What’s New in RV Chassis for 2025: Innovations From Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp.

A strong foundation is critical to any structure, and when that structure is an RV, the chassis is a critical component — one that, among other things, can affect a customer’s driving experience. RV PRO recently caught up with Jeremy Buckmeier, RV product manager for South Carolina-based Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC), which produces more than half the market in Class A diesel motorhome chassis, to discuss what 2025 holds in store for the company.

What’s new for FCCC for RV chassis?

There are many new products, partnerships and milestones we’re celebrating at Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. At the 2025 Tiffin Dealer Meeting at the end of April, for example, we expanded our exclusive partnership with the introduction of PowerDrive, our new steering system designed to transform the Tiffin Class A driving experience. PowerDrive strikes the ideal balance of power and performance for a seamless driving experience and features an electronic motor that delivers torque assist to the hydraulic steering system. PowerDrive also features integrated sensors to monitor torque, steering input and vehicle speed that enable the coach to adapt in real time to road conditions and hazards, enhancing driver safety, comfort and confidence. We also showcased the newest Tiffin Class A model built on FCCC’s exclusive PowerGlide XL chassis — the 2026 Phaeton. The 2026 Phaeton is the latest Tiffin Class A model now available on the PowerGlideXC or PowerGlide SL, joining the 2026 Allegro Bus (available on both PowerGlide XC and PowerGlide SL) and the 2026 Zephyr (PowerGlide SL).

We also recently unveiled Dash+, our new dash full of driver-focused enhancement and innovations for our S2RV Super C chassis. The new Dash+ on the S2RV takes safety and RVer experience to the next level thanks to a range of technological and ergonomic driver controls. This includes the introduction of FCCC’s DriveTech ergonomic steering wheel and column-mounted controls, which eliminates the need for drivers to reach for every command and places transmission controls at their fingertips.

We strengthened our commitment to providing [one of] the most convenient and best ownership experiences overall with the recent update of the My 24/7 Direct app. The newest features in the updated version of the app include a robust and growing library of videos focused on coach maintenance and service. The videos bring to life a wide range of maintenance-related topics, including a coach’s air cleaner, coolant, fuel and oil filters, and transmission.

And lastly, we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary in 2025! This milestone has certainly been an opportunity for our team to reflect on all of our accomplishments and success — and it’s also an opportunity to get excited about what the future holds for FCCC, our OEM and dealer partners, and our customers.

Has anything been released with an RV brand in the last year that you’re particularly proud of? Why?

As mentioned, we’ve unveiled a few new features and products through our exclusive partnership with Tiffin that we are very excited about and proud of.

We’re incredibly proud to partner with Newmar on the development of the 2026 Grand Star, their first Super C model that reflects its customer-centered development approach and ongoing commitment to delivering premium experiences for both seasoned RV enthusiasts and those new to the lifestyle. The Grand Star boasts [one of] the shortest motorhome floorplans on the market built on our S2RV platform, ensuring a comfortable, easy-to-maneuver vehicle that fits effortlessly into a variety of camping and storage spaces.

We also were proud to partner with the great team at Fleetwood on the development of the 2025 Palisade, their luxury Class A diesel coach powered by our XCM chassis. The XCM’s modular design and lowered rear section offers enhanced floorplan versatility and pass-through storage capacity. Powered by a Cummins L9 engine offering 450 horsepower and 1,250 pound-feet of torque, the 2025 Palisade powered by the XCM offers several FCCC innovations, such as RoadWatch, DriveTech and UltrasSteer.

How do you work with the owners clubs of your OEM partners to ensure a positive ownership experience?

We have long prided ourselves on providing the best ownership experience in the industry throughout the entire time someone owns their coach. This is why our strong partnership with our OEMs and dealers is so important — we work closely with each of their owners clubs to ensure their owners have easy and ready access to our comprehensive resources and expertise. We also provide education and training to our dealer partners to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge necessary to answer any and all questions and concerns. Our amazing RV team is on the road constantly as well, attending numerous OEM rallies and other events to meet with owners and hold our award-winning service and maintenance seminars on a regular basis.

What challenges do you foresee for FCCC for the rest of 2025?

We are encouraged about where we see the market headed in the near term. The Class A and Super C segments are both fairly robust and resilient in terms of demand, which helps explain the interest and enthusiasm we’re experiencing among OEMs, dealers and prospective buyers.

As always, our team is focused on the things we can control and impact. This means a continuous mission to increase product quality, streamline our processes, enhance our service and provide the best overall experience in the industry.