Last Year For Workhorse

[Jabber Jaw]

Question:
What was the last model year in which the Workhorse Chassis was manufactured?

And what was the highest rated GVWR which Workhorse built?

Thanks!

[Mark_K5LXP]

Originally Posted by Jabber Jaw

What was the last model year in which the Workhorse Chassis was manufactured?

Depends on the chassis. Pretty sure the P32 stopped in 2005, but some of the W-series continued past the Navistar acquisition maybe as late as 2012.

And what was the highest rated GVWR which Workhorse built?

My guess W24.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[tderonne]

2009 model year.

W25 (25,500 GVWR) In the front engine models.
R26 (26,000 GVWR) In rear engine gas.
R32 (32,000 GVWR) In rear engine diesel.

W24 was probably the most common though, not a lot of the W25's or rear engine models built.

Workhorse Chassis Guide

[Isaac-1]

Was the R32 diesel ever built, I know it was announced, but I don't know that it ever went into production.


Note the R26 is often referred to as the UFO chassis (Universal Fuel Option), as it was intended to be offered in both gas and diesel, though the diesel never really came to fruition, if any were actually built, chances are they are true orphans with few if any parts available.


p.s. it looks like both were built, just very rare

[edgray]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

Was the R32 diesel ever built, I know it was announced, but I don't know that it ever went into production.

Note the R26 is often referred to as the UFO chassis (Universal Fuel Option), as it was intended to be offered in both gas and diesel, though the diesel never really came to fruition, if any were actually built, chances are they are true orphans with few if any parts available.
p.s. it looks like both were built, just very rare

The R 32 series was offered in 3 different GVWR ratings, and YES they built several hundred of them. WBGO was the largest buyer, but there are a few other brands running around on them, such as Georgie Boy, SportsCoach Cross Country (I think) and also Rexhall built more than a few called RoseAire (I think).


When the R-series DP chassis was introduced, FCCC immediately went to WBGO and signed them to an exclusive DP Class A chassis suppier contract and Spartan did the same at Newmar. The Spartan exclusivity only lasted a few years, but the FCCC deal is still in place at WBGO, AFAIK.


The R26, "UFO" was indeed initially promoted as either gas or diesel, but the diesel version was never produced beyond prototypes for testing purposes. The biggest issue was that the diesels were too tall and did not allow for the "other" marketing claim of Universal Floorplan Option, which really did provide a totally flat floor from stem to stern.

[edgray]

Originally Posted by tderonne

2009 model year.

W25 (25,500 GVWR) In the front engine models.
R26 (26,000 GVWR) In rear engine gas.
R32 (32,000 GVWR) In rear engine diesel.

W24 was probably the most common though, not a lot of the W25's or rear engine models built.

Workhorse Chassis Guide

There are some WCC front engine gas and Diesel class A chassis out there that were considered 2011 model year, and "maybe" even a few W-xxD chassis that were sold as 2012 model year. This is possible because their next model year began when the UAW workers returned from the 4th of July holiday each year. IOW, a chassis built after July 10th (for example) would be sold as the next calendar year model.


Navistar "mothballed" the WCC subsidary in late 2012, and many good people lost their jobs in Union City, IN.

[Ultra RV Products]

2011 was the last model year for RV chassis but they still produced W42 and W62 commercial step van chassis into the 2012 model year.

[Jabber Jaw]

WOW!

What a "plethora" of information!
Thanks to each of you for sharing!

I am currently reading through the "Workhorse Chassis Guide"! 202 pages! No manufacturer has available that much information in "ONE PLACE"!

I had a 2004 Newmar Mountain Aire on a W-22 chassis, and was always impressed with it. The 8.1 was a great engine (biased as I worked for a GM Dealer for 40 years )

I now have a 2020 Newmar Canyon Star on a 2019 Ford F-53, 26,000 GVW chassis; to which I've made quite a number of chassis & engine performance improvements! Thanks to Jon Brazel

Ed Gray & Jon Brazel seem to be the Workhorse "go to guys"; you Workhorse owners should be thankful for the resources!

Enough "blather"! Back to reading the chassis manual! Though, I'm not sure why; curiousity, maybe!

A great thread!

[Mark_K5LXP]

The brain trust here might be able to answer this question. Was a version of the 18,000GVWR P32 made by WCC ever produced by GM? Reason I ask is I can't seem to cross a number of WCC parts back to GM equivalents, which seem confined to 14,000GVWR or less rear drum brake "P30" step vans, mostly.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[edgray]

Originally Posted by Ultra RV Products

2011 was the last model year for RV chassis but they still produced W42 and W62 commercial step van chassis into the 2012 model year.

As usual, Jon is correct. For those who may want to decifer their vin #, it is the 10th position that is code for the model year. For example:


Model year 2009 will have a "9" in the tenth position, 2010 will be an "A", and 2011 will be a "B". There are NO Workhorse RV chassis with a "C" .

[edgray]

Originally Posted by Mark_K5LXP

The brain trust here might be able to answer this question. Was a version of the 18,000GVWR P32 made by WCC ever produced by GM? Reason I ask is I can't seem to cross a number of WCC parts back to GM equivalents, which seem confined to 14,000GVWR or less rear drum brake "P30" step vans, mostly.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

I don't think so, mainly because the "wide track" models, which included the higher GVWRs were a WCC innovation.


However, GM did experiment with a rear gas "pusher" variation that MAY have offered an 18K GVWR, IRDK. I can't remember the model designation for that chassis at the moment. I have read that some of its features led to the W-series that WCC introduced as their 2001 model year offerings.