Ford Motor Co. may seem struggling in some auto categories. But the Dearborn-based automaker is doing well in the manufacture of pickup trucks, its bread and butter vehicles. To hold onto its lead in the industry, the automaker seeks to unveil largest and most adaptable motor homes.

The Blue Oval does not sell recreational vehicles under its own name, but Ford is the leading manufacturer of motor home chassis in the United States.

The new chassis truck, made in Detroit, is all about weight. There are six models in the lineup. Based on reports, the biggest has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,000 pounds.

For the biggest motor homes, the automaker is offering its 6.8-liter Triton V-10, which provides best-in-class performance producing 362 horsepower and 457 foot-pounds of torque. Aside from the superb hauling power, the automaker’s new chassis deliver improved ride and handling, quieter operation and wheels capable of turning up to 50 degrees in either direction.

When the Guthries first approached the automaker, the RV chassis were manufactured in Mexico. With help from the city and the United Auto Workers, who agreed to competitive contract terms, the brothers were able to put together a bid to produce the underbodies in Detroit for less than Ford was paying in Mexico, the report continued.

The commercial truck business is a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle. One of the very big pieces of that puzzle is the motor home industry.

The automaker does not divulge financial results for its motor home venture, but Castelli said Ford produces about 30,000 RV chassis of all classes each year, accounting for about 10 percent of its total commercial truck output. And it is consistently profitable.

The largest models borrow from the F-650 commercial trucks. Castelli said these titans will not only guarantee Ford stays in the lead, but should increase its share even more despite the escalating gasoline price.

As other automakers focus on the enhancement of other auto parts such as engines and shocks, Ford takes the risk of beefing up the chassis.