If I were in the market, specifically for model 2100, I would surely consider the Transit option. It seems ideal for the application.
Model 2350 without a slide out works for us. With our 2007 E350 chassis, our rig empty (with a full tank of fuel and propane) weighs 9,920 pounds. With a GVWR of 11,500 pounds, we can add 1580 pounds of ourselves, on-board fresh water, and supplies. Our typical load during trips is only a few hundred pounds less than max with all the weight we add resting on the rear axle.
A bare Transit chassis weighs less than an E350, but if weighed the same, a Transit version with a GVWR of 10,360 pounds, you have only 440 pounds to work with. Two 220 pound adults alone would put it at it's limit. I don't see Phoenix offering a Transit 2350 unless Ford increased it's GVWR.
Our 2007 2350 weighed empty, but with a full tank of gasoline and propane.
Wandering off topic a bit, here is our weight distribution. With most of the weight we add resting behind the rear axle, the teeter-totter effect lightens the front axle such that our body weight up front adds even more to the rear axle weight. It seems Phoenix should consider increasing the E-series wheel base to match the Sprinter version for much improved weight distribution and improved handling. Changing the default chassis from the E350 to the E450 is a brute-force method to address the condition, but is still not right to me. The E450 2350 is over-kill creating a very rough-riding rig. My thoughts on a solution for that is "spring rate reduction" to fine-tune to the actual load. It's a science if you desire to get it right. As of late, I am giving "science" a try, though at a snail's pace. First-up is reducing the spring rate up front, maybe followed with a small increase in back.
