E-Series is Best for Overlanding; here's proof

[Dave Anderson]

You are not going to believe what we discovered about the E-Series cab cutaways.

Experienced E-Series truck guys that know, really know. They touted that the traditional E-series camper had the most unrealized and locked potential chassis on the market for a truly and highly capable off-road Overlander. However, the biggest problem has always remained; it was built for the asphalt road; traveling the country in spacious comfort. With its oversized camper body bulging over the truck frame on all sides contributing its unwieldy weight and girth, and being hard-mounted to the truck frame, it made for wicked torsional stress war, pitting the truck frame and camper body in an epic and constant battle for supremacy.

These battles left camper bodies that are already hamstrung by inferior traditional RV construction materials and techniques, reeling. Combined with almost a total lack of off-road capabilities, the E-Series campers were dismissed or forgotten, and to talk about them as anything other than brought out the nay-sayers and scorn.

With a highly torsional twisting capable truck frame with a camper hard mounted to it, it has always been a recipe for disaster. So, how far can it twist? 22 degrees! Wow... that is unheard of. Could this be the American UNIMOG that has yet to be discovered? What does it mean to have a truck frame that is capable of such flexibility? It means that all four tires are touching the ground for as long as possible before tricycling a tire in mid-air. This equates to great traction and a highly capable off-road chassis; just ask a Jeep guy.

I know what you are saying... "Wait, wait, wait... if the frame is so twisty, why would you ever put a composite camper on one? Wouldn't the torsional stresses of the frame rip the box apart?" Indeed, it would! Even the Sprinter Van and Ford Transit with their minimal twist STILL HAVE TWIST. And campers need to be protected from these stresses, as it will only be a matter of time until the minimal twist creates a fracture... and then a leak. Tears start to flow and the wallet get's lighter, and... well, you know the rest of the story.

Until now, hard mounting the camper to the frame was lighting the fuse. So, why is "now" different from "then?" We believe that we have solved the riddle through engineering, blood, sweat, and tears. Globe Trekker has produced the first E-Flex Zero Torsion subframe (patented) on the planet that marries the cab-cutaway together, but allows the rear of the truck frame to torsionally twist as it was designed to do. Get Jeep-like performance off-road, and camp in comfort with a 64% increased living space of a Sprinter Van.

Still not impressed? Get a 4WD and super singles through U-Joint Off-Road or Quigley Motor Company, and accessories through Trail Ready. Have your camper ready for up-fit after a quick build and install by Foundation Vehicles. By Q1 of 2026, you can have your OEV ready for some real adventure. Get it started with the incredible E-Series. Available in both the 138 and 158 chassis.

Not convinced? Prove me wrong with your comments. Convinced? Email (Finn @ Foundation Vehicles) and learn more.

E-Series Video promo

 

[Dave Anderson]

By the way, you can receive a quote and get your entire build financed through Ford Motor Company. Contact Finn (Foundation Vehicles) Finn@FoundationVehicles.com

 

[Bigly]

Huh?

 

[rruff]

Since you are definitely a company rep selling something, you need to check with mods...

Also, zero torsion subframes are certainly not new.

 

[Gravelette]

Shameless spammer

 

[andy_b]

The main problem with cutaway vans is that the cabin is not nearly as comfortable to cover big miles in as a F-series pick up truck. There are definitely advantages to how much shorter overall these can be. That said, if folks don't mind the doghouse taking up the majority of the cab, the noise from having the engine in your lap, the challenging access to said engine for service, and limited trim and options available, cutaway vans are great in certain use cases.

 

[Dave Anderson]

Since you are definitely a company rep selling something, you need to check with mods...

Also, zero torsion subframes are certainly not new.

Although torsion free subframes are certainly not new, no one has put one on an E-Series to free up the capability of the truck... at least not any in production nor any that has been successful. BTW we are not selling anything; Foundation Vehicles is. We are manufacturing engineers helping the community of 4x4 enthusiasts with their option selection of chassis choices. Just bringing yet another option on the table for the good of the community.

 

[Dave Anderson]

The main problem with cutaway vans is that the cabin is not nearly as comfortable to cover big miles in as a F-series pick up truck. There are definitely advantages to how much shorter overall these can be. That said, if folks don't mind the doghouse taking up the majority of the cab, the noise from having the engine in your lap, the challenging access to said engine for service, and limited trim and options available, cutaway vans are great in certain use cases.

While there is no perfect solution that fits neatly into everyone's wants and needs, the E-Series chassis has greater flexibility than the F-Series, making it more capable off-road, so long as the frame is able to twist. The F-Series frame is purposely built stiff, since the industry decided to use this as a selling point to prove who had the better and stronger truck (stiff non-twisting frame equals strong truck). Failing to realize that stiff framed trucks tricycle off-road, making them less capable. This is what this post is about. Actual off-roading... not traveling great distances on road. Thank you for continuing the story and your feedback.

 

[Victorian]

Although torsion free subframes are certainly not new, no one has put one on an E-Series to free up the capability of the truck... at least not any in production nor any that has been successful. BTW we are not selling anything; Foundation Vehicles is. We are manufacturing engineers helping the community of 4x4 enthusiasts with their option selection of chassis choices. Just bringing yet another option on the table for the good of the community.

I call BS on that as you are one of the owners of GlobeTrekker. Come on man, be honest and play along.

 

[rruff]

While there is no perfect solution that fits neatly into everyone's wants and needs, the E-Series chassis has greater flexibility than the F-Series, making it more capable off-road,

Pretty sure all the cab-chassis trucks sold in the US are open C behind the cab... only the pickups with a bed have a stiff fully boxed frame.

The E series has a bit less of a hood, which is a nice feature for better visibility and making the wheelbase shorter. But there are downsides to that too, as andyb mentioned. Another one is the expense of converting it to 4x4... you'll end up spending more than you would for a comparable cab-chassis truck. Turning radius probably favors the trucks also (at the same wheelbase), if you are looking at the ones with a wider track.

 

[Dave Anderson]

I call BS on that as you are one of the owners of GlobeTrekker. Come on man, be honest and play along.

We are the manufactures of the subframe FOR Foundation Vehicles. We also manufacture pivots for Bowen Custom's flatbeds, and service many other companies with our engineering solutions, but we do not sell Bowen flatbeds, nor are a distributor for any of the other companies we serve. Yes, we are the science behind the end product, and yes we make money by selling our products B2B. If that is what you are hung up on and can't respond with actual feedback from the post, I can't help you.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The main problem with cutaway vans is that the cabin is not nearly as comfortable to cover big miles in as a F-series pick up truck. There are definitely advantages to how much shorter overall these can be. That said, if folks don't mind the doghouse taking up the majority of the cab, the noise from having the engine in your lap, the challenging access to said engine for service, and limited trim and options available, cutaway vans are great in certain use cases.

It could be kind of a wash, yeah the van has everything stuffed back in there... but the doghouse is removable.

A lot of engines in a truck (especially V8 diesel) are stuffed in there and you basically remove the doghouse as you pull the cab.

I would rather pull the doghouse in a oreilly parking lot than a cab...

That said, I have no use for a van.

 

[Dave Anderson]

Pretty sure all the cab-chassis trucks sold in the US are open C behind the cab... only the pickups with a bed have a stiff fully boxed frame.

The E series has a bit less of a hood, which is a nice feature for better visibility and making the wheelbase shorter. But there are downsides to that too, as andyb mentioned. Another one is the expense of converting it to 4x4... you'll end up spending more than you would for a comparable cab-chassis truck. Turning radius probably favors the trucks also (at the same wheelbase), if you are looking at the ones with a wider track.

While the F and E series frames are the same, you are comparing apples to oranges. You also cannot get an F series in a cutaway. The cab is taller in an E-Series so a full WALK THROUGH becomes plausible (not just a tiny pass through). And yes, the pickups with the bed are stiffened by the bed itself, that is fairly obvious to most people, and the conversion to 4WD does slightly eclipse the F series trucks, but what is not obvious is that the F350 truck frames max out at 8' or 11'6" for the F450's which makes for a very tight camper space. The E-Series are 13'! These points are a big part of what makes Sprinter/Transist/E-Series cab cutaways advantageous. Both E and F series have the same engines available, the "Godzilla" 7.3L pumping out plenty of power, which makes the E-Series more desirable than the Sprinter or Transist. The 138 wheelbase has a nice short base wheel for better off-roading, and the near cabover chassis frontend design offers greater maneuverability than the comparable F-series truck. Great convo and feedback. Thank you!

 

[simple]

It sounds like the main point the OP is initially making is that frame flex on an E series translates to more suspension travel than a boxed frame on F series non chassis cab.

More suspension travel equals more tire contact on uneven ground and better traction. Generally accepted principle. Less important with 4x4 and locked differentials.

The E series requires more subframe articulation to compensate for its higher degree of frame flex.

The F series might be ok without needing a subframe on flatbeds up to 8' and additional suspension travel could be achieved with suspension modifications.

How much more travel do you get with a stock cutaway van of equal chassis length to a F series pickup truck? Still apples to oranges because it is dependent on whatever fancy custom suspension goes on the E series based on 4x4 conversion. Is the new fancy E suspension being pitted against a stock F?

I would argue that the converted 4x4 E series with articulating subframe is way more expensive than an F series pickup and would leave a lot of room for suspension mods on the pickup.

If it is being stated that E series cutaways offer more advantages due to form factor than it's back to apples and oranges.

I like the idea of my family traveling in the crash tested envelope of a pickup truck. Less so on a cutaway with the possibility of loose objects or objects coming loose and flying into the cabin. Also the additional road noise coming through the cutaway is less desirable.

A completely custom E with 4x4 conversion may use a lot of factory ford parts but good luck swinging into a conventional repair center and having a simple straight forward transaction.

Either way, my opinion is that big heavy campers on really rough uneven terrain is kind of dumb.

 

[rruff]

While the F and E series frames are the same, you are comparing apples to oranges.

The F450 has 145", 169, 193, and 205 for wheelbase options, while the F350 is limited to 145 or 169. The van has 138, 158, and 176 as options.

One thing I wasn't aware of was the huge price difference. Cheapest E350 is $38k while the cheapest F350 is $52k... and with 4x4 that goes to >$55k. That would make the cost of a 4x4 conversion less of an issue.

Pickup beds provide very little stiffness, BTW... they are made to twist easily. The pickup models have a completely different frame that is fully boxed and stiff. The E series cutaway and F series CC do not have the same frames, but they are both flexible.