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Highway 4x4 · 10-09-2017, 12:19 PM

I was told that one big difference between the A's and C's is that the V 10 in the A's have the 3 valve head and the C's have 2 valve. Is that true? Would it make a difference on the grades?

Skip426 · 10-09-2017, 12:37 PM

More valve area = better air flow through the combustion chamber .
More air flow and fuel in the chamber = better power .
You could Google search , torque and HP curve charts on both engines , I'm sure you'll find the 3 valve engine is better in both.

The only draw back in evaluating on road performance , is that every Class A , would out weight a Class C even if the length was the same.

Comes down to LBS per HP and final drive gear ratios and ... and ... and..

RM travelers · 10-09-2017, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highway 4x4

I was told that one big difference between the A's and C's is that the V 10 in the A's have the 3 valve head and the C's have 2 valve. Is that true? Would it make a difference on the grades?

I just looked up difference of class c to class a on Fleetwood site. V10 for class a has 460 lb torque 320 hp. Class c v10 has 420 lb torque 305 hp. Now if everything else was the same, seams class a would have more power on hills, but remember class a’s have lot more weight to carry around. We have the v10 class a, wt ck without toad was 21500lb. It does well in CA 4000ft mountains, as long as you keep power up. Let up on power & you will be crawling over hills. We use tow hall mode even when not towing, that helps.

twinboat · 10-09-2017, 12:56 PM

The 3 valve V10 came out in 2005. Earlier models used the same 2 valve engines.

Here is a link

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Modular_engine

Cajun2Stepp · 10-09-2017, 03:47 PM

My guess is that the power difference is because of exhaust configurations on the A versus C

jimmy braden · 10-09-2017, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

The 3 valve V10 came out in 2005. Earlier models used the same 2 valve engines.

Here is a link

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Modular_engine

No other real power improvments on the modular v10 than 2005 updates.

EdInArk · 10-09-2017, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highway 4x4

I was told that one big difference between the A's and C's is that the V 10 in the A's have the 3 valve head and the C's have 2 valve. Is that true? Would it make a difference on the grades?

Last December we traded our 28' Class C in on a 30' Class A. The Class C had the 2-valve V10, and the Class A has the 3-valve V10. The Class C was a 14,500 GVWR, and the Class A is 18,000 GVWR. We never weighed either, so I can only assume the Class A is heavier.

The Class A definitely handles grades better, but bear in mind, our V10 Class A is one of the smaller ones.

I do believe you shouldn't get wrapped up in that, though. If you find a Class C you like on the E450 chassis with the 2-valve V10, it's got plenty of engine.

twinboat · 10-09-2017, 07:22 PM

The 2016 version went to a 6 speed transmission and changed the max RPM of the V10 engine.

That changed the HP and torque numbers.

Highway 4x4 · 10-09-2017, 07:23 PM

The 6 speed trans in 2016 was also a big improvement on the grades.

EdInArk · 10-10-2017, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

The 2016 version went to a 6 speed transmission and changed the max RPM of the V10 engine.

That changed the HP and torque numbers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highway 4x4

The 6 speed trans in 2016 was also a big improvement on the grades.

Our class-C, 2-valve E450, was a 2014 model with the 5-speed. Our class-A, 3-valve F53, is a 2017 with 6-speed. Our rigs were obviously more different than just the number of valves.

I know I just about refused to use Tow/Haul mode in the class-C. Touch the brakes going downhill and it went crazy.

Fiesta48 · 10-10-2017, 06:45 AM

Had a 310 hp 2 valve 17000 lbs class A, and a 362 hp 3 valve 22000 class A. 5 speeds. End result was lower mpg on larger engine due to more weight. Hill climbs about the same.
Then went to 380 hp with triple the torque, turbo, 6 speed. And 2-4x the maint cost. Better mpg, climbs hills with cruise on...

EdInArk · 10-10-2017, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiesta48

Had a 310 hp 2 valve 17000 lbs class A, and a 362 hp 3 valve 22000 class A. 5 speeds. End result was lower mpg on larger engine due to more weight. Hill climbs about the same.
Then went to 380 hp with triple the torque, turbo, 6 speed. And 2-4x the maint cost. Better mpg, climbs hills with cruise on...

We would have enjoyed doing that, but our bank balance didn't have enough zeros at the end of it.

Highway 4x4 · 10-10-2017, 10:25 AM

While wondering what MH would be the best,,, I was told by a salesman having a friendly conversation that a gas MH at 5 years looses roughly 50% of MSRP. So 100K$ MH looses 10K$ a year. WHAT!!! + the cost of ownership. So 2 valve or 3 valve, better check your heart valves when you think of it. Ya got to pay to play, and it really costs to play with the big boys. Perhaps,,,, someday,,,,

RM travelers · 10-11-2017, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highway 4x4

While wondering what MH would be the best,,, I was told by a salesman having a friendly conversation that a gas MH at 5 years looses roughly 50% of MSRP. So 100K$ MH looses 10K$ a year. WHAT!!! + the cost of ownership. So 2 valve or 3 valve, better check your heart valves when you think of it. Ya got to pay to play, and it really costs to play with the big boys. Perhaps,,,, someday,,,,

Toys always cost. Had a paid off 2013 TT (told DW would be our last TT) & loved going camping with it. Now 2016 gas MH (still telling DW will be our last one) & Glamping a lot nicer now. Drives better than towing TT, sets up easier, & on bad weather days enjoy view fm inside. Does cost so much more than tent camping, but would never go back. Its only momey.