New Born Free Model

[Roadtech]

I saw a new Born Free 33 foot built on Ford F550 chassis at the Florida RV Show yesterday. Looks nice.

[mockturtle]

JMHO, but if I wanted something that big again [and I wouldn't] I'd get another Class A. Our 36' Foretravel drove better than most Class Cs, including my BF.

[mchlfnd]

Hi,

So was the front end like a GM Kodiak chassis with an engine hood out front ?

Probably was a diesel?

Any indication if it will go to production?

Thanks!

Michael

[al1florida]

It is probably similar to this, which is built on a Ford F550 truck chassis, instead the E350 & E450 Van chassis most class C's are built on.

http://www.dynamaxcorp.com/Isata-F-Series/overview.php

[Roadtech]

Yes, al1florida, it is built on the Ford F550 truck chassis like the Dynamax you show in your post.

[al1florida]

Born Free has the rig on their website in the factory stock section:
http://www.bornfreemotorcoach.com/class ... torcoaches

I am surprised they had the gas engine instead of the diesel. Something this size would be much better with the diesel.

[al1florida]

Roadtech,
Since you saw the rig, how accessible are the driver & passenger seats from the living area? The pictures on BF website makes it look more difficult than the BF built on the van chassis. In the picture it kind of looks like there is a center console between the seats rather than a walk way.

[Roadtech]

It seemed just accessible as the E450. The cab, however, is much more comfortable than the E450 van. It has much more legroom. You are adding a lot of length with the truck chassis though.

[jlef123]

The issue with building this model on a Frieghtlliner chassis is the cost. The Frieghtliner chassis is very expensive both to purchase and to maintain.
The cab floor is lower than the coach floor. There is a platform between the driver and passenger seats. It is about 1/4 of the way up the seat. You have to step down on that platform and then step down into the seat. The other thing that is hard to see in the pictures is the height of the over-the-cab area. Because the Ford F-550 cab is lower than the Chevrolet Kodiak this area is higher. So high that an adult can actually sit up without hitting their head on the ceiling. IMHO it makes the over-the-cab area really useful as a sleeping area without being claustrophobic. The coach is a widebody and is the same length as the Kodiak version. The 1 foot difference is due to the Ford cab being longer. All in all it is a very spacious coach if 33 feet is your desire. I understand that it handles and rides extremely comfortably. The Ford chassis, I was told, is available in a diesel and for you adventurous folks, 4 wheel drive.

[whemme]

Below are two photos of the Born Free 33' Rear Queen built on the Ford F550 chassis. The 1st photo I copied from the Born Free factory website and the 2nd photo was sent to me by club member Joel Lefkowitz taken by him while this new motorcoach was on display at the recently held 2012 Florida RV SuperShow Rally.

[William Higbie]

I would think if someone wanted that m/h of that size they surely would want slides. Wouldn't it be great if Born Free offered a small (less than 30 ft class A with the quality we all enjoy in our current born free. I still love my 1996 26 ft rsb but if I went bigger I might go to a class A of 30' with slides.

[John S.]

I think they could put it on a 26 footer. That might be the best of both worlds.

[mockturtle]

Born Free is always exploring/probing other RV income streams. I would devote those dollars to improving/expanding the existing bread 'n butter of the company - the E450 mainframe.

Gotta agree with you there, Sam!

[ewagman]

There's a lot of vehicle way out in front of the coach part, possibly an issue for parking or when towing a trailer, it might be too long when towing in some of the shorter combined length states in the east. If your use doesn't have either of these issues, it should give you a lot of space inside, and a lot of extra protection from a frontal assault by an inattentive driver coming your way.

[Dallas Baillio]

Looking at the photos, it appears that the hood on the F550 is about 3 feet longer than the E-450. This would mean that you get about 30 feet of living space, or just three feet more than the 27 RSB. Six feet longer, a larger turning radius may not offset three feet more of living space for many potential owners. A comparison of the cargo carrying capacity would be useful in evaluating models. Many other questions come to mind.