more power please

[DriVer]

Originally posted by ajbjrvers:
workhorse is still in research and development so i would not buy one at this point, just read irv2 comments from owners and RV magazines.

You're absolutely correct, Workhorse is still in research and development and what's coming in the very near term is going to be amazing.

Previous R&D projects developed what we see on current Workhorse models and the technology there is sound and mature. The GM 8.1L engine gets its heritage from the venerable 454 and Allison makes the best automatic transmission in the world.

After years of continuing development since 1999 and given the fact that WCC is the leading supplier of Class A gas motorhome chassis in anyone's opinion, I think that purchasing a Workhorse chassis is a reasonable and prudent investment.

Whenever you're in the lead in anything commentary will always be generated by owners. In my experience and having spoken with hundreds of owners this year in my travels the general consensus of opinion is that 98% of the population that own a Workhorse know what they have and they are pleased with the price vs performance of their motorhomes.

Reading comments from owners on iRV2.com clearly shows a favorable consensus of opinion, the pros here far outweigh the cons.

Regarding what is in print in commercial media and according to the majority of the press, Workhorse is the best thing since sliced bread and it continues to receive this type of accolade with most RV commercial publications.

[Retired House Husband]

I find it amazing when a poster asks how to get more performance from a Ford 460 engine and we end up with a commercial endorsement for Workhorse. DriVer you bias is unequaled.

[DriVer]

Originally posted by House Husband:
DriVer you bias is unequaled.

House Husband, I was simply responding to the quote I enclosed in my post. I even the most avid Ford owner will concede that the language implied in the "quote" was not accurate. If anyone posts something here that's not accurate about an F53 I'll be the first person to make sure what's right is right.

There are quite a few Ford owners here at the VA State Samboree in Harrisonburg and they are truly nice people. I'll defend anyone's right to own whichever motorhome chassis they chose unlike some of the "drivel" that I hear from genuinely prejudiced people here in the fairground that think they know everything. It's amazing the opinions that people have and how they voice that opinion in the most rudest terms when it's really not warranted.

What a person owns is what a person owns and I can respect that.

About the 460, I like big blocks.

[Petro]

I have to agree with DriVer. I previously had a 460 with a Banks and the Banks made a world of difference. After having driven a Workhorse I wanted one. I could not afford a new one so I looked far and wide for a used one. I found my present coach used with 13,000 miles on it. It has more power than my previous coach gets better gas mileage and is far superior to anything I have previously owned. I AM A HAPPY CAMPER

Don

[max49]

Gordon, Other than motor homes and boats, there is'nt that much demand for big and powerful gas engines. Most to all commercial trucks are diesel powered. RV owners don't typicaly put many miles on their rigs so they opt for the cheaper gasoline engines. Class C motorhomes are available with the Ford Powerstroke. These are powerful engines. These engines especially respond to putting a "chip" in them and will almost give you whiplash in a F-350 pick up when you step on it
. I've only seen one class C with a power stroke diesel. Most ppl don't want to pay the extra 6K or so for a MH they will only drive a few thousand miles a year. I like a diesel engine, I've been in road construction all my life but they are expensive to buy, and harder to work on and now an extra .60 a gal for fuel. When I have problems with the equipment at work, I just call one of our full time mechanics out.
On the first gear mtn passes, most of the big trucks are going just as slow if not slower than I am

["007"]

I can be bias both ways I have owned 4 Fords, 460 an three V-10's. The 460 had all the problems with the manifolds and cracked heads , v-10 I improved with Banks sys an trans-command, all the Fords had one of the best power trains on the market at the time yr 88 thru 2000 than came along Workhorse its like night and day I'am afraid Ford has been left in the dust and WH still keeps one step ahead when ever Ford tries to step up.
If FORD was the only other chassis it would win in my book over the Chev 454 even with its better mileage just didn't like Chev chassis's. I would like to move up to the w-24,6 speed well maybe some day.
With all the new chassis WH is putting out they will hold the advantage over Ford. The Fords I had could not support the Newmar coachs and I had to add leaf springs on one and air bags on another, it wasn't Fords fault it was the only chassis the Mfg had at the time.
I know alot of happy Ford owners and I'am a happy WH owner. "007"

[markclement]

We may be talking apples and oranges here but if the $$$$ for the Banks systems. I have a 1997 f250H/D with a 460 with 35,000 mls on it and have just recently started to use it to pull a 12,000lb 31ft Cardinal 5th wheel with it.It did the job ok but I like camping on the beach. so with airing down the tires and pulling all that weight up and down the very soft sand I felt I need more. I contacted Troyer and ordered a chip. I did not expect a lot and was not promised land speed records. What I did get was like some one kicked it in the butt a little. It now runs like what I thought it should have out of the factory. And at about $200 it was a good deal as well. They even said they could get a little more out of it but it would take a little longer as they had to do some more work to the chip. That would have cost $100 more. Again a very reasonable price. I would have gone for the extra $100 but it was the midlle of the season and did not want to wait. So this may be another option for you. Give them a call. They are very nice and found them also very easy to deal with. Don't get me wrong if you want to go the full nut you really can't beat Banks they are just a little pricy for some of us.

[Dutch Star Don]

Gordon....I had the 460 in a 1991 Fleetwood Jamboree. If you don't want to spend alot of money there are a couple of things you can do. I'm not sure if your model has a catalytic converter. On mine, the headers went into the converter at 3 inches and came out at 2.5 inches, into a 2.5 inch exhaust. I cut the end of the converter flange (exhaust side) back about 1/2 inch to open the convertert to 3 inches. This is not illegal and does not expose the internal components of the converter. You then add 3 inch pipe from the converter back into a 5 ton truck muffler with 3 inch exhaust. This muffler is very common and cheap. This opened the system up and was very quiet. It also extends the life of the converter by reducing heat. You should be able to have a muffler shop do all of the above for about $250.00 to $300.00.

Also on that model was a rectangular air filter air box with two 3 inch tubes coming out of it and going to the throttle body. If you examine the tubes just before the throttle body you'll see that they go into a double plastic connector that is about 8 inches long. If you remove the hoses from the airbox side of this connector you'll see that this connector is squeezed down into what looks like a set of trumpet horns. These force feed air into the the throttle body for mid range performance, but choke the engine at higher speeds. You can take a hacksaw and cut the trumpet shape part of the connector off. (NOTE: Ford got rid of these in later years and may not be ther on yours. You'll also lose some midrange power, but will see an increase at the top.

There were three familes in the group we travel with that all had similar Fleetwood Class C's with the 460. Mine was the largest (27') and I towed the largest/heaviest boat. I was always able to pull the other two on long grades. Hope this helps.