Difference between the 24,000k and 26,000k 2021 F-53 chassis?

[NXR]

There is no 7,500 lb hitch, at least not from their vendors, and they will not install a 7,500 lb hitch on the 24,000 lb chassis even though it can tow 6,000 lbs unrestricted.

Oops, that first "7,500" should have been "6,000"...

Ray

[Rvlegaleagle]

Originally Posted by NXR

Oops, that first "7,500" should have been "6,000"...

Ray

A 6000 hitch using only 5200-5250 of it would be sweet, safe and only 200-250 pounds (plus tongue weight) off of the extra CCC you get with the 26,000 chassis over the 24,000

[US1]

Has anyone looked at the mounting bolts for the hitch? I wanted to remove mine and have it reworked or replaced by a trailer shop, but the bolts are more of a huge rivet with no way to remove them other than grinding them off.

[NXR]

Has anyone looked at the mounting bolts for the hitch? I wanted to remove mine and have it reworked or replaced by a trailer shop, but the bolts are more of a huge rivet with no way to remove them other than grinding them off.

Are you sure they're not just carriage bolts instead?

Ray

[Firewrench]

“Huck bolts”. At least that’s the term I learned in the truck shops. They are kind of like a big rivet. A hydraulic tool crimps the “nut” onto the “bolt”. It’s not really a bolt, has rings instead of threads. You are right, they are a one-shot deal, have to cut/grind them off.

[Rvlegaleagle]

So it seems the Ford F-53 chassis, either 24,000 or ythe 26,000 has issues. The sway bar bolts, bushing housing, the abs/engine light coming on and the spark plug wires/getting more air into the area by cutting hole by radidiator...is there anything else I am missing?

Not including the low rear end fluid which I think was an actual recall but the others are not. You think for will get it right for the 2022 chassis?

Heard good things about the motor so far.

[NXR]

The sway bar bolts, bushing housing,

Been going on for many years. Keep an eye on them and if they loosen up be certain to apply blue Loctite to the threads when retorquing it. Problem solved. Ford also issued a TSB that some of the nuts were not welded correctly.

the abs/engine light coming on

I've only seen one report of that so far.

the spark plug wires/getting more air into the area by cutting hole by radidiator

Defective spark plug wires because the factory in Mexico did not follow the spec. Corrected at the end of September 2020. RV manufacturers did not always follow the chassis builder spec and that reduced the cooling air below spec. Ford issued a TSB for this.

Not including the low rear end fluid which I think was an actual recall but the others are not.

NHTSA recalls are for safety reasons almost exclusively.

You think for will get it right for the 2022 chassis?

Haha, nice! Oh wait, you weren't joking?

Ray

[AZ RV'r]

Sorry to throw a wrench into this thread... but my 2019 Fleetwood Southwind, that is only 15 inches short of 40 ft. long, is on a 24,000 chassis.

It can tow 8000lbs. It is in the sales brochure direct from them. Yes I would need to shed some of my "carry-on" items, but it could be done and the hitch is on there, from the factory. Heres the proof in the picture.

I know that we are talking about a new 2021 with the V-8, but I just wanted everyone following to know this was an available thing in 2019 and I don't know if these numbers are available on a unit bought today.

Good Luck!

(Click picture to enlarge)

[NXR]

Originally Posted by AZ RV'r

Sorry to throw a wrench into this thread... but my 2019 Fleetwood Southwind, that is only 15 inches short of 40 ft. long, is on a 24,000 chassis.

It can tow 8000lbs. It is in the sales brochure direct from them. Yes I would need to shed some of my "carry-on" items, but it could be done and the hitch is on there, from the factory.

Looks like the 37FP? https://recreationalvehicles.info/20...d-brochure.pdf

What are your UVW and OCCC? Since the 24K chassis maximum unrestricted towing is 6,000 pounds you'd need to shed a full ton of your "carry-on" items to tow 8,000 lbs.

Fleetwood would have had to have done some additional frame strengthening to support the higher tongue weight but that does not change the maximum towing weight of the engine/transmission combination (GCWR).

If my motorhome was built on the 24,000 lb chassis instead of the 22,000 lb chassis it'd be perfect because we'd have 4,800 pounds of CCC instead of 2,800 pounds. And could have larger holding tanks. And it would have a much better turning diameter. than it does. <sigh>

Ah well, maybe next time.

As an aside, when we were searching for a motorhome we always took a picture of the actual stickers of the weights for the ones we were interested in. There were some very significant differences in (O)CCC availability between the different models and that took a lot of the "salesman factor" out of the decision.

Ray

[AZ RV'r]

Originally Posted by NXR

Looks like the 37FP? [url]

What are your UVW and OCCC? Since the 24K chassis maximum unrestricted towing is 6,000 pounds you'd need to shed a full ton of your "carry-on" items to tow 8,000 lbs.

As an aside, when we were searching for a motorhome we always took a picture of the actual stickers of the weights for the ones we were interested in.

In my last post the picture showed mine circled... I have the 37F on a 24k chassis. The one you mentioned, a 37 FP is on a 26k chassis and has a rear door on the back like toy hauler that converts to a patio... thats not a feature that I wanted.

You asked about my sticker, here you go.... Even on the federal sticker it says 8000lb towing.

Click to enlarge

[jharrell]

Originally Posted by AZ RV'r

You asked about my sticker, here you go.... Even on the federal sticker it says 8000lb towing.

It also says your max GCWR is 30,000 lbs and if you put 24,000lbs on your chassis then you can only tow 6000 lbs no matter what. It also says your factory weight without water is 21,428 and full water and propane is close to 1000 lbs.

So full tanks and people and gear your 23,000-24,000 lbs you are not towing 8000 lbs sorry, maybe 7000 if you carefully weigh.

[Rvlegaleagle]

And I was just looking for 5200lbs...lol

[NXR]

So full tanks and people and gear your 23,000-24,000 lbs you are not towing 8000 lbs sorry, maybe 7000 if you carefully weigh.

Agreed. Your OCCC, Occupants plus Cargo Carrying Capacity, is 2,571 pounds if I read the sticker correctly.

Standard definition: The OCCC figure is the maximum allowable weight of all occupants, plus weight of all food, tools, full fresh water tanks, full LP-gas tanks and personal belongings.

I'm not sure why that definition says "full tanks" because they do not have to be.

To tow 8,000 pounds or 2,000 pounds above (GCWR minus GVWR), you would only be able to load 571 pounds of people, propane, clothing, supplies, food, water, stuff underneath, etc.

Not going to happen unless you're just a weekender going to full hook-up sites exclusively and maybe not even then. On the good news side, there's no way you'll overload an axle with that little stuff. On the better news side, at 6 MPG, every six miles your motorhome will get 6.3 pounds lighter until you refuel.

On the practical news side, you can very safely tow up to 6,000 pounds (with a supplemental braking system in the toad) and still have enough safety margin to make even me comfortable.

This actually is a good example of why we took pics of the actual stickers in the floorplans we were interested in.

Ray

[AZ RV'r]

I agree with almost everything you all wrote.

I understand to tow 8000 lbs I would literally have to drive a completely empty coach, alone, with nothing in the tanks..... but if I did all of that... it could be done!

Second, I was just trying to show all of you that I indeed have a hitch, from the factory, rated at 8000 lbs on a 24k chassis.

I only tow a 4-door Jeep Wrangler but like the idea that I have a hitch rated at 8000 lbs, way above what I am towing, instead of the common 5000 lbs which would put me a lot closer to that max as the Jeep is about 4650 lbs.

Nobody asked but, I love this coach and setup, it drives like a dream, no sawing at the wheel and don't feel the semi's when I pass them. I read many people complaining about the difficulties of driving on a F53 Ford platform but mine really feels great. This is my fourth Class A and I have owned a a 2007 Monaco diesel and this Fleetwood gas is better. I probably wouldn't sell it if you offered me full MSRP for it now that I'm in the third year and seems that all the kinks are worked out.