AI Summary
5 min readThe future of gas-powered Class A motorhomes just got a lot clearer, and the company stepping in to save the segment is probably not the one you would have guessed: Blue Bird Corporation, the school bus manufacturer. Blue Bird has entered into an agreement with Ford to take over development, manufacturing, and sales of the next generation of Ford's F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis. The F-53 is the last remaining gasoline-powered chassis used for traditional Class A motorhomes, and production had slowed significantly, with growing concern throughout the RV industry that Ford might discontinue it altogether as soon as this fall. If that happened, manufacturers would have been left without a conventional gas chassis for building Class A motorhomes. Now, the F-53 will continue. Blue Bird will take responsibility for designing, manufacturing, and selling both the F-53 and the F-59 chassis, while Ford continues to supply the powertrain—the 7.3-liter gasoline V8 also used in Ford's Super Duty trucks. New production of the next-generation chassis is expected to begin in early 2028. As part of the deal, Blue Bird is also acquiring the Detroit Assembly Plant assets of Detroit Chassis LLC, the company that has long been manufacturing the F-53 and F-59 for Ford. So, this isn't an entirely new production operation being created from scratch; a lot of the same employees will still be doing thi
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:00) **Gas Class A Motorhomes Saved by Blue Bird** - Blue Bird Corporation takes over Ford's F-53/F-59 stripped chassis production, ensuring the future of gas-powered Class A motorhomes.
- 2 (04:46) **Campgrounds Fight Credit Card Settlement** - OHI urges campground owners to oppose a proposed Visa/MasterCard settlement that could change how campers pay for reservations.
- 3 (09:12) **Alliance RV Posts Three Best Sales Months Ever** - Despite the RV industry being down 17-22% year-over-year, Alliance RV set retail sales records in May, June, and July.
- 4 (11:35) **Used RV Prices Rise 11% Year-Over-Year** - NPA reports average pre-owned RV values are up, with strong demand for clean, well-maintained units.
- 5 (12:26) **Forest River Debuts Premium Travel Trailer 'Teleos' at Hershey** - A radically different 28-foot trailer with no slide-outs, composite construction, and a Truma under-bed HVAC system.
- 6 (15:33) **Hershey Show May Have Spoiled Brinkley's New 'Model R' Fifth Wheel** - The show's website lists Brinkley with a "Model R" booth, hinting at a flagship fifth wheel debut.
- 7 Standout Quotes
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
The future of gas-powered Class A motorhomes just got a whole lot clearer — and the company stepping in to save the segment probably isn’t one you would have guessed.
Plus, while the RV industry continues to struggle overall, one manufacturer just posted its three best sales months ever, used RV values are actually up double digits, and campground owners are fighting back over the credit card fees you pay every time you book a campsite.
And Hershey is less than a month away, where we’re expecting a radically different new travel trailer from Forest River — and it looks like the show may have accidentally revealed a brand-new Brinkley fifth wheel before Brinkley did.
All that and more in this week’s RV Miles news.
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00:00 Headlines Preview
00:48 Gas Class A Chassis Saved
03:45 Sponsor Message
04:40 Campground Card Fee Fight
08:34 Homecoming Rally Invite
09:12 Alliance Defies Downturn
11:35 Used RV Values Rise
12:26 Hershey Show Sneak Peeks
12:42 Forest River Teleos Debut
15:33 Brinkley Model R Rumors
17:00 Wrap Up And Thanks
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