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Turning diagram for a 2003 40' with tag?

December 21, 2013, 08:17:34 pm

Have an interesting question for the forum.  My brother (who works for a commercial construction firm) is discussion options for putting in a FHU site for us at his house or at his boss's farm (would you believe the boss's last name is Metzger and apparently is no relation?). 

The question came up about wheelbase (which we can measure) and a turning diagram for our coach.  Apparently the latter is quite common for things like firetrucks (says bro who does site design where such things are important).

Does a turning diagram exist for our coaches?  Anyone have a site plan they've used successfully?

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Re: Turning diagram for a 2003 40' with tag?

Reply #1 – December 21, 2013, 09:11:40 pm

I think the best information may be available from the Mothership.

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Re: Turning diagram for a 2003 40' with tag?

Reply #2 – December 21, 2013, 09:35:15 pm

I've never seen one for a Foretravel.  In 2008 when I worked for Country Coach I created some for sales.  I never saw any turning diagrams posted on the CC website.  It appeared to be something the sales staff had in case some one asked for it.  Foretravel might be the same way.
If you can't find one I can create one if given the wheel base, wheel cut angle, and track width plus some of the overall exterior planform dimensions.  I would take very little time in AutoCAD.  Maybe you should just use the diagram for the IH-45 that you will be upgrading to some day!

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Re: Turning diagram for a 2003 40' with tag?

Reply #3 – December 21, 2013, 10:27:31 pm

It would be worth having if you are creating a new space.  I was hoping to drive in forward into our driveway and back into (90° turn to the passenger's side) the parking space in front of my shop.  No way with the trees along the side of the drive way.  I tried backing in the driveway and making the turn that way.  A bit closer but still no go.  I can drive in forward and turn 90° into the parking space, just barely. 

Before we built our RV barn we did several trial runs to where we wanted to put it.  We back in through 2 90° turns and at least 400' of driveway in the woods to the barn.  It was where and how we ended up that determined the orientation of the barn.

No drawing would have replaced just trying it out but it would have been nice to have one anyway.

Roger

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Re: Turning diagram for a 2003 40' with tag?

Reply #4 – December 22, 2013, 03:43:21 pm

I think you can get the turning radius for the coach from FT I would think.

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Re: Turning diagram for a 2003 40' with tag?

Reply #5 – December 23, 2013, 12:49:49 pm

Quick and dirty way of finding turning radius is:

Go to parking lot after rain and drive through puddle.  Make a hard full lock 360 deg right turn.  Measure turning radius of wet tire marks.  Repeat on opposite lock.  Add overhang, in this case measure from center of tire mark to furthest outside point of coach at front.  Or you can have someone mark the parking lot as you turn.  Do same for rear, remember rear swings out as front swings in.  You now have an accurate measurement on how much space you will need to maneuver your coach.  Radius diagrams from elsewhere may not account for how your mirrors are set and/or how the steering stops are set.  Lift tag if you can.


Keith

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