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Roadmaster Chassis??

December 16, 2012, 03:03:37 pm

I have a friend who has been considering a used Foretravel and while researching pricing at the NADA site he noticed a button for special notes and it talks about added value for Roadmaster chassis.
I thought Foretravel built their own chassis.  Does Foretravel use Roadmaster chassis?
Oh, for the record I am new to Foretravel, having made my first purchase 6 months ago and have alot to learn.

Jerry
1999U270 WTFE34

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Re: Roadmaster Chassis??

Reply #1 – December 16, 2012, 03:12:53 pm

The last "chassis built" Foretravels was in the early 1990's-- the ORED (Oshkosh Rear Engine Diesel).

Since then all Foretravels are built on Foretravel chassis. 

Roadmaster chassis are exclusive to Monaco Corp products.  And, Roadmaster built chassis from poor to very good.

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Re: Roadmaster Chassis??

Reply #2 – December 16, 2012, 03:19:30 pm

Brett,
Thanks for the info.  I will pass this on.
Jerry

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Re: Roadmaster Chassis??

Reply #3 – December 16, 2012, 09:03:12 pm

The early 80's had some roadmaster chassis with 454 chev engines. Most were 33 foot. Some were foretravels and some were travcos

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Re: Roadmaster Chassis??

Reply #4 – December 17, 2012, 08:58:25 am

I had a '77 Travco.
I have heard stories about Travco and Foretravel's
Some say that Foretravel never built any Travco's, just bought Travco for the Motorcade Club ( which, I believe Travco started ).
What is the real story.

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Re: Roadmaster Chassis??

Reply #5 – December 17, 2012, 09:25:45 am

FT bought Travco and produced Them for a few years.  I had an 82 33' and loved it, it was my first FT. BEAMALARM.COM Foretravel History has a real good history and I believe he covers TRAVCO. I have even seen one diesel pusher TRAVCO. There was a lot  of turmoil during the late 70's early 80's and I suspect that FT got Travco cheap.  FT did want The travel club as it was one of the larger owners clubs and fit with FT's goals. If you do a web search for Travco, Frank, Dodge chassis etc you will find a lot of history.
Gary B

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Re: Roadmaster Chassis??

Reply #6 – December 17, 2012, 09:43:31 pm

Yes I sold a few travco's , and used avco's and gtc's also.  Special built a old travco customer a 1985 with an Oshkosh chassis with a 250hp 3208 cat diesel. 

Right and left hand molded coach with a glassed in center seam.  Customer liked the round coach. His money.

Roadmaster was a seperate company from Illinois that made up heavier chassis than the Chevrolet after the dodges were used up.  Foretravel used the 1978 and early 1979 dodge chassis through 1982 on the 35' models.  Straight axle front end versus independent suspension on the Chevy.  6k capacity versus 5k on the Chevy.

Longer wheelbase like the dodge at 208".

A buddy still has a 1982 35' dodge chassis 440 engined Foretravel.  With a tag axle.

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Re: Roadmaster Chassis??

Reply #7 – December 17, 2012, 10:07:49 pm

The attached link is a '79 Foretravel near where we live and has piqued our interest.  Owner states that it has a Dodge engine but unsure of the suspension.  Would this be the Roadmaster Chassis?

1979 Dodge Foretravel Motorcoach

BTW, hope this doesn't hijack the original post....

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Re: Roadmaster Chassis??

Reply #8 – December 17, 2012, 10:46:44 pm

Pretty sure it will have a Dodge chassis too.

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Re: Roadmaster Chassis??

Reply #9 – December 17, 2012, 10:54:25 pm

Good but thirsty engine if it is the 440 Dodge. Carter AFB carb this age will usually have an easy to fix problem that will keep it from passing smog. Cheap solution that will increase fuel mileage and really clean up the emissions can be found with Google search along with simple instructions.

A long Ford cat out of the early 1980's will also help with the emissions if required in your state. If it has dual exhaust, put the cat on one pipe and make sure the smog shop puts the probe in that pipe.

383s are prone to exhaust manifold cracking and harder to find parts for.

Pierce

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Re: Roadmaster Chassis??

Reply #10 – December 18, 2012, 04:20:34 am

The 440 Dodges in MH's for the most part were 440-3 engines, these had different heads than the strait 440's and if heads did not match block severe overheat could occur.  It was also important to specify 440-3 parts as the head gasket from a 440 would block the water passages on the -3.  Don't ask, you already know how I know.  I loved that 82 Travco but I spent a lot of time on repairs and learned more about Dodge than I wanted to.
Gary B

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Re: Roadmaster Chassis??

Reply #11 – December 18, 2012, 07:51:28 am

Thanks guys
I think we'll wait for a newer diesel unit....even tho we would love to own a vintage FT.  This motorhome seems very similer to thousands of other SOBs even if the interior was superior. Besides the fact I'd be wrenching on it instead of traveling.

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