Any vehicle owner knows how important it is to have a good solid chassis. This is the foundation of your vehicle and the solid base upon which the remainder of the vehicle is built. Your chassis supports a number of key components including the wheels, braking system, engine bay and suspension.
The build quality of the chassis will affect the load capacity of the vehicle and the overall stability of the ride when driving. Whilst the drive quality is always important in any vehicle, it is never more so than in a motorhome or RV when you may be driving significant distances and you want to enjoy the ride as much as the destination.
For RV’s, two of the best known and highly regarded companies in the market are Spartan and Freightliner. Both design and manufacture highly durable products with few known issues. Each company has their own fan base, and if you are researching online, you may well find some debate as to which company is better.
Within this article, we will look at some of the similarities and differences between the two makes. If you are undecided about which one might suit you best, then we hope this article will be of some help to you in making your decision. Once you know which chassis you would prefer, you will know which models of RVs to consider when it comes time to make your purchase.
Spartan Chassis vs Freightliner
Spartan chassis
The most impressive thing about the Spartan chassis is the thickness of the frame. This gives benefits in terms of load capacity and overall strength. Due to the increased capacity of the frame, a hydraulic radiator fan can be included. The great thing about this is it will prevent the vehicle from kicking up dust in a campground that is dry and dusty.
In addition, Spartan offer a lifetime warranty on the frame of the Spartan chassis. This is great because you know if you develop a problem with your chassis, it will be resolved under the warranty. It is worth bearing in mind there are some restrictions to this, and you will need to closely follow the guidelines provided by the company to ensure the validity of the warranty.
In regard to all aspects of customer services, Spartan has a reputation for being amazing. If you need to find the nearest dealership, you can do this by visiting their website and entering your location.
Other than visiting a dealership, their customer service department can be contacted online or over the phone. If you need spare parts, your local dealership is the place to start as they often carry a wide variety of spare parts in stock. However, if they don’t have the part you need, they will order it for you.
Freightliner Chassis
The Freightliner chassis is not as thick as the one provided by Spartan. That being said, it is still thick and solid and still provides a stable ride. The weight capacity is impressive.
There is also plenty of storage space provided for all your luggage, but as with any vehicle, there is a maximum weight limit which should be adhered to. If you still need more space for luggage, then you have the option to tow a trailer behind you.
Due to concerns about having their products copied, Spartan no longer publishes its full specifications. The vehicle range has remained the same for several years, but improvements and adjustments are made year on year, although without the full spec list, it is difficult to know the details of these improvements.
Freightliner, on the other hand, provides complete vehicle specifications both within the dealership and also online. They provide details of current and older models which allows customers to see the progression of any improvements or adjustments.
For someone considering a Freightliner chassis, this allows them to know what features and benefits are available. Unfortunately, this is not possible with the Spartan which makes it tricky to truly compare the two. There are a range of chassis available including some luxury options and with different diesel engine sizes so your choice may also be dependent upon your budget.
There are pros and cons for each option and little to choose between them, both brands are great and well respected, which is probably why there is so much debate as to which is the best option. Ultimately it is a personal choice, and it will depend on a person’s requirements and budget.
The other consideration is whether a buyer wants a specific model of RV, it may be that a buyer wants a specific RV model that is only available on one type of chassis, whilst some companies will actually offer their vehicles with a choice of chassis.
If you are still undecided, it is worth checking out some specialist RV forums to get some anecdotal information from owners to find out first-hand opinions from people who are driving these vehicles. Additionally, it is worth visiting as many dealerships as you can to view a range of models and gain as much information as possible before making such an important decision.