One of Ford’s hottest models is a stripper.
Well, a stripped chassis, that is.
Ford is increasing production of its Class A motorhome platform, the F-53, by 35 percent this year to keep up with growing demand for recreation vehicles.
According to Ford, nearly 7,000 motorhomes built on the F-53 were registered last year, accounting for 99.7 percent of the gasoline-powered Class A market.
The super duty chassis comes powered by the same 6.8-liter V10 used across its truck lineup, which puts out 362 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. It’s built in partnership with Detroit Chassis and sells to the RV manufacturers for $25,480. Completed vehicles typically sell from $70,000 to $150,000, depending on the level of specification.
According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, motorhome sales increased 13.6 percent overall in 2012, slightly more than the rest of the auto industry, and are expected to grow at a similar rate this year.