Hello everyone. I am new to Foretravel although I have had several big rigs (busses) and big boats so appreciate and understand their complexity. The unit is very clean and appears to be treated with TLC. It has the DD 6V92 with the turbo, 120K miles, and runs beautifully. I have a DD671 in one of my busses so understand the pro-and-cons of 2 cycle - they are great bulletproof motors but I am concerned about mileage. I get 12-13 in my bus, but its all aluminum. What kind of fuel economy do you think I might end up getting in this rig?
Thank you all in advance, and I must say these Foretravels are truly amazing motor homes!
I assume its a 40 footer - by '95 nearly all were. I would say 8 or so. There are several 350 hp DD owners here that will chime in... 95 was the last full year for the Unihome, so you would be getting one of the very best.
I have a 93, U300 with the 6V92, 350 and according to my Silverleaf I get 8 mpg. According to my mathematical calculations I get closer to 7 mpg over 30,000 miles so take your pick. Overall, we love our U300 and would not trade it for any of the newer models. Of course 450 hp would be nice.
Thanks for the input, kind of what I expected. The GVW is 30,000 so not super heavy. Glad the number was not 5mpg - that would kinda suck. My boat gets one mpg so I can go 8 times further! I have a meeting with my tax guy tomorrow, and if the irs doesn't take my spare money, I cant see a better, cheaper way to have some fun. I have always been a bus guy because i like how solid they are, and these units are just like them, but not home made! Literally, all the comforts of home.
Agree with you about the "bullet proof" 6V-92TA, the exceptions being using the wrong oil or overheating it. We live in the west and with the terrain here, we get 5 to 12 mpg. 55 mph on the flat with 110 lbs in the tires gets an easy 10 mpg or more. Just going from home over the Donner Pass to Reno drops it to about 6 mpg w/toad so really dependent on speed and terrain. Rear end ratio (3.07) is shorter than your bus was so that takes a mpg or more. A little more frontal area (102") drops it a bit more.
Met a U300 in Yellowstone that averaged 7.9 mpg over 5 years with toad and 65-70 cruising speed.
With our old aluminum Buffalo bus and a DD 8V-71, the weight was quite a bit less so it got at least 10 mpg with toad even in the Rockies.
You will love the Jake.
Pierce