V8 vs V10 on a LD 23.5' February 23, 2012, 03:34:58 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128749I am considering a used 23.5' LD that has the standard Ford V8. I guess the V10 was an option that year. We camp a lot in the mountains of Colorado and often climb passes 10,000 to 12,000 ft. Does anyone have any experiences or knowledge regarding the V8 in the mountains?Thanks
Re: V8 vs V10 on a LD 23.5' Reply #1 – February 23, 2012, 06:00:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128753wrote: I am considering a used 23.5' LD that has the standard Ford V8. I guess the V10 was an option that year. We camp a lot in the mountains of Colorado and often climb passes 10,000 to 12,000 ft. Does anyone have any experiences or knowledge regarding the V8 in the mountains? --- You don't mention the model year, but the specs for the 2011 motorhome cutaway chassis are very likely the same as the rig you're considering; you might want to look at all the specs for the E450 at this link: https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/specialty_vehicles/Class_C_Chassis_brochure_LoRes.pdfThis is an excerpt from the document linked above(found on page 4); note the differences between horsepower and torque of the V8 and the V10:ENGINE, GASOLINE (Standard) Displacement 5.4L Triton® (330 CID) V8 Fuel Injection Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection (SEFI) Horsepower (SAE Net) 255 @ 4,500 RPM Torque (lb.-ft.) (SAE Net) 350 @ 2,500 RPMENGINE, GASOLINE (Optional) Displacement 6.8L Triton® (415 CID) V10 Fuel Injection Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection (SEFI) Horsepower (SAE Net) 305 @ 4,250 RPM Torque (lb.-ft.) (SAE Net) 420 @ 3,250 RPM I don't have direct experience with any mileage differences between the V8 and the V-10 when used as a platform for the 24', but I suspect that these would be minor; perhaps someone with real world experience with *both* the V-8 and the V-10 on like LD models (if there are any!???) might comment. Additionally, all LDs, including the 24' with its 158" wheel base, gain 450 pounds of gvwr when the chassis is mated with the V-10. JMHO, but if I were buying a new 24', the V-10 would be my only choice. As ever, YMMV.Joan
Re: V8 vs V10 on a LD 23.5' Reply #2 – February 23, 2012, 06:30:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128755Does anyone have any experiences or knowledge regarding the V8 in the mountains?We do most of our RVing in Colorado, using Monarch, Vail, and Berthoud Passes more than others. We test drove the 24' with a V8 when we ordered our 2008 FD, and after talking with Steve Newton decided that we needed a V10. What I have heard is the V10 doesn't have to work as hard as a V8 in these conditions. We don't check mileage very often, but we have seen as high as 11 mpg and as low as 8 mpg. No matter which engine, I'm sure you know you'll spend more time in the right hand lane than not. The same was true of our old Fleetwood with the 460 V8.Larry in Monument, CO 2008 24' FD
Re: V8 vs V10 on a LD 23.5' Reply #3 – February 23, 2012, 06:44:22 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128757QuoteENGINE, GASOLINE (Standard) Displacement 5.4L Triton® (330 CID) V8 Fuel Injection Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection (SEFI) Horsepower (SAE Net) 255 @ 4,500 RPM Torque (lb.-ft.) (SAE Net) 350 @ 2,500 RPMENGINE, GASOLINE (Optional) Displacement 6.8L Triton® (415 CID) V10 Fuel Injection Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection (SEFI) Horsepower (SAE Net) 305 @ 4,250 RPM Torque (lb.-ft.) (SAE Net) 420 @ 3,250 RPM I don't have direct experience with any mileage differences between the V8 and the V-10 when used as a platform for the 24', but I suspect that these would be minor; perhaps someone with real world experience with *both* the V-8 and the V-10 on like LD models (if there are any!???) might comment. Additionally, all LDs, including the 24' with its 158" wheel base, gain 450 pounds of gvwr when the chassis is mated with the V-10. Note that the current V8 option is a small-block engine of 5.4L. Most likely, the V8 in an older model is the 7.5L large-block, even higher displacement than the V10. How they compare I can't say, but I would think the performance differences would not be large.Steve
Re: V8 vs V10 on a LD 23.5' Reply #4 – February 23, 2012, 06:47:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128758"I am considering a used 23.5' LD that has the standard Ford V8.... We camp a lot in the mountains of Colorado and often climb passes 10,000 to 12,000 ft." I'll join those who have suggested that you limit your search to a rig with the V10 engine. Not only is the V8 much less powerful than the V10, it becomes even less so at the altitudes you're talking about. You want a good margin of power when going over those high mountain passes! The V8 doesn't have it.hugs, Andy
Re: V8 vs V10 on a LD 23.5' Reply #5 – February 24, 2012, 09:24:06 am Yahoo Message Number: 128760We live in Bailey, Colorado at about 8400 feet. We have a 2011 27' RK with the V10. We specifically looked only at V10's as we believe the extra power is essential for going over the passes etc. you mention. One additional item is the braking system. Ford enlarged their disc brakes in 2008 (you can check the LD group archives on this) and really helped those of us who make full use of the braking system on the "downhill" side of those passes. The other really nice feature in the our E450 is the tow/haul feature which we use constantly in Colorado. Good Luck!Jay and Patsy Guddat in "Pilgrim"__
Re: V8 vs V10 on a LD 23.5' Reply #6 – February 25, 2012, 01:13:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128786Quote I am considering a used 23.5' LD that has the standard Ford V8. I guess the V10 was an option that year. We camp a lot in the mountains of Colorado and often climb passes 10,000 to 12,000 ft. Does anyone have any experiences or knowledge regarding the V8 in the mountains?Thanks Hello Fred, I've been hoping that some of the current LD owners would reply with a bit more specific data for you. We have several years experience with the 24 ft Ford Cutaway chassis based Class C with the big block V-8 and several years experience with a 27 ft Ford E450 Cutaway chassis Lazy Daze with the V-10. Here are some thoughts and suggested look-up actions for your consideration: The single point listings of peak horsepower and peak torque are really good as 'talking points' and, when combined with other info such as the chassis rear differential ratio and the typical gross weight 'going down the road',they do give some people a good indication of very generalized RV performance. For most of us, though, the answer to the question: "How did "it" perform for you and over what kind of travel?" will prove to be much more valuable information when trying to decide what to buy. First, between the fuel injected and the carburetor equipped engine, the former is newer, safer, and generally more reliable and more efficient in actual use than the latter. Horsepower and torque are, without a doubt, very important -- But more important is the torque value over a wide range of engine speeds. The stock Ford Big block (460 cu in) V-8, for example, has a rather 'peaky' torque curve. What that means, translated to actual performance when driving up a long hill grade, is that when the engine revolutions drop below a certain point (which was about 52 miles per hour in our 24 ft E350 RV), you had to either shift down manually or, endure a full throttle downshift. The Ford V-10 has comparatively 'flat' torque curve. We found that no matter the speed or gear we were then travelling in, the need to dowshift happened much less frequently, and, the selection of which gear to use became almost negligible. The attention to engine related driving I had to use when driving the V-10 was less than it was with the V-8 - Noticeably. I will say that our V-8 big block did perform smoothly, but with less usable power at high elevations when compared with our V-10. The fuel mileage between our two RV's was small. The V-10 delivered about 1/2 mpg better over a year's driving - and it typically weighed about a thousand pounds more in total weight. Some of your replies mentioned brakes, and some, transmissions. Both are significant to your enjoyment, safety and costs. Some may yet mention typical 'problems' with either engine, such as the varied water pump experience with the V-8, the spark plug departure problem with some earlier V-10's, the corroding radiator hose clamp problem on some V-10's or the emergency brake frailty when misused on some of the Ford Cutaway Cab chassis. Some may advise just what a Bank's Stinger will do for a Ford 460. I do suggest you make a listing, by year, of the differences between the Lazy Daze chassis and engine types, using the wealth of data provided by the files in this web site. If you have questions as a result of items in the resultant list, try searching on that subject in the files and messages in this web site and those that are referenced. You will quickly find information about those items that you believe most important. One advantage to doing this is that you will be using the combined experience of hundreds of experienced Lazy Daze owners over the years and not just the few of us who are here today.All the Best in your search!Don McGlothlen, EX LD MB owner
Re: V8 vs V10 on a LD 23.5' Reply #7 – February 25, 2012, 02:52:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128788wrote: I've been hoping that some of the current LD owners would reply with a bit more specific data for you. We have several years experience with the 24 ft Ford Cutaway chassis based Class C with the big block V-8 and several years experience with a 27 ft Ford E450 Cutaway chassis Lazy Daze with the V-10. -- Hi, Don, I *think* that Fred was referring to a 2008 or later model 24' with the 5.4L V-8 engine; AFAIK, 2008 is when Ford made the small V-8 *standard* for the 158" and 176" motorhome chassis. I don't know how the *current* 5.4L V-8 compares in efficiency, performance, power, and torque to earlier V-8s, i.e., a 355 c.i.d./5.8 liter V8 and a 460 c.i.d./7.6 liter V8, that Ford put in the motorhome chassis over the years. I find this page helpful to keep track of some of the engine, etc., "evolution": http://www.andybaird.com/travels/LD-guide-web/changes.htm Joan
Re: V8 vs V10 on a LD 23.5' Reply #8 – February 25, 2012, 06:33:09 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128789"We camp a lot in the mountains of Colorado and often climb passes 10,000 to 12,000 ft. Does anyone have any experiences or knowledge regarding the V8 in the mountains?"Fred I have driven over many of the high passes in Colorado, in our 23.5' V-10 LD, both towing and not towing. The V-10 was pushed to the limit on many of the passes, cresting some at 10-15MPH. Many Colorado owners have install Banks Systems, on their V-10s, for increased power. No way would I settle for a V-8. Odds are you will want to tow someday.Larry
Re: V8 vs V10 on a LD 23.5' Reply #9 – February 25, 2012, 08:02:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128791Fred, We have gone over some of the high mountains while towing with our V-10 with a Banks System. 27RB towing a PT Cruiser, at two of the passes we just unhooked and I drove the PT. It was a strain I would not want to purchase a V-8 if you have any choices. As Larry said we were doing 10 -15mph with cars behind us, thus the reason for unhooking. Don't be discouraged about an LD, it would be the same SOBs.Betty Jean
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