Ford has long been a staple of recreational vehicle manufacturers providing their E- series cutaway chassis vehicles for a wide range of RV vehicles that deliver adventure and excitement to families all across the country. Entering 2016, many of those RV vehicles will also be built on Ford Transit cutaway chassis frames starting with the new Winnebago Fuse.
The Winnebago Fuse, a Class C motorhome, is built on the new Ford Transit cutaway chassis. Class C motorhomes include vehicle frame, suspension, powertrain and cab, with the living area accessible behind the driver’s compartment.
According to Ford, the all-new Transit cutaway offers customers additional options for lighter-weight chassis in Class C motorhomes – a segment where Ford is already a popular choice with the Ford E-Series cutaway the top-selling chassis in this market.
The new Transit family of cutaway chassis frames offers more flexibility to manufacturers to build RV vehicles that meet a wider range of adventure interests for today’s families, says Ford.
“Many of these customers are interested in outdoor adventures like kayaking, mountain biking, snowboarding and such — more national park than RV park,” explains Yaro Hetman, Ford brand manager for Transit, Transit Connect and E-Series. “Sales of smaller Class C motorhomes have been on the rise for the last few years as younger, more active buyers enter the market.”
“Outdoor adventure-seeking RV customers want compact, maneuverable motorhomes that can comfortably carry their families and gear from one adventure to another,” Hetman says. “Transit’s efficiency, comfortable ride and affordability make it a great choice as a motorhome for these outdoor enthusiasts.”
The Winnebago Fuse Will go on sale in January, 2016. It will be offered in two configurations – one with a rear bedroom slide-out featuring a queen-size bed, and another with a front slide-out, two twin beds and a rear bath. Each is available with the Ford Power Stroke 3.2-liter five-cylinder diesel engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and SelectShift. Prices for the new Winnebago Fuse will start at $95,000 says Winnebago.
In addition to Winnebago, other manufacturers building motorhomes on the new Transit platform include Thor Motor Coach and Coachmen RV, a division of Forest River, Inc.
Class B motorhomes, commonly called camper vans, are built using OEM vans or panel trucks. Class B motorhomes drive like vans. The Transit is ideally suited for Class B vans with the availability of three roof heights, two wheelbases and three powertrains to give customers the ability to customize their camper van cost-effectively. For example, choosing the high-roof Transit model eliminates the need to raise the roof or drop the floor of a traditional van.
The Transit-based Class B vehicles are expected to retail for between $60,000 and $130,000, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.
Source: Ford
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