Community Forums

Coveman · 08-19-2008, 03:56 PM

I have a 2007 Fleetwood Southwind and had problems climbing I40 hills in Albuqurque. I found out that while the coach is a 2007 the Ford Chassis and engine are a 2006. Is this legal? Also what can I do to increase the power?

Coveman · 08-19-2008, 03:56 PM

I have a 2007 Fleetwood Southwind and had problems climbing I40 hills in Albuqurque. I found out that while the coach is a 2007 the Ford Chassis and engine are a 2006. Is this legal? Also what can I do to increase the power?

Frankie · 08-19-2008, 04:08 PM

I have never felt under powered. I have a 2006 engine. No differant 2006 - 2007. And yes its legal,when the body is attached,thats year they go by,not chassis year. I would have Ford hook it up and check it out.Unless your overloaded or are looking for a race car.

Gary RVRoamer · 08-19-2008, 05:43 PM

It is common for the coach to be a different model year than the chassis. This happens because the chassis is built first (by Ford in this case) and then sold to Fleetwood/Southwind, who later builds a body on it and sells it to a dealer. By federal law, the final manufacturer (Southwind) assigns the model year via the manufacturer's Certificate of Origin, so if Fleetwood sells the coach as a 2007, that is what the entire vehicle is for legal purposes.

Depending on your expectations, it may well be true that you have "problems" climbing that grade in Albuquerque. Some of the Southwinds are pretty large coaches (you didn't mention a length or weight) and they all won't race up that grade like a passenger car might. I have a 2004 American Tradition with a Cummins ISL 400 and it doesn't exactly fly up it either. [By the way, my 04 coach has an 03 Cummins engine in it].

As for improving performance, the most common solution is probably the Banks Power Pack. There may be some "super chips" that could be used to up the V10's heavy load performance as well.

UFO Pilot · 08-19-2008, 06:22 PM

My 05 Fleetwood had an 04 chassis and my 08 Winnebago has an 07 chassis. I think you will find it to be quite common to have a earlier chassis.

LVJ58 · 08-19-2008, 06:55 PM

If he has the 2006 chassis, it still should have the upgraded 3-valve 362hp engine and should have the Torqshift 5 speed transmission.

JerryForwood · 08-20-2008, 05:34 AM

#1. Of course it's legal.
#2. Not much!
The Ford V10 Engine has been engineered to the highest output you are going to get out of it.
JMHO!

370 xl · 08-20-2008, 06:12 AM

I have a 2006 f53 chassis and my coach is 37ft bath and 1/2. I have ran I40 several times and you can get some hefty head wind out there. Also you need to watch the fuel rate in some western states. You must run at least 87, I have seen 85 which may be cheaper but will not allow the engine to perform. If none of these are a fact and the coach is o.k. you may just be expecting too much. Don't think that you are going to keep up with tractor trailers cause most over the road trucks have at least 500 h.p. .

LVJ58 · 08-21-2008, 12:06 PM

Also what can I do to increase the power?

As Jerry said, "not much" however you might check into Brazel's RV Performance at this site:

http://www.brazelsrv.com/

Some folks in the Ford Owners section of this Forum claim an increase in power by having Brazel's reprogram the ECM on their rig.

A couple of years ago I got a good deal on the Banks system and had it installed. Noticed a slight increase in power climbing grades.

If you have the 3valve 362hp engine I don't think the Banks would do much for it, but reprogramming the ECM might.

Good luck, Jim