Is the UFO chassis a thing of the past???

[YngRvrs]

Looking at different RV web pages and reviewing 2010 models. I do not see anyone building on the UFO chassis. Is it a 2 year failure? Is it the market overall. I personally love not having the doghouse in the middle. If i want to listen to the engine I just turn the back up monitor on. Anyone see it being used?

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

I'd say it's probably just the market overall. Many of the manufactuer's are pushing the new sprinter chassis'. Although I don't get it. Has anyone noticed the prices on those smaller chassis', they're as much and in some cases more then what you can buy a nice larger class A, especially right now you can even get some diesels in these price ranges.

Take a look at the newest Motorhome magazine. There's one listed at $136,000.
I guess they feel if they can't sell the bigger Class A's, just up the price on these smaller coaches and try and make their money that way. Personally I think there cutting their throats.

[DriVer]

Don't count out the UFO chassis just yet! It's still a product that Workhorse is fully capable of producing when the orders start coming in.

I believe that Rexhall Industries is producing 2010 models on the UFO. The new Navistar/Monaco LLC company may bring back the 38PLT in Monaco and Holiday Rambler models so we'll see how all of that works out.

It is unfortunate that too many things changed all at once on the Destination/Latitude. Had the interior from the onset been the LE interior I'm sure that WGO would have had a winner.

Other manufacturers will resume building on the UFO once the market improves. The UFO is more expensive than conventional chassis and OEs are just not wanting to spend the money.

The UFO "R22" is less expensive however it features much of the same technology as the R26 however an MH1000 is fitted, I believe that the brakes are also downsized to Bosch units, it has smaller tires and no adjustable pedals.

[Wayneey]

From previous posts (admittedly a while back), I thought I remember reading on iRV2 that 2010 is the last year the 8.1L motor will be produced, with no similar sized replacement announced. If so, does not that dictate what will become of the UFO and other gas WH chassis's?

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayneey From previous posts (admittedly a while back), I thought I remember reading on iRV2 that 2010 is the last year the 8.1L motor will be produced, with no similar sized replacement announced. If so, does not that dictate what will become of the UFO and other gas WH chassis's?

Wayney, The acronym "UFO" means Universal Fuel Option. There is nothing cast in stone that mandates that a UFO be powered by an 8.1L engine. It was posted here recently that Workhorse many have 2 years worth of 8.1L engines so I am going to hope that's the case and we don't have to worry about this for the short term.

[Fred and Bonnie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer It was posted here recently that Workhorse many have 2 years worth of 8.1L engines so I am going to hope that's the case and we don't have to worry about this for the short term.

GEE just what I look forward too, a two year old engine in a new chassis. I am not trying to sound a sour note, but when you pay good $$$$, you expect to get the best product available. We all have read negative posts pertaining to chassis sitting around for years, why would this be any different?

[-Gramps-]

Its a two year old engine fresh out of the climate controlled box so to speak, not the same thing as a motorhome sitting around for two years while its fuel goes bad and its brakes rust.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred and Bonnie GEE just what I look forward too, a two year old engine in a new chassis.

Fred, I don't understand the concern. Even a company like Michelin will tell you that their tires can be considered to be brand new off the shelf at some point in time until you put air into the tire. Removing a brand new engine from a engine storage pod is nothing remarkable. Once the engine goes into service it still has the 3 year and 36,000 warranty on it.

After the war there were many Allison V12s that were put in service after many years that were still brand new.

I don't expect any issues with carefully stored 8.1L engines.

[Fred and Bonnie]

Comparing military preservation to what WCC MIGHT do is totally beyond my comprsion. Sorry 30 years in USAF engine shops.

[max49]

Will they be the same engines? I know Caterpillar had some great engines that they had to quit using because of the government mandated emission requirements.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred and Bonnie Comparing military preservation to what WCC MIGHT do is totally beyond my compression. Sorry 30 years in USAF engine shops.

I respect your 30 years of service and thank you for that.

My point is you can get a 25 year old military engine and it will run like it's brand new or else we would never have enjoyed the Reno air races throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s. (for example) 2 years in a sealed envelope or pod is nothing remarkable. The engine will still be brand new.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by max49 Will they be the same engines? I know Caterpillar had some great engines that they had to quit using because of the government mandated emission requirements.

Max, Caterpillar stopped producing "On-Road" engines. These engines required extraordinary measures to meet 2010 emissions. Off road engines are not so critical in meeting emission compliances. The majority of CAT's business is off road.

All of this said, this entire conversation is practically all conjecture.

[George Z]

My conclusion, no one currently is building on UFO chassis.
Just drove a 2008 38w Latitude on UFO in Canada yesterday and it was very nice. Thought I might shop a little.

George

[mfire1339]

Hey, wait a minute When my 8.1 broke a piston last year with 18,900 miles on it WH said it was over 3 years old so no coverage. So I guess those pistons go bad with age not usage.

Mike