P32 Chassis

[345bill]

I read here often about the P32 chassis. I'm curious to know which AS/MH's have them. Were they used on specific models, options, years??

Thanks.

[gloran]

345Bill, I Google Work Horse P32 and was surprised. From what I read all RV chassis from GM were P32 which would include AS, and that P30 is more of a model reference. At that web site Barth MH forum listed there, has alot to say about the diffferences between P30 and P32.
So if I'am under standing it right, all years AS MH are included and built on the P32 chassis.

[345bill]

Originally Posted by gloran

345Bill, I Google Work Horse P32 and was surprised. At that web site Barth MH forum listed there, has alot to say about the diffferences between P30 and P32.

gloran- You're not alone in being surprised. Every time I think I have it half way understood I find something else that throws a curveball into my thoughts. I haven't had any problem when ordering parts for my 1990 345LE and I've always told the parts people it's a P30, which is what I was told when I originally purchased the MH.

So....I'm now kinda thinking most AS/Mh's are on a P32 and the 345's use the P30? (that thought could easily change)

[GlenCoombe]

P30 seems to as mentioned be a catch all for the Chevy frame we all enjoy.

In fact the VIN is the key to parts. I had to get up from my easy chair to check the visor and in fact my 1987 28' FC is a P37.

[2airishuman]

touched on just hours before this thread, perhaps u missed it?

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f310...tml#post797415

cheers
2air'

[Boom Sounds]

As far as I am aware the MH came on a P32 chassis which was a MH version of the P30, there were several different wheelbase lengths, although much of the literature and service manuals refer only to the P30. I think that in some instances there were a very few parts which were MH specific rather than just plain old P30 parts...

Chuck - does this seem right to you?

[Chuckles]

Originally Posted by Boom Sounds

As far as I am aware the MH came on a P32 chassis which was a MH version of the P30, there were several different wheelbase lengths, although much of the literature and service manuals refer only to the P30. I think that in some instances there were a very few parts which were MH specific rather than just plain old P30 parts...

Chuck - does this seem right to you?

OK! ....mmmm...... Yes! it's clear - well nearly.............. as mud!!!!

As usual... any model numbers, chassis numbers, production numbers, what ever you like, are not logical.

P-30 (P-300) is a series with various other models P-32,P-42, P37 etc referring to mods, updates different weights etc, it is quite lengthy but perhaps the following thread/discussion below will help - its not worth writing it all out again but the info in this article is very informative.
try it
P-30 vs. P-32 Chassis - Topic Barthmobile.com

[Smartstream]

The P is for forward control, the 3 is a 1 ton weight series. Beyond that the mystery begins.

When I recently bought a center support bearing the book showed two different sizes. I knew from a recent discussion with a spring shop that the motor home chassis with 4 wheel disc brakes has larger diameter axle tubes than one that has drum brakes. So I said I need the larger bearing of the two. Naturally I took it back the next day to exchange for the small bearing.

I also own a 1979 5 series GM truck. The truck has a 3" drive shaft while the Moho has a 4" drive shaft. The differentials appear to be about the same size and both vehicles run 8x19.5 tires.

I think a lot of what they used was what their suppliers had shipped and was available for installation.

Cheers, Dan

[MrFixit]

Someone said it earlier in here, the key is your VIN numbers (characters 5-6-7) P30 is a chassis only, P32 is designated as forward control chassis, P37 (mine) is designated as a motor home chassis. BTW the 4th character denotes the gvwr-brake system (K=14000-16000lbs, hyd. brakes) and the 8th character is the engine (N=7.4L tbi) these codes are from a '88-90 repair manual and may vary slightly in different years but i believe the position in the VIN number is the same.

[3 Dog Nite]

The 370 MH is built on a Gillig chassis with a Ford 460 drivetrain. It's the only AS classic MH I know of not on a P-30.
Ricky

[Michigander]

Originally Posted by 345bill

I read here often about the P32 chassis. I'm curious to know which AS/MH's have them. Were they used on specific models, options, years??

Thanks.

I'm afraid I cannot tell you exactly which ones have the P32, however, I found this handy little table on page 7 of a "Workhorse Gas Motor Home Chassis Guide" that I downloaded from the internet. It covers years '99 and newer. Just match your VIN with the corresponding position #'s at the top of the page. Our 2005 AS LYG 30 SO has a P32. Hope this helps.

Maybe Workhorse has similar tables for older P series chassis as well.

[frankmcc]

My 2001 Landyacht 33 is on a P32 Chassis. From what I understand, with a little help from the folks at workhorseparts.com, is that the major difference is rear disk brakes and 8.1L engine in the P32 wheras the P30 had drum brakes and a smaller engine. I believe that 2001 was the first year for the P32 and the change took place in the middle of the model year.

Up until I got this info, I was having a hard time identifying what I had. They have an excelent VIN search tool that is very helpfull: https://www.workhorseparts.com

[Boom Sounds]

Originally Posted by frankmcc

My 2001 Landyacht 33 is on a P32 Chassis. From what I understand, with a little help from the folks at workhorseparts.com, is that the major difference is rear disk brakes and 8.1L engine in the P32 wheras the P30 had drum brakes and a smaller engine. I believe that 2001 was the first year for the P32 and the change took place in the middle of the model year.

Up until I got this info, I was having a hard time identifying what I had. They have an excelent VIN search tool that is very helpfull: https://www.workhorseparts.com

That's incorrect. Pretty much all the classic Motorhomes had the P30 series P32 Motorhome chassis. Some with the 454, some 350. All the 27ft+ coaches had discs all round. Only the shorties had a disc/drum set up. A very small number of longer coaches had different chassis/different engines. For the Chevy chassis (95%+), it was all P32s, pretty much from the early 70s. This explains the differences between Bread Vans (P42) and Motorhomes (P32). When workhorse took it over, i think they made further changes to the P32 chassis and they were certainly far clearer in documentation about the distinction of the P32 Motorhome chassis from other vehicles and you can see this in the documentation. See here:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f31...ml#post2449894

[martin300662]

The drum rears have the JB8 sub-code, and the disc rears JB9.

[92landyacht]

My 1992 36' AS Landyacht has 3-wheel disc brakes with a 454 engine. It has forward control steering and is based on a P32 chassis. I've never had problems finding parts by looking at year 1992 and P30 parts.

[Boom Sounds]

Originally Posted by 92landyacht

My 1992 36' AS Landyacht has 3-wheel disc brakes with a 454 engine. It has forward control steering and is based on a P32 chassis. I've never had problems finding parts by looking at year 1992 and P30 parts.

Julius - I think key differences were:

Shorties sub 27ft had 16" wheels and drum/disc and different setup
I believe there were other differences in frame setup between P42 (bread vans) and Motorhomes (P32) e.g. wider track 6" and also the steering column
P32 vs P30 - also, different front and rear suspension and fuel tanks depending on options
If your parts house or ordering system via VIN works as expected, you would expect to get any of the Motorhome specific parts. You can see the P32 options in those books. That doesn't always happen in my opinion, but I have a shortie. These can be seen in the GM Parts wiki or the factory parts books

I am sure this debate could go on for ever!

[Boom Sounds]

Originally Posted by martin300662

The drum rears have the JB8 sub-code, and the disc rears JB9.

Correct and 16" wheels rather than the 19.5" discs