2017 Ram 5500 MH

Did Dynamax discontinue use of the Ford F-550 as a chassis option on the Isata? Saw one awhile back at the Tampa show on an F-550. A nice rig that was. A 4x4 as I recall......

Groover wrote:

BurbMan wrote:

stevemorris wrote:
so what is the advantages/disadvantages of the pickup vs van front ends
somebody mentioned floor height is the same for the van type

I can see that service and fluid checks would be easier with the "pickup" type

Yes and you get a diesel option in the pickup...

Primarily, it's this:

carringb wrote:
The big problem with the pickup-cab-chassis motorhomes is the floor vs cab height. It's fine if everybody can ride in the cab, but riding in the house is unlike any other motorhome, because the cab is so low you can't see out the front.

I would say that the two biggest advantages of the pickup front end are that you can get an F550 truck but the vans stop with the E450 plus the van is still basically unchanged from 1993 while the truck has been completely redone several times.

Ford did make a very few E550 cab and chassis models for the RV industry back around 2010 and I came across one review by an owner saying that he loved his but Ford quit offering it for some reason.

Another advantage to a truck front end is that it might be lower (though the new trucks are a lot taller than the old ones) and could make the cabover bed both more accessible and roomier.

Four Winds has been offering a Super C on an F550 chassis since 2013. Interestingly, it has a much higher tow rating than a class A of the same size on a Freightliner chassis. That makes it popular for people who want a midsize motor home that can pull a big trailer. If you compare the Four Winds Super C with the Palazzo class A (both made by Thor) the Palazzo has a higher GVWR and curb weight but the Four Winds has the higher GCVWR, giving it over twice the tow capacity.

One thing that I am wondering about is that I understand there are still some repairs to the Ford diesel that require taking the cab off. Taking the cab off on a Super C could be very challenging to say the least.

Does Four Winds offer the F550 Super C with V10 power?

The PSD can be worked on without pulling the cab, but requires more disassembly to reach the components in the back. This will result in more labor hours than lifting the cab but is possible. If the engine has to be removed, the radiator support is removed and motor comes out through the front.

Groover wrote:

BurbMan wrote:

stevemorris wrote:
so what is the advantages/disadvantages of the pickup vs van front ends
somebody mentioned floor height is the same for the van type

I can see that service and fluid checks would be easier with the "pickup" type

Yes and you get a diesel option in the pickup...

Primarily, it's this:

carringb wrote:
The big problem with the pickup-cab-chassis motorhomes is the floor vs cab height. It's fine if everybody can ride in the cab, but riding in the house is unlike any other motorhome, because the cab is so low you can't see out the front.

I would say that the two biggest advantages of the pickup front end are that you can get an F550 truck but the vans stop with the E450 plus the van is still basically unchanged from 1993 while the truck has been completely redone several times.

Ford did make a very few E550 cab and chassis models for the RV industry back around 2010 and I came across one review by an owner saying that he loved his but Ford quit offering it for some reason.

Another advantage to a truck front end is that it might be lower (though the new trucks are a lot taller than the old ones) and could make the cabover bed both more accessible and roomier.

Four Winds has been offering a Super C on an F550 chassis since 2013. Interestingly, it has a much higher tow rating than a class A of the same size on a Freightliner chassis. That makes it popular for people who want a midsize motor home that can pull a big trailer. If you compare the Four Winds Super C with the Palazzo class A (both made by Thor) the Palazzo has a higher GVWR and curb weight but the Four Winds has the higher GCVWR, giving it over twice the tow capacity.

One thing that I am wondering about is that I understand there are still some repairs to the Ford diesel that require taking the cab off. Taking the cab off on a Super C could be very challenging to say the least.

Just gotta pull the motor instead of cab.

Another reason for the Cummins engine

BurbMan wrote:

stevemorris wrote:
so what is the advantages/disadvantages of the pickup vs van front ends
somebody mentioned floor height is the same for the van type

I can see that service and fluid checks would be easier with the "pickup" type

Yes and you get a diesel option in the pickup...

Primarily, it's this:

carringb wrote:
The big problem with the pickup-cab-chassis motorhomes is the floor vs cab height. It's fine if everybody can ride in the cab, but riding in the house is unlike any other motorhome, because the cab is so low you can't see out the front.

I would say that the two biggest advantages of the pickup front end are that you can get an F550 truck but the vans stop with the E450 plus the van is still basically unchanged from 1993 while the truck has been completely redone several times.

Ford did make a very few E550 cab and chassis models for the RV industry back around 2010 and I came across one review by an owner saying that he loved his but Ford quit offering it for some reason.

Another advantage to a truck front end is that it might be lower (though the new trucks are a lot taller than the old ones) and could make the cabover bed both more accessible and roomier.

Four Winds has been offering a Super C on an F550 chassis since 2013. Interestingly, it has a much higher tow rating than a class A of the same size on a Freightliner chassis. That makes it popular for people who want a midsize motor home that can pull a big trailer. If you compare the Four Winds Super C with the Palazzo class A (both made by Thor) the Palazzo has a higher GVWR and curb weight but the Four Winds has the higher GCVWR, giving it over twice the tow capacity.

One thing that I am wondering about is that I understand there are still some repairs to the Ford diesel that require taking the cab off. Taking the cab off on a Super C could be very challenging to say the least.

Several years ago my son bought a 1994 Sero Scotty Class C on a Dodge Ram 3500 CTD chassis, with 5 speed manual transmission. He thought about converting it to 4X4, but went a different direction and sold it.
I have seen one other Sero Scotty Class C on a Dodge chassis sitting at a transmission shop here in town. It was a 4X4, IIRC.
"Chassis Mount" campers on pickups are nothing new, they have been around since the mid 1950s, possibly earlier.

Lessmore wrote:
Glad to hear that. I always had a soft spot in my heart for the Econoline van . Drove many in the '70's...E 100, E 300 van and E 300 (srw) cube van. Favourite van I drove for many a mile was the late '70's E 350 DRW, with an insulated box and reefer unit. It had the 460 V8 (wonderful engine, lots of torque, durable) and an am radio. The radio may sound like a small deal, but it was great. No longer did I have to carry my old Mitsubishi transistor radio in the truck cab. I got the radio from Sears in the '60's.

Nice memories.

x2. I've been driving or riding in them literally my entire adult life. We're on version 3 in my fire department, brand new 2016 E450 based aid vehicles with the Triton V10. 8000 miles in they are working well. They are thirsty on fuel, but much faster and quieter than the 7.3 diesels they replaced.

stevemorris wrote:
so what is the advantages/disadvantages of the pickup vs van front ends
somebody mentioned floor height is the same for the van type

I can see that service and fluid checks would be easier with the "pickup" type

Spacer, service access, cab comfort and noise, and chassis durability. A van chassis is generally running right at its limit, with 16" tires, swing axle front end, and drivetrain. A Ram 5500 is much tougher, with 19'5" tires, much-larger brakes, heavy front beam axle, and medium-duty running gear.

stevemorris wrote:
so what is the advantages/disadvantages of the pickup vs van front ends
somebody mentioned floor height is the same for the van type

I can see that service and fluid checks would be easier with the "pickup" type

Yes and you get a diesel option in the pickup...

Primarily, it's this:

carringb wrote:
The big problem with the pickup-cab-chassis motorhomes is the floor vs cab height. It's fine if everybody can ride in the cab, but riding in the house is unlike any other motorhome, because the cab is so low you can't see out the front.

so what is the advantages/disadvantages of the pickup vs van front ends
somebody mentioned floor height is the same for the van type

I can see that service and fluid checks would be easier with the "pickup" type