Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: CalCruiser on October 16, 2018, 01:24:54 am
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Game on TRX fans !
http://www.coachhouserv.com/inventory-detail.php?unit=561
http://www.coachhouserv.com/model-250.php
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The overhang behind the rear axle looks huge. Tail-wag handling trouble?
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The bottom will scrape, the Fuse does.
Lynn
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As interesting as it is, that particular Transit looks concerning to me as well.
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Yes the folks at Coach House went a little overboard on the CH Plat 250. Its over a foot longer then the nearest competition so tail dragging is a real possibility. Their biggest concern is that it came in under 700 LBS of OCC. GVWR is only 10,360 LBS so not a lot to work with. After the Hershey Show they started a little re-engineering. LTV's Wonder comes in at about 925 LBS OCC. Same 178" WB as the CH 250, no slide and almost a foot shorter. The Fuse 1200 OCC
Currently, the WBGO Fuse is the standard that manf are using to develop the Ford Transit platform. They have sold about 500 over the last, almost 3 years. Owners have been raving about the 16-18 MPG, performance of the 5 cylinder Diesel, and handling. No more quirky MB mechanical issues, many more Ford dealers to service at much less cost. I spent 2 weeks in a Fuse 23A last year. Never have driven an RV that handles so well. 156" WB and 24'. Wife loved it. Wanted to drive all the time. Yes, the earlier models did drag. WBGO did make adjustment in mid 2018 to address.
I recently sent PC a few pics of the Fuse. I think they could make a fine mini 2551 on the Transit chassis.
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pic
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Wow, the Coach House Transit provides only 700 pounds to work with? That is ridiculous. The Winnebago Fuse Transit with 925 pounds isn't much better. We would have to travel without water which is unacceptable for us because we boon-dock 100% the time. Even traveling dry, I think we would be over-weight with the basics we carry.
Our 2007 PC2350 E350-V10 with no slide out has a weight rating of 11,500 pounds. I weighed it empty & dry but with a full tank of gas (55 gallons) and 10 gallons of LP gas. It came in at 9920 pounds. That means our actual cargo capacity is 1580 pounds. Our heaviest trip weighed in at 11480, just 20 pounds less than the limit. Irene and I, our combined body weight is around 300 pounds. Other than fresh and bottled water, the heavy stuff we carry is related to mechanical and towing. I wouldn't know how to reduce our added weight by 655 pounds and still make a nice trip of it.
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Ron---the LTV Wonder Transit is 925 Lbs. The Fuse is around 1200 Lbs depending on options.
Its the new breed of RVer's. Not our dads RV. Kin to the tiny house folks. Living off the grid, traveling light and fast. WBGO class A coach sales has fallen over 50% in the last few years. Hence good sales in the Trend, Travato, Paseo and Fuse lines. Reduction in weights using Truma H/W and heating systems, Lithium batteries, solar systems, inverters, compressor fridges are now standard in several WBGO product lines.
Not sure I could cope with the changes either, although I do like some of the new features. Our biggest issues would be what do we do with 100 LBS of wine? :help
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The 2019 LTV Wonder RTB looks impressive with separate living room and bedroom areas. The TRX prototype looks similar to the Wonder FTB model. Barry H. said a MB model is coming in February.
Phoenix had a used Fuse 23A for sale last spring. Maybe they took it apart and put it back together to reverse engineer how Winnebago made it so light? There's a bunch of mostly negative Fuse reviews all over the internet, mostly due to Winnebago defects, not attributed to Ford.
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Our biggest issues would be what do we do with 100 LBS of wine? :help
Ha ha.
Thanks for the correction on the LTV being the one with only 925 lb.
The Winnebago Fuse having 1200 is more realistic.
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I have a 2004 Phoenix Cruiser brochure that lists the "Approx. Unit Base Weight" as follows : 21' =8190. 23' =8490 25' = 8900. Maybe that means without the "Popular Options" (brochure pre-dates the convenience package) such as generator, roof air, awning, microwave, & class 3 hitch.
Those numbers appear to be in-line with later model year numbers. Like you say, the convenience package adds significant weight. A second house battery also added extra weight. I would think the Corian counters added some too.
So you have a 2004 Brochure? If you are able to scan it, I would love to have a soft copy. I collect PC model year brochure soft copies. I wished Phoenix had all their brochures available on their website like Winnebago does.
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If it fits, load it!
Cheers...
Barry T
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CalCruiser ---Right about the first year or so on the Fuse. Thats why I think one of the top three boutique RV makers (PC-CH<V) could do an admirable job building one. I actually have been the unofficial "Glitch Statistician" on the Fuse Owners Forum since early 2017. :-D They have had a number of issues dealing with quality of workmanship. Nothing earth shattering, but a concern when you pay $100K for an RV. WBGO has recently curtailed (temp) production of the Fuse in order to implement changes and improvements recommended by their own engineers and Fuse owners. There have been three owners group members meetings with the Fuse product managers over the last year and a half. The most recent was in Forrest City last month. A number of those recommended changes are being implemented.
We have developed a list over the past years to one, supply to WBGO, and two, to give to new buyers so that they can use as a checklist when purchasing. WBGO dealers are terrible for the most part when it comes to product knowledge and service. Quite a few of the items on the list really are not WBGO problems...more vendor issues. I have attached the list....it is hard to keep up with when they are pushing 5-8 Fuses off the line a week.
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I'm with BFTOWNES. I think of my 2350 as a T R U C K. I just load it logically and keep the tire pressure at proper levels. I don't have any extra sway or steering equipment and we always travel with a full tank of water because we normally boondock. I keep the chassis and the rv stuff in very good maintenance condition. I don't fret. Like Barry, I just load and go. I have no control problems and have had excellent service out of our rig for five years now.
These things aren't helicopters.
Paul
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The overhang behind the rear axle looks huge. Tail-wag handling trouble?
There is one "huge" advantage that PC has in building their units that others generally do not have. They use Morryde to customize the chassis and drive train length to meet design needs, WB ratio needs, and customer needs. Ford allows it on their E chassis as long as the modifications dont violate GVWR and other specs. MB does not allow it,
The big three pretty much use the standard chassis available and build around them. PC can adapt a chassis to fit its needs. Hence better able to fit 10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound sack so to speak. I think PC could replicate that CH Plat 250...but with a slide in 24-1/2 feet and still have 1000-1100 pounds OCC.
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hutch42 makes a good point.
Both the Sprinter and Transit cut-away chassis have a box frame made of very thin but very strong steel when shaped into a box. It's strength is in it's rigid shape which is compromised if cut and extended. Also, outfitters are not permitted to weld anything to the frame. All modifications like a rear overhang is bolted-on. So outfitters must work with the wheel base as-is from the chassis manufacture.
The E350/E450 has a "C" channel frame made of a softer steel that is much thicker and physically large. Welding to that type of steel has no consequences. Ford has very specific instruction on how outfitters are to cut the frame and extend it. Such Ford-approved frame outfitters do not void the warranty. Whether increasing or reducing the wheel base, extensions or reducers or replacement parts are required. Such parts include the exhaust, fuel lines, wire harness, parking brake cable, brake lines, and drive shaft. Given our PC-2350 uses the standard 158" wheelbase, it avoided all that mechanical deviation which was something I appreciated.
I was at a Chicago auto show a few years ago and took pictures of a virgin Sprinter cut-away and a Transit cut-away work truck. I made note how thin the Sprinter framing material is compared to my E350. I can understand why welding is not allowed on the Sprinter. The weld would burn right through the very thin steel.
I understand that if a Sprinter (and maybe a Transit) gets into an accident with frame damage, it is automatically "totaled", so if you are considering a used Sprinter or Transit-based motor home, be sure to run a Carfax and AutoCheck report. Any accident history requires extra precaution because if twisted or otherwise deformed and not diagnosed properly, you will have bought a problem.
CLICK HERE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/37432012@N08/albums/72157683610094210) to see 16 pictures I took at that show.
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Ron good Pics.
If that is true about the Transit also...maybe makes sense why others have not modified. (by cutting and patching) Think I remember a video with Earl about the Alum. frame extensions they used on the Sprinters.
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The video of the newest Wonder RTB floorplan looks really awesome. All 3 models have a huge amount of storage space, maybe too much for their GVWR. It looks as though LTV limited the accommodations to two as a trade-off ??