Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 06, 2025 ...

This topic is a perfect opportunity for someone at the factory to weigh in on. Confirmation of this important or even vital topic would go a long way to convince a lot of us to use those support points.

I suggest that those of you who are making parts to prevent your coach from dropping when working on it might want to consider the following.
If you will look on top of the lower suspension members, you will find four (4) bosses (large dimples like the top 1/5 of an egg) at each corner of the front suspension and also you will find four (4) more on the rear suspension for a total of eight ( bosses  These bosses were put there to indicate where to put veritically placed round or square tubing approximately 7.5" high for the purpose of keeping the chassis elevated during servicing.  Those who use these bosses always either use four  for front work or four for rear work or eight when working under the whole coach. 
I suggest that there may be some VERY valid reasons to use the bosses provided by the factory.  One reason is, the ease of placing the vertical tubes.  Another is the total strength of the four tubes per axle concept. 
Placing supports in locations other than indicated by the factory bosses MAY not be in the best interest of your chassis, suspension or your pocketbook. 
That is my understanding of the situation and I thought I should pass it along.
Regards,

Quote from: George Stoltz – March 13, 2011, 09:12:49 pm

This topic is a perfect opportunity for someone at the factory to weigh in on. Confirmation of this important or even vital topic would go a long way to convince a lot of us to use those support points.

Actually, regarding a topic such as this I would expect the only thing the factory should say is "only a qualified service technician should perform work on your coach".  Too many variables to say anything else.

Please respect that the factory is here post useful information when they can contribute and refrain from requesting they respond to a post or attempt to put them on the spot.

Michelle

Quote from: Jon Twork – March 13, 2011, 07:49:37 pm

I suggest that those of you who are making parts to prevent your coach from dropping when working on it might want to consider the following.
If you will look on top of the lower suspension members, you will find four (4) bosses (large dimples like the top 1/5 of an egg) at each corner of the front suspension and also you will find four (4) more on the rear suspension for a total of eight ( bosses  These bosses were put there to indicate where to put veritically placed round or square tubing approximately 7.5" high for the purpose of keeping the chassis elevated during servicing.  Those who use these bosses always either use four  for front work or four for rear work or eight when working under the whole coach. 
I suggest that there may be some VERY valid reasons to use the bosses provided by the factory.  One reason is, the ease of placing the vertical tubes.  Another is the total strength of the four tubes per axle concept. 
Placing supports in locations other than indicated by the factory bosses MAY not be in the best interest of your chassis, suspension or your pocketbook. 
That is my understanding of the situation and I thought I should pass it along.
Regards,

Can someone take some pictures of these bosses for each corner?  That would be helpful.

........................These bosses were put there to indicate where to put veritically placed round or square tubing approximately 7.5" high for the purpose of keeping the chassis elevated during servicing.  Those who use these bosses always either use four  for front work or four for rear work or eight when working under the whole coach.................................. 
That is my understanding of the situation and I thought I should pass it along.
Regards,

.......................Just as interesting is the fact that my instructions for where to support the frame and how many support members to use were given to me by the (then) service manager at Foretravel.  He had one of the FT guys cut me 4, 2"X2"X11" square tubes, then showed me where to position them, never once mentioning the bosses that were about 6-10" away.  In fact, those 11" tubes wouldn't fit between the frame members at the bosses.  One would, as Jon mentioned, have to go with shorter (7.5") supports. 

Apparently there was an information "gap" (breakdown) between the factory and at least some people in Service.  Whether there still is a gap or that was just an isolated instance remains to be seen.

Jon,
I'm curious as to the source of your information regarding the design purpose of the bosses. 
I'm like Don in that a Foretravel sales and service center advised me on the length (11.5") and strength (2"X4"X1/4" web) of the (4) support blocks that I use.  I am using just about what that service facility was routinely using  (they were using (4), 11" long 2"X2"X1/4"web supports, so I have some overkill when compared to theirs). 
It has always been my understanding that the bosses have the following (2) design purposes:

• Design would rather that the frame members have "point contact" versus "length contact" in extreme suspension travel situations.  That minimizes the chance of exceeding the design stress at the hinge point (e.g. - due to dirt build up on the frame rail).
   
• Design also wants to fine tune the end point of "aired-down" suspension travel.  Without the bosses, the tire will deform the floor beyond acceptable margins.  In fact, service centers have "shimmed" coaches by building the bosses slightly higher to counteract too much travel when completely "aired down".  Most Unicoaches have tire contact at all four corners when the suspension is fully aired down.  But it is my understanding that the bosses prevent permanently deforming the floor, particularly if aired down when significantly off level and the humidity is high or the floor otherwise contains a high moisture content.

Is it possible that someone is just confusing the bosses as a handy reference point over which (hollow) 7.5" safety blocks can be reliably placed to safely support the coach?
FWIW,
Neal

Quote from: Jon Twork – March 13, 2011, 07:49:37 pm

........................These bosses were put there to indicate where to put veritically placed round or square tubing approximately 7.5" high for the purpose of keeping the chassis elevated during servicing.  Those who use these bosses always either use four  for front work or four for rear work or eight when working under the whole coach.................................. 
That is my understanding of the situation and I thought I should pass it along.
Regards,

Quote from: Don Hay – March 14, 2011, 12:37:30 pm

.......................Just as interesting is the fact that my instructions for where to support the frame and how many support members to use were given to me by the (then) service manager at Foretravel.  He had one of the FT guys cut me 4, 2"X2"X11" square tubes, then showed me where to position them, never once mentioning the bosses that were about 6-10" away.  In fact, those 11" tubes wouldn't fit between the frame members at the bosses.  One would, as Jon mentioned, have to go with shorter (7.5") supports. 

Apparently there was an information "gap" (breakdown) between the factory and at least some people in Service.  Whether there still is a gap or that was just an isolated instance remains to be seen.

Jon,
I'm curious as to the source of your information regarding the design purpose of the bosses. 
I'm like Don in that a Foretravel sales and service center advised me on the length (11.5") and strength (2"X4"X1/4" web) of the (4) support blocks that I use.  I am using just about what that service facility was routinely using  (they were using (4), 11" long 2"X2"X1/4"web supports, so I have some overkill when compared to theirs). 
It has always been my understanding that the bosses have the following (2) design purposes:

• Design would rather that the frame members have "point contact" versus "length contact" in extreme suspension travel situations.  That minimizes the chance of exceeding the design stress at the hinge point (e.g. - due to dirt build up on the frame rail).
   
• Design also wants to fine tune the end point of "aired-down" suspension travel.  Without the bosses, the tire will deform the floor beyond acceptable margins.  In fact, service centers have "shimmed" coaches by building the bosses slightly higher to counteract too much travel when completely "aired down".  Most Unicoaches have tire contact at all four corners when the suspension is fully aired down.  But it is my understanding that the bosses prevent permanently deforming the floor, particularly if aired down when significantly off level and the humidity is high or the floor otherwise contains a high moisture content.

Is it possible that someone is just confusing the bosses as a handy reference point over which (hollow) 7.5" safety blocks can be reliably placed to safely support the coach?
FWIW,
Neal

Just to be sure of our info here, I went to the expert and asked.

James,
On the newsgroup it is being said that there is a "Support Locating Boss" specifically there for the 2x2x11" steel frame supports that you put for safety.
I always thought that was a bumper stop.
That does not look right to me.
Can you clarify where you put the supports when working under the coach?

His answer.
Where you are putting the 2x2 block or steel bar is correct.
You are right it is the frame stop or bumper stop. 

Too eliminate any possible confusion, could someone post a picture showing the correct location for the supports?

Quote from: Barry Beam – March 21, 2011, 03:09:46 pm

Just to be sure of our info here, I went to the expert and asked.

James,
On the newsgroup it is being said that there is a "Support Locating Boss" specifically there for the 2x2x11" steel frame supports that you put for safety.
I always thought that was a bumper stop.
That does not look right to me.
Can you clarify where you put the supports when working under the coach?

His answer.
Where you are putting the 2x2 block or steel bar is correct.
You are right it is the frame stop or bumper stop. 

So if I understand correctly, 4 each of the safety blocks (2"x2"x1/4"x 11" h as a minimum) are required and they are to be placed at each corner of the coach close to the airbag and between the house structural member to which the top airbag flange is mounted and the chassis structural member to which the bottom airbag flange is mounted.

Am I understanding it correctly?

I currently have 4 each of 2"x5"x1/4"x11" h steel tubing pieces cut and ready for use.

You have it correctly.
Total of 4. 1 for each corner. 

Great looking ramps. I will be making a pair for the front before I attempt my bulkhead repair. Will use yours for a pattern.  Especially like the chock, don't think I would have thought of that.