Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: yachats123 on May 01, 2021, 04:56:21 pm

Title: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 01, 2021, 04:56:21 pm
any OLDER foretravel guru's out there? have a 1984.have a bunch of newbie questions and don't want to clog forums. would like to talk....... thanks!
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on May 01, 2021, 05:33:06 pm
Welcome to the Forum!  You have come to the right place to learn about your new-to-you coach.

You don't have to be afraid of asking questions on this Forum.  You won't clog us up.  One of the most valuable benefits of being a member is learning from the questions and answers that are posted here every day.  Talking one on one with another member can certainly be worthwhile, but if you share the conversation with the whole group then we can all learn something new.

If you have many questions, try to get them organized in order of importance (to you).  Then ask one question at a time.  It is easier to keep the responses on track if we only have to discuss one subject in each thread.  You are in no way limited in how many threads you can start at one time, so don't be afraid to fire off several questions simultaneously (but each in its own thread).

You can add some information about your coach in your signature.  As an example, see my signature down below where I have included some info about our coach.  Go to your "Profile" page, hover over the "Modify Profile" tab, click on "Forum Profile".  In the "Signature" block there is a place where you can enter any info you wish.  If you will include the year and model of your coach plus what engine you have, it will make it easier for our members to answer your questions.  You can also include your build number.  It is the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th digits in the Model number.  See photo below:

Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Michelle on May 01, 2021, 05:44:19 pm
No clogging here (especially if you have a VacuFlush  ;)  )  (bad joke)

Ask away!  We welcome and encourage discussion of all year coaches  ^.^d
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Subsilked on May 01, 2021, 05:59:42 pm
Ask away... dont' be frightened by the experts on this forum...  we bought our 86 3 years ago and have so much benefitted from the lessons learned here

Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 01, 2021, 06:57:29 pm
was looking for phone contact. i think i may be too old to tansfer my pics to computer and post. but my data plate goes as follows-
vin 000267
type-ftx3422753500rb
its a roadmaster chassis.with tag axle.it has the twin side beds and rear bath. i contacted foretravel-got limited info-they wanted me to join a "club" but admitted they would have ZERO support for a model that old. claimed it was a 35-but i measured tip to tip and it's a 33.  sorry to be a pain. 
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: master2301 on May 01, 2021, 07:09:41 pm
Also, in the upper right hand portion of the page is a search function that has a historical database that can be used to search for past discussions.
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Jeff & Sandy on May 01, 2021, 07:42:23 pm
was looking for phone contact. i think i may be too old to tansfer my pics to computer and post. but my data plate goes as follows-
vin 000267
type-ftx3422753500rb
its a roadmaster chassis.with tag axle.it has the twin side beds and rear bath. i contacted foretravel-got limited info-they wanted me to join a "club" but admitted they would have ZERO support for a model that old. claimed it was a 35-but i measured tip to tip and it's a 33.  sorry to be a pain. 

If you want to email me pictures I'd be happy to post them for you. Welcome aboard!
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Tom and Jo on May 01, 2021, 09:58:38 pm
My husband and I live in our 94 Grandvilla full time. We are a member of the Foretravel Owners club. The resources you get with the membership are worth the price. I call them and talk to Ronnie in technical and he always has the information I need. If he doesn't have the information he finds it.

We just went through a tornado outside of Hondo, Tx. I called them to let them know what had happened. I needed to know what to do about the wholes in the basement doors. Ronnie called me back fairly quickly and let me know what needed to be done to get the coach movable.  They have done a lot of work for us. And always for a fair price.

Jo Palmer
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Subsilked on May 02, 2021, 07:54:54 am
I have called Foretravel with a few historical questions about our coach.  Chevy P30 chassis with 454 Engine , 33 foot with tag axle... but there was a massive fire in the 80's that destroyed so much of the paper trails to help us with technical questions on our vintage coaches

This forum makes the difference...
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: red tractor on May 02, 2021, 01:38:55 pm
I worked for Foretravel from 80 to 98 as a tech so have experience with most problems with your year of coach. 813-215-3463. Ron
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Old Toolmaker on May 03, 2021, 09:42:09 am

vin 000267
type-ftx3422753500rb
its a roadmaster chassis.with tag axle.it has the twin side beds and rear bath.

Wow! The Foretravel FTX, the 10th anniversary special.  And it's built on the Freightliner Roadmaster chassis.

Congratulations!
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: nitehawk on May 03, 2021, 10:04:49 am
We contemplated joining the "Club" but after thinking about it, decided to not join.
We live in norther Wisconsin so the likelihood of us being at the factory is pretty small. Texas is a long ways away for us.
Our 1989 coach is very, very basic so factory advice really isn't necessary. No Aquahot, no onboard computers, no complex air bag leveling systems, no slides and thus no air bladders.
We LOVE our simple coach!!
The only thing I had to have done was by HWH for the leveling jacks about five years ago. A new pump and motor.
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 03, 2021, 11:57:19 am
i thank everyone who has reached out to my post. its coming home this week. sure i'll have a ton of questions coming!
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Forewheelers on May 03, 2021, 01:44:54 pm
Congratulations! We look forward to photos. We love photos. Best wishes and safe travels.

The Sickels
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Subsilked on May 03, 2021, 04:17:29 pm
We contemplated joining the "Club" but after thinking about it, decided to not join.
We live in norther Wisconsin so the likelihood of us being at the factory is pretty small. Texas is a long ways away for us.
Our 1989 coach is very, very basic so factory advice really isn't necessary. No Aquahot, no onboard computers, no complex air bag leveling systems, no slides and thus no air bladders.
We LOVE our simple coach!!
The only thing I had to have done was by HWH for the leveling jacks about five years ago. A new pump and motor.
We agree.. our 86 GV is perfect for us... no slides, no Silverleaf, no Aqua Hot, just simple plumbing, furnace, original Norcold refrigerator, original roof top AC's.. manually filled rear tag axle bags and front airbags inside coil springs....

We like the simple life of the vintage GV's
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 05, 2021, 01:45:03 pm
so tomorrow is maiden voyage. 50+ miles home. bunch of gas and hopefully no issues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 05, 2021, 01:45:52 pm
bringing a couple batteries 'cause i don't trust voltage guage.
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 07, 2021, 07:49:08 am
got it home-yeah tire vibration. brakefade and pull -but did exceptionaly well. lost brakelights (thankfully wife was behind in car to alert her for stopping!) headache from leaking drivers side header gasket. impressed with the  dare i say "pep" of the 454. super bouncy like theres no suspension. guessing shocks.....but i love it!!!!!
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: juicesqueezer on May 07, 2021, 08:51:32 am
Welcome aboard and enjoy your new ride!  This forum is awesome and can answer your many questions!
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on May 07, 2021, 09:23:34 am
Congratulations!  If you got it home without requiring a tow truck, I'd call that a WIN.  ^.^d
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Journey, Roam, Explore on May 07, 2021, 09:45:23 am
And the adventure begins.....
Welcome aboard!
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 07, 2021, 12:27:57 pm
i made sure it was covered by AAA before driving it-worth the hassle . but it actually was awesome.i got the thing up to 80!!!! speedo wildly wrong. wife was pacing behind and being my brake lights.  spent day cleaning. weekend to try and figure out all electrical problems. need a support arm for one awning.
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: craneman on May 07, 2021, 12:35:37 pm
Contact Zip Dee, not something that would be around as a spare. The shipping from one of the RV dismantlers would probably make it cheaper from the manufacturer.
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 07, 2021, 12:37:10 pm
thanks!
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Protech Racing on May 07, 2021, 01:24:54 pm
 I used to have a P 30 Manual .
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Running Odometer on May 07, 2021, 02:22:47 pm
Congratulation!
Good to see old foretravel back on the road.

I think most of Foretravel on the forum are between 95 and 2008 (pre Def)
After 2008 too expensive.
Before 95 too old.

Wondering

How old is too old for foretravel?
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: mikerox on May 07, 2021, 03:00:54 pm
I have a '93 Grand Villa u-280, it's not too old
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Running Odometer on May 07, 2021, 03:31:07 pm
I have a '93 Grand Villa u-280, it's not too old

91 GV U300 here.
I have been pouring money into it recently to renovate it. But it is 30 years old.
I am sometime wondering if it is worthy.
Read from this thread "How old is too old" (https://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/how-old-is-too-old-413467-5.html) on irv2, most of the discussion on that thread focus on 15 to 20 year old coach.  Nobody mentions 30+ years old coach.


Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Protech Racing on May 07, 2021, 03:55:42 pm
88.    Perfect Vintage  .
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Jeff & Sandy on May 07, 2021, 05:03:20 pm
1993 U300GV, the perfect age for us.
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: wolfe10 on May 07, 2021, 05:06:29 pm
Yup, sold our 1993 with 170,000 miles and going strong.....
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 07, 2021, 05:12:17 pm
is there anyone with a VINTAGE foretravel that i could TALK to to run me through operations of this beast? so many switches and options that either i'm dumb and can't work or maybe don't know how to work. levelers,sidestep,etc.
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: wolfe10 on May 07, 2021, 05:51:45 pm
yachats123,

Please update your "signature" to include your coach info.

See most of the rest of our signatures.  Really helps with getting the correct information.
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Olde English on May 07, 2021, 06:25:26 pm
Like Brett said, we need to know more details of your coach to be of specific help. We have just returned ( 1 hour ago) from a 1,700 mile spring trip in our 87 ORED 36 ft. We bondocked outside flagstaff az then spent 8 days in a state park in New Mexico where we dry camped. Everything in our coach worked flawlessly, touch the switches twice and we're level, hot water and fridge, same deal, switch it on and forget about it.
What I'm trying badly to express is, the older coaches are just as capable as the newer ones they're just not as complicated.
IMHO
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on May 07, 2021, 06:36:46 pm
According to earlier posts, yachats123 has a 1984 FTX (Freightliner Roadmaster chassis with tag axle)
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 07, 2021, 06:52:59 pm
i posted all info-vin number-build number. described what i have. what more do i need to post?
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 07, 2021, 07:00:18 pm
yachats123,

Please update your "signature" to include your coach info.

See most of the rest of our signatures.  Really helps with getting the correct information.
uuuuuhhhhhh  i DID
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: rworley on May 07, 2021, 07:09:43 pm
Our '93 U225 is an oldie but a goodie IMO; and evidently in other's opinions, too. We get lots of compliments everywhere we go.
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Jeff & Sandy on May 07, 2021, 07:24:34 pm
We passed 225,000 miles today. We were averaging 12,000 miles a year until back fusion and the pandemic. We are back on the road, heading to coach buck city.
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Tommy D on May 07, 2021, 08:05:43 pm

See attachment
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: Bob & Sue on May 07, 2021, 08:14:50 pm
We passed 225,000 miles today. We were averaging 12,000 miles a year until back fusion and the pandemic. We are back on the road, heading to coach buck city.
Jeff.  We're only 25000 behind you and we'll be putting 2500 of those on when we head home from FOT to Salem Oregon.
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: mikerox on May 07, 2021, 08:24:45 pm
Yachats 123- I'm fairly new here but I may be able to help if you want to call me 404-312-3996 I'll be driving for an hour so we have a good time to talk
Title: Re: older fortravel advice
Post by: yachats123 on May 11, 2021, 06:24:58 pm
can't say thanks enough to Ron for a "walk through" and some diagnostics for my beast. tough to find good people these days. i appreciate his time and wisdom for my rig-even though i refused to sell it to him....... :D  :D  :D  :D