I am looking for 29 or 30 ft Foretravel Grand Villa with twin beds
and the 5.9 Cummins diesel.
Jimmy Freytag, Ardmore Ok.
Cell or text. 214-762-6290
Email freytags@gmail.com
I did not know they even made a '29' :
I do not remember seeing a front engine 5.9 29'
Memory is always the second thing to go...1992 front engine diesel GV2900:
1992 Front Engine Specifications (http://beamalarm.com/foretravel-links/models/1992_front_engine_specifications.html)
1992 Foretravel Front Engine Floorplans (http://beamalarm.com/foretravel-links/models/1992-foretravel-front-engine-floorplans.html)
If anyone else is interested, here is a Gas listed. If it was a diesel I would have to look.
1987 Foretravel Motorcoach Grand Villa - rvs - by owner - vehicle automotive... (https://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/rvs/d/1987-foretravel-motorcoach/6736320610.html)
Does anyone know the exact number or even if any were made? I know many manufacturers that listed models in brochure, and non were produced.
I had a 29 foot 90 model Gran Villa gasser. My last gasser
Jimmy,
I moved this from Classified, as there is quite a bit of discussion.
In the Classified Section, 100% of posts must be moderator approved, and I don't want to inhibit discussion.
I am with you, would love to know if/how many diesel PULLERS Foretravel made.
I seem to recall one for sale a year or so ago, but no idea of it was a "from the factory" diesel puller or was converted by an owner.
If that one listed is on a GM P-30 or P-32 platform, for a number of CBs, a Duramax & Allison can be installed, it's bin' done on a Airstream. ^.^d
Mike,
While true, the front suspension is the "weak link" on the Chevy/Workhorse P chassis.
Can't imagine adding the weight of a Duramax and Allison to an already marginal front suspension.
Brett, Agree, having had two of them. The rear suspension is nothing to write home about, either. If the pic of the 29' is, indeed, on a 'P' chassis, you can see the rear end sag, which is why AS added air bags. I know my friend dropped 20CBs into his Duramax change out, and the suspension had to be beefed. Biggest problem, as I remember, was the frame had to be trussed to take that heavy Allison. It is not a 'backyard swap'!
Craigslist Ad was flagged for removal... maybe a scam CL or Ebay listing....
I'd wonder if they ever made a diesel version, at least on the 'P' chassis, given what Brett & I know about the platform. If they DID make one on another platform, it would be a saying I love:
The post on the 1987 is not a scam, I talk to the person and received photos of the coach. I just talked to him here is his number
248-701-4368 name is Moe.
Triana would know if a 5.9 29" was built.
I ordered and sold several roadmaster FED 8.2 detroit 33' s.
Resold a 79 33' FED with a Cummins 555 in it. Revved hard. Ran pretty well. No turbo.
Straight axle front end
My 29' is on a John Deer chassis, with a Ford 460 for power. Great fuel mileage, 6-8, going down hill of course, but it sure has the getup and go. 😋
Rear bath and twin beds. I've thought of a bigger coach, but at 78 and single I really don't need one and I am a full timer. Only major upgrade residential frig and Banks exhaust.
The diesel FT 29's, with the 5.9 Cummins had the same JD (Oshkosh) chassis as the Ford 460's.
Excellent HD chassis, large disc brakes on all 4 wheels, some parts getting hard to find.
Other's used this chassis back in the day, Allegro, Mallard etc.
Parts supplier:
Chassis Parts Oshkosh John Deere Stepvan | Mill Supply, Inc. (https://www.millsupply.com/stepvan-parts/chassis-suspension-steering-driveline/chassis-parts-that-fit-freightliner-oshkosh-john-deere/chassis-parts-oshkosh-john-deere/?page=1)
Some parts may be sourced thru Freightliner which bought out JD and Oshkosh Chassis divisions.
I have the Oshkosh chassis Manual in PDF format if anyone is interested. It covers the puller and pusher chassis' gas and diesel.
PM me.
Neal
My SOB coach was on a P-30 chassis --the problem I saw with that coach was front wheels were in line with inside rear duels and
made coach very unstable in cross wind condition. 30MPH cross wind and I would have to slow to 35 or 40 mph, In the 320 I don't even notice a 30 mph cross wind
Chris
Never had that problem with the Airstreams, but, different body and a very heavy Isuzu diesel engine!
Yup, it took Workhorse to FINALLY increase the front track on the P chassis. All Chevy-built P chassis were narrow front track.
Yep that narrow track sure looks funky too, seen an sob going down the road the other day must have been 102 wide with the narrow front axle, my first thought was what and why?/
Well, never too old to learn. My first coach was a 29 ft Ultrastar on a P30 chassis. I never knew why it blew all over the road when an 18 wheeler or worse a Greyhound went by. My present MB Sprinter doesn't do that.
Thanks
LOOK WHAT I FOUND---88 33ft Grand villa that has been converted by owner to Isusu Diesel, but it has a manual transmission. I have a left bad hip and knee so leaves me out. I have talk to the owner he has made many trips to Mexico over the years. I have a few pictures his wife was having computer problems. GRAND VILLA (FORETRAVEL) - $8000 (EVERGREEN)
GRAND VILLA (FORETRAVEL) - rvs - by owner - vehicle automotive sale (https://denver.craigslist.org/rvs/d/grand-villa-foretravel/6739159621.html)
That cou
THAT could be a good deal! Isuzus are bullet-proof engines, parts still available (especially up in the PNW where they're used in fishing boats and stationary applications). I think our last one was a 6BD-2 ,turbo-charged, got 15 mpg. When I retired ours, it had 250,000 miles on it, trouble-free, burned NO OIL EVER! ^.^d
For that money, it sounds like it could be a fun one to have. So, no turbo on that Isuzu, right?
Chris,
Very likely a 1997 Izusu diesel does have a turbo. Just guessing, since we don't know "out of what" he got the motor.
I don't see a shifter!
Like Brett said, hard to say what it came out of, but without the turbo, it would have been dumb to install it in a motor home. GM has owned Isuzu for years. After our turbo-charged Airstream in '83, I don't know if it was ever used in another motor home. Might check the Isuzu website.
My friend has a Safari Trek like the one in this video with a 3.9L intercooled Izusu turbo diesel.
safari trek diesel - Yahoo Video Search Results (https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=tightropetb&p=safari+trek+diesel#id=3&vid=8aa2d4056845f0cbd8997286b3cfa97c&action=click)
Jerry
Safari used the four cylinder. His listing says 6.
Then it would be the '6BD' or such. Not a fast engine, unless they hopped it up. Mine had all of 125 hp! On steep pulls, I could walk faster.
Yes I didn't see the shifter either, ask Leonard about that he said it was on the left side in the floor. He also said he had no trouble running with the trucks
I am still looking for 29 or 30 ft Grand Villa with twin beds and 5.9 diesel engine.
You might call Triana to see if they ever built one?
Bob I know that they built one, l should had bought it last year, it was a 1992 located in west Texas. It sold before I had time to go look.
Mike thanks
If there is one available, YOU deserve it, Jimmy! I'm pretty good at navigating RV forums, will be checking for you. Might put your phone #/ e-mail in your files, since, they are, as you know, "rara avis." ^.^d
Foretravel History (http://beamalarm.com/Documents/foretravel_history.html)
Call the guy up, and make him a sweet offer, you never know he may had a change of plans. My older brother always wanted a Corvette, bought one last year and now just refers to it as the damn thing.
The P 30 gassers were very loud in the driver seat. The diesel up front may be pretty loud on the road also. Ear plugs required maybe .
One very nice benefit of the pusher is the quiet. IMHO.
The sound of the diesel in the Airstream (front loader) was something we got used to. However, like you say, when we got this coach, it was amazing how quiet she is! ^.^d One cool thing about the engine being up front, was the access to everything: I was able to pull the head and service everything with ease from the inside.
Saw this on FB just now: THEY EXIST!
Mike if i had not seen several of them in the past I would think that I was on a SNIPE hunt
Maybe i am old school. ( dad was a Texas car dealer in the 70's)... i like the sound of our 454 Big Block up front on our 86 GV... header sounds cool with highway merging.... good insulation on the dog house cover...
''Saw this on FB just now: THEY EXIST!"
Looks like mine before I removed the stripes (decals).
Here is a pic of our 86 GV FEGas, tax axle. Probably pretty rare also in number of units built... twin bed side bath.. no booth seating. Two barrel seats and couch with pole type tables.
Here is a link to the FB Grand Villa page... scroll to March 23rd for interior photos of the 29" gas RB Twin Bed
Log into Facebook | Facebook (https://m.facebook.com/groups/155716908398612/)
I own a 29 ' Grand Villa Chev front engine- I do need to sell it however
Call me 214-762-6290 I am interested
Jimmy