Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Topic: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England (Read 1143 times) previous topic - next topic

Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

October 16, 2015, 12:41:47 pm

Hi RV'ers

I have so many questions....where to start! Probably not the best way of doing things (suggestions welcome) but if I list what I need help with perhaps you wonderful people can point me the right direction and impart your knowledge.

We live in Surrey, England and have just purchased a Foretravel Grand Villa '89' and as of the end of November we will be living in her full time whilst planning a year out trip with our son!

We are trying to find a great mobile mechanic in the local area to look over a few things for us.

A company to possibly respray but definitely remove and replace her ageing decals.

The best websites for replacement Foretravel parts especially bathroom products as we are panning to renovate the showeroom.

Also! If you are still with me.....what is the best way you full timers have found to get mobile internet!?

Would really appreciate anyones advice, thanks in advance!

Emma

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #1 – October 16, 2015, 03:49:54 pm

I dealt with a lot of Airstream folk who had problems with the power difference over there. Has your coach been modified for "Brit Power"?

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #2 – October 16, 2015, 04:00:33 pm

Emma, would be best to give us a list of things you want to do so we can go from there, and all the parts should be able to get from your local BQ or such. I have done a fair amount of interior remodelling on GVs so maybe can help.
I am from Liverpool originally and go back each year from BC Canada. Next trip would be interesting to meet if possible.
JohnH

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #3 – October 16, 2015, 10:51:44 pm

A partial answer for whatever it's worth. I have an AT&T cell phone. I added 30gigs to my data and use my phone as a WIFI hot spot. Works like a champ.

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #4 – October 16, 2015, 10:52:21 pm

A partial answer for whatever it's worth. I have an AT&T cell phone. I added 30gigs to my data and use my phone as a WIFI hot spot. Works like a champ.

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #5 – October 16, 2015, 10:59:21 pm

Quote from: Emma – October 16, 2015, 12:41:47 pm

....what is the best way you full timers have found to get mobile internet!?

We, and several other Forum members, use a Verizon 4G Hotspot. To use this method, you need a hotspot device, and a data plan with one of the carriers. You can search this subject on the Forum, or on Google, to get more details. Just as a example, we pay Verizon $110 per month for 20GB of data, and $20 per month line access fee. We used a Verizon Jetpack (4620LE) 4G LTE device purchased from another service provider (Millenicom), so it was "free".

We have had excellent service using Verizon while traveling all over the western half of the US. Coverage in other areas may vary.

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #6 – October 17, 2015, 09:08:24 am

Are you doing this year-long trip in England or is this in the US? Lots of answers from all of us but where this is going to take place would be a help. Enjoy your trip.

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #7 – October 17, 2015, 09:51:28 am

I took it that Emma is doing it in England, but her asking about the internet may be for US as I am sure she would realise it would be a different situation. It could also be a "general" question and then she would check what is available there for a similar set up. Hopefully she gets back with better info.
JohnH

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #8 – October 17, 2015, 10:26:09 am

Do they not have, in England, a 4G wireless network and the availability of "hotspot" devices from the major carriers? I assumed she was asking about her British location, but I also assumed there is a similar setup over there. Could be totally off base on that one...

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #9 – October 17, 2015, 01:06:06 pm

Like Mike Leary, I'm wondering how you're going to use the electrical system on your Foretravel. Your UK electrical system uses 230v 50hz power while your FT is setup for 120v 60hz. Unless you've got a decent sized step down transformer that you would plug into at the shore plug, you're going to fry everything inside of it when you plug it in and you'd be limited to US 120v appliances, etc. (which would probably be uncommon there).

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #10 – October 17, 2015, 02:03:42 pm

And having been in the UK, Scotland, Ireland several times. I can't even imagine a Foretravel fitting on the roads over there.

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #11 – October 17, 2015, 02:06:50 pm

Quote from: bigdog – October 17, 2015, 02:03:42 pm

And having been in the UK, Scotland, Ireland several times. I can't even imagine a Foretravel fitting on the roads over there.

My friends with their AS 310 (only 31') had a heck of a time on the "lanes". You drive by 1" inch clearance over there, + don't want to meet a bus or lorry coming the other way! I'd bet Zip-Dee does a ton of business over there.

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #12 – October 17, 2015, 02:48:17 pm

I understand if your motorcycle has a side car you have to have "oversize load" signs on it!

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #13 – October 17, 2015, 03:57:39 pm

Quote from: Emoria – October 16, 2015, 12:41:47 pm

If you are still with me....

Yes, where are your replies? Emoria? I like that word!

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #14 – October 17, 2015, 04:36:36 pm

E-M-O-R-I-A ... Thats from a song isn't bit? No that was G-L-O-R-I-A. Van Morrison and the Rolling Stones and every garage band that ever lived. Oh well.

Emma, welcome. A Foretravel in England. Wow. Ask away and we will do our best to help.. Plumbing fittings are mostly standard American ones. Amazon can be a good source. Moen was commonly used back then.

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #15 – October 17, 2015, 06:13:11 pm

Most things is England are light years ahead of N America so be careful with comments!!
They do have excellent internet and everyone uses it, so I guess she is just wanting to get some ideas.
Yes, it is true that a great deal of UK has narrow roads and even though I grew up and learnt to drive there I shudder to think of driving my coach there, or the rest of Europes cities. They have fabulous bus and train services so you would not need to drive into a city, just use public transport The freeways are good and good signage (which the US does not have) and road surfaces are good all over.
I am used to driving in Mexico and there too some places are a challenge to get thru' but you do what you can, because the country is so amazing it is worth the effort.
JohnH

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #16 – October 17, 2015, 06:25:43 pm

Ahhh. The olde country.
We lived in England for 7 years in the '90s and traveled all over by car ... stayed and ate in fantastic pubs. Cell phone service back then in the UK and the continent was via satellite, not towers, and was much further advanced and developed than the US.
The motorways (our Interstates) could easily handle a GV. The A roads too. But narrower country roads would require you to keep your elbows inside. Would love to see and old mini cooper meet a GV coming over the rise on a B road.
"Having said that" (an English expression we've adopted 20 years later) large lorries do manage to navigate the UK. Parking?
What an adventure in a FT!

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #17 – October 17, 2015, 06:59:32 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – October 17, 2015, 06:13:11 pm

so be careful with comments!!

Hey John, lighten up, a little humor never hurts, we're all here for the same reason; to help & share. I'm a Brit & Canuck, also.

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #18 – October 17, 2015, 07:47:57 pm

Decals are hard to find for our older rigs. I will have mine painted on. With today's technology, they can make it look just like original. Have a great time and don't let bad decals hinder your time. Have a safe trip ---- Fritz

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #19 – October 17, 2015, 07:54:39 pm

Quote from: fkjohns6083 – October 17, 2015, 07:47:57 pm

Decals are hard to find for our older rigs. I will have mine painted on. With today's technology, they can make it look just like original. Have a great time and don't let bad decals hinder your time. Have a safe trip ---- Fritz

Somewhere in my files, I have the 3M decal call-outs, if anyone needs them.

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #20 – October 17, 2015, 08:49:45 pm

Actually Mike that was said with tongue in cheek
JohnH

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #21 – October 17, 2015, 09:18:16 pm

The PO of Toby had the decals touched up. Local decal shop matched the colour and cut out sections that needed to be redone. I would suspect if most of the decal is intact and todays decal technology the could reproduce the whole motorhomes worth.

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #22 – October 18, 2015, 10:47:08 am

Quote from: its toby – October 17, 2015, 09:18:16 pm

todays decal technology could reproduce the whole motorhomes worth.

True dat! Our's was stripped and re-done,a great job by a guy in Phoenix. Most of the comments we've gotten are, "Is that coach brand new?"

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #23 – October 22, 2015, 04:00:10 pm

Quote from: Emoria – October 16, 2015, 12:41:47 pm

Would really appreciate anyones advice, thanks in advance! Emma

That's odd, did "Emoria" ever reply?

Re: Newbie fulltimer needing help and advice with '89' grand villa in England

Reply #24 – December 02, 2015, 10:42:43 am

Emma,
As a Brit/Yank I wish you luck on the by-ways of Surrey or anywhere else with your GV. Is it still Left hand drive??
Many good comments here and the electrics would be a big concern although an industrial transformer would get the voltage correct the cycles would still be different.
As for the decals a heat gun and a razorblade scrapper got them off of our old GV and a decal shop came up with replacements. They have decal places over there that would make it look new again. That is until you have to pull over to let a bus come past!!
Enjoy your coach, you have one of the best.
Brian.

Affiliate Notice