What is the longest enclosed trailer you all would recommend I pull behind my 1989 Grandvilla? Weight capacity too? It has a 6v92 Detroit. Thanks.
We're discussing this on another thread. Check out Foretravel Vehicle Weight (http://www.beamalarm.com/Documents/foretravel_vehicle_weight.html) for some information. Your owner's manual should also give you some help here. Look for GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) and GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). Assuming that you have not exceeded your GW, then GCVR - GVWR = trailer weight. If you stay under GW you can tow a heavier trailer.
The length is determined by your state law. You should be able to find out what your state's maximum combined (coach + trailer) is. Subtract your coach's actual length from that maximum and you have the maximum length your trailer can be. That combined maximum varies from state to state, but where your coach and trailer are licensed is what counts. There might be some local exceptions where there are physical limits that are less than the legal ones, but they are generally well marked in advance so you can take an alternate route.
Towing Laws Listed by State
http://towingworld.com/towinglaws.cfm (http://towingworld.com/towinglaws.cfm)
Don't forget to consider hitch ratings as well.
Thanks, Michelle. I didn't mean to overlook that. Obviously, in all cases whatever gives the lowest weight is the limiting factor. I was assuming, though, that whatever hitch was on a Foretravel would be rated at least as high as the other limits would indicate. I can't imagine Foretravel putting a hitch that was limited to 2,000 pounds on a coach that, even a GW, could otherwise tow 10,000 pounds.
Not 2000 lb, but it being an '89 that Curtis is asking about, I doubt it's rated to tow 10K ;)
-M
Being a dummy, I would call FOT Dave Harvery, as get some facts, all this assuming and guessing could get you lost and confused.
Just sayin
Dave M
Dave, that spoils all the fun! Why ask someone who actually knows the answer when you can get lots of opinions for free.
Seriously, calling the factory is probably the smartest idea. I'll probably do just that to get the answer to my towing question.
I have an 89 Grand Villa, same as yours,
I did send an email to Foretravel but have not got a reply,
If you get an answer, Can you put it in here for me to see, I am also looking for the GCWR on my Coach,
So far I have come up with is a max of 2000 Lb, and I have a 300 HP Cat to pull it,
I dont have a lenght problem, I have a weight problem,
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Wow, if you guys have a weight problem with older coaches, I can't imagine what would happen if I traded my coach for a 'bigger' one. Do you think it would help if I wasn't a pack rat??...but "I might need all this stuff on the road" and "I carry spares for everything but the actual engine and transmission" and "I know...I should buy a trailer".
There now... I feel better for fessing up. Anybody else out there have the dreaded pack rat disease?
I do, But I have a very large Man Cave to put it in.
It's not the coach that has the problem :thumbsdown:...
We do 5-6 month stints just fine in our no-slide 36'
We don't QUITE have a weight problem... Under by 600 lbs. No room for more parts or tools, but we can currently carry several more toothbrushes :))
Which '89 Grand Villa are you guys talking about? Their almost all listed at Foretravel Vehicle Weight (http://www.beamalarm.com/Documents/foretravel_vehicle_weight.html). The '89 isn't listed, but the '88 is and the '90 is, so you should be able to figure out thing easly.
Thank you all for the advise. I am just a full timer and if I need to take off to a new location, for work or otherwise, then I want to be able to "pack rat" it all in one trailer and go. Not make multiple trips and the like. I too contacted Foretravel and got no response, but the website that had the limits mine was 30,000, I think. Thanks again.
Curtis
Jim, You got me laughing, I used to carry most everything I could possibly use including easy outs and you name it. The MCI had real good storage space, so I filled it up. Never needing any of the stuff. Now I carry hand tools that fit one hand and a Fluke 87. Today, would have the coach towed home to my shop /man cave and fix it. Decided to worry about other important things like lunch, where & when.
Dave M
Hi Dave,
You response is the first one to my inquiry. Glad to know someone else has or had the dreaded "pack rat " disease. At first I thought I must have offended everyone on the Forum. It seems we mechanical and fix-it guys can't be without our stuff without feeling naked.
My wife finally has given up complaining about all my stuff -well, as long as I keep it in the basement. She says it keeps me out of her hair and the kitchen. This is sort of like...when you're first married and you offer to help with doing the dishes...and you manage to break several cups and a plate. She never asks for help with the dishes again. Yes! Ah, the games people play.
I carry filters and some house stuff as well as a standard toolbox stuff and a multimeter. I have used the tools open stuck compartment doors and fix the jeep after a bit of off roading. Replace the door latch that fell off inside the coach compartment. So I needed a drill and bits and a long screwdriver. ALso I have used it to disassemble service the freshwater pump and the valve that failed at times. I guess I carry enough stuff to fix or work around the little stuff.
Dave,
You're off to a really good start. So does this mean you qualify (and admit to)...being a card toting "pack rat"? I suspect there is a bell curve to this phenomenon: motor homers increase their "carried stuff" the first few years, then taper off after the actual need for it declines. Bummer, huh! Actually I hope this is so because I'm still afflicted with the fit-it-on-the-road desires. Do you suppose this is related ot tha age of the coach... or the owner?
Its so easy when the Coach is here in my front yard,
My 89 Grand Villa currently weighs 21,700 Lbs, Maximum Gross weight for my 89 Grand Villa is 26.500 Lbs,
So that leaves me with 4800 Lbs for trailer and any thing on it,
I tried the " if something new goes into the MH something old has to go out " with the DW and she is still scowling at me. Guess I better give it up.
Gary B
No, that 26,500 is the GVWR (Gross VEHICLE Weight Rating) not GCWR (Gross COMBINED Wieght Rating). Your GCWR is the operative number to tell you the maximum weight of coach and toad.
Where do I find the GCWR, As I cant find that information any where, For my year on my Bus, It seems its the only one missing from that very extensive list on Beamalarm,
Check with either James Triana at Foretravel or Freightliner in Gaffney SC with your Oshkosh chassis number (Freightliner bought Oshkosh).
Thanks, Will do, But Fore travel have not answered any of my emails so far,
Maybe Carol, Jeff or any others at FOT now can talk to the guys and get things rolling for you, I am sure they would not mind getting a word in for you, although Carol is quite shy !!!
John h
Going through my manuals. I did find that the Tow hitch on mine is rated at 350 Lbs, So thats a good start,
Damn it, The Bus wont start now, checking the fuses, The new wiring has been put together with pressed connections, and they are just slipping out of the connections,
Looks like I will be soldering a lot of wires before I go any where.
Being a pack rat, they call it a hoarder here, Yes, I am one, But when I went to pick up my bus from Customs, the hose on the steering Split, I didnt have even a screw driver with me, Had to buy one just to get the Bus home,
Tongue weight I hope!
Your using the wrong size butt connectors or the wrong crimping tool!
Long hard repeated lessons have finally driven home for me: Electricity and I do not get along. The only method I use these days to join wires together on pretty much any project is solder and shrinkwrap. Any and all crimps, butt connectors, blade connectors, or what have you, are places that the spark demons enter the circuit to mess with my day.
Terminology, Hahaha,, Yes, Tongue weight, 350 Lbs,
All my wiring was done by others,
Electricity and I Dont get along either,, I learnt a very long time ago to solder all joins,
This comes from looking for dead wires that have come out of crimped joints, Etc, 200 miles from nowhere and 2 oclock in the morning, And your looking for a broken wire in that huge tangle, as the fuses havent blown,
The vibration kills electrics, especially on Motor cycles,
Cheap insurance, Solder all joints, makes life a lot easier,
Most of my long distance driving is done at night, Very little traffic, Most drivers at night are very courteous, dipping lights, Moving over if you want to pass, Etc,
Caravans, Etc, are non excistant, Plus I am a night owl,
And some where in my bus at the moment, I have a wire thats not connected, Its just a matter of finding it,
Not being familiar with my bus in any way, or where all the wires go, Its a whole new ball game for me,
And being on my own, Its pretty hard doing some thing at one end, when I need some one at the other end to check,
I have found a couple of wires that have been cooked on the motor and have replaced them, But I am slowly getting on top of it,
All my vehicles have to be totally mechanically reliable, I want to get in any of them and drive 1000 miles with no problems,
I dont drive show Ponys, A nice paint job wont get you any where, Its has to go and stop, Mechanically perfect, But thats just me,