Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Maximum allowable weight in basement bays? (Read 734 times) previous topic - next topic

Maximum allowable weight in basement bays?

I looked but could not find this out.  What is the maximum weight that can be put in the bays?  I have a 1995 U320.

After the DW has loaded the boat every spring she is a lot lower in the water! Boat that is not DW.
 
Would like to prevent this with the coach.

Could just take the GVWR and subtract the tare (empty weight) but that might not be right.


Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: Maximum allowable weight in basement bays?

Reply #1 –
Good point. The difference between the empty weight and gross weight does, indeed, give you the weight that the coach can carry. Out of that carrying capacity has to come the weight of fuel, propane, people, pets, food, etc. I suppose if someone were so foolish as to try to put all of that weight in one bay there might be a problem, but I would think that loading with a bit of forethought wouldn't result in any overloading anywhere. Heavy items should be loaded as low as possible, and some thought should be given to balancing the load, both side to side and front to rear. When we get our coach I'm going to empty it of everything that I can, full the fuel, propane, and fresh water tanks, and then have it weighed. As items are taken out to the coach I'm going to weight them and record where they go in relation to a centerline (fore and aft) and back from the front bumper. The side to side weights should help keep the weights balanced that way, and by knowing how far aft weight are I should be able to try to not overload either axle. Perhaps this is a bit of overkill, but I'd like to have my coach loaded as well as I can.

Re: Maximum allowable weight in basement bays?

Reply #2 –
Unless you're thinking about carrying a few billion dollars in gold bullion  ;D or 5,000 pounds of lead pellets, the cargo bays should haul just about anything that fits.  Forrest is in storage, but I thought there might be a sticker on the Joey Bed that may say the weight limit of the tray.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Maximum allowable weight in basement bays?

Reply #3 –
David, past experience tells me that our FT can carry EVERYTHING that you can jam in to it  ( short of course the lead and gold ).  I have found that if I don't watch myself I end up using the MH as a free storage unit.  I would hesitate to clean out everything and see just what it is that I have in there.  Might be a revealing experience tho. :) :)
Gary B

Re: Maximum allowable weight in basement bays?

Reply #4 –
That's what I'm afraid of! I'm thinking that when we get our coach and start loading it I'm going to have back troubles, and see if Jo Ann will weigh everything and carry it out to the coach. Maybe that will limit how much stuff goes in. Of course, I might just find myself part of the stuff that's left behind.

Re: Maximum allowable weight in basement bays?

Reply #5 –
Foretravel bulkhead problems are partly because of Rolok self threading bolts that do not have a nut-type fastener on their end, are used to keep the ends of the coach together.

We have heard a lot about bulkhead problems, but never hear of any problems with bay floor supports, even though the floor holds very heavy weights. And the bay floor seems to fastened to the bay walls and living space floor with the same Rolok bolts used on bulkheads. Wonder if we will ever hear of bay floor support wall problems, and why we don't have bottom bolt corrosion issues.

Full tanks & full bays even on long wheel base coaches seem to have no limit on carrying capacity. How can those few dozen self-taping bolts hold so much weight?

Re: Maximum allowable weight in basement bays?

Reply #6 –
I recall my joeybed drawers saying something about a 200# limit.  I know they can handle more than twice that.  (Four 96# bags of portland cement, back when we were building and had no tow vehicle.)

Also know that the new type of septic construction units, named infiltrators, I recall, can fit thru the door and be hauled inside.

I weigh 300# now.  When cleaning the roof, up there brushing and rubbing, the roof groans less than I do.  I have been positively impressed with my FT from the first day of ownership.  And for twelve years, have continued to be impressed as I learned more....
Carolyn and Lewis (Andy1) Anderson
1996 U270 36'

Re: Maximum allowable weight in basement bays?

Reply #7 –
I have never heard of one of the Rolok screws pulling out of the tubing and stripping it's threads.So I don't think a nut on the other end will help. As for strength. The 5/16" Roloks Failing torque is between 400-600 inch pounds, and the tensile strength or holding power is over 4,000 lbs of dead weight. They are very strong ,when installed correctly. Gam
joseph gambaro
1999 U295 36'