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Topic: Foretravel Curb Weights and GVWR (Read 881 times) previous topic - next topic

Foretravel Curb Weights and GVWR

Motorhome Curb Weight is generally considered to be the weight of the motorhome ready to drive (ie with engine oil etc) with full fresh water, full fuel, and full propane but no passengers, dishes, cloths, or food.

I can not find any Foretravel Curb Weights on Barry's site.

With full fresh water, full diesel, full propane, a mounted spare tire in the basement (200lbs), and me (also 200lbs - come on, I am over 6 foot), my 1996 U320 weighted 29,500 (at a certified scale in Texas) This included two 8D coach batteries and three red top Optima start batteries but without Aquahot.

The RV Consumers Group, which lists weights based on Manufacturer information, shows the average curb weight of a 1995 U320 as 28,300lbs, a 1996 U320 as 28,100lbs, and a 1997 U320 as 30,300lbs. The MEASURED curb weight of my coach based on the weigh scale numbers above is 29,100lbs which is 1000 pounds more than reported by RVCG and 1200 pounds lighter then reported for a 1997 U320.

Does a 1997 U320 weigh 1200lbs more then a 1996 U320 due to added items: Aquahot, ducted air, bus style bay doors, a screen door, and hinged cabinet doors?

The GVWR of a U320 for 1995, 1996, and 1997 were all 32000lbs, while the GVWR for a 1998 went up slightly to 32,350, and the 1999 jumped to 34,880 a substantial increase. Does the 1999 U320 have a different rear axle/air bags than an older one?

When travelling to California, with full fuel, only 20 gallons of fresh water, half tank of propane, and me, my U320 weights 28,800, which means I can only legally add another 3200 pounds. In April 2012, my coach weight was determined to be 31,990 lbs at a Good Sam Rally (also included wifee).

I believe that the driver of an overloaded truck could be liable for fines.
Could the driver of an overloaded motorhome be liable for the same fines as a truck driver?

If the rear axle and airbags of a 1999 U320 is the same as for all previous years, could folks who own older U320's have them recertified to a higher GVWR.


Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: Foretravel Curb Weights and GVWR

Reply #1 –
Quote from: P. Wyatt Sabourin –
Motorhome Curb Weight is generally considered to be the weight of the motorhome ready to drive (ie with engine oil etc) with full fresh water, full fuel, and full propane but no passengers, dishes, cloths, or food.

1200 pounds would not surprise me from your 96 to my 97.  Lots of steel in the door stuff thick double wall doors also and the double ceiling and the aquahot and its added antifreeze and the solid cabinet doors.

Easy 1200 I would think.  I will weigh mine when I pass or go to a van lines scale.

Probably time to adjust the tire pressures for the actual loadings...



Bob
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Foretravel Curb Weights and GVWR

Reply #2 –
From the sticker on our 40' U320i with 1 slide:

GVWR                          34,880
Unloaded vehicle weight 30,915 (full fuel, coolant, oil)
Fresh water                        971 (117 gal @ 8.3lbs/gal)
Propane                              77 (17 gal @ 4.5 lbs/gal)
2 People                            308 (2 @ 154 lbs/person)

Net capacity (CCC)            2,609

I believe these stickers were required on all RVs beginning in 2000. I don't know if this is an actual weight or a "model" weight used for all U320 1 slide models. The government did not require weight of the actual unit, only a representative weight.
Jeff & Patricia
Rescue dog Molly
Previous Foretravel owner

Re: Foretravel Curb Weights and GVWR

Reply #3 –
Here's my 2002 data plate...3890 capacity.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Foretravel Curb Weights and GVWR

Reply #4 –
Quote from: P. Wyatt Sabourin –
Motorhome Curb Weight is generally considered to be the weight of the motorhome ready to drive (ie with engine oil etc) with full fresh water, full fuel, and full propane but no passengers, dishes, cloths, or food.

I can not find any Foretravel Curb Weights on Barry's site.

I would suspect because unlike something like a Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH, all of which are exactly identical except for color scheme, there's enough variation in FT floorplans/options/finishes; each coach has its own individual curb weight.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Foretravel Curb Weights and GVWR

Reply #5 –
From the Tiffin owners (TiffinRVNetwork):

"I'm at Red Bay/Belmont watching my new coach being built. The weight process is as follows: It goes to be Sealed after the painting and clear coat is done. Then they do a Bubble Test, after that it goes over to the end of the building where they do the Rain Booth Test. Prior to that, in the same area, they weigh all four corners. My coach had a full tank of fuel, fuel tank of LP, fresh water tank 2/3rd's full, gray tank 1/3 rd full and black tank empty. They gave me a weigh sheet while I watched them do it. It's a "Great" baseline to start from. The Mech shop put 115psi in all my tires on my chassis when they first got it."

Now, I don't know if the weight sheet data gets on the coach labels anywhere or not. There seems to be some question about that after looking at their forum. I think the main reason the factory does a 4 corner weighing is to flag any overweight situations caused by incorrect ride height settings.

I believe they are building 13 units per day and continue to grow market share. If you are in the area, take a tour of their operation - especially the paint shop - very impressive and up-to-date. BTW a bubble test uses a fan that pressurizes the inside of the coach; they spray the outside with soapy water to find the leaks.

It is interesting to see the differences in manufacturing systems in a high volume versus custom build.




Jeff & Patricia
Rescue dog Molly
Previous Foretravel owner
 

Re: Foretravel Curb Weights and GVWR

Reply #6 –
We must drive with one finger on All-Raise button the whole time while driving to keep coach in up position. Different year HWH controls work differently.

We avoid ferries, if we have alternatives. Some are impossible to use without damage. We look for high tide to reduce angle.