Motorhome Chassis Comparison

When you're in the market for a motorhome, the first few things you probably look at probably have to do with the convenience and livability. You look for features, accessories, floorplans, and appliances first because these are what you'll live with while on vacations. There's nothing wrong with thinking about these aspects first, but we want our customers to be informed buyers, and to make a really good choice, you should also consider your motorhome's chassis before buying it. This guide will explain a little about what types of chassis improve driveability and tow capacity, but if you have any more questions, feel free to ask one of our experts at Carolina Coach & Marine.

We can repair chassis at our service department, and also sell high quality motorhomes from Dynamax and Forest River, including the Forester lineup. Our dealership is located near Charlotte and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 

Class A

With a larger class A diesel, you're obviously going to need a very strong chassis. Without an intelligently designed chassis, the motorhome will need repairs before too long, and you'll immediately notice issues with handling. In general, especially in these longer RVs, the further the bumper hangs out from the axle, the less control you'll have. This problem can be solved though with added frame rail extensions. Of course, this all depends on how the manufacturer chose to design it.

Freightliner

If you're looking for a motorhome that has a more affordable construction while still offering plenty of durability, Freightliner chassis' are dependable and not as expensive to manufacture they drive very smoothly, so you can handle a motorhome by itself quite easily on this type of chassis. However, when towing extra vehicles, keep in mind that these chassis aren't great for hauling a bunch of extra weight. They aren't quite as strong as higher quality chassis, so you'll be limited on how much you can tow.

Ford

The new Ford chassis deliver outstanding power and control for easy driveability and dependable towing capacity on your class A diesel. When complemented with the 6.8L Triton 3 Valve V10, motorhomes equipped with these chassis can haul up to 22,000 lbs without much trouble. Not only do they give you extra power, but you'll also enjoy a smooth, comfortable drive over long bumpy roads with this high quality construction.

Class B

In the more compact design of a class B motorhome, you don't need a chassis strong enough the move a near 40 ft. home-on-wheels. The extra strength means extra weight, and you want your ride to be as light as possible. Nonetheless, with the proper chassis on a class B, you'll get all the maneuverability you expect from a compact motorhome, so you should still choose your RV carefully by its chassis.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis combine the nimble lightweight nature of smaller vehicles with plenty of durability for confident driving. These chassis have class-leading towing capacity, and their durability allows them to move your compact motorhome down the road as easily as you would a car.

Class C

The hybrid class C motorhome is always a great compromise between the comfy but bulky class As and the drivable yet crowded class Bs. However, these mid-sized RVs can still get pretty sizeable, so you want a good, strong chassis to support it and make driving as easy as possible. Towing also should be a factor, as you probably expect to haul some stuff behind one of these mid-sized motorhomes.

Ford

Ford designs chassis for class C motorhomes with more intelligence than most other manufacturers. They utilize location properly by placing the 40 or 50 gallon fuel tanks aft-of-axle, which takes some weight off the tail end and makes proper loading a little easier. It's also strongly constructed with a Twin I-Beam axle design, which allows for better steering, control, and a much smoother driving experience. You also get plenty of potential for hauling extra rigs, as Ford also leads its class in mid-sized RVs for towing capacity, getting as high as 14,500 GVWR.

With these comparisons, you should be able to make a more informed decision on a motorhome based on its chassis construction. If you have any more questions, or want to see the Forester lineup from Forest River or select models from Dynamax, stop by Carolina Coach & Marine near Asheville, NC, and Spartanburg, SC.