Weight Limits

wnytaxman · 10-26-2012, 02:48 PM

I'm curious about one thing with our weight limits of the Berkshires. My 340HP engine rig has a carrying limit of less than 2,000 pounds. I'm told that the only difference between the 340 and the 360 is a chip in the engine. Yet, the carrying limit of the 360 is more than the 340. What else is different? Are the tires different or is there some other difference?

tmmar · 10-26-2012, 04:27 PM

Ed,
Good question. I see in the Forest River brochure that the tires on the 340hp are the same as on the 360hp so that is not a factor. Must be the fact that the horse power is greater. Not sure why but that's the way it seems and not sure if anything else is different.
Tom

wnytaxman · 10-26-2012, 05:57 PM

Tom,

That's the thing I don't understand. Horsepower should not have an effect on weight limits. Usually that would be a function of suspension, axles, and tires. I'm trying to figure out why the weights are different. If anyone has a 360 horse unit, I would be curious as to what the carrying capacity is.

Ed

tmmar · 10-26-2012, 06:07 PM

Ed,
You're right about the fact that horsepower should not have an effect on weight limits. Don't know what the difference could be that makes the weights different. Maybe someone at Forest River can give us a clue.
Tom

Scokat · 10-26-2012, 08:15 PM

The only difference I have been able to find is the transmission, which would probably result in different gear ratios, which would lessen available power to carry additional weight as evidenced on the rear axle and GVWR ratings.. I can find no difference in the axle suspension or drive train other than the trans and components.

Engine Cummins ISB 340HP Cummins ISB-XT 360HP
Torque (Ft. lb.) 660 800
Transmission Allison 2500MH Allison 3000MH
Hitch Rating (LBS.) 5,000 10,0000
Wheels Stainless Steel Simulators Aluminum
Front GAWR (LBS.) 10,410 10,410
Rear GAWR (LBS.) 17,500 19,000
GVWR (LBS.) 27,910 29,410
GCWR (LBS.) 32,910 39,410
Fuel Ta nk (GAL) 100 100
DEF Ta nk (GAL) 13 13
Tires 255/80R22.5 XRV LRG 255/80R22.5 XRV LRG

klucas · 10-27-2012, 07:27 AM

I have a 360 in my 390bh. I think the only difference obviously more power, 10k hitch weight and the wheels are aluminum. With that said this past summer we took our rig in the Rockies towing a toad with no issue. More than enough power. We also always travel with full water tank as we do the laundry while driving. I have 3 kids so laundry in a daily thing. We also had the bay filled with food items. We traveled 6000 miles with no issue and averaged 9.5 mpg.

wnytaxman · 10-27-2012, 08:23 AM

Klucas,

What concerns me is the posted weight limits. If I'm listed as being able to carry less than 2000 pounds and a full tank of diesel and a full tank of water put me at close to 1600 pounds then I don't have the available weight to do more than carry my wife and myself with no food or even the kids. It's just a concern that I may be driving a severely overloaded motor home which would be a safety issue.

Ed

klucas · 10-27-2012, 09:42 AM

In my humble opinion- the frame-brakes-suspension are the same. I wouldn't worry to much about it. I would assume you will have underpowered issues on steep climbs ect.

AREA51 · 10-27-2012, 12:07 PM

Hi,
It looks like this site might give some insight to the weight question.
http://changingears.com/rv-sec-tow-vehicles-understand.shtml#_gcwr
The specification sheets for the Berkshire give the GVAR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) and the difference is 5000 lbs. in my case a 2008 360QS.

According to this site;
“GCWR: Gross Combination Weight Rating
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the maximum number that the tow vehicle GVW plus towed vehicle GVW (or GTW) should never exceed”
This site also treats tongue weight as a number to be added to the GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight).
This is a good reason to justify weighing the whole assembly to be sure you do not exceed the GCWR as indicated in the Berkshire Specification Sheet.

Good Luck,
AREA51

Phil57 · 10-28-2012, 12:01 PM

Interesting topic. The hitch on a 390rb 340 hp is rated at 5000# but is the same hitch you would get if you wanted to tow 10000#. I'm not saying you can exceed the tow capacity listed for the MH but the hitch is not the limiting factor. The tires are rated at 5205 which gives you a front GAW of 10410. The Axel that is used on the front is rated at 10500 so changing to a 275 tire would only increase your GAR to 10500 a 90# increase.
As far as I can tell and I'm not a expert and am also a very new newbie the limiting factor is the transmission used on the 340hp. The 2500 is a good transmission but its not a 3000 that is used on the 360hp.
I would study the yellow sticker on the door and weigh your MH. I believe that using you MH as it was designed and not overloading is in everyone's best interest.
I also wish that RV sales people would ask more questions and do a better job of matching your needs to the right equipment. My next MH I buy the test drive will be a trip to the scale and a study of the yellow sticker to make sure it fits my needs. I think some sales people do that.
I also think that most sales people tell you it's a DP tow and carry anything you want.
I may have some numbers wrong here I'm suggesting you check yours before you find yourself in a overloaded situation.
As a pilot I was trained to not enter into a path that would contribute to a accident. One thing leads to another. If you weren't overweight you would have been able to stop when the brakes partially failed on a steep grade. The chain of events that lead to a accident.

Phil57 · 10-28-2012, 12:21 PM

Also when FR weighs the MH to print the yellow sticker it is with full fuel including LP and a driver and passenger. I think they use 150 as the avg. weight per person.

wnytaxman · 10-30-2012, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil57

Also when FR weighs the MH to print the yellow sticker it is with full fuel including LP and a driver and passenger. I think they use 150 as the avg. weight per person.

What the criteria is on the "yellow sticker" weight would be the key issue. If the carrying capacity is based on a full 100 gallon fuel tank and two 150 pound humans, then that would give us a bit of wiggle room on the rig. I wasn't aware of the inclusion of fuel as my understanding is that the weight is based on a dry weight. Would a full water tank also count into the sticker weight?

I know most gassers are close to being overloaded when they leave the factory, so it is a concern also for the diesels. The power issue is not one that concerns me as much as the safety issue.

Phil57 · 10-30-2012, 08:48 AM

Click image for larger version

Name: image-411715825.jpg
Views: 225
Size: 45.8 KB
ID: 21218

Here is a copy of my sticker. Good info. You can also call Freightliner for weight info.

Phil57 · 10-30-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil57

Here is a copy of my sticker. Good info. You can also call Freightliner for weight info.

I have talked to Forest River and also looked up the regulation for the yellow sticker and it includes all fuels.

Jersey Guy · 11-08-2012, 11:00 AM

The 360 HP model comes with an upgraded rear axle also. The axle on the 340 HP model is 17,500 LB. The 360 comes with a 19,000 LB rear axle. Most likely that has to do with the 3000 series Allison being used instead of the 2500 series.

AREA51 · 11-12-2012, 02:57 PM

Dear wnytaxman,

Attached is a word document dealing with Weight Limits for my 2008 Berkshire 360QS. You seem to have posted a few items and are probably more familiar with this, what do you think? Do you have anything similar in your coach.

Good Luck,
AREA51

wnytaxman · 11-19-2012, 04:35 PM

Thanks Area for the weight summary. That's not as bad as I had assumed it was, but it is still tight on the limits.

boowho · 01-06-2013, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wnytaxman

I'm curious about one thing with our weight limits of the Berkshires. My 340HP engine rig has a carrying limit of less than 2,000 pounds. I'm told that the only difference between the 340 and the 360 is a chip in the engine. Yet, the carrying limit of the 360 is more than the 340. What else is different? Are the tires different or is there some other difference?

I know this is an old thread, but ONLY 2000 lbs? The yellows sticker on my 390RB lists my payload at 3800 lbs and change. Take out the 700 lbs or so for the water tank and still have approx 3100 lbs for souls and cargo.

Boowho??

wnytaxman · 01-07-2013, 09:11 AM

I think part of the confusion is the pre-2010 chassis, mine is a 2009 chassis, had the lower ratings. Apparently they beefed up the ratings since those chassis were made.

AREA51 · 01-07-2013, 10:25 AM

boohoo,

As best as I can figure the word doc I posted on 11/11 is what I go by. If you have all tha data for your coach try the math and see if it is different. I think nytaxman has the right idea with the differnt chassis, plus the length of the coach must have some bearing on the totals.

Good Luck,
AREA51

You may also like: