We have found a potential buyer for our 95 280 40'. He has asked about potential carrying capacity for the coach when full of all fluids. Does anyone out there happen to have weighed theirs past or present?
Tom,
The starting point is the GVWR.
1995 Foretravel U280 Specifications (http://www.beamalarm.com/foretravel-links/models/1995_foretravel_u280_specifications.html)
Also on the GVWR sticker on the driver's wall.
So, 28,000 pounds.
Foretravel did not (to my knowledge) publish unloaded weights for their coaches. So, I suspect another U280 40' owner may have info on their coach or worse case, yours across scales at a local truck stop when loaded as buyer mentioned. My answer on how to weight it would be 1/2 potable water, full fuel (if less than full, add weight as if it were full with 85% front axle/15% rear axle-- 7 lbs per gallon will get you very close) and no gray or black. At least, that is how we travel.
Tom, the commonly accepted approach is full fuel and water, empty grey and black tanks. Put your coach in that condition and drive to nearby trucks top with CAT or similar scale. Pay $3 for the actual weight, and he will have a real world number for your coach. Most FT have ample load capacity for people and stuff. You will already have stuff, fluids and one person in your actual weight, groceries, people and maybe some clothes is all that would be added to your current rate
Truck stop scale prices were around $7 last time I scaled out.
Roland
$10 for me last week.
What was the weight of your 300 last week if you don't mind me asking?
my U300 is rated at 30,000 lbs. Your U280 is 28,000 lbs. So expect yours to weigh a bit less, with the smaller engine, transmission, and generator (assuming you have the spec'd 6.5kw propane and not the 10kw diesel)
My weights:
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hilineauto.com%2Frvweigh.jpg&hash=a2aba797024d78f03a1542d50f86ebee" rel="cached" data-hash="a2aba797024d78f03a1542d50f86ebee" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.hilineauto.com/rvweigh.jpg)
This was taken with full fuel, 3/4 propane, full fresh water and empty waste tanks. RV full of stuff ready to go how I would normally go. I dont carry much, but a few cases of water and tools being the heaviest stuff I had with me.
My specs on the wall say 10,500 front axle, 19,500 rear axle. Not much margin there, but the foretravel ratings are conservative compared to the meritor ratings for that axle (21,000 rear)
Thanks everyone!
Drive to Oregon; I think all state weigh scales leave the digital display ON. Drive into any closed weigh station and it is easy to weigh each axle.
I'll head out at first light!😜
The newer coaches (at least my 03) have a sticker on the wall by the SN tag that should show the CCC which (going by memory) is spelled out as the gvw, less the empty weight + fuel +full water + propane.
CCC then is how much stuff your DW can bring after you load every heavy tool you own in the basement. 8^)
Many SOB had the sticker in a kitchen cabinet.