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Topic: April MotorHome Mag. (Read 5 times) previous topic - next topic
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April MotorHome Mag.
Yahoo Message Number: 19355
Hi All
 Just received Aprils addition of MotorHome magazine and saw 4 things of note.
 Gus Weber had a method of dealing with black streak removal (which I will try as soon as all the snow is gone from our roof). There is an article on auto levelers that have a picture of Bigfoot levelers from Quadra Mfg. (maybe the ones Mike Richmond installed on his LD.
Dynamax introduced a class C at the Louisville show that is built on the Ford E-550, I thought Ford was not going to continue with the E- 550.  For Barry and others there is an article; Rving for Birds.

Jim & Joan 2002 30IB
Re: April MotorHome Mag.- E-550
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19359
"Just received Aprils addition of MotorHome magazine and saw 4 things of note.  Dynsamax introduced a class C at the Louisville show that is built on the Ford E-550, I thought Ford was not going to continue with the E-550"

Jim & Joan

Most magazines have a lead time of several months. When the article was written, Ford probably had not announced that they would discontinue the E-550.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
 
Re: April MotorHome Mag.
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19538
I don't get Motor Home magazine anymore so I haven't seen the article on levelers. I couldn't say if the Big Foot levelers they show are the same as what I have or not but if they're on a Class A most likely they are. Quadra came out with a new design for the Class C using a central reservoir that many customers had been requesting from them and it is different in some other ways also from what I've heard. I haven't checked out their site recently but heard they are now pushing that type for Class Cs. I'll have to look for that issue of Motor Home magazine to read the article.

The Ford E550 is being discontinued but they haven't stopped production yet. I thought they said it would stop being produced in April or May at the end of the current model year.

In regard to mentions of it riding like a "dump truck" it is true that it is much bigger and has a solid front axle with heavy duty leaf spring suspension but that is what most Class A motor homes also have and all those built on the Ford F53 chassis. This the most popular design for heavy-duty vehicles and is used by ALL major mfgs including GM at the weight class of the E550. It has proven to be the most durable design for a heavy vehicle and about the only company that doesn't use that design and has independent suspension with coil springs is Workhorse. GM and then Workhorse didn't have a good reputation for that design or it's handling on the P30. On the P32 widebody chassis Workhorse did some beefing up of it and added Bilstein shocks and steering stabilizer and those where common things people did aftermarket to make them ride and handle satisfactorily.

I think it is unfortunate that Ford decided not to continue with it but can't blame them if sales were not good. The biggest reason is that the modifiers didn't embrace it and use it for their heavy and long Class Cs. That's because they can still sell the ones on the E450 that are often overloaded before leaving the dealer lot without any people or gear in them especially those with slideouts. The LD 30' models and some other non-slideout models from other mfgs do have some cargo capacity and it may be enough for many but I'm sure most people would prefer more if only for safety reserve reasons. Why should they spend the money to redesign and upgrade if they can get more profit from the current designs that people are willing to buy? It is most unfortunate that the majority of RV mfgs care so little about weight and balance issues and safety. I doubt any motorhomes that have or would have used that chassis would ride like a dump truck. After all it is basically the same chassis as the Ford F53 but with a E series cab and I don't think the Class As on the F53 ride like dump trucks.

Mike