I haven't got it home yet, but I am no longer on the outside looking in. Sunday I purchased a 1991 U-280 Grand Villa. It is a 36 foot SBI with the 3208T Cat. Of course it has a couple of issues, ancient (17 year old) tires, wrong chassis batteries and bad and wrong coach batteries, but everything works and it drives very nice. The floor and bulkheads look fine. 82,000 miles and it has been stored under cover so even the stripes are still reasonable. For some reason this one has the 7.5 KW Onan diesel generator, instead of the propane one. Everything is completely stock, except the original living room TV has been removed. It even has the folding chairs that match the upholstery and the lawn chairs that match the awnings. I did not have it professionally inspected, but I spent quite a bit of time in, under, and on top of it so I am comfortable with my choice.
Since I am still almost two years out from retirement I am tempted to slap a set of Samsons on it before I drive it home (175 miles) and hold off on the real tires until later.
Here it is:
(http://www.foreforums.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=3847)
(http://www.foreforums.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=3848)
Congrats on your new ride! I don't think anyone here will approve the idea of driving on 17 year old tires, regardless of distance, so new tires sound like a smart move. But it's your coach, so do what makes you happy. If you don't replace the tires, would definitely recommend keeping your speed down, in case something blows!
Just curious: I see the "push bars" are sticking out through the front spoiler (under the bumper). For what was the prior owner using them?
Past experience had me setting for nine hours outside of Sweetwater, TX waiting for Good Sam to show up to change a blow out on eight year old tires when I tried to make the dash home. Just saying......be cautious.
We had a seventeen years old tire on our Jeep as a temporary tire (just until new tires came in), tire looked brand new. The tire 'exploded' causing over $8000 damage to the Jeep. Insurance paid for repairs but our deductible is $1000. Penny wise pound foolish.
Roland
Toss the tires and put some good ones on there. You are going to love that coach. Congratulations.
Mike and Lilli
Suggest you buy a good set of Michlin or toys. Plan to run them 7 years. that will get you 5 years into retirement.......
Join the FT motorcade club. (First year free, call Bev at FT)
If buying michelins use FMCA member program. Toyos very good as well, usually less $$$$, slightly harsher ride.
WELOME!!! Nice Find.
if using 8D batteries - consider from O'Reilly's (Or lifelines for a quite a bit more money.) O'RIelly part number is 8DAGM I believe, the counter guy may not be able to find it on his own. They will usually install when you buy, get fresh ones with all the same date code if possible. Good time to clean/inspect/upgrade all your batter terminals and cables - consider going to "military style" terminals
again, WELCOME!!!!!
I have a friend looking for a similar FT at this time.
Tim Fiedler
Sure Start Soft Start (http://www.gen-pro.biz)
TCER Direct (http://www.tcerdirect.com) generator-gas-prod (http://www.generatorgasproducts.com) 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro
Looks nice, Tires could be a real problem, If you try to make it home any heat build up could be a disaster! Are there any dry rot cracks showing? look in between the threads, if so definitely change out the tires. ^.^d
Welcome! Nice coach.
Congrats nice Coach. Now the fun begins.
Congrats!!
He couldn't figure out what they were for. I don't know what use they would be either, but they were included.
Coach could have been a Toad at one time.... :o :o ;D ;D lol
When I asked about the push bars was told that they were for wooden push bars that FT used to move coaches around the yard when they were being built. All the GV's that I have seen have them just not that push bars inserted. I have just the receptacles myself. Personally thought they would be a good place to insert homemade steps to clean front windshields. It was just a thought...
Randy,
We got the bars with our coach. We heard roughly the same story from the prior owners - the bars were used at the factory to move the coach around before it could move under it's own power. I always thought the "sockets" looked like a natural spot to mount a custom made bike or small motorcycle rack, or perhaps a snowplow blade. 8)
Congratulations. We had a 94 with the same lay out and loved how functional it was. Best lay out IMHO and the preacher chair is great. Enjoy ^.^d
https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20264912_1648807375160612_6019159413647530325_n.jpg?oh=ad6ee3e56ed9a5fb7b666cfabbb65249&oe=5AD27F74
FWIW I love my Samsons.
I am running Sailun S606 on mine 295/75/22.5 and am pleased 20 k on them now no issues.
Sailun Commercial Truck Tires: S606 EFT Premium All-Position (http://www.sailuntires.ca/MRT/S606.html)
When I was in the Tire industry, Samsons were known for low price and incredibly poor tread (wear) life. In our RV application, wearing out a tire is seldom a concern, so they can make a lot of sense depending on your comfort level with the manufacturer and the dealer
I do not recall that Season stood out at the time for more or less defects vs. the other brands we carried - if they were problematic, I would remember that I am sure, and I do not.
Tim Fiedler
Sure Start Soft Start (http://www.gen-pro.biz)
TCER Direct (http://www.tcerdirect.com) generator-gas-prod (http://www.generatorgasproducts.com) 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro
Welcome aboard! Your coach looks great! Be safe!
Mike and Lilli,
Welcome! You did good. I bought my '94 in '15. Drove it home 175 mi. with the original tires. Foolish, but made it. This forum will be your new favorite website. Everyone here is so knowledgeable and helpful. There is no such thing as a dumb question with these guys.
Enjoy!!
Welcome to the club!
Great looking coach, you will have fun making it the way you like.
My somewhat insider feedback from my old buddy who was our foretravel factory stores ace line mechanic was the these years coaches overcooled the 250 cat. Not sure what years if any are different but the fix was to install a piece of plywood to block some of the radiator which allowed the motor to warm up correctly but a call to FOT or maybe MOT or the other service locations just to see if anyone knows. Maybe see if you have anything like that blocking part of the radiator?
Bob, can you explain that?
It is the job of the THERMOSTAT(S) to determine engine operating temperature. How can a "cold" radiator lower temperature if the thermostat(s) are closed?
Welcome to the Grand Villa Society and the 91 Club! Check your radiator fan and make sure it is not the fiberglass one.
My 3208 is very cold blooded, it has two thermostats which I replaced with genuine cat parts as soon as I got it home as I thought they were stuck open, these start to open at 176, but there is also about a half inch bypass hole inside the housing. With the side radiator fan running all the time it takes forever to get up to the normal 160-200 temp range. Trip home ran about 180 running up a 14 mile 6% cajon pass grade at 55 mph in 95* ambient. Climbed into Flagstaff at 65 mph at 102* ambient got up to about 180*. Same results driving into Needles at 112* ambient at 65 mph or better. Cat makes special low leak thermostats that doesn't start opening till 186. Note that they call it a low leakage thermostat, which may help me getting up to normal temps in less than 20 miles in my rig.
Just relaying a comment my old guru mechanic mentioned to me. Motor did not warm up enough caused failures enough foretravel worked up a fix. Versus you try to pick my limited info apart why not research this for the poster.
We can talk about the steering column reinforcements later
Welcome Mike and Lilli to the GrandVilla club. They are motorhomes like no other !!!
Does anyone happen to have the part number for the replacement fan?
Folks, thanks for all the welcomes, but just to be clear I have actually been (mostly lurking) on the forum for three years. I just hadn't found my coach yet.
I've had a dozen or more diesel powered boats, vehicles, tractors, etc. and 180 was the normal temperature. What temperature should the 3208 operate at?
Wantabe
My cat 3208 book indicates 160-200 as normal operating temperature.
Bob,
Not trying to be argumentative-- just want to find out why the thermostats or coolant passages are allowing enough flow to the radiator that proper operating temperature can not be maintained.
Looks like we already have Old phart phred identifying both root cause and potential cure.
Seems he has.
Welcome to the U280 club as well! Great coaches! Hope to see you on the road!
Congratulations rvtinker, looks like a wonderful purchase. You made your wait and search worthwhile. Have fun!
Flex A Lite FLO8681 is the one on the 6V92 Detroit's. You might give Foretravel a call to be sure that's the same on the Caterpillar. Make sure you have the need for it first! Yours might have already been replaced or built with the right one.
The 1/2" bypass hole is not supposed to be there, mine appeared to be missing the vent valve that goes in that hole. See attached.
Found this in the 3208 reference manual that I posted in the media section. (did not have this pdf when I changed out my thermostats)
I will see if I can get the model # of the low leak thermostats (cat refers to thermostats as regulators). BTW if you do change out your thermostat the (2) starboard bolts are thru-bolts with nuts on the back side of the front housing.
Nice coach.....welcome to the club!
BTW, does anyone recognize the Motorcade number on my coach, 11243? It isn't from the previous owner, he didn't know what it was. It may be from the original owner. I haven't got the coach home yet so I haven't gone through all the documentation, the answer may be there. It has probably changed hands more than a few times, it has a PPL license plate ring, a Bell Camper Sales decal, and a Foretravel of Dallas badge.
I'm running Samson's on my CC. I would never own a Michelin rv tire.
And when I want to pull it around with with my towed
(https://i.imgur.com/TYrUPvQl.jpg)
Not trying to hyjack post but what were these "failures".Worked on all size Cats since the 80's and one thing you don't do is
remove a regulator.Will try and talk to a 3208 guru I know and get his opinion.
Congrats- nice looking coach. Mine is 3208T also- have been happy.
as far as the push bar brackets, I've been using them to mount my bicycle rack-perfect fit.
Our 91 GV has a 3208TA and it runs around 180 when running in hot weather. Warms up to around 200 when pulling long and hard in the heat. It is my understanding that these engines like to run on the cool side and bad things can happen if they run hot for a stretch. I had wondered if the temp. device that turns on the cooling fan may be running at too low of a temp. I had it checked and the fan circuit seems to be operating properly. At this point it doesn't seem to be broken, so I just won't fix it !! Have a great day ---- Fritz
Nice lookin coach, welcome
Early unihomes not Oshkosh had one size radiator for both the 250 cat and the 6v92 Detroit. Too much radiator it turns out for the cat. I can text my old buddy and ask Vince what the symptoms were that reducing the radiator area fixed
Welcome to Foretravel and this wonderful Forum. I hope you get as much enjoyment from your coach as I have from mine. BUT change those tires Dude before you drive even one mile. I just changed all of mine at 7 years and wish I had not worried for the last six months by changing them earlier.
Thinking about the 3208 temperature issue, a diesel will not get to operating temperature (180) except under load. maybe the 32008 produces enough HP that it's not loaded enough except going up hills? I got a Ford pickup diesel because it would idle all day in 100+ temp and run the AC to keep my dog cool without overheating the engine. I know some say not to idle a diesel, maybe true for a DD two stroke, but I've never had a problem with any 4 stroke.
Wantabe
The Number on my coach is 11404 and has a Foretravel of Alcoa.TN. decal. I'll be watchin' to see what info comes back to your post.
Jim
FT of Alcoa is now Tennesee RV. Same management and ownership.
Thnks much, Jeff & Sandy...
Jim
Welcome to my world of a new old Gran Villa, Soon enough you will start finding challenges like what is this wire for and wonder why someone did this but that's just part of falling in love with the ole gal.
I just bought a 1995 U-240 two weeks and that's some of the fun I am having now LOL
Have a great life God Bless and have a Merry Christmas
You guys have some sweet ones, we lean towards the U-240. though.
You will love that coach / engine combo. I had a 1990 U280 with the 250 Cat that got 11 mpg, ran a constant 160 degrees on temp no matter if hills or flat, and never gave me a minutes trouble. Absolutely lovely coach.
Congrats, you picked a good one!
This is the AGM8D battery Tim Fiedler referred to from Orielly Auto Parts: https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/fleet---heavy-duty-5000/marine-parts---accessories-16900/deep-cycle---marine-batteries-17354/battery/agm8d/4742645
Again Welcome, when you get this Ole Gal home and have time turn on everything you see to make sure it works.
You may already know this but you can go tp "Foretravel brochures, specifications and manuals" online and find all the original specifications on what your coach was built with. Its a good spot for technical assistance. It is set up by year and model.
I am a newbie also and have been working through the minor issues on my coach.
I final got a small ledger to keep up with what was checked, fixed, and what was done to fix it. Also used it to log in the part numbers of the spare belts I will be carrying.
Anyway with all this being said, Welcome and Have a great time
Indeed - link to the Foreforums Wiki mentioned, specific section:
Foretravel Specifications, Floorplans & Brochures [ForeForums Foretravel... (http://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=through_the_years:specs)
Overall Wiki start [ForeForums Foretravel Motorcoach Wiki] (http://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=start)
Thanks all! She has been home and snuggled down in storage since Friday the 22nd . The new Toyos eliminated the tire worries and the new AGMs from O'Reilly's should be arriving tomorrow to take care of the battery problems. Hopefully I can get them installed this weekend. Unfortunately it is in unheated indoor storage, and they still don't have my 120 volt outlet turned on, so I haven't really been able to do anything yet. I have determined the engine hour meter stopped working about 2003, when the actual service records seem to have stopped. It has been driven about 14000 miles since then. Generator hours are pretty low, only 1208, but that meter seems to be working. The folks I bought it from only used it pole to pole and never even filled the fresh water tank. There are some electrical gremlins to exorcise but nothing has been modified so at least I don't have to work through other folks "upgrades". The obsolete power converter/charger battery boiler is next on the list. I figure on just using a battery tender until the charger upgrade since the coach is just in storage anyway. That will keep the new AGMs from harm. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can start making things happen. I will be doing every single maintenance item in the manuals and replacing all regular wear items like belts, hoses, and the airbags. Once it is back to factory spec, then I can start making changes.
Mike dont forget to check the dates on your smoke (10 ry, LP (4-5 yrs), and CO (5-7 yrs) detectors.
Mine were all OEM (1997) and they sounded a tone when the button was pressed but when I used a butane lighter to setoff the LP nothing happened, same when I lit up my Pipe smoke would not set off the smoke alarm.
Yes, and fire extinguishers too.
Yes and the Kidde's have a recall on a big batch of them.