What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Motorhomes AKA Chevy Express Cutaway 3500/4500 information

CyberSniper

CyberSniper

1/2 ton status
 Premium
Joined
Apr 21, 2003
Posts
3,042
Reaction score
747
Location
Chelsea, MI
I'm looking at getting a Class C motorhome.

My parents have a 2020 Coachmen Freelander on a 2019 chassis. I convinced my Dad to cash out his 401k (he has a pension) to buy it in February 2020 because I figured the stock market was going to tank and my parents aren't getting any younger.

It has been a good motorhome to them. Lost some oil pressure out west around the 6000 mile mark but it was north of 100 degrees, tires were at 150 degrees and it was running 4000+rpm for like an hour. Put another oil and transmission cooler in it and it's fine but my Dad complains about being down to 25psi when hot at idle. I also put some Sumo bump stops on the front. That is it for chassis modifications. After getting air in it several times on the fine roads of Oklahoma, my Dad said he wouldn't feel comfortable with a 3500 chassis. So I've been doing research.

I think I'd be fine with a 3500 chassis on a shorter box. I'm looking at staying under 26.5' over all length versus their 31'.

The 3500/4500 have been in turmoil since they got theirs. It got the 6.6L in 2021 and then for the 2024 manufacturing year the 8L90e gen2.

Are there any real differences between the long-wheelbase 3500 and any 4500 other than springs and tires?

I spent a lot of time reading about it, and I have found nothing to say there is any difference other than that.

Body Builder Manuals - GM Upfitter

The Light and Medium Duty Body Builder Manuals that are published by Upfitter Integration contain a wide range of technical information, including electrical schematics, body and frame dimensions, exhaust system modification, etc. The Body Builders Manual contains information that may be used in...
gmupfitter.wpengine.com gmupfitter.wpengine.com

Has anyone tried to convert one to 4wd?

I've been eyeballing the Coachmen Freelander 23FS/Leprechaun 230FS (same shit these days unlike the olden days, basically down to different decals and cabinets/upholstery). The size and layout work well for us. It is on the 3500 chassis.

What I really want is a Nexus Verrado 28 or Rebel 28 with 4wd. But it's twice as expensive. The cutaway van ones are going to eat up our liquid savings (so I'll probably finance) and financing 150k at today's interest rates would make me shit myself.
 
I don't know the answers to your questions, but stretched Class Cs suck. Going 4x4 almost seems pointless if you have 12' behind the rear tires. It helps you get out of certain campsites, but they are too tall and wide for any trails and soft terrain is out when you're 17k lbs.
 
sweetk30 said:
Quigly 4x4 in pa still does 4x4 swaps . Both gm ifs and solid axle .
Click to expand...

Yeah, and their cost as of last year is such that why wouldn't you just get a Silverado medium duty? Other than FedEx delivery trucks, I'm surprised they still sell anything.
 
Blue85 said:
I don't know the answers to your questions, but stretched Class Cs suck. Going 4x4 almost seems pointless if you have 12' behind the rear tires. It helps you get out of certain campsites, but they are too tall and wide for any trails and soft terrain is out when you're 17k lbs.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've had/driven a bunch of Class C and Super Cs (mostly older International and a couple M2, and one Kodiak) and I agree. My parents' 4500 is a stretch (to 191") and it has way too much behind the rear tires for sure. I don't like driving it because the rear swings so much and towing with it is a PITA due to it. Wind pushes it around.

The longest one I'm looking at is 177" WB and there is 68" of frame behind the axle.

My parents are at 13,100lb fully loaded with them in it per the CAT scale. I expect to be less, mostly because I'd have less space to throw shit. They pull a Jeep with theirs, I plan to do the same.

4wd is something that has piqued my interest because of having been stuck several times with motorhomes. Usually the problem starts with the front tires sliding and then having to back up... and that's the end of it. I think if I put some BFG ATs on it and it might be fine for what I want to do since there would be less weight on the rear axle and a little more on the front. The 78 GMC Transmode I've posted pictures of here before gets stuck on wet grass. The 90s Safari Serengeti (shit spreader with a Ford 460) my in-laws left here for me to work on a while back I got stuck in 4" of snow in my driveway. Front tires slid off when I was jockeying it around because the left front caliper was bad and locked up (the reason they dropped it off was for brakes) and I had to wait about an hour for some calcium chloride to melt the snow enough for the rear tires to be able to pull it back onto the driveway. If it would have had 4wd it would have been no problem.

When I was at Tawas Point campground this past spring it rained a lot and this dude had a sweet Ford Super C with 4wd... pulled out of his campsite with a trailer behind him while everyone else was getting stuck in their pickups backing to hook up to their bumper pull.
 
It looks like we're on the same page. I remember having to bounce my old 32' Class A up a rough lake access road because I knew it was done if I lifted. I've also been glad having a 4WD tow rig getting up slick camp roads, but around here there are virtually no 2WD trucks.

Although, to play devil's advocate, how many years of Good Sam roadside assistance do you get for the cost/effort of 4x4 conversion? Sounds like you'll have a Jeep to help pull :whistle:. On a dually, just add a locker and you have 4-wheel drive.
 
Exactly! I am remembering years ago at Silver Lake Sand Dunes seeing a Super C out there. I want to say it had 37" rubber and beadlocks.

I don't know if you ever go up to what is now called "Gratiot River County Park" up by Ahmeek, but back in the day that was a trail big enough to get a logging truck down in the winter and you used to see people out there with their big 4wd Class 5 toterhomes but the trail was rough and muddy with two water crossings and hilly. Last time I went down it you could take a Bentley down it. I'm not looking to fording water, I just don't want to get stuck on a wet trail like all my relatives with their 15000lb 5ers do.

I think my fear is related to my many times that not having the front tires powered so they help you turn was the biggest issue. The first two winters in dayoop I had a 2wd open diff S10 and lived by Pat's Foods. All my white-knuckle experiences were more related to getting those front tires to go where I wanted them.

I was looking under my parents' Express and it looks like a lot of Silverado 4wd parts should work. I don't think it'd be that bad anyway, but I don't know. I stumbled across these guys a few weeks ago:
timberlinesupply.com

Timberline Supply

4x4 Van Conversion Kits, Parts, and Components for DIY 4WD Van Builders
timberlinesupply.com timberlinesupply.com

But the site is down now and I don't know how much the conversion parts were.
 
CyberSniper said:
I don't know if you ever go up to what is now called "Gratiot River County Park" up by Ahmeek, but back in the day that was a trail big enough to get a logging truck down in the winter and you used to see people out there with their big 4wd Class 5 toterhomes but the trail was rough and muddy with two water crossings and hilly. Last time I went down it you could take a Bentley down it.
Click to expand...
I've never seen a Bentley out there :dunno:, but plenty of little FWD cars. Now camping is banned and they put in vault toilets.
 
CyberSniper said:
Yeah, I've had/driven a bunch of Class C and Super Cs (mostly older International and a couple M2, and one Kodiak) and I agree. My parents' 4500 is a stretch (to 191") and it has way too much behind the rear tires for sure. I don't like driving it because the rear swings so much and towing with it is a PITA due to it. Wind pushes it around.

The longest one I'm looking at is 177" WB and there is 68" of frame behind the axle.

My parents are at 13,100lb fully loaded with them in it per the CAT scale. I expect to be less, mostly because I'd have less space to throw shit. They pull a Jeep with theirs, I plan to do the same.

4wd is something that has piqued my interest because of having been stuck several times with motorhomes. Usually the problem starts with the front tires sliding and then having to back up... and that's the end of it. I think if I put some BFG ATs on it and it might be fine for what I want to do since there would be less weight on the rear axle and a little more on the front. The 78 GMC Transmode I've posted pictures of here before gets stuck on wet grass. The 90s Safari Serengeti (shit spreader with a Ford 460) my in-laws left here for me to work on a while back I got stuck in 4" of snow in my driveway. Front tires slid off when I was jockeying it around because the left front caliper was bad and locked up (the reason they dropped it off was for brakes) and I had to wait about an hour for some calcium chloride to melt the snow enough for the rear tires to be able to pull it back onto the driveway. If it would have had 4wd it would have been no problem.

When I was at Tawas Point campground this past spring it rained a lot and this dude had a sweet Ford Super C with 4wd... pulled out of his campsite with a trailer behind him while everyone else was getting stuck in their pickups backing to hook up to their bumper pull.
Click to expand...
Your thoughts about having more weight on the front is on the right track.
The reason most motorhomes don't steer well in low traction is not enough weight on the steers.
In my big rig I was doing better than the motorhomes because I had better weight distribution and with a locker you will be in better shape too.
Now that is not to distract you from a 4x4 conversion, I am still planning on a 4x4 freightliner RV, I am still trying to locate a front axle and a tcase at a feasible price and hopefully get this beast built before I am too old to build it, I am still at least 5 years from wanting to do the RV thing, I am still enjoying the rough camping
 
imiceman44 said:
I am still planning on a 4x4 freightliner RV, I am still trying to locate a front axle and a tcase at a feasible price and hopefully get this beast built before I am too old to build it, I am still at least 5 years from wanting to do the RV thing, I am still enjoying the rough camping
Click to expand...


What front axle and transfer case are you looking for? I have a few that might work.
 
rksjd8420 said:
What front axle and transfer case are you looking for? I have a few that might work.
Click to expand...
Any class 8 10 lug axle and a transfer case to match, I can match the rear to what I find, I need a rebuilt anyway.
You probably were thinking I have a cutaway.
I have a freightliner Columbia with a sleeper cab that I am building into an RV
 
imiceman44 said:
Any class 8 10 lug axle and a transfer case to match, I can match the rear to what I find, I need a rebuilt anyway.
You probably were thinking I have a cutaway.
I have a freightliner Columbia with a sleeper cab that I am building into an RV
Click to expand...
No, I knew you were talking about a Freightliner. Just wasn’t sure what you were looking for. I have several Axletechs and some Meritor MX120 series front axles. They are all the bigger 10x335mm bolt pattern though. Both of those are rated at about 18,000 pounds per axle. The rears are rated higher but I can’t remember off hand.

About what gear ratio are you looking for?
 
rksjd8420 said:
No, I knew you were talking about a Freightliner. Just wasn’t sure what you were looking for. I have several Axletechs and some Meritor MX120 series front axles. They are all the bigger 10x335mm bolt pattern though. Both of those are rated at about 18,000 pounds per axle. The rears are rated higher but I can’t remember off hand.

About what gear ratio are you looking for?
Click to expand...
If you have a matching set of front and rear I might entertain it.
I need to get wheels anyway because I want singles, as long as I can find wheels for those.
I believe I have 3.73 gears and depending on the tire choices I could work with 3.40 up to 4.10
 
imiceman44 said:
If you have a matching set of front and rear I might entertain it.
I need to get wheels anyway because I want singles, as long as I can find wheels for those.
I believe I have 3.73 gears and depending on the tire choices I could work with 3.40 up to 4.10
Click to expand...
The Meritor axles are 4.30 but the Axletechs are 5.63, 6.83 and 8.00. Are you making it 4x4 or twin screw rear 6x6?
 
rksjd8420 said:
The Meritor axles are 4.30 but the Axletechs are 5.63, 6.83 and 8.00. Are you making it 4x4 or twin screw rear 6x6?
Click to expand...
I am keeping only one axle in the rear, even that is overkill.
4.30 is petty good, let's take it to pm and leave this thread alone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom