Hi again...
I have inquired about a U320 with the 450 Cummins that apparently needs to have the radiator replaced. It's "the only issue" and the seller is in the process of taking care of it. By and large, it sounds like a VERY well taken care of coach.
Should the radiator raise red flags? Something caused it...
Or is this fairly common/benign? It's been sitting in a barn for the last two years and he had a diesel tech come do an inspection that uncovered this issue.
Depends on the reason it is being replaced.
If because it is leaking-- not a big red flag.
If because of overheating, may require closer inspection of the engine.
If because fins are rotted off, a HUGE red flag indicating probability of excessive corrosion damage to other components.
If the radiator is bad, I'd be looking real close at the CAC cold air cooler, inter cooler for corrosion
Scott
I spoke with the shop that did the inspection this morning and the fins are indeed rotting off. It has spent it's life travelling between St. Louis and Florida so it makes sense that corrosion is an issue. There is also a fan that isn't turning on I guess...and the dash AC doesn't work, for whatever that's worth.
I'm starting to leaning against checking this one out
Good decision. Corrosion is common on coaches from up north (just as it is on cars and trucks).
But, there are quite a few Foretravels that have spent their lives in the south. Look at the "Member Map" to see owner locations (It is under "Community".
Said another way, you do not have to settle for one with corrosion issues!
Corrosion is not a good thing. WIll be everywhere, especially basement structure and bulkheads. If it is close take a look, but likely you will want to pass.
There was recently one from Canada in the last year that was so corroded it was virtually unsellable. As Brett says, lots of non corroded coaches to pick from.
I grew up in northern Minnesota so while I have a healthy fear of rust, I've probably been desensitized to it.
On my first truck in high school, the only thing stopping road salt from being flung up through the floor boards into the driver's lap was many layers of duct tape :-\
I think we'll pass on this one too
Yup, had a car when we lived in Juneau Alaska. Went to the grocery store and bought cans with lids the size of the holes in the floor so I could patch them.
No matter what the current location of a coach is, there could be corrosion issues. One in Chicago may have never been driven in salt and one in Yuma may be barely hanging together.
Dave's comment is correct as far as I am concerned. Living up"north" could mean anyone living above Mexico, but is usually used as a negative to coach's coming from Canada and along the northern border with Canada but in USA. It is a very deceaving anology in a number of ways as weather onVancouver Island rarely gets below freezing but has a fair amount of rain.
Our coach has lived in the Okanagan Valley here for over 10 years but spent most winters in Mexico. Looking at many other units shown on this forum over the years that mainly travel south of the Mason line look to be in far worse condition structually than ours, both inside and underneath. So, I find categorizing one that comes from the "north" is a misnomer and each coach should be looked at without prejudice of where it is generally parked.
JMO.
JohnH
John
totally agree - I wasnt disparaging Canada or coaches from therer - only the coach I saw at MOT which happened to be from Canada
one of the worst I ever saw was from Green Bay WI - but salt is put on roads in a LOT of places and if the coach is driven in those environments regularly, bad things can happen...
Just had my radiator replaced. Here are a couple of photos. The radiator was perfect on the outside (behind hydraulic cooler and charge air cooler), however, on the inside it had fan rot. I've been driving it like this for over four years and kept a close eye on it. The engine never overheated but just recently I noted some coolant leakage. Not enough to drip down but it was only a matter of time. Roughly, about 12% of the fins were compromised.
jor
jor,
If I recall correctly it previously lived in Cincinnati.
Right you are! The radiator condition was a big surprise for me but life's full of those!
jor
It takes less than 5 minutes to pull the louvers and trim off the outside of the radiator with a 12-18v screwdriver or impact screwdriver. Then you can see at least the outside of the fins. Seller may or may not be willing to have the grill pulled but a good flash light can be a help.
While a Yuma coach may have rot, the percentages are in it's favor for being clean compared to northern RVs. Important to quiz the owner for the history of a coach you are looking at. Radiator rot coaches usually have tell tales in the engine compartment, the generator compartment, the diesel/propane compartment and in any electrical panel mounted low behind the rear wheels. Seller supplied high resolution photos can save a trip but you have to be insistent on the locations. And naturally, bulkhead photos.
Pierce
Salt is no good for any vehicle but most recreational vehicles are not driven constantly on bad and salty roads and most radiator in this condition are 20 years and older each time I head south for the the winter or come back I pick my day to drive . I bought a 65 Mustang to restore in Florida which had never seen salt and the whole floor firewall and cowling were completely rotted out thing rust out with salt or no salt grass will rot the underneath of a car
Elliott was looking at a 320 year unknown. You have to remove CAC to see radiator outside. You can peek in from the inside but is difficult. Would never see damage between the two. IMO. Possibly look with a boroscope? But the owner said he was replacing the radiator. As Brett said perfectly, if it was corroded then there will be more everywhere. Hopefully he will get to see a photo of the old part. The rest of the coach will tell the story if he paws threw it.
Scott
I bought this U320 in Illinois (just north of St Louis). I knew about the fan motor and suspected that the radiator was a goner, but the price was low enough to bite.
I had it towed to a big Cummins shop and I just got off the phone with the mechanic. He has some ties to Foretravel and is in touch with them for the parts. It will need both hydraulic fan motors and a radiator. The starting battery is shot too. It is too early to get the estimate, but I am looking forward to getting behind the wheel.
Contact Beverly Koonce at Foretravel and join the motercade club,you get 10% parts discount,also price the radiator at Atlas
radiator in Corpus Christi tx,would also check out your charge air cooler for leaks,and now is the time to replace all coolant hoses.
The parts guy at Cummins is not going to get the parts faster then you can and you may get them cheaper.
How come they can't reseal the fan motors instead of replacing them, if the shaft seals are leaking
Are you at the Cummins shop on Hall Sreet in St Louis?
If it's a U320, it should have 3 start batteries!
I replaced my radiator a few years ago (archived on this forum) after buying it and the CAC from Atlas. It was about half the price I was quoted from FT. While I had it out, I rebuilt the fan motors and replaced all hydraulic and coolant hoses while they were exposed and possible to get at. I also ended up replacing all the metal fuel lines, since they were rusted and one sprung a pin hole leak - of course this happened at a rally. All of the hoses were made to fit by the local Eaton shop. Not cheap, but I'm sure a lot cheaper than FT.
It is at the Cummins shop in Normal IL.
I finally got quote and it will cost half again the cost of the coach to fix it. I am holding off on the AC until my wallet recovers.
I know what you mean did my this winter my self plus a lot of other things it sure is hard on the wallet it seems there no end