Community Forums

chunker · 03-25-2021, 04:51 AM

The question deals with which platform is safer. A typical A has little frontal protection something that the C can provide. I imagine the F-550 chassis such as on the Thor Omni is more heavy duty and the pickup cab provides more protection than the E-450 chassis which is widely used. Either should provide considerably more that an A. Besides the frontal airbags does the typical cutaway chassis of either still include any of the side airbags?

jackreno · 03-29-2021, 12:08 AM

Well they both have to pass a crash test at or near the same level, maybe the front engine would be a little safer but it does add to the length of the RV and the cost is much higher.

Class A RV's have the least frontal protection and I drove one for 8 years and it never bothered me much.

Heck I drove a motorcycle for years and that has zero protection so either a van or truck class C would be equal to me..

gljurczyk · 03-29-2021, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunker

The question deals with which platform is safer. A typical A has little frontal protection something that the C can provide. I imagine the F-550 chassis such as on the Thor Omni is more heavy duty and the pickup cab provides more protection than the E-450 chassis which is widely used. Either should provide considerably more that an A. Besides the frontal airbags does the typical cutaway chassis of either still include any of the side airbags?

I do not know of any side airbags, driver and passenger only that I have seen, on Ford or Chevy E450 or the 4500. Atleast not in 2018.

chunker · 03-29-2021, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackreno

Well they both have to pass a crash test at or near the same level, maybe the front engine would be a little safer but it does add to the length of the RV and the cost is much higher.

Class A RV's have the least frontal protection and I drove one for 8 years and it never bothered me much.

Heck I drove a motorcycle for years and that has zero protection so either a van or truck class C would be equal to me..

Agree I drove a class A DP for 5 years, motorcycles for 45. The 5
F-550 I'm considering is also a diesel so the whole package is another step up from the E-450 under consideration.

jackreno · 03-29-2021, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunker

Agree I drove a class A DP for 5 years, motorcycles for 45. The 5
F-550 I'm considering is also a diesel so the whole package is another step up from the E-450 under consideration.

A step up yes but you also got to add a lot of 0's behind the sale price compared to the E-450.

The new E-450/350 have the 7.3L V-8 with the 6 speed torque shift transmission, it has the HP/Torque to get er done at a far less cost and maintenance..

R Cabesa · 04-01-2021, 10:00 AM

Nothing to comment on the safety difference, and I LOVE the F550 truck cab and possible factory 4x4, but the F-cab is 30" longer than the E-cab,

So, your RV gets 2-1/2 feet longer without gaining any living space and a longer wheelbase to go along with it

I still want one

AlfaBaz · 04-01-2021, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Cabesa

Nothing to comment on the safety difference, and I LOVE the F550 truck cab and possible factory 4x4, but the F-cab is 30" longer than the E-cab,

So, your RV gets 2-1/2 feet longer without gaining any living space and a longer wheelbase to go along with it

I still want one

We bought a Thor Omni (Ford F-550 chassis, Diesel and the new 10 speed trans) a little over a month ago. We were often told that the F platform was significantly stronger and more rigid than the E platform. Although I can't really speak to the validity of that claim, I can say that the F cab is far more comfortable than the E cab (no doghouse!), and the F-550 seems to handle the load very well. We've taken a couple of short trips, and have a little longer one coming up. So far, we love the coach!

bandi · 04-01-2021, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaBaz

We bought a Thor Omni (Ford F-550 chassis, Diesel and the new 10 speed trans) a little over a month ago. We were often told that the F platform was significantly stronger and more rigid than the E platform. Although I can't really speak to the validity of that claim, I can say that the F cab is far more comfortable than the E cab (no doghouse!), and the F-550 seems to handle the load very well. We've taken a couple of short trips, and have a little longer one coming up. So far, we love the coach!

Awesome to here !...

My 22' Rb34 is on order (delivery in July - I hope)....

R Cabesa · 04-02-2021, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaBaz

We bought a Thor Omni (Ford F-550 chassis, Diesel and the new 10 speed trans) a little over a month ago. We were often told that the F platform was significantly stronger and more rigid than the E platform. Although I can't really speak to the validity of that claim, I can say that the F cab is far more comfortable than the E cab (no doghouse!), and the F-550 seems to handle the load very well. We've taken a couple of short trips, and have a little longer one coming up. So far, we love the coach!

I camped next to one of these this week

Nice looking rig

R Cabesa · 04-02-2021, 05:08 PM

Excuse my crappy photoshop skills, but this would work for me.

About 27-1/2" feet overall, lifted 3-4" so you could actually have a little bit of ground clearance. Walk around queen bed in the rear, NO slides

Nobody builds one

R Cabesa · 04-02-2021, 09:56 PM

I did a little more work on the overhead. I don't really need that as a bed, only storage

Who builds this???

AlfaBaz · 04-02-2021, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Cabesa

I did a little more work on the overhead. I don't really need that as a bed, only storage

Who builds this???

Closest I've seen would probably be the Dynamax Isata 28SS.

R Cabesa · 04-02-2021, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaBaz

Closest I've seen would probably be the Dynamax Isata 28SS.

Yes, but it is 31 feet long

Phil G. · 04-02-2021, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Cabesa

I did a little more work on the overhead. I don't really need that as a bed, only storage

Who builds this???

It's OK to want more ground clearance on a Class C. Most of them come stock being too close to the ground for versatile use.

However IMHO, it should not be accomplished by raising the body and keeping little donut tires on it. The best way is to leave the body's relationship to the frame as stock ... but installing larger diameter tires so as to raise everything up, starting right from the rims!

(The above is what I did on our 24 foot E450 Class C the first time I put new tires on it. We take it offroad occasionally and I wanted a little more clearance margin just in case.)