UFO walkthrough (my coach)

[-Gramps-]

Well, I had an interesting visit today from a couple from Suffolk VA. They have been shopping for a coach for about a year. The husband wants a DP, the wife didn't really like the front entrance as opposed to mid coach door. It had been a deal breaker in the past. They have thought very carefully about what they want. I got a call yesterday after they googled UFO on MSN. They found my FMCA profile, saw I owned a 38PLT and wanted to ask some very important questions. I answered them and invited them to tour our coach. So today they visited, liked what they saw (the floorplan, the pass through storage etc) and confirmed to me that they are going to pick up their new 08 Vacationer 38PLT next Wednesday. And yes I did tell them about the FCA problems that some owners have had. They made their decision with their eys wide open. So now what does that make, 15 UFO owners that are in touch with each other? I am sure that Mike will be joining the forums soon.

It will be really neat to have an owner of a UFO coach so close by! Its even better that it is just like mine.
So Charlie and Ron, we are now the four Vacationers! (if all goes well )

They have one question of us owners. The hitch on our chassis is rated at 5000 lbs. They want to tow a car four down that weights just about 5280 lbs. Could that weight cause a problem?

[JonBrazel]

When are you going to start requesting commission?

[-Gramps-]

When can I start getting one?

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Gramps- They have one question of us owners. The hitch on our chassis is rated at 5000 lbs. They want to tow a car four down that weights just about 5280 lbs. Could that weight cause a problem?

-Gramps-, Blue Ox makes a direct bolt on 10,000 pound rated hitch for the UFO with triple receivers.

OK -- before we get spun out of control NO a UFO does not haul 10K pounds! Now that said .... it will tow 6,000 pounds without breaking a sweat "IF" the hitch is rated for it and the 30,000 pounds of GCWR is not exceeded. The GVW of the vehicle is as your know 26,000 pounds. I have no reason to believe that the UFO would not be able to haul more than 6,000 pounds BUT then again you have to have a hitch that's rated for the weight and the GCWR must not be exceeded.

How's that!

[-Gramps-]

Well I think they have decided to get a smaller vehicle to tow, one that is easy to add a baseplate and not have to change out the hitch.

Mike, their names are Gary and Janis and they plan on joining the forums. I made a bit of a typo in my original post.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Gramps- I made a bit of a typo in my original post.

-Gramps-, OK Let's just say that you made a typo!

[max49]

I would not even hesitate to pull a 5300 LB toad with a 5000 LB hitch , and especially , when there is no tongue weight with a towbar.
The tongue weight is what is most hard on the hitch. I would not put a 10,000 lb hitch on a chassis rated for 5000lb because the weak link, then, would be the frame of the motorhome.
I wish I had my camera with me when I saw a motorhome in a traveling fair/ circus worker parking lot, where they camped. The whole back of the MH, just behind the axle was bent down about 8" 0r so. They had patched up the walls and roof with sheet metal, screws and caulk, and were living and traveling in it. It was not a real old MH either (maybe 8 or 10 years old)
I can not think of any other way that this could have happened besides pulling one of the , way too big, circus trailers.
It was a comical site but I bet it was'nt funny for them when it happened.
Sorry , on some other forums I visit, they say "no pics, did'nt happen".
But I did see it, and could'nt help but laugh at their makeshift repair and still using it, but I did'nt get a picture.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by max49 I would not even hesitate to pull a 5300 LB toad with a 5000 LB hitch , and especially , when there is no tongue weight with a towbar. The tongue weight is what is most hard on the hitch. I would not put a 10,000 lb hitch on a chassis rated for 5000lb because the weak link, then, would be the frame of the motorhome.

Max, Your comments are warranted and they are true regarding vehicles that are rated to tow only 5,000 loads.

The UFO has a GVW of 26,000 pounds and a GCWR or 30,000 pounds. This only means that if you load up the UFO to 26,000 pounds you can only tow up to 4,000 pounds.

UFOs most often don't weigh anywhere near that much but they can get up to 23,500 or 24,000. That said GCWR-GVW= What you can tow.

A UFO can tow up to 6,000 pounds if the weights are right. The UFO's 6.13 final drive allows it to pull anything it wants. Now once you get all that stuff moving down the road - the Quadraulic calipers make for sure stops using the WABCO HPB hydraulic brake system.

Blue Ox specifically engineered it's 10,000 pound rated hitch for use only on a UFO. It's a direct bolt on hitch using factory holes in the frame. The 50,000 psi steel frame can handle the load.

The Blue OX Aventa II or equivalent tow bar is rated to pull 10,000 pounds but that said what are we going to pull with that thing that tests the mettle of the tow bar, a deuce and a half? I don't think so. Just because a hitch has a rating doesn't mean that you should try to attain the rating. Even on an RDP which is rated to tow 10K, a 10K load back there is still a huge weight.

[-Gramps-]

Well Gary and Janis, my Suffolk neighbors. are now the proud and excited owners of a very good looking UFO motor home. I personally think they have exceptional taste and have made an extremely intelligent decison with the coach they have chosen.

They are spending the next couple of nights close to Niagra Falls and will be home early next week. It looks like the HR 38plt UFO twins will be arriving together at the FMCA GEAR rally next week in Richmond. I look forward to it.

[edgray]

Derrick: Please tell them about WCMC and encourage them to attend the homecoming rally so they can see where their UFO was built. ED

[-Gramps-]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgray I'll do that. Actually I wouldn't mind seeing where the UFO is built myself

Derrick, I've seen UFOs take their first steps and breathe their first breath of air. These machines look so cool when they are brand spanking new. You can smell the oil burning off the exhaust pipes. It's awesome! This is not a behind the glass factory tour but a thorough walk around the entire plant floor type tour.

Make sure you make plans to attend the Homecoming Rally.

[Lash]

Tell the new owners congratulations for me and I know they will get to love the coach and the ride.

As for the "homecoming rally" do you think they will provide an updated FCA as a door prize for all UFO owners??