I'm looking online at a 1989 grand villa 36ft 300HP diesel pusher with a 6speed Allison transmission. The people that own the unit have had it one year, and purchased from the original owner. The current owner knows very little about the unit, or engine. He says the engine is a Detroit 300 with a six speed. It has a drivers side radiator. In my research I can't seem to find this combo. I can find a cat 300HP option and the six speed add on.
Is there is 300HP Detroit, with side radiator and six speed trans option on a 36' Grand Villa, non-unihome? Any insight would be appreciated.
Also, they don't know if the unit has air suspension... It appears these had air suspension from research, but hard to tell. Again, any insight?
Thanks!!
Paul
Someone is giving you bad information here. The Detroit 6V-92TA is only in U300s and all U300s are the taller models with the higher compartments. No 300 hp or 350hp Detroit came with a 6 speed. The narrow bodies had a rear radiator until 1992 and then were 102" wide with the 4 speed HT746. All the wide U300s had Jake Brakes. Earlier had retarders. Looking at the photo, betting this one has a turbo 3208 CAT.
Get more model infomation and lots of hi res photos before traveling to look at it.
Pierce
I agree about the misinformation. The only combo I can find for this year is the 300cat with optional six speed. But the current owner believes it's a "Detroit 300".
If it is the 300 cat with six speed, is this a good combo? It was an expensive upgrade at the time.
Paul
NO Allison 6 speed in 1989.
Paul,
Link below to a listing of the spec sheets for Foretravel coaches. You will see that none of the '89 models came with a 6 speed.
Foretravel Specifications, Floor Plans, Photos & Brochures by Year (https://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=through_the_years:specs)
See if you can get the seller to send you a clear photo of the metal data plate affixed to the wall next to driver seat.
Thanks for the input.
I didn't find a six speed option on the spec sheet, but found this in my research
I pulled out this quote in reference to 1986-1994 Grand Villa's.
"Optional hydraulic retarder 6 speed is hard to find but VERY desirable. It was a 12K option back then, so whoever was buying had to really want it!"
I am brand new to Foretravel, and learning about the options, combinations, etc. I had read the quote/option above some time ago, so wasn't surprised at the ad's claim, but I am skeptical and doing more research before taking time/money to go look. I had looked at the spec sheet for this unit, and a six speed is not mentioned, the optional 300HP for the 36' is listed.
Not aware of any Foretravels with the Allison 6 speed before late 1992. Heck the very first one ever built by Allison was in 1991.
Might be Cummins? Did they come that early? The 6 bolt wheels point to the lighter powerplant. The Cat 3208 came with the heavy 10 bolt wheels.
The DD came with the lighter chassis along with 6 bolt wheels and the smaller 4 spd .
The 643 trans feels like a 5-6 spd due to the lockup in the top of 3rd and 4th. The engine changes pitch 5 times if you count very carefully.
Probably has the 8.2 Detroit penny pincher engine. If so it will have springs and hydraulic brakes.
Sounds like they're confusing the lock up in third and fourth with a six speed, aside from any other confusion.
This has been very helpful. I'll proceed with many questions and caution, and hopefully more detailed pictures will help clarify.
Thanks
Since you are new to Foretravels, read as much as you can on this forum and check out the archives for details. They didn't make that many so you may have to travel a distance to buy yours. We looked for a long time and flew across the U.S. to buy ours. Once you narrow the field down, post photos and then see if an owner close to the seller may be able to help with an inspection. We knew the engine and length we had to have and searched on almost every possible RV related internet source. Finally finding it on Craigslist. Good luck. ^.^d
Pierce
Good advice. I've been reading everything possible.
If there is an owner in the Tucson area that could take a look that would be amazing! If all looks good, I wouldn't hesitate to fly down and make sure the rig meets expectations. In the meantime I'll take a FaceTime tour and they will send many more detailed pictures. I'm sure with more info I can sort out what engine this rig has.
Thanks
Paul
I recommend you hire a "certified" RV inspector to look at it. Tell them what you concerns are and specific things you need to know. It will give you the information without you traveling to look at it and probably save you money.
Let us know what you find out.
Bill
The photos of the underbelly are the most important and should show the front and rear bulkhead as well as the white underbelly skin. Where the big angle iron meets the bulkhead close up to see if there is any separation or missing bolts. Generator, engine and propane compartment are also good to have. These must be high resolution so details can be easily seen with good lighting.
Pierce
I've seen a 3208 Cat in an allegro with 6 bolt axels but that's the only set up like that I've seen.
And, if you went to the Beam Foretravel site you would find that a GV of the 1989 year is not included. I tried to have Barry correct or add the coach specs for my coach to his listings but he never did.