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Topic: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking? (Read 1060 times) previous topic - next topic

ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

I know this is only going to get opinions as answers, but I would like to hear them.

DW and I plan to retire in two years, sell the house, and go full time.  Obviously in a Foretravel.  We are looking to install max solar with lithium batteries,  go off the cord and take advantage of public lands as much as possible, but still use the national and state parks as well.  We both really like the looks of the Grand Villas, and the SBI floor plan.  So the question is which version?  ORED, U225, U240, U280, or U300?  Considering the areas we hope to travel I was staying with the 36 foot narrow body version, but if you were planning to drive on unpaved and potentially bumpy roads, what would you choose?  I like the addition tank capacity and storage of the U280 and U300, but I also like the simplicity and strength of the ORED chassis and the low exterior height.  So what would you choose and why?
Mike & Lilli
1991 GV U280 36' SBI, 3208 Cat, Build #3825
4320 Watts Solar
Kansas City, MO

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #1 –
Simple; fresh water is what you will run out of first.  Whichever coach has the biggest tank.  Always the limiting factor when boon-docking.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #2 –
John,

You mention " full solar".  In my opinion there isn't such a thing as "too much solar".  Many solar coach owners eventually admit they run their generators daily as well. One K of solar panels might be considered a very good start. This might be analogous to the need for water - very seldom so you have an excess when dry camping.
Jim

2002 U320

guess that makes me a solar fanatic
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #3 –
Water runs out before anything else. While we don't get anywhere near our 1140 watt potential in winter, we still have never come close to having to start the generator. A couple of times in summer for AC but since changing to LED lighting and TVs, it just does not use that much juice.

Again, it's the water and even if really careful, it seems to go in a hurry. Perhaps paper cups and plates if you really had to conserve water. Hot water is almost instant in the bathroom so no need to run it. Propane lasts forever.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Water runs out before anything else. While we don't get anywhere near our 1140 watt potential in winter, we still have never come close to having to start the generator. A couple of times in summer for AC but since changing to LED lighting and TVs, it just does not use that much juice. And we use the microwave (heat the milk) and latte maker in the morning.

Again, it's the water and even if really careful, it seems to go in a hurry. Perhaps paper cups and plates if you really had to conserve water. Hot water is almost instant in the bathroom so no need to run it. Propane lasts forever.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #5 –
Early unihomes had a manual leveling system that allows altering the static ride position of the coach.

In other words you can cant the coach to cross slopes by raising or lowering each side separately as can the rear.

Plus the bigger tanks and storage make the unihome a easy choice. 

"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #6 –
Good, bad or otherwise, after a lot of deliberation I chose a ored to KISS. No bulkheads, no six pack hwh air level system, no slides, simple total mechanical injection engine, and a simple mechanical 4 speed automatic tranny. Exhaust brake that I got is adequate on 5% grades. Not really wild about side radiator fan and associated hydraulics, but Engine and belt access is superb. 10+ mpg and the ability to climb the 5% grades with the 300 hp cat 10.4 liter engine at 60 mph+ without going over, 200 water temps is a bonus. Front suspension sucks
But I think that can be fixed easily.

Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #7 –
Even though others seem to do  it regularly, the U295 I have is NOT one I consider offroad capable. (By offroad I am including unpaved dirt roads with washboards, typical ruts etc. Forest service roads.)  More than a few hundred feet of washboard road will result in teeth gritting, necessitating crawl speeds.  The fans blow a huge cloud of dust up where the low pressure area is at top rear of coach, where some genius located the air intake.  Air leveling is very limited in comparison to jacks.  Nope, I'd get one with torsilastic, a narrow body as well if offroad is the mission. 
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Chuck Pearson –
  Nope, I'd get one with torsilastic, a narrow body as well if offroad is the mission. 

Like ours, X2. Bottom line: even with ours,there are some roads one just CANNOT take! This where the term "check locally" came from.  ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #9 –
OK, here goes, considering I cannot find tank capacities for OUR coach on Beamalarm. (what he has listed is NOT our model)
LP=44 gallons to legal fill point (50 gallons is tank size)
Fresh= 75 gallons.
Grey= 44 gallons (odd amount, isn't it?)
Black= 44 gallons (same as above)
Fuel= 100 gallons (at 9 MPG towing our towed= 900 miles)
Now, we carry three one gallon jugs with fresh water from home for making coffee. In the towed we carry three 6 gallon plastic jugs--empty until last opportunity to get tap water and then we top off the main                        fresh water tank and fill the jugs. I have installed a 12V pump up front to transfer the water from the jugs to the tank.
Grey water tank use--we utilize paper plates and paper towels and do most of our cooking outside. We wipe all items that need washing with paper towels, then wash them with Dawn dish soap & water. Minimum amount of soap. Hand dry utensils with cloth towel. Waste water goes to flush toilet. Paper in the fire if no wind or fire hazard. Leave nothing behind when we leave except a cleaner campsite,
Black water tank usage--old saying: Brown goes down (using dish water if available) and yellow--let mellow.
We have a 25' hose that connects to the propane supply that we can use for cooking & grilling outside. Also carry a small emergency supply tank (full).
If at CG having bathroom facilities we utilize them instead of coach.
Showers? Not in the coach.
Hot water? If in CG with electric we heat with microwave.
Furnace heat? If in CG we use our little ceramic electric heaters and a circulating fan.
Three weeks with no problems.
I do check tank levels daily so I know when it is time to dump or replenish the fresh water.
Worse comes to worst I have the third valve that would let me backflow the black into the grey. Never had to do it yet, but just saying that option is available in an emergency.
We do a lot of single dishes like goulash, and we only do two meals a day. Third "meal" is usually something to snack on that does not involve any dishware.

Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #10 –
I would add that the basement storage on the ored is limited. Tools, a few spares, fluids, belts, filters, hoses, cords, a few of those compact tube stored camp chairs, a hibachi grill and charcoal and that's about it. Golf clubs and fishing rods maybe? A spare really big honk'n air filter? A folding camp table will probably need to be strapped on the back.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #11 –
Compartment behind gen (gen has small area on front where I put (3) 25' ext cords): 16' lg x 6' wide  roll up mat in 6" diameter PVC tube, 12'x12' screen house, Two fold up Coleman tables (6"square x 3' long), One bag chair (Rocket's), one Bolo golf set, one PVC flagpole setup-collapsed, Two low director's chairs from Harbor Freight, two high director's chairs from Cabelas, one round grill for use on firepit, one homemade rotating grill stand in a 4" dia tube (capped both ends) Rotating grill parts in 3" high x 6" wide x 10" long plastic tote.
Passenger side large compartment: Weber grill, Coleman stove, Craftsman compressor, Dewalt drill & recip saw plus batteries in case, leveling platform (homemade) for nonlevel picnic tables, 10# propane tank, 30' air hose (coiled), Griddle for pancakes etc, rolled up high nap hemp rug for entry, 2 gallon jug of cat litter (Rocket's), outdoor lights in a case for hanging on the awning, and anything else that I can fit in there without breaking.
Propane compartment:  (8) jack pads 12x12 x1-1/2 or 1/2, rake, shovel, awning rods (3) two walking sticks, one extendable tree pruner (saw & lopper), one push broom, two anchor screws for awning or Rocket, fireplace tongs.
Small compartments--small stuff, things like spare tools, splitting jack, 25' propane gas hose, water hose, etc.

We have gone as much as 5 months with stops for groceries, dumps, laundry, and fuel.

And we still have the large tote on the top rear of the coach that was an option when the coach was built!!
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #12 –
Dang nitehawk your compartments must be bigger than mine,  will have to research the folding tables
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #13 –
Yeah Phred, looks like we'll have to meet up with nitehawk to see how it's done ^.^d

I also am in the same situation, looking to retire in a few years, travel all over North America, boondocking along the way.  Still don't know if my ORED is the way to go, but it does follow the KISS principal.  Love the 300 hP 3208T CAT, over 500K built.  Lots of parts, support, and usage everywhere! from 50K dump trucks, school buses, generators, and boats.  Still would consider mechanical Cummins.  DD electronics have held up well, but wonder about getting parts and knowledgeable repairs when I'm stuck outside Edmonton, Canada.

Allison MT 647 is mechanical and rated to pull over 42K.  Not fond of 30 yr old 3000 or 4000 series Allison with their electronics.  Read that some have failed electronics and no replacement.  Have a '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee with bad CPU sitting in driveway.  Can't get factory replacement.

The Oshkosh truck chassis is solid, no rust, hydraulic leveling jacks, doesn't retract to ground level so I always have access.  Have less water storage but 150 gal diesel AND 60 gal propane fuel.  1400 mile range while running the Genny.  Can tow my Chevy with a SxS ATV in the bed and and extra 100 gals water in truck. 

With all that being said, knowing what I know now, Larry Warren's '96 U320 for $30K looks like a great buy and I would never look back...

Dan
'87 40' Grand Villa 4000 SBID ORED
CAT 3208TA 300Hp driving MT647, PacBrake
Unkown watts Solar
'17 Conti's HSR2 10-22.5
Cove, Texas
Previous: '76 to '16,  5' 10", 0.1Hp, hauling 85lb BackPack shod on Keen Boots

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #14 –
I boondock for weeks at a time with my 96 U320.
When solo, 90 gallon water tank lasts 6 weeks, then refill using six 5 gallon plastic tanks.
I know Foretravel says tank is 100 gallons, but actually holds 92 gallons of water.
Clean plates by burning them in the fire (paper, not plastic).
I shower outside using two 2 litre pop bottles (total - one US gallon).
Plants love fresh grey water, and black tank lasts two months or more.
When out in the desert, grey water tank is constantly drained using a garden hose while using minimum soap.
With 1600 watts of solar, and being very frugal with power use, I run generator perhaps once/month (mostly to exercise or for A/C).
Annual hours on genset is about twenty.
Phantom loads are wasteful, I reduced my phantom (24/7) battery load from 6.5 amps to 0.5 amps.
OEM burgler/intruder alarm, for which I did not get "key fobs", used 1.5 amps.
Airbag levelling ability is limited, however, careful positioning and digging holes makes levelling possible almost anywhere.

I will not drive on dirt roads and only on a gravel road if it is in good condition.

With a 23 foot wheelbase, a small hump in the road will scrape underneath.

A U320 has much more storage then an ORED, will be close to the ground when parked (with air bags bumped), and provides a wonderful ride.



 
Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #15 –
Quote from: TexasPop –
Yeah Phred, looks like we'll have to meet up with nitehawk to see how it's done ^.^d

I also am in the same situation, looking to retire in a few years, travel all over North America, boondocking along the way.  Still don't know if my ORED is the way to go, but it does follow the KISS principal.  Love the 300 hP 3208T CAT, over 500K built.  Lots of parts, support, and usage everywhere! from 50K dump trucks, school buses, generators, and boats.  Still would consider mechanical Cummins.  DD electronics have held up well, but wonder about getting parts and knowledgeable repairs when I'm stuck outside Edmonton, Canada.

Allison MT 647 is mechanical and rated to pull over 42K.  Not fond of 30 yr old 3000 or 4000 series Allison with their electronics.  Read that some have failed electronics and no replacement.  Have a '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee with bad CPU sitting in driveway.  Can't get factory replacement.

The Oshkosh truck chassis is solid, no rust, hydraulic leveling jacks, doesn't retract to ground level so I always have access.  Have less water storage but 150 gal diesel AND 60 gal propane fuel.  1400 mile range while running the Genny.  Can tow my Chevy with a SxS ATV in the bed and and extra 100 gals water in truck. 

With all that being said, knowing what I know now, Larry Warren's '96 U320 for $30K looks like a great buy and I would never look back...

Dan

96 Jeep Grand Cherokee CPU | eBay

Might work?
 

Re: ORED or Unihome, what would you use for boondocking?

Reply #16 –
Thanks, I've replaced it once with a "repaired" CPU.  Lasted about a year.  Just can't trust it, but it makes a great deer camp ATV .  I'm the only one that goes to my blind with A/C or heated bucket seats ;D,  when it runs...
'87 40' Grand Villa 4000 SBID ORED
CAT 3208TA 300Hp driving MT647, PacBrake
Unkown watts Solar
'17 Conti's HSR2 10-22.5
Cove, Texas
Previous: '76 to '16,  5' 10", 0.1Hp, hauling 85lb BackPack shod on Keen Boots