How do I know what chassis I have?

[tommymsw]

My Winnebago came with SO much information other than the chassis name.

Even the original chassis owner's guide just says "Class A Chassis".

I know it is a 2000 Ford with Triton v10 gas engine (Adventurer). They tell me the VIN and the specs (weight and all) but NOT the name of the chassis.

I think I have narrowed it down to either the F-35 or F-550 as BOTH come up on the internet as the chassis for that make and year.

And no information from the VIN...

I have EVERY bit of information other than that ONE thing! All I want is to buy a new starting battery for the engine!

[rk911]

the chassis desgnation is irrelevent with respect to any of the batteries, chassis or coach. any quality 12-volt automotive battery will suffice to replace the starting battery. personally, i prefer Interstate batteries.

you also have a 12-volt electrical system. when the time comes you can replace your coach batteries...likely two of them...with two 12-volt deep cycle lead acid or two 12-volt AGM batteries or 2 or 4 6-volt golf cart types whatever you have space for.

as for your chassis it's likely a Ford F53 super duty. did you decode the VIN?

[Podivin]

Google 'ford VIN decoder' and enter your VIN number in one of those, you'll get lots of information, some of it interesting, the chassis almost certainly being one of them.
I would expect it to be the F-53 chassis.
My GUESS is that the F-550 was used in the Class C RVs.

As rk911 pointed out, be sure and pay attention to exactly which battery(ies) you're replace. Take LOTS of pictures before you disconnect anything so that you can be sure you've connected it back correctly.

You've got chassis/starting battery - probably only one.
As for replacing this, which is your stated purpose, you could probably get model numbers off of the one you have and get a direct replacement for it.

And you've got house battery(ies) - could be one, two or more.
These could also be either 6 volt or 12 volt - you'll need to know what's there before you go shopping for these.

[tommymsw]

Thank you. I am aware of how the batteries are positioned and what they do. I have already replaced the coach batteries.
My problem with the engine battery is the size of the engine (a v10). I know the size of the engine determine the size of the battery needed (cranking amps and so on). However, the places I shop to get a battery go by the "make" and not the "engine size"... Figuring when they know the make, they know the engine.

F-53 is my best guess... At any rate, any chassis that uses the v-10 should require the same size battery. I will try the ford VIN thing just so I know for sure.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

tommymsw-

Ford published "paper" VIN guides. Here is a link to the 2000 VIN Guide. According to the guide, the 5th through 7th positions of your coach's VIN should be the characters "F53." The 8th position indicates the engine, and should be "S" for your coach (6.8-liter V-10). The 10th position is the model year: "Y" for 2000. By "normal" Ford practice, the 10th position for a 1999 model-year chassis would be "X."

Here is a link to the 2000 F-53 chassis manual. A 2000 model-year coach could be built on a 1999 chassis; if that is the case for your coach, here is a link to the 1999 Ford F-53 chassis manual.

The model-year 2000 manual calls for a Motorcraft BXT-65-750 replacement battery, on page 92.

[tommymsw]

Originally Posted by l1v3fr33ord1

tommymsw-

Ford published "paper" VIN guides. Here is a link to the 2000 VIN Guide. According to the guide, the 5th through 7th positions of your coach's VIN should be the characters "F53." The 8th position indicates the engine, and should be "S" for your coach (6.8-liter V-10). The 10th position is the model year: "Y" for 2000. By "normal" Ford practice, the 10th position for a 1999 model-year chassis would be "X."

Here is a link to the 2000 F-53 chassis manual. A 2000 model-year coach could be built on a 1999 chassis; if that is the case for your coach, here is a link to the 1999 Ford F-53 chassis manual.

The model-year 2000 manual calls for a Motorcraft BXT-65-750 replacement battery, on page 92.

WOW! Thank you! I used the Ford VIN locater website and it always said "VIN not found"... But i will tell you what? There it is RIGHT IN THE VIN! F35!

I must have typed that a thousand times and never noticed! And I see the battery on page 95. Thank you so much!

[moblguy]

I service a fleet of late model Ford F59 chassis with step van style bodies. They all have the V10 engine and all have a series 65 battery. Interstate number is a MTP65.