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Old 10-13-2015, 01:16 PM   #1
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Is Low Allowable Cargo Weight an Issue with the 38A??

We are looking at a 2016 Berkshire 38A with all of the upgrades included. I have read so much about the 390BH having very little weight allowed for cargo and passengers. The 390BH seems to be the older model of the 38A. Does anyone have any experience with the 38A and can shed some light? I understand how to read the yellow sticker and go from there. It is looking like the same problem to me and I am just wondering what the experience of others with this model has been. Thinking I may need to move on if I am going to have to worry too much about how many grand kids I bring along, etc.
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Old 10-13-2015, 07:16 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by dano50 View Post
We are looking at a 2016 Berkshire 38A with all of the upgrades included. I have read so much about the 390BH having very little weight allowed for cargo and passengers. The 390BH seems to be the older model of the 38A. Does anyone have any experience with the 38A and can shed some light? I understand how to read the yellow sticker and go from there. It is looking like the same problem to me and I am just wondering what the experience of others with this model has been. Thinking I may need to move on if I am going to have to worry too much about how many grand kids I bring along, etc.
I would ask for the OCCC rating (Occupant & Cargo Carrying Capacity) and verify with the weight of your toad that loaded, you do not surpass the GCWR. I would then check to see where loaded that you are on the tires spec. You don't want to be at maximums.

IF I had to do it again, I would get the motorhome weighed before purchase and not the contents such a gas, water etc. at the time of weighing. - Hank
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Old 03-04-2016, 09:11 PM   #3
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Bringing up an old thread and am surprised that so little information is out there on the actual weight of the 38a? Has anyone been to a CAT scale with theirs to determine how much real world CCC it has, as well as how much room on the GCVWR is left? I know how fast weight adds up in my toy hauler, and am afraid the 38a with 4 people, water tank half full, and fully loaded for long trips would be close to GVWR?
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Old 03-04-2016, 09:34 PM   #4
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Looking at specs on FR, looks like the 38a comes with 340 engine and 2500 trans, this will limit you to 5000 towing and not much allowance for cargo. We have a 2009 390qs and push the limits and don't have that much in it. Would look at something that can handle more weight.

Would look at a XL model with bigger motor and trans and 10,000 hitch. Also there is another thread about the 38a weight concerns.
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Old 03-04-2016, 09:40 PM   #5
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Looking at specs on FR, looks like the 38a comes with 340 engine and 2500 trans, this will limit you to 5000 towing and not much allowance for cargo. We have a 2009 390qs and push the limits and don't have that much in it. Would look at something that can handle more weight.
Yeah, the towing is ok at 5k (assuming GCVWR isn't over), but the CCC of the coach itself might be an issue for us. We have about 2900 CCC on our Fuzion TH, and having weighed it several times, we usually have around 1500lbs of "stuff" in there (without the RZR in the garage). Assuming the wife and two kids and me are about 500lbs and the kids will only get bigger, I can easily see us having 2000-3000lbs of stuff (with some water in the tanks, etc). Another one I am looking at is newmar ventana le 4002 with 12k and 24k axles. Moving up to a berk XL is out of our price range at this time I think
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Old 03-06-2016, 04:45 PM   #6
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Had our 2015 38A on scale with driver, full fuel,2/3 water,empty black/gray and all the rest of the garbage one hides underneath.Tip the scale at just over 26700,towed ways in at 3900 lbs,givng total at 30,600.Traveled from NJ to Florida and back with 6 adults and luggage with no problem accelerating,maintaining speed,or stopping.The 38A is very capable to handle a family with no problem.And this was done averaging 10+ mpg.
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Old 03-08-2016, 07:38 AM   #7
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Had our 2015 38A on scale with driver, full fuel,2/3 water,empty black/gray and all the rest of the garbage one hides underneath.Tip the scale at just over 26700,towed ways in at 3900 lbs,givng total at 30,600.Traveled from NJ to Florida and back with 6 adults and luggage with no problem accelerating,maintaining speed,or stopping.The 38A is very capable to handle a family with no problem.And this was done averaging 10+ mpg.

Thanks for sharing your info. Seems you have a couple thousand lbs capacity left and alleviates some of my concerns
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Old 03-09-2016, 10:30 AM   #8
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We have the 38A. Even with full fuel, all the extra camping stuff we bring along, and towing our CR-V we always seem to have plenty enough engine power. Here are some Forest River Stats that might help you:

38A: Bunks, Bath and a half: Length 39'5" GVWR: 27,910 lbs. GCWR: 32,910 lbs. GAWR Front: 10,410 lbs. GAWR Rear: 17,500 lbs. Wheelbase: 252 inches Height: 12'5" Basement Storage: 183 cu ft. Fresh Tank: 86 gal Grey Tank: 66 gal Black Tank: 42 gal

Now the same stats on the 40BH (which is a similar floorplan but only has 1 bath)
XL 40BH: Bunks, 1 Bath: Length: 41 ft. GVWR 32,000 lbs. GCWR 42,000. GAWR Front 12,000 lbs. GAWR Rear 20,000 Wheelbase: 266 inches. Height: 12'5" Basement Storage: 205 cu ft. Fresh Tank: 86 gal Grey Tank: 66 gal Black Tank: 42 gal

Good Luck with your research. Forest River makes a great product!
Karen
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Old 03-09-2016, 02:00 PM   #9
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I believe the weight issue is a concern depending on how you drive your RV. If my plans were to drive my RV year round putting 20,000 miles a year going through mountains on regulat basis I would not want to be at maximum capacity. But if I only put 6,000 miles a year in the coach and rarely go through mountains or steep grade, i would be less concerned. Given how maximum weights are determined, do you believe the manufacturer is safe from lawsuits if I have an issue with your coach if driven it at maximum weight of 33,000 lbs all the time? That is within the specs and there is always a margin of error built into those numbers. I want to hear from those with the allison 2500 series transmission that have had issues, and what their load and driving habits were.


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Old 03-09-2016, 08:21 PM   #10
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I don't see any issues with mine. I have a 2500 and full time. We are at 33000 all the time. 4 years now with little or no issues with the drive train.



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Old 07-31-2016, 01:38 PM   #11
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Sorry for pinging an ld thread ...but what is the unloaded vehicle weight (weight from the factory) on your yellow sticker for the 38a?

I love this floorplan (and the new forza 38W from Winnebago - yet the factory rep from Winnie tells me i has 2000 lbs ccc), but am concerned a bit on the CCC ...heck my Georgetown has over 4000lbs available for that.

Seems the manufacturers have missed the boat on these family coaches. I am not concerned on towing capacity as I see a lot of these threads getting to. My toad is only about 3400 pounds.
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