I am a "Newbie" to this Forum. In fact I am a newbie to RVing. I always do a great deal of online research before I make a move to buy. Like anybody else I want the most bang for my buck. I have narrowed my Brand interest down to 3 manufacturers. One of which is Foretravel.
My Foretravel search has led me to a 1991 Grand Ville, 34', 460 Ford gas, with 59K miles. I am a mechanical person and do understand the differences between gas and diesel. My real questions are:
1. Is the Grandville described powerful enough to pull a Jeep CJ7 through the Blueridge mountain area and the Black Hills.
2. What can I expect performance wise from the 460 (mileage and speeds).
3. Are there performance modifications that can be added e.g., turbo/supercharger, Performance Chip and etc.
If there is anyone out there that has experience or knowledge in these areas or any advice, please, I would appreciate your input.
Regards,
TJDNC
Thomas
Run from the gasser. Find a diesel with airbags. Send me PM with your phone number and I will call you and discuss
Listen to Tim.
X2 on what Tim and Brett said, run away fast
You won't believe a vehicle could consume so much gasoline. It seems to convert most of the gas to heat that can't escape so overheats. Using a automotive duty engine in a RV application was a poor idea.
Pierce
So as I see it, the problem with this design is that
some of the heat
does escape. If it was possible to contain 100% of the heat, then the engine would eventually achieve critical mass, and the resulting detonation would indeed provide the desired thrust...except it would be in reverse. Hmmm...
TJDNC
Sorry about my last post being so short I was using my cell phone. I had an OREG (Oshkosh Rear Engine Gas) 36' 1989 coach with a 460 ford engine
Pluses - really awesome Foretravel interior and interior build quality
Negatives:
Seriously underpowered
Very low gas mileage (4-6 MP)
Short engine life due to work load and related high heat environment (I blew mine up between New York and IL - head gasket)
Rear Radiator in the way for engine service
Oshkosh chassis sold to freightliner - no support from Manufacturer - and obsolete chassis parts not available
Find an early nineties Unihome with a 6V92 Detroit and you will be very happy you waited and paid a bit more. Lots of those still on the road and represented on this forum. While the OREG may seem a bargain, it is not, and putting more horsepower and $$$ into a marginal power plant with bad mileage already not a suggested course of action. Even if you were VERY mechanically inclined and could swap a diesel for the Ford, you still would be "stuck" with the Oshkosh chassis.
Good luck and stay in touch - your dream coach may already be owned by someone on the forum! (Check out the classifieds regularly..... here on the Forum)
Feel free to use the "Private Message" Capability to send me your phone number if you would like to discuss my experience in person -
BTW - after I blew up the 460, I traded the coach in at Motorhomes of Texas on a 1999 U-270 with a Cummins ISC and Allison Transmission. Since traded to the U-320 that I now enjoy
Like before way under powered and gas hogs, changed many engines in them would run as fast as possible from it
At least the replacement engines would be cheap! You can pick up Ford big-block crate engines for practically nothing (compared to diesels).