I have never had so many comments on a Coach before

I have always admired the coaches built on the HD pickup truck chassis. I hope they get wildly popular so they will trickle down to where I could buy a used one. Congrats, sounds like you're pretty pleased with it.

I hope you never need engine work attempted on it.

blownstang01 wrote:
I have always admired the coaches built on the HD pickup truck chassis. I hope they get wildly popular so they will trickle down to where I could buy a used one. Congrats, sounds like you're pretty pleased with it.

They are almost a no-go for families however. Because of the stepped frames and lower cabs, it's a climb down into the cab, and the forward view is completely obstructed for passengers in the back. The Kodiak was unique when it was around because it had flat frame rails, and a taller cab. Closest you can get now is a low-pro F650 but nobody is making motorhomes on that chassis.

carringb wrote:
They are almost a no-go for families however. Because of the stepped frames and lower cabs, it's a climb down into the cab, and the forward view is completely obstructed for passengers in the back.

When I showed Judy the tall step-down in a Winne 29B, house to E450 cockpit, we nixed that. House occupant can't see any windshield, only the bottom of the cab-over.

Well, I am sure there will be challenges with it from time to time but the thing is amazing on the road. The cruise keeps right at 65 up the steepest hills and the tow haul decent holds the speed set very well.

I read this after researching and talking to a Ford Service guy who is a friend.
The 6.7L was designed specifically so that all major bolt-on engine components could be serviced without removing or lifting the cab.

What's deceptive with the 6.7L is that from an initial look, yes, the underhood packaging is quite overwhelming. However, once you remove the upper intake, the whole top of the engine opens up. It's quite amazing, so if your bored one day and have a few minutes...

Design for service was a priority when the 6.7L engine design was still a blank sheet of paper. Moving the fuel injectors outside the rocker covers, relocating the high pressure fuel pump to the front of the engine, eliminating the 3 bolt flanges at the turbo up-pipes in favor of an accessible marmon type flange/clamp design were incorporated to improve serviceability. The location of the EGR cooler assembly on the RH valve cover allows for it to be removed and on the bench in approx. 20 minutes if needed.

There are many other subtle details like thermostat access, engine sensor locations, the quarter turn (120 degree) oil drain plug or the label on the oil cooler to let you guys know that there's an internal fastener before someone tries to pry the cooler loose once the external fasteners are removed. These design aspects were incorporated to provide a highly serviceable engine package.

The only repair that cab removal is still the primary method (but not the only) is for a complete engine rebuild with either a long block or short block. The reason being that you can't lift the engine high enough for the cast upper oil pan assembly to clear the #1 cross member before the turbo hits the cowl.

However, there are situations where the cab is unable to be removed for major engine service. These situations typically arise with major conversions such as lift trucks or other instances where either a box, camper, etc. have been added that overhangs the production cab. In these situations the engine CAN be service without removing the cab but requires a little more service time as you must remove the upper oil pan first.

It's probably helpful to know that you can actually remove the upper oil pan without removing the engine mounts. This is quite nice as you need no upper engine support while working with the truck on a hoist.

John S. wrote:
Well I am on my 6th motorhome in 17 years now. I bought a 34 foot Foretravel and traded it for a 36 footer a few years in then a 42 foot double slide that I remodeled and kept for 10 years. I lived outside of DC and would visit family first in a 22 foot Born Free for a year but liked it so much switched to a dry bath 24 foot. I have stayed in rest areas and truck stops and camp grounds and driveways all across the country. I January of this year I finished selling my Foretravel. I have owned two coaches for 10 years but finally had none and ordered a new Born Free. I decided on a smaller coach then he big one and a bit bigger then the small one by one size up. I love the ROyal Spendor and the one I ordered was on a Dodge 5500 chassis. I never got it as BF shut down before building my unit so I found a 2015 on the Ford 550. I am on my second trip with it and on the first I had a large number of people come up to me in the campground and ask about it. This trip is cross country and I have had people come up and take pictures and knock on the door. I had people stop me in the fuel island and come over to talk about it and yesterday, I had a guy who was a big wig at Winne start talking to me about how I liked it. I was not far from their home base and he said did I have experience with a van chassis or sprinter. I said I had two prior vans and three class A's. He said that Born Free makes a great unit and is not a competitor of them and they make one of the best higher end class Cs. We discussed their closure and the international investment company that ownes them and he said that their might be a need for a unit like this. A high end on a big chassis and they would have to sell 200-300 units to make it work. I will say that I have driven this trip in all my class A before and the hills cause me to slow to 45 mph but with this coach I powered up then at 70. It drives great and the mileage is about 11 thru the mountains and pushing 65-70 on cruise control. I rather make time and it drives just like my pickup really. It is not a smooth as the air ride of the Foretravel but then again it cost a fifth of the price too. I think after all this time I have found the right unit for us for the next ten years.

Comments on your "Coach" post:

Might be interesting & enjoyable.

Paragraphs would make your missive MUCH more readable..:W

As it is - it's not..:(

Maybe just me..:@.. - but I'll have to pass.

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