workhorse or tritan

Wow...so much mis-information.

There are more WH because they sold a lot more - it was an option most went with when they were new because it was a much better chassis. At least up to where they got bought out and shut down.

I have a '05 with a 5spd allison, no 'auto-park' but does have the grade-brake which shifts the trans down for you on steep decents.

As mentioned, the allison alone was enough of a difference. The V8 had lower rpm peak torque, and sharper wheel cut, heavier duty frame and suspension as well.

I would agree with the comment to find one that suits and not worry about which chassis, either is fine. I had a V10 in a 99 Southwind and it was fine too. The 8.1 was just a little nicer, ours is ten years old this year and still like new - and not a single issue in all these years. (except the burnt plug wires but that's an easy fix).

rgatijnet1 wrote:


In the later years, Workhorse wasn't sitting still. After 2006 they then had the Allison six-speed transmission with overdrive and with the transmission grade brake for mountain use.

Yes that's true, but still just a little better to have the Ford after 2006 since Ford is still making them and Workhorse and GM is not..

timmac wrote:
Get a Workhorse if RV is older than 2006, if 2006 and newer Ford F-53 would be a better deal, 2006 and newer Fords V-10 HP and torque was a little more than GM 8.1 and came with the 5 speed tow-haul transmission..

In the later years, Workhorse wasn't sitting still. After 2006 they then had the Allison six-speed transmission with overdrive and with the transmission grade brake for mountain use.

Get a Workhorse if RV is older than 2006, if 2006 and newer Ford F-53 would be a better deal, 2006 and newer Fords V-10 HP and torque was a little more than GM 8.1 and came with the 5 speed tow-haul transmission..

I have a W22 WH chassis and love it. I had the brake problem early and also got it repaired under their warranty. Other than that it has been the most trouble free coach we have ever had (we have had RVs since 1969) and would be my first choice for a different coach if I ever quit my Newmar.

The main reason so many Workhorse rigs are for sale. IMHO, is that people have got fed up of all the problems. We decided against WH after reading a lot of details about "Autopark". I didn't want a system that could suddenly put the parking brake on while I driving down the freeway.

We're quite happy with our F53/V-10 rig, but we'll be getting out of the lifestyle at the end of this season because of the steadily increasing costs of gasoline, campgrounds and insurance. On a limited, retiree budget, cost has reached an unmanageable level.

We'll be using the rig as supplementary living accommodation os the driveway during a large family gathering to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary and maybe we'll take a couple of short trips after all the visitors have gone, but the rig will definitely be on the market by the middle of October.

It's an '02 Georgetown, F53/V-10. We're the second owners from new and the rig has 18,000 miles on the clock. It has an Onan 5500 Emerald generator with about 70 hours on the meter. Anyone interested - send me a PM. We're out in the very top LH corner of the country, about 50 straight-line miles from the US/Canada border. Photos available on request.

Moderators:

If that last paragraph doesn't meet the group etiquette, feel free to delete it.

Workhorse P chassis are not the same as the W chassis. Allison transmissions were only used in the W series. Ford chassis will all have the V10 engine of various designs. The early ones had some problems and the later ones are fine. Since you are looking at used, all of them are out of warranty. Both Ford and GM/Allison parts are available everywhere.
Go for the first one that has the floor plan that you can live with and just know that the engine will still be running long after the house becomes obsolete.

There was a significant improvement in Fords in 2006 (both engine and trans).........If you are debating something in that time frame, might be worth it to take this into consideration.......

transmission alone, the workhorse would be the best.

To give you useful information, one must know which years you are looking at. Then someone can give you a run down on what you need to look for in each chassis, and what to expect. This is especially true with the Ford chassis, as there were significant improvements over the years. For Workhorse around 2004/5 there was a recall on brakes that you would need to make sure was completed. Otherwise, you can look for how many speed transmission it had, although the 4 speeds are not bad.