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Topic: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons (Read 846 times) previous topic - next topic

Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Foretravel specs states that the fuel tank has a capacity of 194 gallons. Is that true? If so, how far have you traveled without refueling?

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #1 –
Best practices, since the tank runs the full width of the coach, the pick-up and fuel, despite the baffles, can slosh on turns and one can stall, is never to run below 1/4 tank.  Fuel economy is going to depend on driving habits and conditions; one can use 7.5-8.5 mpg as a rule of thumb for planning purposes.

We actually ran into the 1/4 tank issue the first year we owned our coach, not realizing the stall could happen (it did, as we were pulling into fuel stops at the 1/4 tank level).  Reviewing with the factory, there were no less than 5 different baffle setups for that tank and they didn't know which we had.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

Lifetime Escapees' member SKP 82766
Former 1999 30IB Lazy Daze (2000-2004)
Former 2003 U320 (2004-2016)
Former 2017 LTV Unity (2017-2023)
Shopping for our next coach

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #2 –
1,000 miles easily.  Gen shutoff at 1,200 miles.  Coach out at 1,500 miles. 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob & Susan
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: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #3 –
When we were replacing the fuel lines, we had the tank partially out on our '99 U320.  I took a photo of the label on the tank which indicates 201 gallons. 

As Michelle indicates, we rarely even approach a quarter of a tank full.  Usually start looking as we descend through half a tank. 

Richard
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2008 Roadtrek Adventurous RS Sprinter
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
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Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #4 –
Quote from: reece1975 –
If so, how far have you traveled without refueling?

Never played the low fuel guessing game, but it is further than the capacity of my bladder.


Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #5 –
I never ran the fuel tank low enough to worry about the exact capacity, always started looking at half a tank. On my Mercedes Sprinter and on my diesel VW, however, there is no pump to allow roadside fill-ups, therefore running out of fuel means a TOW! Now I am especially careful.
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: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #6 –
1200 miles max... usually start getting nervous around 1k miles..

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #7 –
I drive about 400-450 miles a day comfortably, so can go without worrying about looking for fuel for two days. On the third day I find cheapest fuel and fill up.  Made the mistake of not filling up on a short day three and my Aquahot (pulls fuel from the same pickup level as the genny) lost fuel and quit that night.  Not fun.  So CalflashBob is spot on.  With the new discount fuel card in hand, fuel stops will be a bit more frequent!  Woody.
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #8 –
My fuel sensor doesn't read correctly most of the time.  Only often enough that I simply don't trust it.

Since I now have VMSpc, I just use 150 gallons as the default capacity and fill up when it gets close to "empty".  This does not take Aquahot and generator use into account, but those numbers are not too high.  I have put 160 gallons into the tank a couple of times.

Using 150 gallons and 7 mpg gives me a conservative thousand mile range.
1998 U320 40'
2005 GMC Yukon
MC# 17609

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #9 –
When I measured my fuel tank it calculated out to 150 gallons. Are all 320's 200 gallons? The reason I measured was that based on 200 gallons my fuel gauge was way off, but at 150 gallon capacity, it is closer to accurate when I fill up. Like the others, I start looking at around 1/2 tank.

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola"
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #10 –
96 had 146?  97 has 192+
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob & Susan
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: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #11 –
Both my Foretravel's hold 148 gallons.. The most fuel I ever put in one was 80 gallons.. With fuel stops and credit cards as plentiful as they are what's the need..Cost no more to run on the top half of the tank as the bottom. As a young man trucking cross country I drank my fill of diesel trying to siphon enough out of a refer tank to get a truck motor started.. Got a lot older and little smarter and don't intend on  running out of fuel again unless something knocks a hole in the tank and it runs out.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #12 –
Quote from: ohsonew –
Are all 320's 200 gallons?
No.  According to beamalarm your coach has a 148 gallon tank, which jives with your calculations.

1996 U320 Foretravel Specifications
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
"It goes without saying..."

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #13 –
Thanks for the confirmations. When I first bought the coach I thought that it had a 200 gallon tank. When it showed 1/2 full and only took 65 gallons I thought that the gauge was way off. When I calculated the volume and showed only a 150 gallon tank, the gauge was a lot closer to being right. Once again I was proven wrong in my original thinking. Do I wish that I had the extra 50 gallons? Yes I do when going down the highway, but not so much when it is time to fill up. Like so many others have said, I try to run on the top half of a tank. So far, I've never gotten down to where the generator has shut off. It's a lot less sticker shock for 60 gallons at a time verses 125 gallons.

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola"
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #14 –
I don't know for certain why Foretravel didn't standardize fuel tanks across all models. Might have been to leave more room for bay storage on shorter coaches, or might have been different suppliers over the years.

What I do know for certain is that my tank is exactly 180 gallons, as specified in the spec sheet going on Beamalarm.

For some years, I've been using the driver information center reading on percent of full to calculate fuel needs when filling up. If it says 50%, I tell the cashier at the station I'll be needing 90 gallons, do the math on price, run my credit card ( plus a few dollars so the pump runs at full speed right to the end), and I'm done. The result is always within a couple of gallons. Now that I'm running VmsPC, I use the fuel remaining gauge. It too is spot on.

On the other hand, I wonder about the spec sheet water capacity of 112 gallons. Being an engineer, I've invested in two external water meters, and both agree my capacity is 85-90 gallons from drained to overflow. I thought I had done something in error until I was talking with another engineer FT owner who had run similar tests with identical results. Foretravel might have included water in the 10 gallon water heater plus all the water lines.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #15 –
The tank capacity maybe one thing but the actuall amount of fuel it will hold is less due to the filler kneck being a few inches below the top of tank?
I seem to remember calculating the tank volume by of course mutiplying out the measurements and that gave me what all think the capacity is but you will make one big puddle of fuel if you try to get that amount in it.
Maybe someone get out the tank schematic and check my figuring out.
I think mine worked out at 138 gallons US.
JOHNH
Coachless, now use aircraft.
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #16 –
I use an app on my phone that some of you might find useful.  Its a tank volume calculator.  Can be used in Metric or Imperial (inches).  Search PlayStore for "Tank Calc" by Regal tanks.  For instance, on the height measurement, you can subtract the inches from tank top to base of filler neck if you fill like I do on my tank. 

FWIW / YMMV / DWMYH  8)

jk


Jack and Cathy
1992 U280 Unihome 36' Build #4034
Cummins 8.3 /  Allison MT647/ PacBrake
Apopka, FL / Barre Center, NY

Re: Foretravel U320 fuel tank capacity 194 gallons

Reply #17 –
Quote from: Jan & Richard –
When we were replacing the fuel lines, we had the tank partially out on our '99 U320.  I took a photo of the label on the tank which indicates 201 gallons. 

As Michelle indicates, we rarely even approach a quarter of a tank full.  Usually start looking as we descend through half a tank. 

Richard
I have that same tank.
My last sailboat I used the same company to build my new tank, which was the same as the old one for a Endeavour 40.  Mine had extensive electrolysis and corrosion but it was  at the bottom of the bilge, a pretty poor place for a aluminum tank to live.
This tank had no such issues.
Don't know how many miles yet but I did run out of fuel, and the gen cut out, but of course my sender was fubar. But at 8mpg should get 1600 miles out of it before you coast to a stop in a place where there is no diesel. Better to figure on 1000 miles max before filling up. At least that is what I would do. I carry 2 5 gal bottles as well. so another 80 miles max there.
Another thing is, probably don't want to fill it all the way up and that is probably where the lower number comes from.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired