2012 F53 or 2006 Workhorse???

[3ric]

I’m looking to buy and wanting your insight.

I have 2 comparable priced rv’s I’m interested in and wondering what way you’d go and why?

Both are 1.5 bath with nice interior and layouts.

I tow heavy with hills in my area.

I currently own a 1999 36’ Bounder with f53 chassis.

Options:

1) 2006 Pace Arrow 36D 20k miles. 19.5 wheels. Workhorse chassis 8.1L

Or

2) 2012 Bounder Classic 36R F53 35k miles. 19.5 wheels. F53 Chassis

Let me know what you’d prefer and why?

[Skip426]

2006 Workhorse chassis on 19.5" wheels I thought all workhorse chassis had 22.5" by that year.

What Workhorse chassis ? P-32 or W-22 ?

What is the listed CCC ( Cargo Carrying Capacity ) and GVWR ?

Same question about the Ford Chassis coach ; CCC ? GVWR ?

Check out GCWR ( Gross Combined Weight Rating ) and Tow Rating on both, too.
By " Tow heavy " ? how much weight do you plan to tow . Neither of these units will have tow weight rating of over 5,000# , most likly only 4,000.

[Flyer15015]

3ric,
A 2006 PA 36d is a w-22 workhorse chassis w/ the 8.1 (bulletproof)GM motor and an Allison 1000 transmission and it has 22.5 wheels. Can't tell it from my '04 PA.
Mine is a 37c and with my mods she pulls an 8K# enclosed car hauler all over Colorado. YOU MUST FIX THE HITCH in order to do that, and I here is how I did it with a pair of 2 x 2 x 1/4" angle struts.
Mine has 3 slides, but they do not need to be out to fully utilize all the facilities.
Great for stealth camping.
UltraRV plugs, wires, ECU and TCU are a MUST as well as Sumo bump stops per Yellodusters research, and I chose Bilstein shocks to make a real hot rod out of mine. Now she can climb the mountains and she rides like glass.

My hitch fix..........

Mike in Colorado

PS; There is an '06 PA 36D on RV Trader now w/ 13K on the clock for $29K. A great price,even if it needs tires. It's in Oklahoma.

[yeloduster]

The brochures from Pace Arrow and Bounder answer some of the questions. See the first 2 attached pictures. The first is for the 2006 Pace Arrow 36D. Note it was available on both the W22 and W24 chassis. The W24 is more capable in that it has a GVWR of 24000# and tow rating of 6000# and has a more robust transmission than the W22.

You need to determine the chassis! Attachment 3 shows you how to read the VIN to determine the Workhorse model number. Note if the 6th digit is a "6" it is a W22, if the 6th digit is an "A" it is a W24.

The 2012 Bounder is on a 22K chassis with a 5000# hitch rating.

If the Pace Arrow is on the 22K Workhorse chassis then the 2 motorhomes are roughly equivalent although the driving experience of the Workhorse might be smoother and quieter.

Keep in mind that Workhorse and the 8.1L engine are no more! It might be easier to find parts for 2012 Ford F53 than for a 2006 Workhorse! Some people are reporting as much trouble finding Ford F53 parts as those trying to find Workhorse parts. I have found, so far, that Chevy Silverado 3500 drivetrain parts are interchangeable with Workhorse and mostly those parts are readily available.

If it were me I would probably go for the 2006 Pace Arrow if it is on the W24 Chassis. If the 2006 Pace Arrow is on the W22 chassis then it is roughly equivalent to the 2012 Bounder. I would probably pick the one I like the most!

[TexasTom]

The Vortec engine on the Workhorse chassis is a beast. I would go with that any day!

[Mark_K5LXP]

Vintage chevy 3500 parts are getting harder to find, WH are universally obsolete and even some common parts are unobtanium. My money would be on the ford, for being newer and better parts availability. My 8.1 is a runnin' machine, but only as long as it stays running. I would rather have a V10 I can get parts for than an 8.1 I can't.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[Gary RVRoamer]

Agree with Mark about the risk of Workhorse parts availability. All other things being more-or-less equal, I'd opt for the 2012 Ford simply because of better parts & service availability.

[yeloduster]

I think I agree with Mark B. if it were a P32 chassis. Many P32 parts are Workhorse propriety. The Pace Arrow is on a W22 or W24 chassis. Many if not most of the chassis parts for the W series are common to many other makes. The trouble is not that the parts are not available it is that finding the correct parts may be difficult.

So far I have found that any part I needed was available from Chevy...just not listed for a Workhorse. Sensors, starters, alternators, shocks and a host of other parts are there if you know where to look.

People with Ford F53 chassis' are finding parts hard to find too. Buying an older motorhome is a gamble regardless of the chassis manufacturer.

[Sweetbriar]

The chassis is going to out live the house built on it and both will get you anywhere in North America on improved roads. My preference would be the newer Ford but I spend a lot more time at a campsite than going down the road so the condition of the house and the floor plan have a much greater roll when it comes time to pick on over the other.

[Dodge Guy]

I would personally go with the F53. While engine parts will be available for the 8.1, other parts may be hard to find. f53 parts are plentiful.
Get a Tuner from 5 star and it will make the drivability of the F53 that much better.