The Chevy Kodiak: When You Want To Bring Everything!
The Chevy Kodiak C4500/5500 bridges the gap between your "classic" Class C Motorhome like the E-450s to the larger, more luxurious, Class C's.
The Chevy Kodiak has a respectable:
- GM Vortec 8.1L gasoline V8 that puts out 325HP @450LB-FT of torque.
or a
- Duramax 6.6L diesel V8 that puts out 300HP @705LB-FT of torque.
- Allison 1000 (M74) 5-speed automatic
- GVWR up to 21,500 lbs
- GCWR up to 26,000 lbs
Storage space and
CCC will depend on individual
manufacturers and whatever options that would be selected. However, the larger carrying/pulling capacities offer a dramatic increase for storage potential when compared to Ford's E-450 Series' 14,500 GVWR. It's not hard to figure, the larger the truck, the more you can carry around.
The Chevy Kodiak makes a good platform for this Class C market segment. Although it does not have the ride advantage of a coach with an air suspension like the larger Dynamax Grand Sport Ultra; you will, however, find that not many motorhomes will have the ride of a Dynamax.
You can find the Kodiak coming in at just over 30' and going up to 40', so you should be able to find a floor plan that will fit your recreational needs.
GM Statement Regarding Wind Down Of Medium Duty Truck Production:
After four years of working with multiple potential buyers, General Motors has decided to wind-down its medium-duty truck operations. Production of the Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick medium duty trucks will cease by July 31, 2009.
As an aside, for those who REALLY want it all, there are other larger Class C Motorhomes out there, like the Dynamax Grand Sport Ultra. This thing uses the monster Mercedes Benz® MBE 4000. You will get a lot of rig for the money if you were to choose this route.
The running gear is truly professional grade, so it should give you somewhere around a million miles before wearing out. The ride will be as good, if not better, than any diesel pusher "bus". They are a safe and reliable rig.
The downside would be the cost, obviously. Also, this is a big rig, and you will not be able to tuck it into the smaller, more remote sites, that a lot of Class C owners enjoy.
This Mercedes Benz® MBE 4000 diesel engine and drive-line has well over 20 tons of towing power due to:
- 450-hp @ 2000 RPM
- 1550 lb./ft. @ 1100 RPM
- a GVWR up to 54,000 lb
- a GCWR up to 80,000 lb
From another point of view, there are RV parks that will not allow ANY Class C Motorhomes the use of their service. Some of the elite parks cater to Class A Motorhomes only. So, spending over $500,000 for a Motorhome and then have someone tell you "You're not welcome!"... well, that may be a little hard for some people to swallow.
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