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difference in grand villa

On my wonderful u240 the decals at the front and back say UNIHOME and GRAND VILLA........i noticed some similar grand villas that do not have unihome on the decals. I'm curious what the difference in the coaches is.
Dale Gass
1993 U240 36                                                             

cat 3116 allison 3060

Re: difference in grand villa

Reply #1 –
Quote from: dalegass –
On my wonderful u240 the decals at the front and back say UNIHOME and GRAND VILLA........i noticed some similar grand villas that do not have unihome on the decals. I'm curious what the difference in the coaches is.

Prior to the Unihomes, Foretravels were described thusly:

ORED (Oshkosh chassis, rear-engine diesel,

OFEG (Oshkosh, front engine gas), etc

The 'U' series first appeared in 1988 as a designation to the Unihome body design.

The Torsilastic 'Velvet Ride' suspension came on both the U225 and U240 models.

Foretravel History
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: difference in grand villa

Reply #2 –
thank you barry...ppl in houston has a 93 36ftcoach a grand villa....on my 93U240 GrandVilla UNIHOME The decals are a little more nicer  just wondering what the difference is,,,if any
Dale Gass
1993 U240 36                                                             

cat 3116 allison 3060

Re: difference in grand villa

Reply #3 –
If it is the same 1993 they had a month ago, that is an ORED.

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: difference in grand villa

Reply #4 –
So I am confused.

I have a 1993 Unihome, U-225, with decals saying Unihome and Grand Villa, and have read that it might or might not be a ORED based on the year.  But when I read the coach books, for filters and belts for numbers, it says "unihome - see chassis info" and does not list my rear diesel engine under the Oshkosh models.  When I ordered an engine part that Cummings said was a Foretravel part, the Foretravel parts guys say, "no not an Oshkosh, you have an Unihome".

Last week at a Centramatic, they say I have Oshkosh, 6 bolt wheel system, and since it is drum brakes they don't have the balancers for my wheels.

So did Foretravel have Oshkosh chassis and Unihome chassis both for 1993 Grand Villas?
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: difference in grand villa

Reply #5 –
My 93 GV front engine gas has an Oskosh frame that runs front to rear and everything mounts to that.  The storage compartments on each side don't go all the way through.  When I asked someone at the factory the difference he said the Unihome is like the unibody on cars.  Everything mounts to the body not to the frame and the storage compartments go all the way through.  Since I have not seen one I can't confirm that.
Bill and Doris
93 GV gas

Re: difference in grand villa

Reply #6 –
My storage goes all the way thru, so that narrows mine down to a Unihome as well.

We love all about it, and don't really care what it is called, just get the worries when looking for parts or being asked for what it is.  Out model # has an U in it, to also indicated Unihome as well.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: difference in grand villa

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Dave and Dolly Cobb –
Last week at a Centramatic, they say I have Oshkosh, 6 bolt wheel system, and since it is drum brakes they don't have the balancers for my wheels.

The U225 and U240 models have drum brakes; not disc brakes. I would have preferred disc brakes, myself, but I haven't noticed any problems with braking. And we've gone over a couple of mountain passes (they're everywhere, around here LOL).

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: difference in grand villa

Reply #8 –
Quote from: wa_desert_rat –
The U225 and U240 models have drum brakes; not disc brakes. I would have preferred disc brakes, myself, but I haven't noticed any problems with braking. And we've gone over a couple of mountain passes (they're everywhere, around here LOL).

Craig
Well, they are drum brakes, but NO, they are not drum brakes.  They are Stopmaster4P wedge air brakes-drum type.  They are not S-Cam operated like normal drum brakes.
This is the wedge operated brake.
This is a S-Cam operated brake.

Many mechanics hate the wedge brakes, but they are a much better brake than normal ones, and are self adjusting.  But they need to be kept clean to operate properly.  And they stop so much better than a S-Cam brake!  The literature with my coach shows that they are made by Meritor, but the Beam site show that they are Stopmaster.  I have not gone looking and it is way to cold to crawl under there unless I have to!
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: difference in grand villa

Reply #9 –
Thanks for the brake info.  I should have said my coach has brake drums, and that the balancing system fits and works on disc brakes, as discs are flat on the back.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)
 

Re: difference in grand villa

Reply #10 –
Quote from: PatC –
Many mechanics hate the wedge brakes, but they are a much better brake than normal ones, and are self adjusting.  But they need to be kept clean to operate properly.  And they stop so much better than a S-Cam brake!  The literature with my coach shows that they are made by Meritor, but the Beam site show that they are Stopmaster.  I have not gone looking and it is way to cold to crawl under there unless I have to!

Thanks for that clarification. I knew that I had "wedge" brakes but was not aware of what, exactly, wedge brakes were (other than that they were drum style). I was actually surprised that they worked so well and very cautious at first about steep hills (used the retarder). When we were off on our X/C ski adventure over the New Year I noticed that the brakes also were good on ice/snow. That surprised me as well.

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."