bet. Bear in mind, that Ford Class A chassis got Three-Valve Heads sometime in the early 2000's. The E-Series for Class C NEVER DID. Somebody says the V10 for Class C is 362-HP that's wrong. That's F-Series pickups and the F53 Class A chassis.
The front axle capacity in the early 2000's was 4600-lbs. In 2008 they went to 5000-lbs AND upgraded the Brakes and Sway Bar. A few of us have swapped their early-model axle for the 5000.
I think by now you understand why I'd like to see you have this candidate coach weighed.
Class C tires carry an 80-PSI max pressure and many inflate all six to that. If you look at axle ratings, the front should never be above about 65.
Front End Alignment is critical! On Ford, the CASTER needs to be 5-deg or even a little more if it can be done (max is 7-deg) without getting Camber out of spec range. And Toe should be just slightly IN.
I've heard tell that adding a Stabilizer/Centering Device like Safe-T-Plus is equivalent to adding CASTER, but I personally would do the Alignment then consider an add-on device.
And, of course, before doing an Alignment, verify that all the Front End Components (ball joints, bushings, tie rods and steering linkages) are all in good shape. It seems odd, but both an alignment shop and the service manager for a large RV rental operation told me RV's are rougher on front ends than you'd think.
If the CHASSIS year under this Atlantis is 2000 or later, its V10 engine has "Performance Improved" cylinder heads. These upped the HP from 275 to 305 AND added adequate threads to the sparkplug holes. Ford had machining tolerance issues with some of the "PI" heads till around 2004 but 2000+ is a good bet. Bear in mind, that Ford Class A chassis got Three-Valve Heads sometime in the early 2000's. The E-Series for Class C NEVER DID. Somebody says the V10 for Class C is 362-HP that's wrong. That's F-Series pickups and the F53 Class A chassis.
The front axle capacity in the early 2000's was 4600-lbs. In 2008 they went to 5000-lbs AND upgraded the Brakes and Sway Bar. A few of us have swapped their early-model axle for the 5000.
I think by now you understand why I'd like to see you have this candidate coach weighed.
