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Topic: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36" (Read 581 times) previous topic - next topic

Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Would like to know the wheel cut on a 1999 U270 36'.

Thanks,

Al
Al

Re: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Reply #2 –
Don't know if I'd want to do the math but it's nice to have curb-to-curb and wall-to-wall clearances. ;D
Larry
1996 U295 36'
Build # 4805
Actually we sold it but just like to lurk

Re: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Reply #3 –
Be aware that cut angles ARE easily adjustable on the Sheppard M100 steering box used by Foretravel.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Reply #4 –
38 degrees for solid front axle per Beams info. For the 2001 with IFS it is 54 degrees.
Jon Ohman
2001 U320 36'
Build #5809

Re: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Reply #5 –
A newbie question. What are "curb-to-curb" and 'wall-to-wall" clearances, also what is "wheel cut"?  :help:  :-[

Mike
"KEEP ON TRUCKIN'"
1999 CAI-3600 U320
Mike, Karen & Butterfly

Re: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Reply #6 –
Quote from: RainCatcher –
A newbie question. What are "curb-to-curb" and 'wall-to-wall" clearances, also what is "wheel cut"?  :help:  :-[

Mike

Mike,

curb to curb is a measurement of how wide a street would need to be so that the wheels do not touch either curb when turning around. 

Wall to wall is slightly larger, as you have overhangs front and rear.

Cut angle is the angle as measured from straight that the front wheels describe when the steering wheel is full left/right.

Basically, all give you an idea of how sharply a coach can turn.  Both wheelbase as well as overhang front and rear all affect the turning radius.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Reply #7 –
Thanks for the explanation Brett.

Mike
"KEEP ON TRUCKIN'"
1999 CAI-3600 U320
Mike, Karen & Butterfly

Re: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Reply #8 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Wall to wall is slightly larger, as you have overhangs front and rear.
On the GV, it is the mirrors that will get you!  Most of the times I have gotten myself into trouble (so far) when making tight turns, it was the dang mirror that would not clear!  It usually threatens to contact something solid like a street sign, or a lamp post, or tree, or some other immoveable object...  I think I've got the turn made, when I realize (after I'm already committed) that we're not going to quite make it...  That's when I really wish Foretravel had included power folding mirrors in their design!  :facepalm:

By the way, contrary to popular wisdom, it IS possible to back up a coach when pulling a car on a tow dolly.  You can only go back a couple feet, and have to really watch out for jack-knifing the dolly, but it can be done!  (And it might save your bacon...don't ask how I know...)
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Reply #9 –
The curb to curb listed in Barry's Foretravel specs do not match my '40 U320.

Shows 45' roughly and mine is like 75'

And I had the adjustment checked
"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: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Reply #10 –
Bob,

Sure sounds like you need a "cut-angle" RECHECK.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Reply #11 –
"By the way, contrary to popular wisdom, it IS possible to back up a coach when pulling a car on a tow dolly. "

Yes, Chuck AND, it is possible to back up a four wheels down tow. but only a few feet and in my experience only when coach and tow are steering straight to the rear.
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,

Re: Wheel Cut 1999 U270 36"

Reply #12 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Bob,

Sure sounds like you need a "cut-angle" RECHECK.


My coach does not have a IFS setup.  Whatever Foretravel used the tire comes very close to the link.

Love someone to tell me there similar coach turns better.

Three shops checked it and said that's all you are going to get.

In a coach where the steering box is mounted on a "frame" the drag link can and does drop down on a steep angle to the axle.

To lessen or eliminate the "bump" steer those systems have Foretravel moved the box forward and down and lengthened the arm and located the box so as to when the suspension goes up and down the drag link matches the arc the suspension travels in.

The difference is that from fully raised to fully dropped the steering wheel does not turn much.

My Foretravel X dealer mechanic and suspension guru mentioned that in the 97's and up,Foretravel had moved the steering column towards the drivers side to reflect the coaches structure being a wide body.

93-96 I think the column may be offset a bit towards the center and/or a slanted/segmented  steering shaft like the original unihomes had. 

Some of those had pronounced steering wander.  Enough so that Foretravel redid the lower column mount and put a brace in them if memory serves me.

Moving the steering box more outboard centered the column in front of the driver better and allowed a straighter path from the Pittman arm to the axle versus on an angle.

Smooth roads vertically show little differences. 

Ah rolling roads show the "bump" steer.

Moving the box outwards restricts the wheel cut angle increasing the curb to curb. 

Maybe mine is less to the right?  Never checked it.  Only left.  But I think the back of the tire would hit.

Someone here posted 38 degrees?  Some uni homes had 50 degree side cut axles.  I remember the tight radius corners.

Fixing the steering column u joints and the drag link not bring straight back to the axle and paralleling the suspension arm in its travel and moving the box mounting location to reflect the wide body and center it in front of the driver better were all benefits as mine drives incredible.

No bump steer.

What was lost was the curb to curb as the drag link hits the tire. 

Whatever it is the shops say that the non tight turning is part of the natural beauty of the vechile. 

I have a tight side by side storage area with maybe 2-3' feet on both sides clearance.  At full lock I can come out in between the other rigs and not hit them.

If I had a 50 degree side cut setup the coaches rear would hit the next rvs sides.

I remember you had to watch the unihomes swing out because of this.

General info is great but Foretravel did their own thing constantly and having the semi-Monocoque allowed them to fix the engineering drawbacks that a frame rail coach has.

I used to explain to the customers that the ORED and most similar chassis coaches had to drive off the rail car and around the factory then have the body mounted.

The Foretravel unihome was built on site so tge steering box and suspension could be optimized for less bump steer.

Oshkosh asked cm fore whether he would mind if they built something similar to a unihome.

Cm told them to go ahead.  Lee pogue the Oshkosh rep laughed when he told me this as they quickly figured out it had to be built on site.

The Spartan K-3 is the end of the frame rail coaches evolution.

Enough rigidity.  Enough turning lock from the IFS front end with 20k capacity. 

No bump  steer.  Box mounted to the rail.

$200k range to the OEM
"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