I have rented a 32' Class C previously with a Ford V10 in it and absolutely hated it. It was gutless, sounded like it was going to blow up in Haul mode going up grades, and got 6-8 mpg on average.
I love gas Chevy V8's but is that enough engine and torque to propel this Class C to my standards. My 5'er is not fast but the rig will pull the load with decent (usually) fuel consumption (8-10 mpg).
grade but when the fan kicks on when my Duramax is pulling a grade I tend to look for low flying aircraft because that what it sounds like. I doubt the Chevy is going to get
any better mileage than the Ford and a few miles per gallon isn't worth my time however they are both very reliable and easy to maintain. Motorhomes are fuel consumers.
Some run to the MB models for fuel savings only to end up with a sad face come maintenance /repair time.
It is an incredibly reliable engine. I've got 250k miles, and it has been troublefree.
Hopefull some of this is helpfull to your situation.
2022 Ford F-350 7.3l
2002 Chevy Silverado 1500HD 6.0l 268k miles (retired)
2016 Heritage Glen 29BH
2003 Flagstaff 228D Pop Up
Looking at the specs on the Forest River Sunseeker LE 2250SLE that you mentioned it looks like they are pretty much the same as mine.With the GCWR being a bit more,meaning you can carry more than mine.
Fully loaded with all food and supplies, water,for a 2 week trip,I take a lot of stuff along, I am still way under the GVWR.
During my search for this RV I drove more than a dozen others, all on Ford Chassis they were all as you described,gutless and I thought they were going to blow up.The ride on a Ford was harsh and I noticed that the one on a Chevy Chassis was much more smooth and comfortable and a lot quieter.
When I drove the same one built on a Chevy Chassis I was impressed with how quiet it was under acceleration and the response was quick.
Over the years I have had it the fuel mileage has been between 9.2 and 9.7 depending on wind and terrain,with the newer transmission I would think mileage would be better.
Also my RV is a Former Rental and now has over 118000 miles on it,there was a small leak in the transmission tail shaft seal that was replaced at the 100000 mile checkup,other than that it has performed well and been trouble free.
I looked at and drove the Sunseeker LE 2250 at a RV show and if I were in the market for a new one,this would be it.
2006 TIOGA 26Q CHEVY 6.0 WORKHORSE VORTEC
Former El Monte RV Rental
Retired Teamster Local 692
Buying A Rental Class C
I towed 2500# utility trailer and that was fine too. Expect it to rev high going up steep grades, that 6.0 is built to scream, you wont hurt it.
2000 Ford E450 V10 VAN! 450,000+ miles
2014 ORV really big trailer
2015 Ford Focus ST
klutchdust wrote:
Depends on what your standards are.I have owned A Ford V-10 and found it to be strong, reliable and averaged 8.5 MPG over a 40K mile period. Sure it howls when pulling a
grade but when the fan kicks on when my Duramax is pulling a grade I tend to look for low flying aircraft because that what it sounds like. I doubt the Chevy is going to get
any better mileage than the Ford and a few miles per gallon isn't worth my time however they are both very reliable and easy to maintain. Motorhomes are fuel consumers.
Some run to the MB models for fuel savings only to end up with a sad face come maintenance /repair time.
Depends on what your standards are.I have owned A Ford V-10 and found it to be strong, reliable and averaged 8.5 MPG over a 40K mile period. Sure it howls when pulling a
grade but when the fan kicks on when my Duramax is pulling a grade I tend to look for low flying aircraft because that what it sounds like. I doubt the Chevy is going to get
any better mileage than the Ford and a few miles per gallon isn't worth my time however they are both very reliable and easy to maintain. Motorhomes are fuel consumers.
Some run to the MB models for fuel savings only to end up with a sad face come maintenance /repair time.
Nothing but miles of smiles in my 15mpg diesel Navion.
![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
Mike. Comments are anecdotal or personal opinions, and worth what you paid for them.
2018 (2017 Sprinter Cab Chassis) Navion24V + 2016 Wrangler JKU (sold @ ????)
2016 Sunstar 26HE, V10, 3V, 6 Speed (sold @ 4600 miles)
2002 Roadtrek C190P (sold @ 315,000kms)
All I know is my 2013 4500 chassis with its long wheelbase and a 6.0 engine is a great driving rig that is all stock. Great ride and the best wind handling class C I have had. My first class C was on a F350 chassis V10. I won’t go there for this discussion.
I have to listen for downshifts. I can get my size 13 shoes past the dog house with no problem. My only issue is the 4500 chassis is several inches taller. So being an old geezer I have to have to put out a step to comfortably get into the rig.
2014 Leprechaun 290QB
Chevy 4500 6.0
2015 GMC Terrain AWD
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad
Comparing frames of the E350 to the E450, the gauge thickness of the E450 frame it a tab bit thicker than the E350 but is otherwise dimensionally identical. At a glance, you don't see a difference, but you can measure the difference with a calipers.
I recall the frame of the Chevy/GM is dimensionally smaller than the Ford, and it is significant. I don't know if GM uses a different type of steel to achieve it's GVWR, but I always wondered about the stability of it's physically smaller frame. Given everything else identical, a physically bigger frame would have less frame twist over uneven surfaces. Less twist means the house is better protected from seams breaching.
2007 Phoenix Cruiser model 2350, with 2006 Jeep Liberty in-tow
Lwiddis wrote:
You only need one step? Gee lol
You only need one step? Gee lol
Its a 12v elevator step.
A few years ago, my brother purchased a V10 powered shorty Class A; knowing it wouldn't be a powerhouse, it did ok. Pulling a long 5-6% hill, I was behind him where both of us were poking along at 50-55, then I decided to pick up the speed a bit. I flew past him at 80 with lots of gas pedal to spare! He stated he had no more pedal on that hill, that was all he could do.
This is in contrast to our old 2000 Four Winds on E-350 with the V10 - we'd have been setting at 50mph, 2nd gear and screaming at 4500 rpm. Both units weigh about the same, but the Chevy has twice the engine compared to that old Ford.
Keep in mind, as others have said - there's lots more to a chassis than just the engine. Access and drive-ability are two big factors. The ford cab is cramped, noisy and hot, and most folks have to sink an additional $2K in the front end just to make 'em drive decently.
Take one our for a test drive - you'll be pleasantly surprised.
![[image]](https://a4.pbase.com/g12/88/791988/2/171135351.RTQa4uOc.jpg)
'16 Forest River Sunseeker 2250SLEC Chevrolet 6.0L
Previously:
'00 Four Winds 26Q Class C (Ford E350 V10)
'96 Kit Sportsmaster 212f Fifth Wheel/'93 GMC Sierra K2500
'91 SunLite poptop truck camper
and the first: a Wildernest flip-top canopy.
kwplot34 wrote:
If you don't like the performance of a gas C, look into a super C with a diesel engine. Had 2 different C's with the gas engine an E350 and a E450 and now have a Thor Omni XG32 on the F550 chassis with 6.7L diesel, It has all sorts of power, drives great with no modifications needed for handling and is comfortable and quiet. Oh and very good fuel economy, we are averaging 14MPG pulling a trailer and it never down shifts on hills except for some very long steep grades, set the cruise control and go.
If you don't like the performance of a gas C, look into a super C with a diesel engine. Had 2 different C's with the gas engine an E350 and a E450 and now have a Thor Omni XG32 on the F550 chassis with 6.7L diesel, It has all sorts of power, drives great with no modifications needed for handling and is comfortable and quiet. Oh and very good fuel economy, we are averaging 14MPG pulling a trailer and it never down shifts on hills except for some very long steep grades, set the cruise control and go.
I looked that vehicle up, my goodness is that a beauty.
klutchdust wrote:
I looked that vehicle up, my goodness is that a beauty.
kwplot34 wrote:
If you don't like the performance of a gas C, look into a super C with a diesel engine. Had 2 different C's with the gas engine an E350 and a E450 and now have a Thor Omni XG32 on the F550 chassis with 6.7L diesel, It has all sorts of power, drives great with no modifications needed for handling and is comfortable and quiet. Oh and very good fuel economy, we are averaging 14MPG pulling a trailer and it never down shifts on hills except for some very long steep grades, set the cruise control and go.
If you don't like the performance of a gas C, look into a super C with a diesel engine. Had 2 different C's with the gas engine an E350 and a E450 and now have a Thor Omni XG32 on the F550 chassis with 6.7L diesel, It has all sorts of power, drives great with no modifications needed for handling and is comfortable and quiet. Oh and very good fuel economy, we are averaging 14MPG pulling a trailer and it never down shifts on hills except for some very long steep grades, set the cruise control and go.
I looked that vehicle up, my goodness is that a beauty.
We really like it a lot. Certainly get a lot of people coming up wanting to ask questions and look at it, The handling and driving comfort was definitely worth the upgrade.
Gary
Up to a certain weight, about 15,000 GCW, the 6.0 was definitely the snappiest, and felt the most responsive. One time I had about 1000 lbs more in the trailer, approaching 9,000 lbs, pretty much right on the chassis limit of 16,000lbs GCWR, and it was not happy. Night and day how that 1,000 lbs emasculated it. mileage was always in the 8's, maybe 9 tops.
Going back to the 460 in the 1st Class C, it was classic big block power and torque. I didn't ever tow heavy with it, at the most 5500-6000lbs and a GCE of 18,500lbs, right on the chassis rating, but the drivetrain just shrugged, never feeling stressed. Mileage though was terrible. Solo, 7-7.5, towing, 6-6.5.
So onto the current V10. Never feels as eager as the 6.0 nor as unstressed as the 460, but after 80k+ miles, I am a begrudging fan. It has pulled 9000lbs, plus the 24' Class C it's in, all-up at 20,000lbs +. Solo mileage is around 8, towing 7, and has never pulled a hill (nothing out west but has done a bunch on the Mass Pike in the Berkshires and Fancy Gap on I-77) at less than 55, with plenty of pedal left. I agree the V10 does not make V8 noises; I'd much rather listen to the 6.0 LQ4 at 4500rpm than the V10, but for hauling ability, there's no comparison. The 2V SOHC V10 has gone into thousands of Class A's, which is not something that can be said for the 6.0. As cheap as RV manufacturers are, if it was a suitable engine for heavier weights, it would have been available in the Workhorse stripped chassis when they were available, instead of the 8.1 only.
Rob
Too Many Toys.
- '11 E450 Sunseeker 2300
- '16 F150 Supercrew 5.0/FX4
- '09 C6 Z51
- '15 VW Golf Sportwagen daily driver
- '86 Civic and '87 CRX race cars
In my opinion, apples to apples weight and having extensive experience with both, the V10 beats the 6.0 at 12k, but not by much. Neither is going to smoke the other, but the V10 will take 12k down the highway quicker and quieter than the 6.0, with less fuel used and less down shifting/hunting. Slightly better, but not by much.
I am a die hard Chevy guy, my wife and I each DD LS Tahoes, and our pickup is a Chevy. The 5.3 and 6.0 win all day long as daily drivers hands down, but the Ford V10 is the better Class C motorhome engine in my humble opinion (since you asked.)
Patrick