Dry Weight for 390RB - Page 8

edgewant · 09-07-2013, 04:57 PM

I have crawled under and verified Freightliner placed a new sticker on the front axle. But I believe its Forest River duty to provide inside stickers. I had mine done back in May and still no new inside stickers.

Phil57 · 09-07-2013, 05:19 PM

FL put a new plate on my axel. I think the new stickers are going to be a issue. I don't see how FR could issue new stickers without having your empty MH at the factory to weigh. When I first talked to Randy about this he said he was working on it. I think it is more complicated than he or I first thought. We all know our GVW did not change right? I am not expecting new stickers and will just keep checking weights at the scales and keeping it as close to GVW as possible.
I have heard mixed reviews on the tires and air bag upgrade. I would love to hear what everyone's results are. Mine has been like a new MH. It made a huge huge difference. I know Boohoo said it was about the same as before but he liked it before.

edgewant · 09-07-2013, 08:28 PM

Mine is a definite improvement. Better handling, better ride, improved response to steering input. A real noticeable difference.

Phil57 · 09-07-2013, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgewant

Mine is a definite improvement. Better handling, better ride, improved response to steering input. A real noticeable difference.

Did you notice a change in shift points and a lower rpm at your normal cruse speed?

edgewant · 09-07-2013, 09:01 PM

Yes I think so. I had only had the motorhome a few months when I went to Gaffney for Camp Freightliner and to have allignment checked. Also had it weighed and discovered the problem. My time behind the wheel was limited so I thought I had imagined the lower rpm and shift point changes. Thanks for asking.

Superchief · 09-07-2013, 09:45 PM

Capu Tech,

My new front axle sticker that I received after the retrofit was for 12,000 lbs. Did you get the same weight sticker? Based upon that, if I don't tow anything, I would think my rear weight could be 21,000 lbs. When I looked at the tire chart for the new 275's, the max weight they can handle at max pressure of 110 lbs is 22,700. Prior to the retrofit, my rear weight was rated like yours at 17,500. I also have to believe that the rear air bags that were original equipment were of a higher rating than the front air bags which they replaced. With my limited engineering knowledge (none), I have to believe that the rear tires are still the "weakest" link in the rear system. With that, I now believe I would be save up to the 21,000 lbs in the rear (I am no where near that, but it does give me some confidence that I don't have a weight issue there).

Craig

Phil57 · 09-07-2013, 09:52 PM

Craig
I agree with you. I don't worry about my tires like I did. I know that with FL the engineering is right and I feel I am able to carry what I need and be safe. Can't say enough about FR through this whole thing.

CapuTech · 09-07-2013, 10:46 PM

You do not get a free rear axle upgrade to 21,000. It is still rated at 17,500 no matter how much bigger the tires are. The 17,500 for the rear is due to the axle itself. I agree that it is nice to have the better tires back there, but anything over 17,500 (or 19,000 for some) is still overweight.

My front did go up to 12,000. But that is because the axle was rated for that anyway, but had been limited by the tires and air bags. The rear is not rated any higher.

Superchief · 09-07-2013, 10:59 PM

I don't know if I agree with that. My front axle was upgraded to 12,000 lbs from 10,410 lbs and all they did was replace the front airbags and the tires. Nothing was done actually to the front axle itself. Using that limited logic on my part, I have to believe that the replacement of the rear tires has to add to the weight limitation on the rear.

CapuTech · 09-07-2013, 11:02 PM

Except that the original tires were already rated for over 19,000...

Superchief · 09-07-2013, 11:24 PM

Point taken! Okay given that, what is the "weakest" link in the rear? The airbags, the axle itself, or something else that limits it to 17,500. I would not think it is the frame. When I was at the Freightliner Plant a couple of weeks ago, I didn't note that they were using different frame rails for the 60's versus the 40's and I believe that the 60's have a higher rear weight limitation.

Superchief · 09-08-2013, 12:12 AM

Added information:: Rear actual weight for 60 versus 40 is 1500 lbs more (29,410 less 27,910), for what it is worth. The other thing that I find interesting is that I believe the 2014 Berkshires have the 275 tires, but the specification sheets still show the same weight limitations for the front and rear axles as the models prior to 2014, with the 255 tires.

T R Riley · 09-08-2013, 06:18 AM

I,m going to have my weight tested again on Monday and send to Randy. I still say the inside sticker cannot and will not be changed due to the axle limits, so I feel this is still a problem. Has anyone looked at the upgrade on the 2014 bigger everything drivetrain and all for the 390RB.

Phil57 · 09-08-2013, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T R Riley

I,m going to have my weight tested again on Monday and send to Randy. I still say the inside sticker cannot and will not be changed due to the axle limits, so I feel this is still a problem. Has anyone looked at the upgrade on the 2014 bigger everything drivetrain and all for the 390RB.

What's bigger on the 2014 RB? I know they offer the 275/80 wheels and air bags but I thought the GVW where the same?

T R Riley · 09-08-2013, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil57

What's bigger on the 2014 RB? I know they offer the 275/80 wheels and air bags but I thought the GVW where the same?

If you look like I said the bigger drivetrain ( motor/trans) this makes for more GVW on rear and front axle is 12000 this is on the 390RB you can not get it with the 340 engine. Like you said larger tires also.

Phil57 · 09-08-2013, 08:30 AM

So the 2014 must be ordered with the 360 HP ISB and the 3000 Allison transmission? That's smart of FR to do that if true. There are a lot of owners that already have the 360 and 3000 Trans in there RB. They offered that for years. I wish I had it for the 3000 transmission.

I-RV · 09-09-2013, 06:46 PM

I am hoping that some of you might help me in my quest to determine the difference between the Berkshire 390-40 and 390-60. I am aware of the obvious differences such as in the 390-60; the tweaked engine, the Allison 3000MH tranny , 140 lb-ft more torque, and 10,000 lbs hitch rating. What I am mainly interested in is what determines the difference in weight carrying capability between the two models.

I speculate that the 390-60 has the Allison 3000MH tranny for the 6,500 lbs greater GCWR over the 390-40 and the 10,000 lb hitch. But the difference in weight carrying capacity is only 1,500 lbs, since the 390-60 has a RA GAWR of 19,000 lbs, whereas the 390-40 is 17,500 lbs. Since they both have the same tires my interest in what exactly is the physical difference is magnified. Because the 390-60 has 140 lb-ft more torque, there may be a possibility that it also has a more beefy differential.

I have a 2012 390-40 and could surely use 1,000 lbs more capability in the rear.

To determine the differences, I first studied the Rear Suspension BOM’s (Bill of Materials) and parts within them through the usage of the PartsPro access tool. For those not familiar with this; if you register with Daimler, you will be given access ability for Freightliner internet access tools. I was able to look up the Freightliner parts for my serial number chassis. I have attached a copy of the BOM’s for the rear suspension of my 390-40 motorhome.

I however needed to know what the BOM’s for the 390-60 looked like. To this end, I acquired a VIN for a 390-60, but then was denied by the PartsPro program, since I was not registered for that VIN. I then enlisted the aid of the Freightliner Parts Specialist at Daimler corporate, and after his examination, he assured me that the air bags, shocks and brakes were the same between the two units. He said the axle was different, but unfortunately would not detail the difference.

This is where some of you who have a 390-60 could help by researching your particular motorhome’s BOM’s, so that a comparison can be made with the BOM’s that I have attached. It would be outstanding for example if the only difference was a higher spec. cone bearing, wherein they could be changed out.

Please note to not get excited about a difference in the BOM’s number. A BOM is a Bill of Material for an assembly. Two assemblies might have different BOM numbers, but only differ by one part. Thus we should be looking at “Part Numbers”.

I wish you good researching and hope to hear some good things from you.

Superchief · 09-09-2013, 09:42 PM

I-RV

Thanks for that information. I was trying to find out the same thing yesterday, but my log-in to the system had expired since I had not used it in sometime. I had to re-register this morning, but will not get access for about 2 to 3 weeks. I think you are on the right track with your analysis. I have not weight my unit since I recently got the retrofit, but I did go with aluminum rims in hopes that would reduce some of the weight in the rear. Before the retrofit, I was about 300 lbs over in the back fully loaded out.

Craig

Phil57 · 09-09-2013, 10:58 PM

Craig did you go with the four outside rims or with all 6. What do you think it saved on weight?

Superchief · 09-10-2013, 01:36 AM

Phil, Have not weigh it yet, but I am figuring about 30 lbs per wheel less weight. Others who have done this may have the exact figures. I got just the outside tires done, though I didn't know at the time that they only did the outside ones. I just told them I wanted to go with the aluminum wheels. I don't know if they do all 6. How would you keep the inside ones polished? Also the cost would have been another $1,500 total.

Craig

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