A New Pony Starts From The Class C Gate

Workhorse introduces a new Class C chassis option.

Workhorse Custom Chassis and General Motors announced a new Class C chassis for the RV market at the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association's annual trade show held in Louisville, Kentucky this past December. Chevrolet has returned to the Class C market with a bang after many years of inactivity. RVers who want more room and all the comforts of home with a chassis that still drives like a car now have a new option to consider. This new chassis will be built by General Motors in the Wentzville Assembly Center in Missouri and marketed to the RV industry by Workhorse Custom Chassis.

Chevrolet, of course, is no stranger to RVers. From 1973 till 1979 the company built its Class A Classic front-wheel-drive motorhome with tandem rear axles in lengths of 26 to 29 feet, using an Oldsmobile Tornado chassis. Many of these units still ply the roads today, driven by RVers who have lovingly restored them to like-new condition. And, General Motors has provided the industry with the P30 Class A chassis for many years. This chassis was widely used in Class A motorhomes and the step-side vans that have been the mainstay of parcel delivery services across North America.

Over the years very few upgrades were made to the chassis until GM decided to sell the business to its largest customer, Union City Body. The new company was named Workhorse Custom Chassis and has made significant improvements and variations to the basic chassis since taking over production. One of the first introductions was the wide body chassis, with a wider stance for increased stability on the road. Soon after, versions were released that had a greater payload capability, using GM's 8.1 L engine. More recently, Workhorse introduced its rear diesel platform for luxury motorhomes.

Workhorse Custom Chassis initiated the concept of the 14,050 pound chassis with General Motors and provided the up-front engineering analysisbased on their experience with the Class A chassis. They recommended the key modifications needed in the previous 12,300 pound chassis to quickly bring this new product to the market. Chevrolet has built many 5500 series cab and chassis units for the cargo style RVs that are popular today for boys with big toys.

“Our new 14,050-pound GVWR chassis delivers exactly what motor home customers want from their RV – exceptional capability and durability, along with the comfort and convenience they’ve come to appreciate from their GM passenger vehicle,” said Ross Hendrix, General Motors marketing director of commercial vans.” Now, with the new chassis, RV owners will be able to take along even more of their belongings. Getting away won’t necessarily mean leaving necessities behind.”

This new 14,050 pound chassis provides a more comfortable ride with sharp turning radius, allowing the driver to maneuver in and out of tight places with ease thanks to the independent short/long arm front suspension. Improved peace of mind comes from a Engine Oil Life System that monitors engine operating conditions and determines when the oil needs to be changed. This can save time and money by eliminating unnecessary oil changes. Also extended-life spark plugs, coolant and belts will help reduce maintenance costs. (Page Top)

This new chassis provides more leg room for the driver and passenger since the engine compartment does not protrude into the seating area. Both front doors have larger step pads and foot wells with wide storage pockets on the doors.

The engine is a GM Vortec 6000 V-8 powerplant mated to a 4L85E heavy duty, electronically-controlled transmission with overdrive. Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are standard, with Dynamic Rear Proportioning that adjusts brake pressure towards the front and rear of the vehicle for better stability when stopping under differing road conditions. Also standard will be safety features such as the advanced air bag sensing system, a larger energy absorbing front crush zone for collision protection, and daytime running lamps.

The Vortec engine produces 300 horsepower at 4,400 rpm, with 360 pounds-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. This sequential fuel injection engine has two valves per cylinder with coil near platinum tipped spark plugs, and low resistance plug wires. The engine uses three-way catalytic conversion, exhaust gas recirculation, positive crankcase ventilation and an evaporative collection system. The sloped front hood provides better visibility, while the front engine compartment provides a bigger crush zone for safety. Front bumper steps have been included to aid cleaning the windshield and overhead bunk window.

The rear is supported with semi-elliptical multi-leaf springs and a higher capacity semi-floating rear axle with sway bar. This new chassis will ride on 16-inch wheels with LT225/75R16E tires for traction. A 125 liter fuel tank will put miles between fuel stops .

Production of the new chassis is expected to begin in February 2005. Buyers of RVs built on this new chassis can take their vehicle to any of the 4,500 North American Chevrolet dealers or Workhorse service centers for warranty related service. Workhorse will handle all relationships with RV dealers that will sell the new chassis.

Whether Workhorse will enjoy the same success in the Class C segment that it has with chassis’ for full-size Class A motorhomes remains to be seen. But no question the new units will attract a lot of attention from RV builders, and give RVers like you and I more options than ever before. (Page Top)