Filed under: Etc., Ford click above image for more shots of Ford's new F53 Super Duty chassis Right now my father and uncle are in Louisville, KY supporting the family business (shameless plug!) at the National RV Trade Show, where Ford recently announced a new chassis called the F53 Super Duty for Class A motor homes. For those not mired in the inner workings of the recreational vehicle industry like myself, this is a big deal as Ford supplies 69% of all gas-powered Class A motor home chassis in the country and 34% of the entire Class A market when diesel pushers are also taken into account. It's also the leading chassis supplier in the Class B and C segments, as well. And despite high gas prices and a wonky economy, the RV industry continues to grow because, well, an RV is one of the coolest big boy toys you can buy. This new chassis for flat front RVs can be ordered up with a maximum GVWR of 26,000 lbs., which means it can be packed with more amenities than ever before. And with motor home manufacturers continuing to evolve their designs with things like multiple slide outs, higher quality materials like granite and real tile, as well as new consumer electronics like heavy plasma TVs, the need for a stronger chassis is definitely there. Whether or not the same 362-hp Triton 6.8L V10 is up to the task of pulling all that weight is another question, but it's gonna try. Ford also claims to have improved ride, handling, steering and NVH levels for this Class A chassis, though we can attest that once you load on the body and all your creature comforts from home, every motor home shakes, rattles and rolls like an aging hipster down the road. [Source: Ford, The Detroit News] Gallery: Ford F53 Super Duty Class A chassis Continue reading Ford goes fishin' with new motor home chassis Permalink | Email this | Comments More...
