Known issues for 2001-2004 Chassis?

[caheath]

I'm researching to buy a motor home for full-timing. The RV years I'm looking at are 2002-2004, so the Ford chassis years would be 2001-2004.

What are some issues/problems with those chassis years I should take into consideration?

["007"]

Use this recall list for years you need and possibly the coach MFG your interested in.
It will have both coach and chassis recalls.

[sd1209]

Don't forget that the engine and trans were upgraded in 2006 if you could stretch it to that year.......Might be worth it......

Steve and Liz
2006 F53 Gulfstream 30'

[caheath]

Originally Posted by 007";1922222]Use [B][URL="http://auto-recalls.justia.com/all-vehicle-makes.html

this recall list[/URL][/B] for years you need and possibly the coach MFG your interested in.
It will have both coach and chassis recalls.

Amazing list! Thank you...

[caheath]

Originally Posted by sd1209

Don't forget that the engine and trans were upgraded in 2006 if you could stretch it to that year.......Might be worth it......

Steve and Liz
2006 F53 Gulfstream 30'

I was not aware... I'm a prior Chevy owner and still learning about Ford chassis. Thank you!

["007"]

During the years you posted the Workhorse chassis was in existence a completely different chassis with Chev 8.1 engine and the Allison transmission I owned Fords prior to my 03 Workhorse a completely different driving experience.

[caheath]

Originally Posted by 007";1922398]During the years you posted the [B][URL="http://www.irv2.com/forums/f22

Workhorse chassis[/URL][/B] was in existence a completely different chassis with Chev 8.1 engine and the Allison transmission I owned Fords prior to my 03 Workhorse a completely different driving experience.

Yes, I am aware of that but *assumed* that prior Chevy chassis (P32...) would also be covered in the Workhorse forum. Is this not the case? I owned a P32 motor home for 4 years and found it to be fine. But, its the only one I've had so far, and thus cannot compare to anything else. I hope to change that within the next few months.

In your view, how does the Ford and Workhorse/Chevy chassis compare in terms of dependability, performance, and ride comfort?

["007"]

The p-32 is covered in the Workhorse forum now and I would take a Workhorse chassis over the Ford because of the Allison trans and 8.1.
I have owned both chassis as far as the newer Ford chassis can not answer for that but in 08 they did make some real changes to compete with the Workhorse and they now own the gas market since Workhorse folded.

[NeilV]

I was really Anti-Ford but since I could not afford a WorkHorse I ended up with a 2001 Winnebago Adventurer on a Ford F53 and it has been trouble free. Missed out on all the Bosch brake issues that I would have had with the WorkHorse chassis. People when that was happening would pull up and tell me I had to stop driving my coach because of the Bosch brakes but the 2001 F53 uses Kelsey Hays brakes and had no such problems with brake lockups, cracked rotors, fried calipers, cooked brake lines, bad programming in the brake controllers, corroding antilock valves, swelling caliper pistons, etc. Start up it and go for the past eight years with just regularly scheduled oil changes and flushes per the owners manual.

The ride can be a little rough if it still has the Ford/Bilstien shocks in it but with the Koni or Monroe RV shocks they are just fine. The Ford transmission has not be any trouble whatsoever.

[vsheetz]

2001 ford f53 here. Works well, save for handling issues, especially in the longer coaches - that can be readily resolved. Check out the cheap handling fix thread, and threads regarding addition of a rear track bar. These two adds made a big positive difference in mine.