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Topic: Grand Villa vs Unihome (Read 2396 times) previous topic - next topic

Grand Villa vs Unihome

What are the differences between a Grand Villa and a Unihome?  Are they ever the same?  Can a GV have a U--- number?  Did they make both in the years that the GV was made?  As you can tell, I really don't know much about the unihome and don't know where to go to find the differences.  Thanks for the help  ----  Fritz
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #1 –
My Grand Villa is a U225, which is a Unihome.  The Grand Villa has a sloped front nose and is reminiscent of the front of the space shuttle, while the bus style coaches (1995 til today) are a Unicoach.  The Unihome Grand Villa is on Foretravel's monocoque unibody chassis.  I believe a plain Grand Villa can be on a different chassis like the Oshkosh chassis.

You can find all this on Barry Beam's web page:  FORETRAVEL Motorhomes service and Repair Information, and then click on Foretravel History and on Foretravel Highlights.  In fact you can find almost everything you ever wanted to know about Foretravels on Barry's web page.
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #2 –
Fritz,

Grand Villa body style (sloped front) came out before the Unihome, but in the early 90's the factory began the monocoque frame, aka Unihome. So, my '92 GV is a Unihome (U-280). This continued up until they began building the Unicoach (bus style, front entry) in '95.
Don Hay
'92 Grandvilla, U-280
The Hayfever Express
Build #4055
'97 GEO Tracker
Life is like licking honey off a thorn.

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #3 –
As Don said, Grand Villa is a body style (think sloped nose).

Unihome is a type of construction-- unibody= monocoque.

Not all Grand Villas were Unihomes (ORED comes to mind).

But all Unihomes were Grand Villas. 

When Foretravel when to the bus style nose, the name changed from Unihome to Unicoach.

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #4 –
Quote from: fkjohns6083 –
What are the differences between a Grand Villa and a Unihome? 
Covered by the above posts.
Quote
Are they ever the same?

Not the same, but explained, by the differences in if they were on a non-Foretravel designed structure.
Quote
Can a GV have a U--- number?

GV do have U numbers on if they are the Unihome.  As in U225, U240, U280, and U300.  Note that there were a few number of GV built in the later years, as customs, and I was told at the factory they would build me one today.  Barry's site lists a GV320 in 2001 on the spec. sheets.  I saw a 36 in NAC, and a 40' was listed, sold, sent to FOT for upgrades, and is owned by a relative of the Fore family now.  These two were bus units with GV sloped noses, and mid-doors.
Quote
Did they make both in the years that the GV was made? 
There were some overlap GV where it could be either a Unihome or not and on a Oshkosh chassic, but both were GV's styled fronts.
Either late 95 or early 96 were the overlap years of Unihomes ending and Unicoach (bus) starting.

As you can tell, I really don't know much about the unihome and don't know where to go to find the differences.  Thanks for the help  ----  Fritz

The suggested links to history and specs, helps a lot, as well as the profile photos on posts, with their coach model in their signature.  But for a small company, there are a large number of possible choices ordered or built to confuse us all.
Foretravel Specifications, Floor Plans, Photos & Brochures by Year
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #5 –
Add OREG, was Gran Villa and NOT Unihome
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #6 –
Wow  ----  No wonder I couldn't get it straight!  Thank you all for the info.  Our 91 ORED is a Grand Villa, It is on an Oshkosh chassis.  That must be rare as it is difficult to get any parts info from Freightliner.  Thanks again  ----  Fritz
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #7 –
Not so rare actually, but Oshkosh sold that business to Freightliner and they basically quit all support of those chassis. Luckily usually not much support needed
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #8 –
I had the ORED Oshkosh and I seem to remember that the Frieghtliner guys told me all the part #s etc have changed over to their #s or listed now not as "oshkosh" ???
John H
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #9 –
What does the U--- number stand for, is that a horse power number??  ----  TNX  ----  Fritz
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #10 –
Quote from: fkjohns6083 –
What does the U--- number stand for, is that a horse power number??  ----  TNX  ----  Fritz

Starting around the 1995 models, U270/U295/U320 are essentially trim levels (with some engine differences).  Prior to that, IIRC the U225/U240/U280/U300 was related to weight capacity (GVWR?)
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #11 –
Yes, for the Unihomes just add two zeroes to the model number to get the gross weight. Our U300 has a GW of 30,000 pounds.

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #12 –
Quote from: fkjohns6083 –
What does the U--- number stand for, is that a horse power number??  ----  TNX  ----  Fritz
In a word, Nope on the HP identification. 

There have been many different HP ratings over the years...and different engines from Detroit Diesel, Cat and Cummins.  Then the same engine, like a Cat 3208T might be 250 HP or 300 HP.  After the switch to Unihomes, it started to settle down a bit and narrower choices. 

At some point, U320s came with a 450 HP Cummins and by 2002, the U270 and U295s were Cummins ISL 400 HP.  Now I think there are 500 HP and 600 HP in the Nimbus/Phenix models.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #13 –
Interesting stuff here.  My 1990 U280 Grand Villa Unihome is on an Oshkosh Chassis (according to manuals obtained with the coach), GVW: 28,000, Cat 3208T (250 HP). ORED is mentioned in the books and papers. 

So, I guess I have what, one of each?  Definitely NOT a Unicoach.  Like all the rest of the forum members, I absolutely love it.
36' 1990 U280 GV

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #14 –
My understanding in the U series of coaches had top hinged storage bay doors and the Oshkosh chassis have bottom hinge doors.  All due to the use or design of the different frames or chassis.  Have never seen a Oshkosh U series.  But we have many older and wiser members to set me straight.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #15 –
Fritz....I had some of the same issues with Frietliner at first. But once I had the part in hand and knew what I was looking for (thanks to the many folks on this forum) our local dealer here was great and had the parts shipped right to my house.

The only thing I did was order one extra part. IMHO I figured with a 1989 GV U300 you never know where I might be or how long the part will be easy to find. I happen to be lucky and have storage at home and in a storage pod on the roof with all my extra belts,hoses,oil,filters and small parts.
Jeff
Jeff & Carrie
2023 Geneva 31VA
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED "The Button Pusher" - GONE 🥺

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Dave and Dolly Cobb –
My understanding in the U series of coaches had top hinged storage bay doors and the Oshkosh chassis have bottom hinge doors.  All due to the use or design of the different frames or chassis.  Have never seen a Oshkosh U series.  But we have many older and wiser members to set me straight.
I, too, would believe he has a U280 that is NOT on an Oshkosh chassis, but rather the Foretravel monocoque construction.  The double bumpers look exactly like my old 1990 U280.  I thought all of the Oshkosh chassis were found in the lower numbered coaches...U225, U240. 
When you open up the big bay in the middle, do you see a frame member in there?  If not, maybe someone left you with some extra ORED literature.  The Model Identification number will tell you EXACTLY what you have.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)
 

Re: Grand Villa vs Unihome

Reply #17 –
Brad,

No, the U225 and U240 were both Unihomes. 
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020