Ford VS Mercedes, class C 25 foot ish, who has driven both, this question only about

[dutch99]

Ford VS Mercedes, class C 25 foot ish, who has driven both, this question only about driving them on the freeway, how do they handle on the freeway? What's it like to drive 75 MPH in your class C ?

[SeeTheUSA]

Originally Posted by dutch99

… snipped … What's it like to drive 75 MPH in your class C ?

It feels like I’m going too fast, but 65 feels good.

[Phil G.]

Originally Posted by dutch99

Ford VS Mercedes, class C 25 foot ish, who has driven both, this question only about driving them on the freeway, how do they handle on the freeway? What's it like to drive 75 MPH in your class C ?

In regards to handling:


How much does a 25ft. Class C push the chassis limits for the Mercedes?


Now compare the above to how much a 25 ft. Class C pushes the chassis limits of the Ford E450 chassis?


I suspect that the E450 would deal with the weight and coach size of a 25 footer better than the Mercedes.

[RV_Lee]

One of the Navion/View reviews I watched stated it had something similar to Newmars comfort drive where the electric steering compensates for wind gusts. Can anyone elaborate on that? If so, is it a feature on all MB's or just Winnebagos?

[SergioP]

A DRW Mercedes will handle better than a Class C at 75mph. It’s just a more modern chassis design.

The Ford chassis needs a few upgrades to help the handling. An alignment with adjustable bushings to get more caster to help with wandering. A rear track bar and or larger sway bars, better shocks, for better handling. At 75mph a V10 will get 7mpg or less. A Class C without an overhead bunk might get a little better mpg.

[Onyrlef]

Originally Posted by SeeTheUSA

It feels like I’m going too fast, but 65 feels good.

Good answer, seeing as how the speed rating of the avg. top end MoHo tire is 75mph, granted some go higher, but that's the exception.

[NLOVNIT]

I test drove a used Thor Chateau (don't remember the model but it was around 25ft), a new Entegra Qwest 24-something & my (current) PC 2350S. The Mercedes both seemed nimble & lightweight, they had good pickup. The PC solid & beefy but a bit slow on the pedal. I don't drive 75 in RV's so I can't comment on that. The sweetspot for gas mileage in my PC is about 2000rpm & between 62-65mph.

[cherv]

ewe have an e450 class c 25' and did major chassis upgrades to improve ride and tracking. not familiar with Mercedes but we love our e450, great power and milage at 62 to 65 mph

[Capt Steve]

in choosing between a MB and a Ford E-350/450 consider how you will be using the coach the majority of the time. If you will be loading heavy or towing on a regular basis get the Ford. The difference in towing capability is dramatic. i have spoken with a number of MB owners and not one recommended their MB's for serious towing/loading.

The MB payload is fairly light and the MB diesel cannot compare to the V-10 or the new 7.3L V-8 when it comes to both HP and Torque. The Fords are notoriously thirstier, expect around 9 +/- non towing and closer to 8 towing/loaded heavy and you will get around 15 non towing with the MB's {no they do not get 18 - 20}

As far as the Fords needing thousands $$$ to improve their suspension/ride and handling I have to chuckle. A proper alignment, with the requisite increased caster settings and tire pressure for the load they are carrying is about all that is needed for excellent performance. For the record I have had our 2012 24' Nexus for 9+ years and 74,000 trouble free miles and we live in central Arizona which is a challenging environment to say the least.

As always... Opinions and YMMV.

[Rockwood27]

Originally Posted by dutch99

Ford VS Mercedes, class C 25 foot ish,.....

Ford provides a E350, E450 and Transit chassis for Class Cs. The Transit is closest to the Sprinter. There is also the Dodge Ram Promaster chassis to consider.

Sent from my SM-A515U using iRV2 - RV Forum mobile app

[johninsd]

I have a 2016 Itasca Navion on the Sprinter 3500 chassis (2015 chassis model year) and have been quite pleased with it for almost 80,000 miles now. I test drove a few Fords with the V10 and the handling seemed OK for a house but the test drives were fairly short. The big reason to go with the MB was the driving comfort - in the Fords it was difficult or impossible to get in and out of the driver's seat to go back aft because the engine doghouse was so close to the driver and passenger seats. But in the MB there is flat floor between the seats and plenty of room to move back toward the house part of the coach. There is also a lot more legroom for both the driver and the passenger seats. I tow a 3800 pound Jeep most of the time and it keeps up with the 18 wheelers - but not the sports cars of course. Fuel mileage is around 16 solo or about 13 when towing the Jeep. YMMV. The only time I drove it at 75 mph most of the day (in Texas, speed limit was 80) it got about 12-13 mpg and I was not towing. The stability was fine (for a house not a sports car). I usually drive at about 62-63 mph, just got used to that speed as the California towing speed limit is 55 and most trucks seem to go 62 or so.

[HighDesert]

Just a side note here , but the other big factor to consider between the two is getting the worked on when needed. Most Mercedes dealers won’t touch a Sprinter Class C. Fords are much easier to have work done, and cheaper too.
And no reason to drive 75 mph but if so, my experience is the Sprinter handles better and is more nimble.

[NLOVNIT]

Originally Posted by HighDesert

Just a side note here , but the other big factor to consider between the two is getting the worked on when needed...

Agreed. That & the Fords are gasoline fuel (currently much cheaper than diesel) so no concerns about DEF problems. All the posts here on iRV2 about owners with derate problems with their DEF systems scared me away from ever owning another diesel engine coach.

[Willee]

Had a Ford E450 V10 & now I have a Mercedes sprinter. First off, with every motorhome, one needs to accept some compromises, as there is no perfect rig. Mileage - Sprinter 15 / E450 7; Cabin noise when driving - Sprinter way quieter / Ford we had to yell at one another; At 75 mph - don't recommend either one; Seats - Mercedes quite a bit more comfortable; Towing Capacity - E450 @ #5000 vs Sprinter @ #4000; Driving experience - Prefer the Sprinter; Dash & Cockpit features - E450; Fuel Tank - Sprinter 26 / Ford 50 (because of mileage, the result is you have to stop and fill up at about the same driving distance); Truck buffeting & cross winds - E450; Which do I prefer to drive for 6 hours - Sprinter.
I own a Sprinter now, and prefer driving it over the E450 I had.