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Old 11-17-2019, 02:52 PM   #21
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I didn’t notice any real problems with the weight, however I do find my 2016 Axis easier and less tiring to drive than the Vegas. When I weighed on my way to Alaska in my Vegas, I was over 12,400 lbs, but I was carrying extra tools and spare parts - force of habit from spending months in the Bahamas in my boat where you couldn’t get parts and had to fix everything yourself. In Alaska I worried about the stresses on the chassis over potholed, gravel roads. It can’t be good to be at max weight all the time. I just don’t feel that way in the E450.

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Old 11-17-2019, 02:53 PM   #22
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I had one of the first Vegas 24.1s in 2014 and it was in a 350 chassis. When I was full of water, fuel and supplies for a long trip (like to Alaska and back) I was right on 12,500 lbs. That did not make me comfortable on some of the rough roads in Canada and Alaska, but I felt I needed to keep my fuel and water tanks full. On the AlCan while I knew exactly where the next gas station was, it did not always have fuel when I got there. The E-450 on my 2016 Axis gives me 2000 extra lbs to work with. I would not buy another E-350 Axis or Vegas,

I know what you’re saying, but I personally wouldn’t worry about a 24.1 on E-350.

The main difference between E-350 and E-450 is the rear axle and springs, and it’s only 8,500 versus 9,600 pounds difference, or 1,100 pounds, not 2,000 pounds. Officially it’s 2,000 pounds for legal purposes, but for my safety and peace of mind it’s 1,100 pounds.

Also, the weakest reported link are usually tires, and they are identical. You gain nothing in that area by upgrading to E-450.

Personally, I’d like to see a lighter Axis built so this isn’t even a concern.
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Old 11-17-2019, 03:28 PM   #23
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a $200 set of helper springs, and your e350 shortcoming fears are eliminated.
I'm really not sure what this whole conversation is about.

Rv's are a kit. A starting point you make your own. People paint their land home interior, exterior, buy furniture to suit only them, get the fridge they want even though a fridge came with the home.

Why do we have the
'I can't make any modifications to make it the way I want'
Mentality about rv's?

This chasing chassis weight to the pound and tires to the tenth of psi and no screens on heater exhaust seems so exhausting.

I, personally, choose to change things that worry me into things I have now modified to be out of the worry circle. Consequently, anything that worried me worries me no more and I have an intimate knowledge of their workings due to the modifications.
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Old 11-17-2019, 09:43 PM   #24
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Basically

Ford has brought back the E350 stripped, the RV manufactures are going to buy and use the E350 stripped, people are going to buy the RVs built on the E350 stripped and there isn't a thing anyone on this forum can do about it. Yes you can say you wouldn't buy one but 10 to 1 says you weren't going to anyway.

I haven't seen a single thread on any forum where someone stated their early Axis/Vegas on an E350 chassis has broke in half because of the E350's GVWR.

Bottom line, the manufacturer has the right to use whatever chassis they want and that sells product and the consumer has the right to reject purchasing the product based on the chassis the manufacturer has chosen to use. Let's see how the Axis/Vegas sells in the future.

Isn't capitalism great; it would be even better if it was a truly free market society.
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Old 11-17-2019, 11:36 PM   #25
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Since about 2012, I’m not aware of any other RV manufacturer that has used the E-Series stripped chassis to build Class A motorhomes.

Most E-Series (350 or 450) stripped chassis probably end up as some kind of commercial walk-in van.
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Old 11-17-2019, 11:56 PM   #26
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Since about 2012, I’m not aware of any other RV manufacturer that has used the E-Series stripped chassis to build Class A motorhomes.

Most E-Series (350 or 450) stripped chassis probably end up as some kind of commercial walk-in van.
Winnebago uses the Ford E-350/450 chassis for their Outlook.
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Old 11-18-2019, 12:21 AM   #27
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Winnebago uses the Ford E-350/450 chassis for their Outlook.
The Outlook is a Class C. This thread is discussing stripped chassis used to build a Class A like an Axis or Vegas. Thor wasn’t first one to used a stripped chassis for a smaller and lighter Class A, but after ~ 2012 the only other manufacturer I’m aware of unfortunately stopped using the E-Series stripped chassis.


https://winnebagoind.com/products/cl...tlook/overview
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Old 11-18-2019, 01:11 AM   #28
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The Outlook is a Class C. This thread is discussing stripped chassis used to build a Class A like an Axis or Vegas. Thor wasn’t first one to used a stripped chassis for a smaller and lighter Class A, but after ~ 2012 the only other manufacturer I’m aware of unfortunately stopped using the E-Series stripped chassis.


https://winnebagoind.com/products/cl...tlook/overview
You’re right. I was not looking at the Outlook, but the 2020 Winnebago Vista 27, but it is on an F Series SuperDuty chassis not an E-Series. I knew Winnebago was using a Ford chassis that was not the F-53.
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Old 11-18-2019, 04:09 AM   #29
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You’re right. I was not looking at the Outlook, but the 2020 Winnebago Vista 27, but it is on an F Series SuperDuty chassis not an E-Series. I knew Winnebago was using a Ford chassis that was not the F-53.
Winnebago says all the Vistas are on the F53.
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Old 11-18-2019, 12:58 PM   #30
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Winnebago says all the Vistas are on the F53.
Take a VIN and throw it at a Vin decoder: the one I did it with said Super Duty frame.
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Old 11-18-2019, 02:18 PM   #31
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This could be incorrect. It would not be the first time that there was bad information on a website.
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Old 11-18-2019, 02:24 PM   #32
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Has anybody thought to just give Thor a call, and ask them about this?
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Old 11-18-2019, 02:26 PM   #33
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What fun would that be! And who would believe them anyway.
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Old 11-18-2019, 03:24 PM   #34
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Okay: you got me on that one...
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Old 11-18-2019, 03:25 PM   #35
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“Super Duty” doesn’t mean much. Even my old van uses it. E-350 XLT SUPER DUTY is on back door. It’s common designation for most Ford trucks and chassis.

Choices for motorhome stripped chassis are either E-Series or F-53. As far as I know, only Axis and Vegas currently use E-Series stripped chassis to build a compact Class A.

Maybe that will change if downsizing continues, but I doubt it. Manufacturers have little cost incentive, so unless they plan to build really small Class As again, there’s little chance other manufacturers will use the stripped E-Series.
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Old 11-18-2019, 03:59 PM   #36
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Has anybody thought to just give Thor a call, and ask them about this?
You really want to sit on hold that long to see if they'll answer this question?
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Old 11-18-2019, 04:03 PM   #37
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“Super Duty” doesn’t mean much. Even my old van uses it. E-350 XLT SUPER DUTY is on back door. It’s common designation for most Ford trucks and chassis.

Choices for motorhome stripped chassis are either E-Series or F-53. As far as I know, only Axis and Vegas currently use E-Series stripped chassis to build a compact Class A.

Maybe that will change if downsizing continues, but I doubt it. Manufacturers have little cost incentive, so unless they plan to build really small Class As again, there’s little chance other manufacturers will use the stripped E-Series.
Is stripped here referring to 'cut-away' or is it truly 'stripped' and, if so, to what extent? That that you 'should' know. Just asking if you do. I keep seeing cutaway. Never 'stripped'
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Old 11-18-2019, 04:08 PM   #38
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I'm surprised how many here don't know their A's from a hole in the ground....
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Old 11-18-2019, 05:01 PM   #39
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You really want to sit on hold that long to see if they'll answer this question?
I need the rest...


http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1574096488
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Old 11-18-2019, 06:08 PM   #40
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Is stripped here referring to 'cut-away' or is it truly 'stripped' and, if so, to what extent? That that you 'should' know. Just asking if you do. I keep seeing cutaway. Never 'stripped'
Yeah, the “stripped” chassis is very similar to a “Cutaway” that has had the body removed. Specifications for the frame, suspension, engine, etc. are essentially the same when comparing similar-size and rated units.


The E-Series chassis is more involved than the simpler and larger F-53, so the listed MSRP is actually as high or higher for the lighter-duty E-Series.. For that reason I think manufacturers will use the F-53 if the motorhome is large enough.

The only scenario where I could see stripped E-Series being used in large numbers is if somehow there was a demand for 20 ~ 24 foot Class As like were built decades ago, or are still built in other countries. At shorter lengths the F-53 makes for a goofy-looking motorhome.

The original Axis 24.1 seemed like a good fit for the E-350 to me, but once Thor started making the Axis/Vegas larger and larger, it crossed into F-53 territory. I’m not in marketing, but would have taken the Axis/Vegas line in opposite direction — offering more floorplans in size of 24.1 or even smaller.

By the way, one of the biggest differences between Cutaway and Stripped chassis is that Ford no longer offers single-rear-wheel stripped units. They did in the past (picture below), and could be the foundation of smaller Class As, but apparently there wasn’t enough demand for that chassis configuration. I doubt it was a technical issue because they still offer the Cutaway in SRW at 138 and 158 inch wheelbase.
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