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Topic: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome (Read 758 times) previous topic - next topic

3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

There's the research phase, the shopping phase, the fix-em phase, the phase where you think everything's ready, the find-more-things-to-fix phase, then the roll the dice and hit the road phase. Hoping the land yacht you bought is (a) built well and (b) has been well taken care of.
Then there's the payoff.
We left home near Seattle, topped off fuel in Kelso, and drove on to Eugene OR to vist the DW's dear friend. We stayed the night in front of her place and hit the road east, through Bend and Sisters and such, and stayed teh night in the rest area in Brothers, out the middle of no where. Next day we pressed on to the Craters of the Moon which turned out to be just wonderful. A great campsite and a fine slideshow talk by the rangers there comparing the landscape there with the moon and Mars (very Martian this place is... take away the bushes and lichens, and paint the sky a funny color, and you're there), and lots of lava tube exploration the next day. Then another long hike.. all the way through Jackson and into the Grand Tetons, where we paid too much for a not very good campsite. But Yellowstone was the focus here and we stayed at Bridge Bay the first night and moved to Madison for the next two. We met my folks there in their car, which was very nice to have happen. You either need a toad or a rental to do this place any justice. Madison was a fine, fine place to park. it has a resident mascot, Stubby the Bison, who makes life interesting for the tent campers no doubt. We have great photos of him a few feet out our door. After this fantastic visit my folks went on to Reno and we went on to Cody out the east entrance, and then on through billings to Bismarck where we hung out with step daughter and hubby for a couple days. The zoo there is a charmer. Informal and large. Then back west through Billings to I 90 to Spokane, taking a couple days for this bit. Had a fine lunch with good friends there and then took Hwy 2 back home instead of I90, because wei've never done that route and i90 is boooring. Coming down the 6% grade into the Columbia gorge, we had our only close call. Two deer decided to take a freeway stroll. We missed the last one by oh, 5 or 10 feet, but we smelled brake pad for a couple minutes afterward.
I brought every tool I thought could be handy, spare parts, extra airbags, lots of coolant and oil and 5 gallons of emergency diesel. I needed my squaredriver to re-tighten a bolt in one of the light fixtures. I used the air filler on tires. We used about 3 qts of oil, and zero coolant. That was it. This rig took care of us, not the other way round. It needed almost no attention. Well, I do need to tighten whichever accessory belt that's started squeaking. We ran the genset for roof air for a few hours, and when we needed to vacuum, and that was it. We never plugged in or hooked up. 3 people, 4 days between dump and fill. 5 people, 2 days, with no watersaving efforts. We had espresso, ice, and whatever else we wanted, We averaged 10.9 mpg over some truly large elevation changes and 60-65 mph, and none of us felt beat up at the end of the day. If how our old Foretravel treated us is any indication of how well those of you with new ones are treated, then y'all are floating on magic carpets.

If anyone is interested, i'll use up some bandwidth posting up a few pix.
Jay
1989 U280 SE, 36', 3208T Cat, build 3292

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #1 –
Drove some of the same routes you did. 7.1 mpg though towing a grand Cherokee and 42 foot with two slides. It was 7.6 till the elevation you talked about and funny thing, I almost hit a deer too. 
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #2 –
Great too hear Jay! I'd love to use some band width for pics...bring it on.
Jeff
Jeff & Carrie
2023 Geneva 31VA
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED "The Button Pusher" - GONE 🥺

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #3 –
Jay, what engine is in your Foretravel. I like the fuel mileage! I'm still doing research.....  ;D ;D ;D

TOM
SOB (Some Other Brand) division
1995 Wanderlodge WB40
8V92 :D

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #4 –
Jay, Now you know why all of us are such fanatics about our Foretravels.
Think you would like to try that trip in a 20 year old SOB ? :)
Gary B

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #5 –
I hope my coach can make 500k miles before I trade it in.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #6 –
Bet it is a CAT 3208 T
My 88 we got 10+ @ 65-68 mph
Old faithful just ran and ran ^.^d
The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #7 –

I did the same Twobus, I have the same coach as you, Its great to drive long distances in these wonderfull coaches,

My first trip was about 2000 miles, in a week, The thought going through my mind, what happens if it breaks down,

I had no idea on how to fix it if it did, or where to start looking, I had more tools on board than you could poke a stick at, But I didnt need any,

But no, They just go, We are restricted to 60 MPH Max, Heavy vehicle laws, The MPG is incredible for a Coach this size,

They dont notice hills, Up or down, My only problems with my Coach is getting it around some of the corners here, It takes a couple of goes to get it round the corners, But that just adds to the fun of it,

Forget the 25 year old bit, These were built to last, Ours will still be going long after we are all gone,

Nice post, I enjoyed it thoroughly, Love to see the Piccys you took,
Cheers,
Brian,

Toys, 1989 Grand Villa, 36 foot, ORED with 300 Hp Cat. 2002 Gemini 34 foot Sailing Catamaran, 2006 Honda Super Blackbird 1100XX, 2002 ZR7 750 Kawasaki,
25 HP Chinese tractor and Backhoe,

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #8 –
Isn't it just the most fun thing, ever?  We began in a '93 ... and learned how to drive it when we took it home to PA from AZ.  It has been a super learning experience and we are still going. 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #9 –
This shot from the craters is just so... obvious. A hole opened up, lava oozed out, and then things cooled off. i love the frozen ripples.
Jay
1989 U280 SE, 36', 3208T Cat, build 3292

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #10 –
Here's Stumpy the Madison Campground Mascot. This was taken out our side door, while we were having breakfast. Then there's Old faithful and a  neighboring geyser, doing thier things at the same time. The shot from inside the Lewis and Clark caves does not do the place justice. It's a hike and some bit of adventure, but you just have to go see the place for yourselves.

This coach made this trip. It would not have been fun if it hadn't carried itself so well, that's for certain. When I look back on some of our earlier trips in the old P30 chassis-- coasting to a stop at our destination with a dead alternator, roasting through Bakersfield with no functioning AC, turn the house waterpump off after each use or blow a fuse, leaky toilet that never quite agreed to stop doing so no matter how I tried, roof leaks, rattles, brake fade, the contrast is simply refreshing. I hear as to how the 3208 is a throwaway motor due to no cylinder liners. Meh. It'll outlast us, the way this one's being used. It goes down level road at 60+ with only 1 or 2 lb boost showing on the guage. It's hardly working at all, well, till we climb a pass. Seems like a long 6% climb is a 45 mph haul, but it simply will not overheat. EGT stayed constant or nearly so no matter how much boot we had to give it. The Jones resonator update may have something to do with that, 5" out from the turbo elbow on back surely improved flow over the worn out oem stuff.
More pix on the other cameras, will see if there are any more good ones...
Jay
1989 U280 SE, 36', 3208T Cat, build 3292

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #11 –
Jay...our first distance trip last year we were in the Adirondack's and I only had one grade that slowed me to about 40 MPH.  We too love our 1989!!
Jeff & Carrie
2023 Geneva 31VA
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED "The Button Pusher" - GONE 🥺

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #12 –
Neat trip; great motorhome! We have really enjoyed our 1995 U320, and are sad this summer simply because several overdue home-maintenance/upgrade projects have prevented from using it! Perhaps before the summer really ends . . .
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #13 –
Anyone thinking about a Foretravel should read this thread!
Andy 1989 U300 40'

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #14 –
Quote from: andyr –
Anyone thinking about a Foretravel should read this thread!
I am and I have. :D Just wish I could convince my wife to buy sooner rather than later. I guess the waiting will make the purchase that much sweeter when it happens.
Walt Huntsman
Boise, Idaho
no Foretravel (yet)
2007 Alpenlite Voyager 31RE
2006 Ford F-350 DRW

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #15 –
Jay, great report, and a wonderful way of expressing what it feels like to be a FT owner, especially with the various phases of ownership....am currently (after 7 months) in the "just found a few more little things to deal with" phase!  Two short trips so far with many more to come, in my "new" coach, at only 42,000 miles.

Please keep the reports comin' in....by the way I can just about see you from sitting on my living room sofa (am in south central MT close to the WY border, overlooking Yellowstone).....enjoy the park and your travels! 

 

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #16 –
Next up is a short jaunt on the 4th and then maybe a race in Oregon in October, then I want to go down the coast and spend some time in the redwoods and then maybe hit Yosemite.

Take your time shopping around, find the right one. They're all built properly, fnd one that's been well cared for and have a great time with it. Moby is part of our family at this point..
Jay
1989 U280 SE, 36', 3208T Cat, build 3292

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #17 –
Quote from: twobus –
Take your time shopping around, find the right one. They're all built properly, fnd one that's been well cared for and have a great time with it. Moby is part of our family at this point..
We have a two-year window before we can probably buy, so there is plenty of time to look . . . and dream. Thanks to another member here, I've already been shown some things to look for in a coach, and I'm grateful for the knowledge.
Walt Huntsman
Boise, Idaho
no Foretravel (yet)
2007 Alpenlite Voyager 31RE
2006 Ford F-350 DRW
 

Re: 3500 miles in 2 weeks in a 25 year old Unihome

Reply #18 –
Good times Jay :-)
Your first long trip adventure story got me more excited. I am counting down the days .... 4300 mil round trip TX to Oregon.
Former 2003 GV U295 (6230) (2015 - 2025)
Former 94 GV U225 (2013-2016)