I thought I understood Foretravel's naming system, Uxxx where xxx stood for the gross weight of the coach (with two zeroes to be added). So a U300 has a gross weight of 30,000 pounds, a U270 has a gross weight of 27,000 pounds, right? The I see this on MOT's site: 1998 Foretravel U270 36' Motorhomes of Texas (http://motorhomesoftexas.com/coachrv/foretravel/1998--u270--36--C1592) and it clearly states "GVWR 31,000#." Is that a typo, or do the Unicoach style have a higher GW than the number would indicate?
If a U270 actually has a GW of 31,000 pounds, then perhaps I need to rethink the models on our list.
Always something more to learn.
The U300, U280, U240, U225 nomenclature holds until (I believe) 1995...but research on Foretravel Vehicle Weight (http://www.beamalarm.com/Documents/foretravel_vehicle_weight.html) will tell you for sure. Forrest is a 34' 1997 U270 and has a GVWR of 30,000#.
Our 40 ft U320 2001 is GVWR of 34,880. Title lists empty at 29240 lbs Actual is 32620 full of fuel, oil, two passengers. Our actual weighing of "Gus" in various loadings confirms this about right.
But more comprehensive as Peter suggested, see this list by Barry Beam
Foretravel Vehicle Weight (http://www.beamalarm.com/Documents/foretravel_vehicle_weight.html)
kb0zke,
Starting in 1995, Unicoach U270, U295 and U320 model numbers refer to
standard factory trim levels/appointments and each model number was available in several different lengths and thus (logically) several different weight ratings, depending upon each year's specific designs and options.
Neal
Thanks. So the Unicoach numbers refer to trim levels, not weights. That's good to know. I'm assuming that any of them would work for full-timing, as far as CCC is concerned, as long as the floor plan suits the boss.
David,
No, that's not completely true. The rule of thumb is 2000lbs CCC per person for full-timers. Some crafts people go to 3000. Be careful of 40' non-tag coaches with lots of bells and whistles. Some of them are under 3000# CCC. Always weigh axles on any coach before purchase.
How much CCC you have/need will vary greatly, depending on what you include in CCC. Determining what is included in CCC is confusing because manufacturers and people vary widely in what they include in CCC.
My 1996 U320 weighs 27,500 with empty diesel, empty water, empty propane, no people, no spare, but three 8D + three start batteries (720#) (it does not have Aquahot, which is common and adds weight). It has a GVWR of 32,000 pounds (12,000 front, 20,000 rear), so it can carry another 4500 lbs.
My 1996 U320 weighs 30,000lbs with full diesel (140gal=1000#), full propane (42gal=175#), full water (95gal=790#), two people (345#), empty cargo bays except for a spare tire (190#), so it can carry another 2000 lbs? Is this the CCC? Most folks will tell you that CCC of 2000# for two people is inadequate, however, the way CCC is defined here, it is adequate for me.
When traveling in California last year with full diesel, propane, and water tanks, as well as a spare tire, six batteries, two people, cargo bays full, and cupboards full, it weighed 31,990 lbs, just under the GVWR. I was carrying a lot of power tools, a big tool box, ladders, many spare/replacement parts, the pantry was full of groceries, there was a 30 pack of beer in the fridge and the liquor cabinet was full. Life was good!
When I travel south at Halloween this year, there will only be 10 gallons in the water tank, no beer, no alcohol, few groceries, so coach will be less than 31,000lbs.
An important factor that you need to learn about, particularly if your coach is near GVWR, is load balancing. The front GAWR, and rear GAWR should not be exceeded. In addition to this, side to side loading. When my coach was at 31,990 lbs, one front tire was 60 pounds heavier than the other and the left rear was 90 pound heavier then the right rear. This was due to carefully weighing each corner of the coach and positioning the heavy items near the rear tires on the passenger side because the passenger rear was lighter then the driver rear. I also positioned one of the three house batteries behind the rear passenger duals with the factory installed start batteries by building a larger battery tray.
Most Foretravel motorhomes over the years will have adequate CCC, but not all. Foretravel has a better record with CCC than most other manufacturers, however, their record is not perfect. Weigh all four corners of a coach you are interested in and do some calculating before you buy. I have seen SOB motorhomes where the weight leaving the factory exceeded the GVWR, frightening to drive.
Newell, Bluebird and Country Coach had issues with a portly figure. CC issues with blowing tires got so bad the tire manufacturer told them to take a hike!
I haven't weighed our 99' 36ft U270 yet, but it is high on my list of things to do when I get us back on the road (soon... that is my story and I am sticking to it!). However, looking at the sticker by the driver's chair, it says that our coach has an unladen weight of 25,050lbs. According to the sticker, this includes all fluids necessary for operation (full fuel=148 gal, oil, coolant, etc., but NOT including fresh water, LP gas, cargo, people, etc.). This leaves supposedly 5950 lbs. of NCC (net carrying capacity) from our GVWR of 31,000. Once we subtract full water ((112 Gal=933lbs), full LP (about 200lbs), that would leave about 4,800 for the two of us (less than 300lbs.). From that, subtract the Washer Dryer, a couble hundred pounds of structural steel that I have added to the basement, that would still leave over 4,000lbs. for goodies. Mind you, likely we would like base how much fresh water we travel with depending on where we are going...
Anyway, I would like to hear from anybody with a similar coach (99' 36ft U270) what your actual weighed values are. If the placard on ours is accurate, that should leave us plenty of carrying capacity for full timing, particularly since we will initially be towing my basic 2WD 92' Toyota pickup (2800lbs.) with a shell for extra capacity, if needed.
Don