Good morning all - finally time for our first post here. Really excited to be a part of this great community! Joined this forum in anticipation of getting a Foretravel and now we have one! We recently bought a 2002 U295 3620 PBDS with ~77,000 mi on it.
Some background on us - we are a family of 3 in Houston TX, our daughter is a 2-year old who loves RVs and RVing. We rented a 39-foot Pace Arrow in February and drove it from Houston to Big Bend National Park, it was an amazing trip. We are interested in possibly full-timing in the future, which is a major reason why Foretravel was high on our list of RVs to look for. (the other reason being this great forum of course!)
We are super excited to get out and start using our "new" Foretravel as soon as we can. Previous owner took fairly good care of it, kept it under a carport at all times, but it has been rarely used for the past year or two and needs to be brought "up to speed".
Maintenance done so far includes:
--Inspected & resealed roof
--Changed engine oil and filter
--Replaced swollen coolant hose (lower right of engine compartment)
--Checked condition of all other coolant lines
--Replaced coolant with new OAT coolant
--Chassis lube
Still must do ASAP (before camping) items include:
--Fuel filters
--Check/maintain batteries
--Replace one air bag leaking badly (driver side, rear wheel, rear bag) - thinking of replacing with Contitech AS9448?
--Replace leaking Gray tank gate valve - I have the parts and tried to do this myself but the lower bolt on the far side seems impossible to get to... might just pay an expert in NAC for labor costs here... and might just have the black valve changed preemptively too while we're at it...
Longer-term to-do items include:
--Misc. maintenance on chassis A/C
--Troubleshoot generator (I'll do a separate Tech Talk post about this...)
--Check transmission fluid and possibly replace filters, top off with transynd
--Check differential
--Fix/replace rear view camera system
--Fix right side fiberglass damage from previous owner curb rub
--Replace slide topper and awning fabrics
--Interior updates - LEDs, replace brass with oil rubbed bronze, switch carpet for hard surface floors, etc.
We are in Houston, so heading to NAC for maintenance is not too bad. If we could make it up there with the leaking air bag, we might just get all the urgent to-dos taken care of up there. Otherwise we might have the bag done here in Houston, then head up for the remaining items.
See a few photos attached, and in our signature there's also a link to our IG account my wife is running. We really like our Foretravel and can't wait to finally finish the remaining urgent maintenance items so we can get out on the road!
Congratulations, you bought one of the best built class A coaches made. They have a long life.
I would add a couple things before going out.
I would add fuel line inspection and check your lift pump. The ULSD fuel causes the seals to dry out and you are of the age where the fuel lines need inspection and maybe replacing. While you are replacing valves install a third one as well to prevent surprises.
Congrats and welcome. 😀
Welcome Aboard 8) !
Thanks! I'll add the fuel line and lift pump inspections to the list.
What do you mean by "install a third valve to prevent surprises"? Sorry if that is a newbie question...
Nice looking coach, and welcome. As you guessed, this will a very helpful site. I also highly recommend the third dump valve -hate surprises from that compartment. If you have a problem with one bag, you may want to consider changing them all out. You mentioned a "bulging" radiator hose - did it look like this one? gates 23562 - Bing images (https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=HJchHB50&id=9591E2202A6303D0FF74959BC27FF1BA3566A79A&thid=OIP.HJchHB50PYTjod5GBmUy3QHaHa&mediaurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.jegs.com%2fimages%2fphotos%2f400%2f465%2f465-23562.jpg&exph=1500&expw=1500&q=gates+23562&simid=607990453160840172&selectedIndex=0&qpvt=gates+23562&ajaxhist=0)
That would be normal, allowing for some flexing.
Again, welcome to the group.
Thanks! Yeah, I might just change all 8 bags, especially with the good price on the Contitech AS9448.
Yes I have read a lot about the third valve and want one! Unfortunately, my coach is one of the 2002 models that's plumbed less conveniently for that than other Foretravel coaches. Hard to explain concisely but post-black-valve the pipe just goes into constant 90-degree turns that don't really leave space for a third valve easily without major plumbing surgery!
Regarding the hose -- no, it was much more bulbous than the one you linked. Also, if you squeezed it, there was a lot of "give" and the wall material felt thin.
I have some photos for you though - see attached. There is one of the original hose, with arrow pointing toward the "bulging" hose. Then there are two of the new hose. Hope they used the correct one! The shop that did the work forgot to reattach the support bolts (final photo) but hopefully since I only drove about 25 min from the shop to my storage site that didn't cause a problem with the top hose it was hanging from >:(
Where the white cap is on the sewer you put another valve and that way if your black tank valve gets blocked open a bit there is no surprise.
Got it! Yes I want to do that but have some challenging plumbing. See my reply above to Sven and Kristi.
I'll need to post a picture to explain it better, but basically the black valve empties into the pipe from the gray valve (gray valve is on passenger side of coach) then the combined pipe makes an immediate right 90-degree turn and terminates immediately into an end fitting right above the floor port. There is not much available "bare, straight pipe" to cut into and fit a third valve onto. I'll definitely post a photo after I get back to the coach to take one though.
I'd find another shop. There is no excuse for sloppy work like that. Find a mechanic/shop that you can trust to do a job correctly!
OH, and by the way, welcome to the best RV owner forum on the Web!
Okay I found a photo for you all! See attached. (Apologies for the messy compartment! First time I've opened it, after this job I plan to clean it up!)
As you can see from the photo - as the black line joins the gray line, it immediately goes into that 90-degree elbow. Then it terminates into the end fitting.
Now, I could just attach something like this to the end fitting: Amazon.com: Valterra T58 Twist-On Waste Valve: Automotive (https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T58-Twist-On-Waste-Valve/dp/B000BGHYJS)
---But if I used that, my output line wouldn't be able to make the turn down into the floor port.
Only thing I can think of is to cut the elbow somewhere, but all the plumbing work I've done in the past has involved cutting PVC during a straight section - not during an elbow or in the middle of a connection point. I've searched these Foreforums for inspiration but most other "3rd valve" posts have plumbing setups different than mine. Open to ideas!
Yeah... Check out where I found the bolts sitting - see attached photo (look just to the right of the disconnected support). The thing is, this shop is one of the top rated in the Houston area! I'll give them the benefit of the doubt here, perhaps they just had a bad day. If you're curious - they are the shop located near Bingle and Hammerly.
Just seems like there aren't many really great RV shops in the Houston area! Searching the forums, I have found similar sentiment from other forum members: Dash ac not working. Repair shop suggestions in Houston area. (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=34033.msg311840#msg311840)
Found another thread recommending a few places (Lassetter, LaRue, Felton - Repair Shop In Houston Area to replace rear brake rotor (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=15990)) but that thread is 6 years old. Might see which are still open and have one of them help with the air bags.
Lesson learned for me is - do a thorough inspection of the shop's work before driving off! After discovering those missing bolts, I reconnected the support of course, and also checked the oil level after their oil change... I'll probably have MOT or FOT redo the chassis lube as well when I make it up to NAC.
Eric, Ashley & toddler M -
Welcome! That's a beautiful color scheme on that Foretravel, and congratulations. This is a great forum and community. Many folks here have certainly helped Kristen and I become more educated and comfortable learning all these systems. They are fantastic machines, you will love the adventure!
Cheers, Jeff and Kristen
We also had a 2002 36' but was a 320. We could not put a 3rd valve on without major sewer line surgery either. We did have a black tank flush that we would often use. Used more water but it did flush the black tank.
Dawn and Calgon do a pretty good job of keeping the black tank "clean".
Enjoy the journey.
Welcome from a fellow Texan! We live in Pasadena south east of htown, love our FT. Maybe we'll cross paths somewhere down the road....
Keith
Thanks!
Yes we have the black tank flush too. Might just end up using a Valterra T58 for a "safety cap" when not hooked up to sewer, then use the black tank flush for flushing abilities.
We would enjoy that! Keep in touch!
Welcome to the forum/Foretravel ownership!
Beautiful coach!
Welcome to the community.
The list of things that you must do/should do/want to so will be endless. Try to prioritize them and work them off one at a time. Don't let the list prevent you from having fun with your coach. Most of the list can wait until you get home.
Welcome to the Foretravel Family and this Forum!
Welcome and congratulations from a fellow Texan (Corpus Christi ) and also new to the world of Foretravel.
Nice coach. Seems you have done some stuff with it. Mine has had a lot done by the po, but still needs a bit more. Very complicated bit of machinery, but seems worth it.
Welcome to the herd! Add to your list to check the date on your tires.
Keith
Welcome!
Always keep an eye on the forums, there's always something brought up that will apply to you... if not now, later... ;) . Never fear to ask a question, not only because of your need but also as it may apply to someone else. My dad use to say "the answer is not in the answer but in the question".
This will be one (if not the), greatest adventures y'all will have traveling throughout the country with your daughter, in the best built coach available.
Hey... nice looking rig! ^.^d
Welcome Eric and Ashley to the Foretravel community. I hope you enjoy you coach and this Forum as much as I have in my almost three years of ownership. Ken
The adventure is with the $ to buy, bring up to current maintenance and renovate. These things have great bones.
We're about a year ahead of you having found ours a year ago or so. We left at MOT after purchase for several months and a long list of things we wanted to do. We picked it up in August of last year and continued improvements until taking off last months for 6 months on the road.
For us it was right to replace a bunch of things that hadn't broken yet but were near end of life after 18 years...e.g., airbags, fuel lines, etc simply to know they were right before we left. Many here do their own work and given time I guess any of us could learn to do most of it. Again, for us, it was simply about wanting to get on the road and enjoy using our FT.
Regardless of what you choose to do you'll be rewarded by a coach that was designed to be the best on the road.
And this forum will provide hours of learning and rapid replies to almost any question you can think to ask.
Randy and Karen
Congrats, I look forward to your adventures on Instagram.
^^^ Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome!
Sorry for the slow response this time -- We've been working on the Toad/Dinghy all weekend, and made some great progress. See photo below (bumper is approved for flat towing by manufacturer). Don't have the braking system set up yet, so we did not take it on the open road. But we did a quick low-speed test in a parking lot and all seemed to work well using a Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain tow bar. Next on the Toad to-do list is installing the Ready Brake system and brake lighting wiring.
Good call - yes we have done that and they are 2017 ^.^d
Your coach looks pretty nice too! I like the stainless bumper and clean white sides.
We like the Corpus Christi area, and plan to head down there in September or October once the Texas heat wears off a bit - keep in touch!
Nice, you'll like the Ready Brake.