Community Forums

Mlcohen · 09-23-2014, 05:36 PM

I have a 91 fleetwood flair. Class A motor home. It's a Ford chassis with the 460. I thought it was built on a van chassis (e350) but I had a shop tell me it is a f600 chassis. I'm pretty sure that's wrong. Is it an f53. I have read a few people say that it is an e350.

Does anyone know what chassis I have or how I find out?. I need to know so I can solve my problem (below)

The coach wanders a bit while driving and I want to put air bags and a steering stabilizer on it and I don't have a lot of cash. Any recommendations for my particular application?

Thanks in advance for any help

DieselTech39 · 09-23-2014, 05:54 PM

Glad you're aboard. I included a couple links for you to use in deciphering your VIN which should give you the chassis model. Also check the thread here Cheap Handling Fix (http://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/cheap...fix-72335.html) once you have determined your chassis model to see if it's applicable. Best of luck. Enjoy your adventures and be safe.

VIN Decoder | fleet.ford.com

The Ford Truck 17-Digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Decoder

Mlcohen · 09-23-2014, 09:02 PM

Thanks for the info. The code is e33 which was not on that page but a little googling and I determined that it is an E350 chassis. Is that really odd for a class A?

DieselTech39 · 09-23-2014, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mlcohen

Thanks for the info. The code is e33 which was not on that page but a little googling and I determined that it is an E350 chassis. Is that really odd for a class A?

IMO it's not odd. I've seen many E350 chassied RVs. The Twinkie fleet I worked on was 65% E350, 138" 158" and 178" chassis with a van body on them.

As far as the wondering, I replaced a lot of king pins, drag links and tie rods on the independent front suspension. Most had 150,000+ miles on them. Also replaced almost all the radius arm bushings, sway bar links and bushings and shocks. All were equipped with a 4BT Cummins and that added to the wear and tear on the front suspension parts because of the weight.

Also replaced a number of steering gears for the same reasons.

Here's a link to some additional info.

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/ind...?topic=40337.0

Best of luck in a solution to the wondering problem.

Mlcohen · 09-24-2014, 12:30 AM

The odd part is that it's not a van body it's a class A

DieselTech39 · 09-24-2014, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mlcohen

The odd part is that it's not a van body it's a class A

Sorry I mixed you up by giving you an example so you might understand I had some experience with the E350 chassis. Doesn't really matter what body it's got on it if it's a E350 chassis..

Does your RV have the Twin I-Beam suspension??

Earliest Fleetwood Flair brochure I could find on the Fleetwood site is a 1999.

Sure it's a Flair?? Sure it's a class A?? Could it be a Class C?? Got a photo?? Might help.

Best of luck on finding more info. Contact Fleetwood at 800-322-8216. Ask them what you've got. You'll probably need your UIN (Unit Identification Number) from the Fleetwood plate inside the coach.

Mlcohen · 09-24-2014, 07:09 AM

I'm sure it's a flair and I'm almost positive it's a class A. My uncle looked at it and told me it is twin I beam. Here is a picture.

Nick-B · 09-24-2014, 02:39 PM

Hi MLCOHEN and Welcome to the Forum!

Your Flair is definitely a Class A, but you may have an odd-duck indeed.

The F53 chassis had (and still has) a solid, single beam front axle.

The E350 van chassis had the Twin-I-Beam front axles, which is 2 independent but parallel beam axles.

Normally the Ford-based Class A coaches all rode on the F53 chassis, but if you actually have the Twin-I-Beam suspension then you are on the E350 van chassis.

Gary RVRoamer · 09-25-2014, 01:11 PM

I've never seen an E350 chassis that did not have a van-like cab area. It is available as what they call a "cutaway", with no body behind the driver position, but usually a Flair would be built on the motorhome chassis, the F53, and have it's own cab (as yours does). The E350 could only handle about 14,000 lbs (probably even less back in 1991), and I thought the max wheelbase was only 138", way short for most Class A's. What is the wheelbase on the Flair (measure wheel hub to wheel hub)?

Maybe check that VIN again? Or post it hear so we can research it too? Vin positions 4, 5-7, 8 and 10 are all pertinent.

Mlcohen · 09-25-2014, 02:37 PM

The vin starts with 1FCKE33GSMHA

THe F33 code wasn't in the lookup provided earlier in this thread but I found it on a ford website. It said it was an E350

I'll have to check the wheelbase when I get home but I'm pretty sure it's longer than a normal E350. The coach is 27' and there isn't a too much behind the rear wheels

Mlcohen · 09-25-2014, 10:22 PM

Wheelbase = ~ 178"

Gary RVRoamer · 09-26-2014, 08:32 AM

Even the long E350 van wasn't that long back in 1991, but it's possible that Fleetwood cut and stretched the chassis. That was sometimes done, back in the day. Or maybe Ford did it for them, back before the F53 became more capable and widely used.

The "K" in position 4 indicates the right GVWR range for an E350 (10,000-14,000 lbs). The G is for the 460 engine, and the M indicates a 1991 model year.