Blue Bird Takes Over Ford F-53 and F-59 Chassis: What It Means for RV Owners

The Ford F-53 has carried most gas Class A motorhomes on the road for decades. Now it's getting a new home. On August 5, 2026, Blue Bird Corporation announced a definitive agreement with Ford to take over the next-generation F-53 and F-59 commercial stripped chassis.

What Blue Bird and Ford Agreed To

Blue Bird is best known for school buses. This move puts it into the motorhome and commercial truck chassis business.

What It Means for RV Owners

If you own a gas Class A on a Ford F-53, nothing changes for your coach today. Ford parts and service carry on. For future buyers, the F-53 lives on under Blue Bird, and Freightliner Custom Chassis is also building a new gas Class A chassis for 2028 (read our post on that). More choices are good news for RVers.

What doesn't change: a gas motorhome carries a big fuel tank behind a plastic fuel door that opens with a finger. At today's prices that's hundreds of dollars sitting in the open at campgrounds, storage lots and rest stops.

If There's an Exposed Fuel Cap, We'll Be There to Cover It

The RV Fuel Vault swaps the factory fuel door for a heavy-duty locking steel door. It's made in the USA and installs with basic hand tools.

When the Blue Bird-built F-53 coaches arrive in 2028, we'll confirm fitment on each model. Wherever there's an exposed fuel cap, we plan to have a locking door ready.

Find your fit to see which door fits your RV today.

Quick Answers

Is Ford stopping the F-53? Ford is handing the next-generation F-53/F-59 to Blue Bird. The chassis keeps Ford powertrains.

When will Blue Bird start building it? Early 2028.

Will my current F-53 still get service? Yes. Both companies say support continues through select dealers.

Does The RV Fuel Vault fit my F-53 motorhome? Most current gas Class A coaches on the F-53 take the Large Standard Single. Use Find My Fit to confirm your exact coach.

*Source: Blue Bird Corporation press release, August 5, 2026.*