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new ford chassis coming???

tom311
Explorer
Explorer
was told on dealer lot that the ford chassis is being replaced with the transit.anyone know anything about this? like when will it take place and can I expect more front comfort and maybe better mileage? any info would be appreciated.
88 REPLIES 88

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
bobojay5 wrote:
Having driven both the Transit EcoBoost and the 3.2 Puma diesel, I can say that either one of those is a suitable replacement to the current Sprinter class B's up to 22', and the smaller class C's.
The transmission/engine combo on both work way better together than the V6, NAG-1 trans combo does on the Sprinter.
The comparisons concerning the E-350/450 or Chevy 4500 chassis to the Transit are irrelevant to the Transit in it's current chassis weight capacity.
There is at least a 450 and maybe a 550 Transit option coming eventually....

As I was saying, for large ?.Class B's and small C's that size or smaller, yes the Transit will work
The Transit is basically aimed at the light delivery market, not the MH Market
What Ford does to produce something, that is much heavier and has the nominal code names of T450/550 is anyone's guess

bobojay5
Explorer
Explorer
Having driven both the Transit EcoBoost and the 3.2 Puma diesel, I can say that either one of those is a suitable replacement to the current Sprinter class B's up to 22', and the smaller class C's.
The transmission/engine combo on both work way better together than the V6, NAG-1 trans combo does on the Sprinter.
The comparisons concerning the E-350/450 or Chevy 4500 chassis to the Transit are irrelevant to the Transit in it's current chassis weight capacity.
There is at least a 450 and maybe a 550 Transit option coming eventually....
Bob & Sharon
Eastern Kansas
2013 Winnebago ERA 70A
Class B Van

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
Dakzuki wrote:
pnichols wrote:
RobertRyan wrote:
Really? is that the reason they sell it as a Class A, Class C?


I'll bet you can't explain how - engineering wise - a 188 HP diesel Sprinter engine can be anywhere near adequate to do that properly.

Remember ... people don't always know what they're buying, so the "good enough" way to do something often wins out over the "really right" way to do something. No way am I going to own a motorhome that weighs - plus anything it's towing - 12,000 on up pounds with only a 188 HP engine in it. I wouldn't do that disservice to the vehicles traveling behind me.


I do just fine with my 188HP Sprinter. It is equal in performance to my 460 powered E350 based RV that it replaced. I regularly transit the mountains with it (I live next to them). I am nowhere near being a road hazard even when towing. I am running about mid pack speed with cars (that have a higher speed limit) overtaking me and me overtaking the tractor trailers. I ran the Utah 12 hogsback a while back (with the toad) and went just as fast as I cared to on that road. That engine gearbox combination seems to work really well....and I don't have to put up with an engine in the cab with me.

Thanks, that is one reason , so may companies are offering it as a Class C offering. Now the Transit and its low GVWR/GCVWR has the same problem it has traditionally had outside the NA, not that suitable as a good Class C,, Class B yes

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
rjstractor wrote:
RobertRyan wrote:
The point to all of this is the Transit Ecoboost is not going to replace the Sprinter anytime soon as a.similar MH base,


Thanks for clearing that up, I thought this was a thread about the Ford Transit, not a Sprinter or a gas vs diesel thread. 😕

It is, but I doubt you will talking about how good it is a delivery vehicle on a Class C thread

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
pnichols wrote:
RobertRyan wrote:
Really? is that the reason they sell it as a Class A, Class C?


I'll bet you can't explain how - engineering wise - a 188 HP diesel Sprinter engine can be anywhere near adequate to do that properly.

Remember ... people don't always know what they're buying, so the "good enough" way to do something often wins out over the "really right" way to do something. No way am I going to own a motorhome that weighs - plus anything it's towing - 12,000 on up pounds with only a 188 HP engine in it. I wouldn't do that disservice to the vehicles traveling behind me.

That was not the question, they sell more Sprinters than E350/E450's as Class C's So it is more than towing A E350 has almost as bad towing capacity

Dakzuki
Explorer
Explorer
pnichols wrote:
RobertRyan wrote:
Really? is that the reason they sell it as a Class A, Class C?


I'll bet you can't explain how - engineering wise - a 188 HP diesel Sprinter engine can be anywhere near adequate to do that properly.

Remember ... people don't always know what they're buying, so the "good enough" way to do something often wins out over the "really right" way to do something. No way am I going to own a motorhome that weighs - plus anything it's towing - 12,000 on up pounds with only a 188 HP engine in it. I wouldn't do that disservice to the vehicles traveling behind me.


I do just fine with my 188HP Sprinter. It is equal in performance to my 460 powered E350 based RV that it replaced. I regularly transit the mountains with it (I live next to them). I am nowhere near being a road hazard even when towing. I am running about mid pack speed with cars (that have a higher speed limit) overtaking me and me overtaking the tractor trailers. I ran the Utah 12 hogsback a while back (with the toad) and went just as fast as I cared to on that road. That engine gearbox combination seems to work really well....and I don't have to put up with an engine in the cab with me.
2011 Itasca Navion 24J
2000 Chev Tracker Toad

rjstractor
Nomad
Nomad
RobertRyan wrote:
The point to all of this is the Transit Ecoboost is not going to replace the Sprinter anytime soon as a.similar MH base,


Thanks for clearing that up, I thought this was a thread about the Ford Transit, not a Sprinter or a gas vs diesel thread. 😕
2017 VW Golf Alltrack
2000 Ford F250 7.3

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
RobertRyan wrote:
Really? is that the reason they sell it as a Class A, Class C?


I'll bet you can't explain how - engineering wise - a 188 HP diesel Sprinter engine can be anywhere near adequate to do that properly.

Remember ... people don't always know what they're buying, so the "good enough" way to do something often wins out over the "really right" way to do something. No way am I going to own a motorhome that weighs - plus anything it's towing - 12,000 on up pounds with only a 188 HP engine in it. I wouldn't do that disservice to the vehicles traveling behind me.
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
Yes they used to love Gas engines in Europe, for Commercial vehicles. Engine was a 18litre Rover Meteorite

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
carringb wrote:
PS - the Sprinter's GCWR barely matters anyways, because its too under powered to tow anything in the mountains without being a road hazard.

Really? is that the reason they sell it as a Class A, Class C? The Transit will be neither

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
carringb wrote:
In its first full sales month, the Transit has already destroyed Sprinter sales (and the E-series is still the 3rd best selling van-chassis).

It is not a Motorhome base. It is outselling the Econoline, as a Commercial van.Many said on this Forum and others , that as a basically a European Van , it would never do that

carringb
Explorer
Explorer
PS - the Sprinter's GCWR barely matters anyways, because its too under powered to tow anything in the mountains without being a road hazard.
2000 Ford E450 V10 VAN! 450,000+ miles
2014 ORV really big trailer
2015 Ford Focus ST

carringb
Explorer
Explorer
In its first full sales month, the Transit has already destroyed Sprinter sales (and the E-series is still the 3rd best selling van-chassis).
2000 Ford E450 V10 VAN! 450,000+ miles
2014 ORV really big trailer
2015 Ford Focus ST

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
rjstractor wrote:
RobertRyan wrote:
I was talking about GCWR and the Transit. It does have a higher GCWR for the Diesel


You are correct, as was previously stated the diesel has a GCWR of a whopping 500 pounds more than the 3.5 Ecoboost. Also, as was previously stated the diesel engine weighs 325 pounds more, so the diesel can tow 175 whole pounds more. Wow.....

The point to all of this is the Transit Ecoboost is not going to replace the Sprinter anytime soon as a.similar MH base, Well, not at all It will end up as a Class B Motorhome as its paltry 13,000lb GCWR, does not get anywhere near the limited 15,000lb GCWR of a Sprinter. The 3.2 Diesel engine although cannot be used in Europe, is being used as a FE engine primarily for the Transit. It cannot be upgraded to their Euro 6 regulations
GVWR of a 3 litre Diesel can go to 15,000lb, 23,000lb Want more here , they use a light Japanese or European Truck Chassis or a lot more a Coach, or heavier truck chassis all these use diesels. Last time I looked the top end of all Class A's sold in the US are all diesels