Remodel/recondition

Topic: Remodel/recondition (Read 1000 times) previous topic - next topic

Remodel/recondition

October 30, 2012, 06:44:54 am

Lots of nice house and exterior work done on older F/T's which is great. However if one was to consider making an older coach a long term keeper (for a live aboard) how do you address the chassis componets (rad,rubber hoses, fuel lines, brake lines/valves/chambers/, air bags/valves and so on) replace them all at once, or deal with them as the come? Once you get to the live aboard stage you can't do a lot of mechanical work in the campground, and when your coach is in the shop it's motel time. We all know that these type of things never break in FOT's parking lot. I would imagine one could pull a 10-15 year old coach into FT's shop and spend 15k+ under the coach where the rubber meets the road.

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #1 – October 30, 2012, 10:18:55 am

It's the same for any older vehicle. Take a W140 Mercedes. Out the door averaged around $80K for a '91 to '99 model but now you can pickup one in great condition for less than $4K. Unless you are mechanically inclined and research the MBZ forums, you WILL spend many times your purchase price at the shop. With older Foretravels selling for around 7% of the new price, it's the same story. For many, a $20K investment is a really big deal. Nice to replace tires at X years old but many will drive them until one fails. So, for some, every trip is Russian Roulette, hoping lady luck is in their corner. For others, forums, DIY ability keep trouble to a minimum. The further away from home you travel, the more you are at the mercy of repair shops. Making a 150 mile circle on the map for free towing with an occasional foray into unknown territory can lower the stress a bit but was not the path I wanted to take.

I built my garage/pit with memories of my childhood in the back of my mind. Just as I was sure a monster lived under my bed, I fully understand the monster has now moved to the underbelly of our U300. I now go under on a regular basis to spray, lub, inspect, occasionally replace items to make sure his powers, while not totally gone, are at least diminished. A small homemade ramp and creeper can do the same thing.

This forum provides an excellent source of information on the maintenance issues our rigs may encounter. Stocking the belts, tools, tires, etc. that have given trouble for others in the past and planning trips with that knowledge in mind, gives the advantage to the house every time.

For those of us without unlimited credit card support, education and planning can make older RV ownership a rewarding experience without the anxiety each time the starter is engaged.

Pierce

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #2 – October 30, 2012, 12:36:06 pm

When we purchased our 18 year old Foretravel I expected that I would have to address some mechanical issues. To my dismay my expectations were exceeded. I could have avoided many of the issues had I made a more informed purchase. Joining the Forum before our purchase rather than after, would have gone a long way to helping me avoid all my errors. Fortunately "the price was right", but I could have spent a bit more and saved a lot of "puttering". Having said all that, I would not hesitate to purchase another "mature" Foretravel nor will I hesitate to take this rig anywhere we want to go. This Forum is like travelling with an entire support crew at your side, you just don't feel like you are "alone out there". A Foretravel is a high end quality built coach, the Forum is a high end quality resourceful entity, both make purchasing a "mature" Foretravel a wise decision.

Roland

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #3 – October 30, 2012, 12:47:32 pm

Pierce and Roland,
You guys are spot on. Love the foretravel. Thank goodness I am able to do a lot of the stuff it needs. I still am fortunate to be able to take it to Nach for some larger things (mainly diagnosis has been my downfall) as I don't live that far away. When I had minor issues, the forum has been excellent in dealing with these. Thanks to all who have helped. The collection of knowledge on this forum is outstanding.

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #4 – October 30, 2012, 10:06:52 pm

It sounds like you are describing us. We're looking at mid-90's U300 coaches, with an eye to buy in the next year or so. That means that we'll be heading out in 2015 (when I retire) in a coach that is at least 20 years old. We're budgeting a large portion of the total purchase price for repairs and upgrades, and we'll set money aside each month for that as well. When we find a coach that looks good to us we'll pay an expert to look at it for us. If it passes the expert's inspection we'll negotiate with the seller.

As for fixing things, I've always told the mechanics who worked on my cars that if they took a part off they were to put back a new one unless the old one was in new condition. That meant that I sometimes replaced three fan belts instead of just the one that broke, but I figured that I saved another breakdown somewhere else. Whenever a mechanic works on an engine for me I always ask him to look for things that are in need of repair or replacement. I don't authorize the work beforehand (except for what I mentioned earlier), but my regular mechanic is an honest man, and an old-time mechanic, so when he says something needs attention I tell him to fix it unless it is something that I can do. He knows what I can and can't do, so he will tell me if I can do it myself. Even then, sometimes it is just more convenient to have him take care of it right then.

I've heard that some truckers will take a wrench each day and go around the truck tightening anything that can be tightened with that wrench. The next day they take a different size and do likewise. Over a period of time everything is checked. Sometimes things are hidden and we don't know there might be a problem until something starts leaking, smoking, or otherwise not behaving normally, but usually having a good mechanic look things over regularly will help keep the downtime to a minimum.

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #5 – October 30, 2012, 10:12:50 pm

Its always better to try loosening it - That way you don't keep tightening it until it breaks or strips.

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #6 – October 31, 2012, 06:49:49 am

I have owned our coach for almost 8 years, and currently do all of the repair and maintenance work on it myself, most recently a complete brake job and rotors. With that said the coach is repaired as needed and used frequently at least twice a month. However what I was referring to is what some of the folks that are fulltiming do, take the coach in once a year and repair or replace anything that may need attention, or have your service done and do the repairs as they come things like air bags, hyd lines, brake hoses, fuel lines and so on. Just trying to get a feel for what fulltimers are doing, because once you leave the sticks and bricks behind you no longer have big tools ,air compressors, and pits at you disposal. Excluding tires what do you allow for repairs in annual budget. Thanks for the info.

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #7 – October 31, 2012, 07:51:44 am

I think it is hard to say a budget. Remodels are easier that way. What can break is hard to determine but FT and MOT and Xtreme try to put you in your coach each night. Was at camp FT and a friend was there with me. They owned a sister ouch to my last one. They would say I got the one that needed all the work. Well this trip their oil pan's threads stripped out and there HWH brain died like mine did years ago but they just hit about 100k miles. I hit that 6 yrs prior. So hard to say when the stuff will break and there was not much labor in those fixes.

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #8 – October 31, 2012, 11:35:31 am

Our coach had new air bags and shocks when I purchased in in 2010. Other than fluids and an exhaust manifold repair for $800, I have not spent anything on the chassis. I replaced the rear air conditioner for $1300 last summer. It still has the original refrigerator and water heater and they are working fine.

The bottom line is I think these older coaches are usually worth a substantial investment to upgrade. I would recommend that if you are considering this route, buy the coach and use if for a year or two and if it is mechanically reliable then spend the money for the remodel. I expect to be driving this one for another 15 years without a lot of maintenance cost. The simplicity of the older Grand Villas systems make them very economical and extremely comfortable for full timing. They also have more storage space than the newer coaches. IMHO

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #9 – October 31, 2012, 06:51:42 pm

Bruce, I appreciate your question. There was a thread a few months ago by a fellow thinking of an older coach (1996?) he owned versus a 2008. Lots of good discussion there if you can find it. And some already has been provided to you in this thread.

So an idea, if you are going to buy, and even if a newer one, get a professional inspection before you do. And there is a good check list on beamalarm for PDI. And do not expect that the dealer PDI will cover all.

But my response is to give you an example of what happened with buying an older coach. I made a mistake and we did lots of upgrades without trying it out for a year. We added satellite receiver, the MDC or whatever those are blinds on the front, upgraded two tvs and some other that could have waited. Should have but trusted it really good shape.

Well, what happened? Within a few weeks the radiator failed. That is expensive, no one's fault. Now a small drip is observed from the tranny.....probably not a big deal, but. We found that the prior owner may not have serviced the air drier as should and the result has been leveling problems. So....will one have spent as much on the older coach plus repairs as if buying a newer coach?

In that thread of 1996 vs 2008, I agreed with the buyer. He and I want to minimize aggravation, time lost from travel due to times out for repairs and be smart spending money and recognize own financial limits. We did go different directions, I went 2001 and he the 2008. I wish that I could tell you a firm answer. But research, thorough, on what you buy should help....get inspections. Mike

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #10 – October 31, 2012, 07:10:38 pm

GO to the factory and you will see new IH 45s and Phenixs and Nimbus coaches in for service too. Multiple day service times. They are machines and they break. I had to replace a radiator on my 99 but not on my 00 and 01 so it is something there to watch but the reason is hard to determine.

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #11 – October 31, 2012, 07:30:25 pm

Just a little suggestion about going around tightening bolts.

I used to ask the guys that worked for me if they knew what comes after too tight?? TOO LOOSE!!

Be careful

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #12 – October 31, 2012, 08:28:02 pm

Guess I am lucky as I have not spent anything really on repairs/mechanical etc in 3 yrs, just for upgrades I wanted and new solar etc. So, does that mean I am in for some big ticket items, hope not?
John H

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #13 – October 31, 2012, 08:40:47 pm

Well some stuff you just need to get and it is expensive. For instance a new brain for the tanks or the HWH brain or ABS brain. They will fail and they are hard to fix and you usually have to get a new one.

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #14 – October 31, 2012, 09:50:16 pm

Lots of hard earned wisdom in the above posts. Anyone considering even a newer coach would be wise to read them. I'm living in an 89 U300. As I have said, not for the faint of heart. I'll tell anyone that will listen that the older Foretravels are the best coaches ever made. Ive done all the usual stuff. Hardwood floor,flat screens with surround sound and little tile here and there. Ive also found that if I think something is going to break it usually does. So having said that I try to stay one step ahead of the gremlins. This forum has become a lifeline for me. You folks are the best!

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #15 – November 01, 2012, 05:36:58 am

Quote from: nitehawk – October 31, 2012, 07:30:25 pm

Just a little suggestion about going around tightening bolts.

I used to ask the guys that worked for me if they knew what comes after too tight?? TOO LOOSE!!

Be careful

Tight is tight, too tight is broke. Also if something is not broken keep messing with it long enough and it will be.

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Remodel/recondition

October 30, 2012, 06:44:54 am

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #1 – October 30, 2012, 10:18:55 am

Re: Remodel/recondition

Reply #2 – October 30, 2012, 12:36:06 pm

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Reply #3 – October 30, 2012, 12:47:32 pm

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Reply #4 – October 30, 2012, 10:06:52 pm

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Reply #5 – October 30, 2012, 10:12:50 pm

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Reply #6 – October 31, 2012, 06:49:49 am

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Reply #7 – October 31, 2012, 07:51:44 am

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Reply #8 – October 31, 2012, 11:35:31 am

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Reply #9 – October 31, 2012, 06:51:42 pm

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Reply #10 – October 31, 2012, 07:10:38 pm

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Reply #11 – October 31, 2012, 07:30:25 pm

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Reply #12 – October 31, 2012, 08:28:02 pm

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Reply #13 – October 31, 2012, 08:40:47 pm

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Reply #14 – October 31, 2012, 09:50:16 pm

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Reply #15 – November 01, 2012, 05:36:58 am

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