Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: curb weight data (Read 530 times) previous topic - next topic

curb weight data

Is there an online resource listing curbweights (empty coach but full diesel, water, and propane) of different Foretravel motorcoaches? We are trying to figure out the carrying capacity of a rig we are thinking to buy. All online data we saw list only GVWR and GCWR but not curbweight. Allthingsforetravel.com also lists only GVWR and GCWR.

Thank you.

Re: curb weight data

Reply #1 –
I have seen on Foretravel brochures a spec where they state how much weight you can add to the coach.  What coach are you looking at?
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: curb weight data

Reply #2 –
I think our U300/36 is about 24K plus with a gross of about 33K so that is about 9000 for liquid and the rest. The hitch is built like a tank so it will tow anything.  We are well under gross so reduced the tire pressure to 105 psi. Later coaches fattened up so you need an accurate empty weight. They had to replace the front axle with a beefier one so tire pressures are more critical now.

Maximum tow weight should consider aux braking capability with retarder or Jake included. They will really help in the real world, especially on the long downhill grades in the West.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: curb weight data

Reply #3 –
CCC Cargo carrying capacity. I think out coach was 4600 lbsfull fuel and water. Pierce I agree these coaches can handle more but yet you still can not represent yourself in court with your opinion. GVCW Minus the actual weight does not represent  capacity for towing. This is calculated from tire capacity , axle weight capacity and equipped brakes at certification by the manufacture engineers. Can't be changed without approved engineering. Post 1999 are 10k tow capacity and post 2005 are 18k. Pre 1997 are less and so I never looked at them
Foretravel Axle Weights [ForeForums Foretravel Wiki]

Re: curb weight data

Reply #4 –
Scott,

Quite correct! If I had been caught doing a lot the things I've done, I still would be writing all my posts behind bars. As I said in my post, "you need an accurate weight" so I'm not recommending going going overweight. Do as I say, not as I do. Actually, our RAV4 is less than 3000 so legal to tow in most states without supplemental brakes. Let me see. What state do I live in?

Pierce

Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: curb weight data

Reply #5 –
 8) Pierce all I can say is your not alone my friend

Re: curb weight data

Reply #6 –
What the OP seeks is a "official" list of CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity) or NCC (Net Carrying Capacity) for various Foretravel coaches.  They have not yet told us which specific model they are investigating.  At any rate, I think this information will be hard to come by.  The "experts" can't even agree on the precise definition of "Curb Weight".

Demystifying RV Weight Ratings - Changing Gears

Unless the factory can provide the requested data, the only other recourse is to get the particular coach of interest weighed in the desired condition (empty but full diesel, water, and propane tanks) and then subtract this weight from the published GVWR (which IS easy to find).

Quote copied from All Things Foretravel/RV Glossary:
"Net Carrying Capacity (NCC): or Payload Capacity is the maximum amount of persons, personal cargo, optional equipment, and Tongue or King Pin weight that can be added to an RV. The formula for NCC is GVWR – UVW. NCC differs slightly from the more widely used "payload" term, by including full freshwater and propane tank weights. The NCC label in an RV may not include the weight of dealer- or factory-installed options already on the vehicle."

All the words you need to know to survive in the RV world. Foretravel...

See the link below for one (short) discussion of this subject from the Forum archives.  There may be others...

Foretravel Vehicle Weight  (Reply #6 and #8)

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: curb weight data

Reply #7 –
"...the only other recourse is to get the particular coach of interest weighed in the desired condition (empty but full diesel, water, and propane tanks) and then subtract this weight from the published GVWR." That's precisely what we did very early. We filled the water and propane tanks before leaving the house, drove down to the scales that were located at a truck stop, filled the diesel tank, then weighed the coach with just me aboard.

Re: curb weight data

Reply #8 –
Quote from: kb0zke –
That's precisely what we did very early. We filled the water and propane tanks before leaving the house, drove down to the scales that were located at a truck stop, filled the diesel tank, then weighed the coach with just me aboard.
Of course this can be accomplished if you own the coach.  However, if you are just "thinking about buying" a coach owned by some other person, then not so easy.  I can imagine the interesting discussion:

Prospective Buyer: "Would you mind removing every single non factory installed item from your coach, and then go get it weighed with full tanks?"

Owner/Seller says:

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: curb weight data

Reply #9 –
if you are not carrying gold bullion, i think the only coach to
worry about is a 40 footer with a slide and no tag.