Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Topic: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum (Read 1513 times) previous topic - next topic

Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

January 15, 2016, 12:28:54 pm

I've followed Wolfe 10's advice on a couple of forums and went to look at an older Unihome('92 I think). Short and sweet: I want something a bit bigger than my little class C but I want a well-built older coach, a Foretravel Unihome if I can find one, but I do not know quite what to look for when I go look at them ( I only saw one and thought it very good). I like having NO slideouts, gas engine, and good engine and brakes. Sort of bumbling through to learn all I can before I get into something that I "shoulda known" about. <G> Maybe someone could start me out with what to look for particularly in the late '80s to '90s oldies?
I know how to check oil and fluids for crud, and tires for dates, and seams for leakage on roof (dealers sort of hate me for climbing on the roof) but the complicated stuff is beyond my knowledge.
Thank you for letting me be on the forum, and thank you for any input and anything I should be asking.
D.Thompson

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #1 – January 15, 2016, 01:00:15 pm

Fairwinds.

Welcome to the ForeForum.

Not sure I could recommend any gas chassis Foretravel, particularly an OREG (Oshkosh Rear Engine Gas). Very little more to get one with a diesel and gas engines/cooling systems back in that time period were problematic.

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #2 – January 15, 2016, 01:18:38 pm

Welcome to the forum. These are the coolest coaches made! When we decided to retire our Airstream, Foretravels were the only coaches that made sense. Take your time looking, and, as Brett says, go for a diesel. Hang with us geezers & biddies and you'll learn a lot. As to your questions, there is no answer: each coach has either been taken care of, or not, simple as that.

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #3 – January 15, 2016, 01:22:43 pm

You should pay between $2500 and $4000 for a really nice one with a recent engine and a test drive to make sure it doesn't overheat. You should also live in flat country with only trips to local campgrounds. If the above doesn't fit, save yourself money and headaches (read migranes).

Pierce

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #4 – January 15, 2016, 01:40:04 pm

I would not get a gas FT but you could find a DP with a old Detroit in it for not much more. The old gas units had issues with overheating.

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #5 – January 15, 2016, 02:17:06 pm

Agree with John,

In that vintage, look for a Foretravel with Detroit 2 stroke. Another viable option in that time period is the Cat 3208.

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #6 – January 15, 2016, 02:21:17 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – January 15, 2016, 02:17:06 pm

Agree with John, Another viable option in that time period is the Cat 3208.

What's the difference between the 3208 and the 3116?

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #7 – January 15, 2016, 02:34:53 pm

Everyone, thank you! I am taking notes. Due to my work, I travel and domicile in Florida...very flat, so that might help with the headaches. <G> As for the $2500 to 4000, I doubt that would be dependable at all, but may be very wrong and may ever be more dependable than new coaches(I mean other than Foretravel). The new coaches I've looked at are awful in construction and tricked out like rolling bordellos, or every cheap light and color and fixture imaginable and overweight before you even step into them.
Is there anyplace in Florida that has pre-owned Grand villas? I like the Grand Villas' shape. More questions later as I dig into this.
Again, thank you all for the input and I'm open to any and all ideas.
Fairwinds or Donnis

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #8 – January 15, 2016, 02:43:18 pm

Quote from: mike leary – January 15, 2016, 02:21:17 pm

What's the difference between the 3208 and the 3116?

3208 is a v-8

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #9 – January 15, 2016, 03:13:34 pm

Quote from: craneman – January 15, 2016, 02:43:18 pm

3208 is a v-8

3208 is the older design and as craneman said, a V8.

The 3116 replaced it in the early 1990's (same HP and torque), but a modern in-line 6 cylinder (as are all coach diesel engines in the last 2 decades), serpentine belt vs XXXXX separate belts, etc.

Not a thing wrong with either engine. Sure, we could get into a "Ford vs Chevy" discussion, but both have a solid following.

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #10 – January 15, 2016, 03:16:21 pm

Quote from: fairwinds – January 15, 2016, 02:34:53 pm

Everyone, thank you! I am taking notes. Due to my work, I travel and domicile in Florida...very flat, so that might help with the headaches. <G> As for the $2500 to 4000, I doubt that would be dependable at all, but may be very wrong and may ever be more dependable than new coaches(I mean other than Foretravel). The new coaches I've looked at are awful in construction and tricked out like rolling bordellos, or every cheap light and color and fixture imaginable and overweight before you even step into them.
Is there anyplace in Florida that has pre-owned Grand villas? I like the Grand Villas' shape. More questions later as I dig into this.
Again, thank you all for the input and I'm open to any and all ideas.
Fairwinds or Donnis

Donnis.

I agree, you will not find a reliable Foretravel (or any other brand for that matter) for $2500- $4000. Hate to put words in Pierce's mouth, but he may have meant IF you are going to look for a gasoline powered Foretravel.....

Not sure he is recommending a gas Foretravel OR looking for a diesel in that price range. I know I would not!

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #11 – January 15, 2016, 06:32:25 pm

Brett, I wouldn't imagine at such a low price as $2500 or 4000, that longevity would be very long on a coach that I would want to have. Diesels are something I will have to learn a bit about. I know a lot of smaller coaches, at least some of the class Cs I have looked at are coming out on a Sprinter something or other...I am not very knowledgeable about that and decided early on that I don't need a Sprinter anything. I apologize for my ignorance of it all at the moment. I presume the diesel version of FT Unihome could be a Ford? When I had a Holiday Rambler I was told that most all brands could be both Ford and Chevy ... I just need to go see a unihome and actually ask some questions and view the engine, and ask more questions.

Right now I have a Born Free and am happy with it except it's a bit tight in which to full time...otherwise it's a really fine rig. I will keep reading here and learning as I go. Thank you for the information and thoughts on it.
Donnis

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #12 – January 15, 2016, 06:43:08 pm

Donnis,

First, no need to apologize-- most did not grow up in the diesel/automotive field.

Foretravel diesels will be either ORED (Oshkosh Rear Engine Diesel) or Foretravel-built construction (Unihome and Unicoach).

A variety of diesel engines were used over the years-- Detroit Diesel, Cat and Cummins. Most pretty good engines if, no make that a big IF taken care of.

BTW, I have nothing against gas chassis in smaller motorhomes. BUT, gas chassis in the 1980's and early 1990's were not in the same league with newer-generation gas chassis.

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #13 – January 15, 2016, 07:20:46 pm

Run from any gas engine FT

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #14 – January 15, 2016, 07:37:03 pm

If you're thinking of getting a gas engine class A.......... CAUTION! Do not test drive a diesel pusher Foretravel!

You won't be happy with anything else..................

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #15 – January 15, 2016, 09:27:47 pm

We have a 1993 U300 and are quite happy with it for our full-time coach. Detroit 2-cycle engine, no slides. Yes, there are some expenses involved, but we're still money ahead of what a newer coach might have cost us.

I'd suggest that you research the 93-95 U280 and U300 coaches as the ones that will give you the most bang for your buck.

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #16 – January 15, 2016, 10:47:09 pm

I agree with Brett on the older gas stuff. As for the newer gas class A stuff there is a reason it costs so much less to buy one. I found gas ones are more to the under spec'ed and there fore not as robust in suspension and brake componants. The diesel class A stuff traditionally is more over spec'ed in those departments and drive that much better. Engine power is much better and I find smoother in diesels. As an owner of a 94 280 unihome which is foretravels own set up, I can say that it drives better than other diesel pushers and even some semi and straight trucks I have driven. I also like not having anything much newer because the systems on ours is made up of more basic and more mechanical parts. Even if you aren't a mechanically inclined person the simpler stuff on my 280 is easier to find a mechanic for.

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #17 – January 16, 2016, 11:20:06 am

I don't know what vintage your class C is but I had a bit of a rude awakening when I started dealing with older coaches. Even if you spend more money on a diesel pusher of the same vintage I would say you shouldn't expect "reliability". Something will always need attention and it will inevitably leave you sit at some point even if you're a stickler with maintenance. But somewhere in between that price differential of what you pay and a new one for $800K it's probably worth it

If you come into things with reasonable expectations, your experience will be a good one overall. For me the epiphany was that having problems with the coach isn't that big of a deal since I'm already home

For what it's worth though, of all our various mechanical problems we have always been able to limp to safety. Every single time. Though we couldn't limp far when we lost a hydraulic hose

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #18 – January 19, 2016, 06:52:50 pm

Mark D, I hear you. I am looking about for a diesel, and have been reading Mr. Beam's articles in the forum on FTs. Batteries, inverters, and converters are on my list of things to find out about. I know converters turn shoreline electric into DC (?) and inverters will take DC from the batteries and create a bit of AC for boondocking or such. My BFree, I'm told, doesn't have an inverter (they told me that) but the DC lights work without being hooked to shoreline. Any place on this forum where I can find out about inverters and converters in Foretravels, the older ones, without annoying the group? Any ideas are most welcome.
There's a Unihome at Parliament Motor Coach in St. Pete, Florida that I thought of looking at, but I need to have some solid questions before utilizing their time asking questions that may or may not be answered correctly.
These are beautiful coaches and seem huge compared to my little rig, but I did have a 34 ft. Holiday Rambler back in the '80s and had no problems...acres of trees are still intact.

Can park my BF just about anywhere, have had no problems with it in 6 years, and best of all, it's paid for.

I should go pound my head against the wall! But I do think if the right FT came along, a good trade would be worth it. Or maybe have both.
Fairwinds

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #19 – January 19, 2016, 07:22:52 pm

First question on the Parliament Fortravel:

What model is it? Once you find out: Foretravel Specifications, Floor Plans, Photos & Brochures by Year
Layout is an SBI (no dinette).

No inverter or inverter/charger was standard at that time. No idea what subsequent owners did.

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #20 – January 19, 2016, 09:44:51 pm

Brett, it's "1992 Foretravel Grand Villa Unihome – 36′ with a Cat Diesel Pusher! Lots of new stuff and it's ready to go camping. " All I could find on the site, but I'm at Thousand Trails in Orlando until Feb. 1, so I won't be able to check it out right away. It may already be gone, as well. Price was $24,900 or so. Last week I had called and emailed and got no response from anyone there, so I will wait until I find out more. I just want to look anyway. Thanks for SBI definition. There are so many acronyms it gets confusing.
Fairwinds

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #21 – January 20, 2016, 08:20:05 am

Depending on model and date of production, a 1992 could be the Caterpillar 3208 with 4 speed Allison or Cat 3116 with 4 speed, or if late in the model year the 6 speed Allison.

Could be an ORED or U240.

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #22 – January 20, 2016, 01:15:43 pm

It's got 6 lug wheels, that would be ORED (Oshkosh Rear Engine Diesel) - correct?

Re: Older Foretravel Unihome information...and I am new on this forum

Reply #23 – January 20, 2016, 01:42:52 pm

Quote from: prfleming – January 20, 2016, 01:15:43 pm

It's got 6 lug wheels, that would be ORED (Oshkosh Rear Engine Diesel) - correct?

Not really, ours has six lugs, as well. Only Brett and a few others would know. For us to help, we need more information. It could be a great deal, but, just like a boat, if she's not been serviced, get ready to spend some fairly serious coach bucks! We paid some serious bucks for ours, which we bought last year, higher than all the ones we saw for sale. However, the paperwork showed all the age/use-related stuff had been rebuilt/replaced .

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