Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: GleamB on September 27, 2020, 02:33:27 pm

Title: Side Lean
Post by: GleamB on September 27, 2020, 02:33:27 pm
When I maneuver my coach into my dirt driveway, there is a drop off on the right side that causes an uncomfortable lean. I wonder just how much you can lean your coach before you're in the danger zone.
Can I manually raise just the right side to jockey the coach into it's place? HOW?
Thanks
Title: Re: Side Lean
Post by: GleamB on September 27, 2020, 02:49:18 pm
What would it take to roll a FT??
Anyone ever do it?
Would you admit it, if you did?
Title: Re: Side Lean
Post by: Twig on September 27, 2020, 03:06:00 pm
You should be more concerned with the windshield popping out. Or cracking.
Title: Re: Side Lean
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on September 27, 2020, 03:41:31 pm
While there is only one ride height valve in the front, using the HWH panel, you can lower either side by letting air out of the front two bags as well as the rear two bags on either side.

You should be able to spin a Foretravel on wet or dry pavement without it rolling over. If you drop one side onto a shoulder and then make a hard correction with the coach leaned over, it could roll. A strong crosswind will roll a coach or any high profile vehicle.

Pierce
Title: Re: Side Lean
Post by: franklinga on September 28, 2020, 06:51:21 pm
The windshield will definitely pop out if the coach is left to sit unlevel for some amount of time!  Had it to happen on my '94 model because of a rear air bag leak.  Coach sat unlevel for several weeks and the driver side windshield and gasket separated at the top outside corner of the windshield where it meets the side glass and pulled away at the gasket in the center of the windshield.  Almost crapped my pants!

Once I aired up the coach, me and a buddy were able to work the windshield and gasket back into place.  Wasn't hard to do, just had to work it back in place as the coach leveled up as the air pressure came up.  Probably got pretty lucky on that one!
Title: Re: Side Lean
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on September 28, 2020, 07:43:11 pm
I use a couple of fingers on the HWH as we camp where a lot where trees are close on all sides, the ground is soft and the awnings are just inches away and as we go forward or backwards, the awnings get closer and closer. A finger raising one side moves the awning away as you move the coach. Lots of trees don't go straight up so good to have someone outside spotting with the little GMRS radio.

That's why I don't glue the windshield in. We are off pavement a lot and the front cap makes a lot of noise but the windshield is able to move around. A couple of big suction cups and some patience moves it back in place.

Great campsite in the trees with a nice view of Bridgeport below and a 5 minute hike down to the hot springs in the river. I use the HWH a lot here. Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B014'05.8%22N+119%C2%B019'20.2%22W/@38.2349342,-119.3244707,633m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x8097a6780c9840d5:0xefd06138d94d9f4e!2sBuckeye+Hot+Spring!3b1!8m2!3d38.2390856!4d-119.3254367!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d38.2349302!4d-119.3222825) About 6 miles in on a good gravel road.

Buckeye Hot Springs: Buckeye Hot Spring (Bridgeport) - 2020 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go... (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32110-d523510-Reviews-Buckeye_Hot_Spring-Bridgeport_California.html#photos;aggregationId=&albumid=101&filter=7)

Pierce
Title: Re: Side Lean
Post by: rbark on September 28, 2020, 08:40:40 pm
You can also raise the low side then move the coach.
Title: Re: Side Lean
Post by: John44 on September 28, 2020, 10:10:45 pm
Think I would spring for a load of dirt.
Title: Re: Side Lean
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on September 28, 2020, 11:40:02 pm
When I maneuver my coach into my dirt driveway, there is a drop off on the right side that causes an uncomfortable lean. I wonder just how much you can lean your coach before you're in the danger zone.
Can I manually raise just the right side to jockey the coach into it's place? HOW?
Thanks
How about bringing in a tractor with a 4 in 1 on the front or scraper on the back and making that area 10 feet wide and level? Then a load of 3/4 minus crushed mine rock with fines (never round rock). Then you don't have to worry about any angle or mud, etc. Got to cost around $500 for everything depending on where you live and how long the area is.

Pierce
Title: Re: Side Lean
Post by: Old Toolmaker on September 29, 2020, 07:14:18 am
Think I would spring for a load of dirt.
Just as Pierce said, it's got to be Engineer's dirt.