Peggy just spotted this coach on Craig's List this morning. It looks like it is in incredible condition. Look at the awnings. 33 ft Foretravel (http://springfield.craigslist.org/rvs/3031325220.html)
That looks like a great "starter FT" for David, kb0zke. It's right in the neighborhood!
We were lead to our first, and current, FT by a craigslist ad that was posted on this forum. Our coach was for sale in our neighborhood.
I was just about to write that it is right across the lake from us. I'd be willing to go out and look at it and take some pictures. Not sure that it is something we want, but now that I'm officially on stay-cation I have a bit of time.
That is a twin to the 85 ORED that I had., Wish I still had It but it was totaled in an accident,
Probably has a 3208T Cat in it. Hard to work on due to space limitations but reliable as hell. Price is probably reasonable depending on tires, batteries etc. These ORED chassis are a little rough riding But again dependable. Look for worn trailing arm bushings in rear.
Attached is photo of 85 ORED
Gary B
The add says it is an 83' with a Detroit but doesn't say which one... I remember reading on the forum that there was a Detroit model to avoid around that year... It does look like a neat coach however.
Oooooops, I missed the Detroit... Sorry
Gary B
If its a Detroit, probably a 6v92 either red or silver-million mile engines
No one has picked up on Kent's comment, that Peggy found the coach.
I know I am in trouble when Dolly sends me Craigslist or EBay listings. And was in real trouble when she asked to go to the Tarrant County Car Show. That only cost me a new Toyota Sienna to replace her Supra. Yesterday she sent me a listing on an 1969 Austin American, just like her very first car, and asked it we could flat tow it?
It's a 36' foot 8.2 Detroit on an Oshkosh 22,500 gvw chassis. Beautiful riding coach.
Start the motor and see how much air blows out the valve cover vent. Tells the ring condition. Easy to find cheap 8.2's around
I would expect it to be manual transmission and you could probably tow it flat. Whether flat or on a trailer, you would probably have to tow it, unless a hill were involved. :P Lucas electronic parts (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=13240.msg72152#msg72152)
Actually, the Austin America is an automatic, and uses the same oil for both the engine and transmission. Nice idea on paper, but didn't work out so well in the real world. Fun car to drive, though.
They were a hoot to drive, but they did require lots of scheduled oil changes to keep things fresh. It died in Maryland, and was left at a family friends, and finally hauled off from scrap some years later.
Small world. We saw what looked like a 40 footer last week between Auburn and Grass Valley, CA on highway 49. Was heading uphill with toad at a pretty good clip. Looked to be in excellent condition as it went by. I remembered the older units from the forum photo collage.
Pierce
in 83? More likely an 8.2 fuel sipper.
It seemed like a great deal at first. I really don't have an interest in buying this but it did tweak my interest. So, I did a quick search and found a forum that spoke about diesel engines. Someone asked why the "fuel sipper" had a different sound than the other Detroit Diesels and the response was copied and pasted here:
"Its a 4 stroke diesel the others 53, 71, 92, and 149's are two strokes.
And its widely considered a P.O.S.
Only good for keeping a boat anchored"
This is not my opinion as I frankly do not know much about it.
Just thought anyone that looked at it may wish to do some further research on a fuel sipper if this is the case.
Charles,
Here is a page that covers it A to Z: http://www.expertdiesel.com/82_detroit.htm (http://www.expertdiesel.com/82_detroit.htm)
Until last year, I had never heard of it either.
Pierce
Based on this discussion, it sounds like it isn't really worth a trip to the other side of the lake to look at this coach, at least for us. If someone else is interested, I'd be glad to go over and take pictures for you.
Thanks, may be a good one for someone who wants to get a diesel FT. Looked good from photos interior especially. The post Pierce pointed out seems to say that they really are decent engines. In my own personal experience, I don't think you can wear one out but you can ruin them if they overheat. My daughter did that to one of my diesel cars and pretty much ruined the ownership experience of that diesel car for me. I just don't know enough about the DD fuel sipper to really offer an opinion on the engine. Just think it would be worthy of research. If it turned out to be in good condition the price seems very fair.
I have a lot of personal experience with the dd fuel pincher. Don't........
Bob