Community Forums

max49 · 12-02-2012, 05:40 PM

Where is the link showing GVWR , GCWR, diesel generator and 10,000Lb hitch. I can't find it.

DriVer · 12-02-2012, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max49

Where is the link showing GVWR , GCWR, diesel generator and 10,000Lb hitch. I can't find it.

it's in the Post #9 in this thread ... I uploaded 2 PDF documents with all the specs.

max49 · 12-02-2012, 06:49 PM

It's hard to have pre confidence in this company when it appears they did not proof the specs before making them public. Diesel generator, 23500 gvwr, 26000 gcwr,10,000lb hitch and they have an electric parking brake.
Are they for real?

96 Wideglide · 12-02-2012, 06:56 PM

Another leaf spring chassis...... why bother

!

If they built an air ride chassis for a front engine gasser, they'd have something!

Mekanic · 12-02-2012, 09:06 PM

The more I look at the pic the more I notice nothing really new except for that LS series engine. It just looks like a GM truck chassis streched.

dieselclacker · 12-02-2012, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

Another leaf spring chassis...... why bother

!

If they built an air ride chassis for a front engine gasser, they'd have something!

Yeah, thats what they need to do, be a little more innovative. Full air suspension with auto leveling after parking. I'd go for that, would even trade the automatic park function for air ride.

DriVer · 12-02-2012, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

Another leaf spring chassis...... why bother

!

If they built an air ride chassis for a front engine gasser, they'd have something!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a long tapered leaf spring, and a tuned shock absorber. Some people prefer that type of suspension.

Air bags are always an option since this is a Custom Chassis Company and they could install any of these type of components if and OEM orders them.

You will see in my Spartan article that will be seen shortly that the Extol is available in both leaf spring and air bag depending on OEM specifications. You can also get air brake or hydraulic brake. That's the flexibility you can have as a custom chassis company.

Whatever an OEM orders; that just about the configuration that they are going to get. Workhorse had close to 500 SPIDs that an OEM could have ordered and I'm sure that type of flexibility will be available at both American and Spartan.

DriVer · 12-02-2012, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mekanic

It just looks like a GM truck chassis streched.

Most all gasoline powered motorhomes are built on truck chassis. Although marketing agencies spin this stuff one way or another to make us believe that we're on a motorhome chassis, there is little to distinguish a truck chassis from a motorhome chassis.

GM never had a truck chassis that looked like the Apex or a W-Series Workhorse. When GM divested itself of their motohome/truck chassis it had IFS, a skinny rail and a narrow front track. The early P series with its wide track and the subsequent W-Series that came out in 2001 from Workhorse was unlike any chassis that GM came out with prior to the year 2000 and since.

DriVer · 12-02-2012, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselclacker

Yeah, thats what they need to do, be a little more innovative.

They can be as innovative proportionally to the width of the opening of a wallet

What "WE" are looking for here in this forum is a stump pulling, low reving torque monster. I don't think that we're seeing that from a 6.0L but I would be willing to give it a test drive.

delornut · 01-03-2013, 10:06 AM

Any new chassis success story will depend on a strong dealer network. Ford has that, Workhorse had it and Spartan has this. Apex will need to get their ducks in order and get a support network in place to have any chance of success. In hind sight it looks to me like Navistar made a big marketing mistake when it bailed on the RV market. From what we're seeing the RV industry is leading much of manufacturing in recovering from the big recession. Navistar has had some good products over the years but hasn't led in business decisions.

DriVer · 01-03-2013, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delornut

Any new chassis success story will depend on a strong dealer network.

delonut, The APEX looks to me like it has about 90% or more in common with a W-Series Workhorse Chassis and it uses a GM engine and an Allison transmission. All one would have to do is a little research and begin signing up the existing dealerships.

It's not going to be a walk in the park to sign up all those service assets but I know a few that would sign up tomorrow.