2015 E-450 Rust and badge

[benagi]

Questions: Is this common rust on parts on the front of the undercarriage of a new 2015 E-450. I know FR buys their Ford chassis months in advance, but this looks a little excessive. Hope it wasn't under water a foot or two somewhere back east. See pics.

Also, our 1997 Minnie Winnie had a V10 badge on the side but this new Ford doesn't. Did they do away with the V10 badges? How do you tell if you have the 5.7L or the 6.8L under the hood. It's so cramped under there, you can't see anything.

[poppytoymaker]

Nothing to worry about, I have 2015 with a 2014 Chevy cutaway and the steering box is all rusted, just plain steel won't rot thru in our lifetime.

[rsscully]

Enter you vin and get your chassis window sticker. It will tell you what you want to know.

http://researchmaniacs.com/VIN-Numbe...cker/Ford.html

[RamblerGuy]

Check the emissions certification sticker under the hood. If it states 6.8L, it's a V-10.

[benagi]

Originally Posted by rsscully

Enter you vin and get your chassis window sticker. It will tell you what you want to know.

Use your VIN number to get Ford Window Sticker

Thx for the link. Worked just fine. Nice to have this for my files.
Still a little curious that even the black parts are also showing rust already on our unit that we just received last month. Thx for the replies.

[ATVer]

Rust is probably due to the chassis being transported from FORD to Forest River factory in Elkhart, IN. during the winter on salted roads. Since you have a 2016 it was probably not built until April so it is less likely it was shipped to your dealer on salted roads but it is possible with a late snowstorm. Unpainted parts do rust some normally on the chassis but black painted parts don't rust that fast unless they have been pickled in salt.
A good undercarriage wash or trip through a heavy rain storm should wash the salt out and reduce further rusting.

Concerning the V10 badge FORD stopped putting them on the RV units years ago but you can still buy them online. Check Ebay and you will find a number of options for badges and decals. I added the Econoline style V10 badges to the doors along with decals on the hood saying "6.8L Triton V 10".

[GL1800Rider]

When I was 16 I had an Impala Supersport with a 283 and put 409 badges on it to make people look twice

[ResQfrog]

The rusting you have looks normal for the parts that are not painters or plated. The frame and various items are not painted to the same level as the top or shiny side of the chassis. The Ford chassis is at least painted. We just purchased two used company vehicles from local new vehicle dealers and one is a 2012 Ford F150 and the other is a 2013 Chevy Silverado. Both have less than 40,000 miles and the GM looks like it is older than the Ford. The GM frame is wax or undercoating and has twice the surface rust of the Ford. The worst spots on the Ford are the unpainted rear axle and the few front end parts and are just castings.

I have just started to clean up and paint some of the spots on our 2013 F53 chassis. Would take years to rust out. But the paint looks better than rust.