Re: Vehicle Weight

Topic: Re: Vehicle Weight (Read 1720 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Vehicle Weight

September 13, 2010, 02:42:40 pm

Quote

Look at the NCC (net carrying capacity) of your vehicle. This includes occupants, fresh water (gray & black if you didn't pump out), personal belongings, food , propane, and everything you put in it including dealer provided accessories PLUS hitch load. Mine is 3120 lbs. Different model have higher or lower limits. Michael Baldacchino '97 40' U320

I have a page where I have been collecting vehicle weights for most Foretravel Models.
Still looking for a few I dont have.
http://beamalarm.com/Documents/foretravel_vehicle_weight.htm
Also http://beamalarm.com/Documents/foretravel_capacities.htm

Re: Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #1 – September 13, 2010, 03:13:18 pm

Barry,
Did iyou notice that the owners manual does not give the NCC weight? Wonder why not? It is on the data plate next to the helm.
Like I said, mine is "(approx) 3120". You can add that column to the list.

Mike B.

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #2 – September 13, 2010, 04:37:12 pm

Quote

Did you notice that the owners manual does not give the NCC weight?

That's why I don't have a column for it.
I don't like to put anything in there that I am not sure of and I can't find anything in writing for it.
The only other option is members send me their data from the ID plate.

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #3 – October 21, 2010, 09:19:55 pm

Barry,

1999 42' U320 axle ratings are the same as 2000.

Re: Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #4 – October 21, 2010, 10:48:04 pm

I'd like to hear from owners who have actually had their coaches weighed. Just how accurate are the numbers on the data plate?

I hope the weight I got from a closed scale I happened upon are incorrect. They indicate my 2003 U295 might be slightly overweight with full water, LP, and fuel and nothing else aboard.

Re: Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #5 – October 21, 2010, 10:54:26 pm

Wow! So your CCC is zero? I assume you have slides.

My 1997 36ft U295 and 1999 40ft U320 both had ample CCC after full fluids and two passengers. Both no slides.
___

best, paul
"Thriving not surviving" <(*¿*)>
Some once thought a million chimps would in time type great old works of literature
Now that we have the Internet we know that not to be true.......

Quote

I'd like to hear from owners who have actually had their coaches weighed. Just how accurate are the numbers on the data plate?

I hope the weight I got from a closed scale I happened upon are incorrect. They indicate my 2003 U295 might be slightly overweight with full water, LP, and fuel and nothing else aboard.

Re: Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #6 – October 21, 2010, 10:54:32 pm

Tom,

Fully loaded and I mean fully loaded with all tanks full we have 660 pound safe margin in front and 425 pounds in rear. Just to be sure this is clear, we are a little underweight.

Weighing was done by RVSEF at each wheel.

Re: Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #7 – October 21, 2010, 11:03:36 pm

Quote from: Tom Lang – October 21, 2010, 10:48:04 pm

I'd like to hear from owners who have actually had their coaches weighed.

I'll pull our slip out tomorrow and post the numbers. Texas registration requires certified vehicle weight and we have the scale slip from when we purchased and registered our coach the first time.

IIRC our tag axle coach is around 34-35000 lbs. without "stuff". 11K and change on the front axle, just under 8K on the tag, don't recall the drive axle. We have around 7000 lbs of load margin.

Michelle

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #8 – October 21, 2010, 11:21:03 pm

Quote

I'd like to hear from owners who have actually had their coaches weighed. Just how accurate are the numbers on the data plate?

These are my weights from 4/10 FMCA on each wheel.
GVWR 42,000
RATINGS
F 6680 10500 4915
R
O 13880 21000 9000 TOTALS
N
T 6680 10500 4915

LOAD MEASUREMENTS each wheel
F 5825 8640 3625
R
O 11925 17000 7175 TOTALS
N
T 6100 8350 3550

MARGINS
F 855 1850 1290
R
O 1955 4000 1825 TOTALS
N
T 580 2150 1365

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #9 – October 22, 2010, 07:45:59 am

Good Am Barry

I had our 2004 42' weighed yesterday all for Conner's.

LOAD MEASUREMENTS each wheel
F 6600 8800 3700
R
O 13400 17750 7420 TOTALS
N
T 6800 8950 3720
Total 38570 Full fuel,water and propane. Empty gray and black. (GVW 42000)
We full time.
All the Best

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #10 – October 22, 2010, 09:06:45 am

Quote

1999 42' U320 axle ratings are the same as 2000.

Thanks Brett for the confirmation of the numbers.
I still need a few more coach numbers to complete this project.
http://beamalarm.com/Documents/foretravel_vehicle_weight.htm
Also http://beamalarm.com/Documents/foretravel_capacities.htm

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #11 – October 22, 2010, 12:16:16 pm

Quote from: Barry Beam – October 21, 2010, 11:21:03 pm

Quote
I'd like to hear from owners who have actually had their coaches weighed. Just how accurate are the numbers on the data plate?
These are my weights from 4/10 FMCA on each wheel.
GVWR 42,000
RATINGS
F 6680 10500 4915
R
O 13880 21000 9000 TOTALS
N
T 6680 10500 4915

LOAD MEASUREMENTS each wheel
F 5825 8640 3625
R
O 11925 17000 7175 TOTALS
N
T 6100 8350 3550

MARGINS
F 855 1850 1290
R
O 1955 4000 1825 TOTALS
N
T 580 2150 1365

I apologize for asking some very dumb questions. But I want to understand these weights correctly and what they represent. In the Foretravel Vehicle Weight chart for our coach (1997 U270), the Front Axle is 12,000 lbs; the Rear Axle is 19,000 lbs; the GVWR is 30,000 lbs and the GCWR is 36,000 lbs.

I have not had a chance to weigh our coach yet, so I do not know the actual numbers for each wheel yet.

But working with the numbers in the Foretravel Vehicle Weight chart, I presume that if the combined weights of the Left Front + Right Front wheels do not exceed the 12,000 lbs and if the combined weights of the Left Rear + Right Rear wheels do not exceed the 19,000 lbs, our coach is within the weight ratings for the two axles. Is this correct? Does this include fuel, LPG, fresh water, grey water and black water tanks filled? If not, what Lbs/gal should I use for LPG, black water and fuel? I presume the fresh and grey water is 8.3 lbs/gal.

What does the GVWR and the GCWR represent? I presume the GVWR is the total weight of the coach (front axle + rear axle). Is this correct?

I am seriously looking at towing our car behind the MH in the future. The car weight is approx. 3800 lbs + the weight of the tow dolly. So I would think that can easily be close to 5000 lbs.

I am trying to understand how I will know if the MH is within weight ratings without the toad and if the combined is within the MH ratings and capability with the toad (including dolly).

Thank you very much.

Morris

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #12 – October 22, 2010, 12:25:02 pm

GCWR is the combined weight to include the toad. Your tow dolly will weigh 650 - 750 pounds.

Re: Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #13 – October 22, 2010, 02:59:51 pm

I think that Texas only requires the dry weight of an empty coach without any fluids etc.
Texas registration fee is based upon weight of coach so if you can find a manufacturers empty dry weight, you may save money each year.

Re: Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #14 – October 22, 2010, 03:34:55 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – October 22, 2010, 02:59:51 pm

I think that Texas only requires the dry weight of an empty coach without any fluids etc.
Texas registration fee is based upon weight of coach so if you can find a manufacturers empty dry weight, you may save money each year.

Thank you. Is the Foretravel GVWR (30,000 for 1997 U270) dry and unloaded weight or is it fully loaded (food, clothing, dishes/pans, and etc.) plus with all tanks full?

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #15 – October 22, 2010, 03:49:12 pm

Morris,
Our GVWR of 30,000 lbs. is a theoretical calculated number. It is the maximum weight the coach and all add-on's, fuel, water, occupants, napkins...you name it. This GVWR is the basis for component design, eg brakes, transmission, suspension components, tire spec (whether load range G or H), and the like.

The motorhome GCWR is the above figure plus the tow vehicle GVWR.

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #16 – October 22, 2010, 03:59:55 pm

Had our 1999 U270 3602 WTFE weighed by RVSEF at the Gypsy Journal rally in Elkhart this Fall:

F 5,875 9,500
R
O 11,750 18,425
N
T 5,875 8,925

This is with a full fresh tank (105 gal), full fuel, and empty grey and black. Also full tool storage and curbside desk

.

825 lbs margin overall, although we are somewhat unbalanced in the rear.

From tags next to helm:

GAWR 12,000 Front, 19,000 Rear

GVWR - 31,000

GCWR - 41,000

GVWR - 31,000

UVW - 25,050

NCC - 5,950

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #17 – October 22, 2010, 04:09:31 pm

We have a 1997 U295 36', which probably has the same chassis as your 1997 U270. The following information applies to our coach:

GAWR Front: 12000 -- Gross Axle Weight Rating for the front axle - Don't ever exceed that number
GAWR Rear: 19000 -- Gross Axle Weight Rating for the rear axle - Don't ever exceed that number
GVWR: 30000 -- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating for the coach - Don't allow the total weight on the front axle plus the weight on the rear axle to exceed that number
GCWR: 36000 -- Gross Combination Weight Rating for the coach and anything it tows - Don't allow the weight of the coach plus the total weight being towed to exceed that number

The numbers are maximum safe values for weight. That includes water, fuel, people, food, clothing, etc.

You can weigh at a Cat truck scale for $9. They will want a name of your company and a unit number. If you are towing, they will want a trailer number. Make up something. We are Stevens Trucking, Unit 2, Trailer 2.

We weighed our coach with full tanks for diesel, fresh water, black water, and propane. We had two people and a dog on board. We did not have food or clothing. The weights were as follows:

Front axle 10,980#
Rear axle 17,920#
Gross weight 28,900#

That means we could carry as much as 1,100 more pounds of stuff. We could put up to 1,020 more pounds on the front axle. We could put up to 1,080 more pounds of stuff on the rear axle. We could only add a total of 1,100 pounds. Adding more would exceed the 30,000# GVWR.

We don't normally travel with all three water tanks full. I loaded up all the tanks to see how much capacity we might have.

I have weighed a couple of more times under "traveling" conditions. We weigh with a full diesel tank, full propane tank, full fresh water tank, empty holding tanks, people and dog on board, some food on board, and all of the stuff I would normally take along. Under those conditions, the weights are more like:

Front axle: 10700#
Rear axle: 17,400#
Gross coach weight: 28,100#
Towed Jeep: 4,180#
Gross combination: 32,280#

All weights are lower than the maxima specified as safe weights for our coach. I set my tire pressures based on a chart from Michelin for the tires on my coach. I could add up to 1,900# of additional weight to the coach, provided it was properly distributed so as not to overload either axle.

I have not had an opportunity to get individual "corner" weights, which would show if one side of the coach is significantly higher than the other. It is prudent to get side to side weights. If one side is heavy, the number you should used for the axle would be twice the weight of the "heavy" side. That provides an addition measure of conservatism.

I hope my ramble helps you make sense of weight limits for your coach. Load up your tanks, spend $9 to weight at a nearby truck stop, and then ask for more help if you need it. If you have an opportunity to attend a rally where there is a weigh station, you can get plenty of help with the issue.

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #18 – October 22, 2010, 04:33:07 pm

Thank you very much everyone. Your explanations have helped me to understand it much better. I wanted to ensure I did understand what those numbers meant so when I am able to weigh our coach, I will be able to know if I have a problem or not. I also wanted to ensure I considered the weight of our car and a tow dolly.

So THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! I greatly appreciate all your help.

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #19 – October 22, 2010, 06:22:43 pm

Hi Barry,
I hope you can read the weight values in this not so good picture. What's up with this front axle rating?

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #20 – October 22, 2010, 06:28:44 pm

Quote

I hope you can read the weight values in this not so good picture.

I fixed the your black photo & uploaded the new one.
Thanks for the numbers

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #21 – October 22, 2010, 06:30:07 pm

Raymond,

Whenever humans are involved, there are going to be mistakes. I think someone hit the #4 when they meant to hit #1 and no one caught the mistake.

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #22 – October 22, 2010, 06:53:51 pm

Hi George,
That is actually a 1. Just a bad photo. But why is the front axle 12,350 pounds? I thought the front and rear axle weights should equal the gross. The gross reads 32,000. Front plus rear equals 32,350.

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #23 – October 22, 2010, 07:04:13 pm

The answer to that is above my pay grade. Sorry, I can't help you on this one.

Re: Vehicle Weight

Reply #24 – October 22, 2010, 07:52:05 pm

Raymond,

GVWR on my coach is 1,000# less than the sum of front GAWR and rear GAWR. The values are listed in an earlier post in this thread. Like George, I am not specifically qualified to tell you why. I think you will find that there is often a difference. Of course, the GVWR cannot be more than the sum of GAWRs. However, brakes, transmission, engine, chassis, etc., may call for a GVWR that is lower than the sum of the maxima that each axle can carry.

Affiliate Notice