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High Mileage Foretravel?

December 31, 2014, 11:23:33 am

Seasons Greetings,

In my search for finding the right Foretravel, I wonder how these coaches handle the higher mileage use, lets say in the 100K to 200K mile range. I've been around diesels most of my life, so a well maintained Cummins or Cat is not my concern. I am more interested in components such as the Allison transmission, Retarder and frame structure.

Diesel Pushers, because of their use, usually seem to be well under the 100K mileage. Older Prevost chassis (1996-2000) coaches are rarely high milers with the exception of an Entertainment Coach.

Would like to hear from the members who have or had coaches with high miles and their experiences.

Cheers Kevin 

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Re: High Mileage Foretravel?

Reply #1 – December 31, 2014, 11:45:55 am

165,000+ on our '93 U280.  Engine, transmission (no retarder) and chassis still functioning very nicely.  We were lucky - got a good one that was used regularly by previous owners who did what was necessary to keep it purring.  Since our purchase 98% of the money we have spent on it was "preventative maintenance" and "discretionary upgrades".  We couldn't be any happier with our old classic GV...don't worry about high miles.  The members here will tell you to be more wary of "garage queens" with unusually low mileage.

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Reply #2 – December 31, 2014, 11:50:27 am

i have had two coaches with high milage. NO big issues with either. My current coach has 168K on it and it is an 01 and I jully expect to hit 400K or so by the time i will sell it and look for something smaller.  All the coaches, regardless of miles will have things age out like fuel lines and other rubber stuff but I have not had or heard of issues with the engines or transmissions or structure. The lowq sulfur change over hit the lift pumps on the ISCs but we are past most of that now.

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Reply #3 – December 31, 2014, 12:51:51 pm

This would not be a concern of mine.  Apart from those things like, as already mentioned fuel lines and such, it is a non issue with Foretravels.  So long as the previous owner did not mistreat the coach and the known issue of the bulkheads has been addressed all should be well.

Keith

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Reply #4 – December 31, 2014, 01:03:11 pm

Cleos 89 40' had 309k miles many years ago with no major repairs.  Daughter is still driving it as far as I know.

I had an ORED 300 cat 36' with similar miles long ago.  Hydralic fan drive issues was his solo mention

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Reply #5 – December 31, 2014, 01:07:36 pm

We're at 128K.  Put on 29K since we bought it two years ago.  Expect to keep putting on the miles and only see routine maintenance.  Only time will tell.

Rich

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Reply #6 – December 31, 2014, 01:35:28 pm

Our 1990 U280 has 156,000 miles and is hardly broken in.  Still so quiet going down the road that you have to listen to hear the Cat running.  Mileage is not a problem.  The only issues we have had is routine stuff you would see with any coach.  The coach is 24 years old and you can park it for 2 weeks without a single oil drop on the concrete when you leave.  These are awesome machines.

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Reply #7 – December 31, 2014, 02:34:57 pm

We are in the same boat for mileage as when we went from our '92 U240 it was in that range. ( don't have our old mileage sheets with us for the exact number)  Even with the torsalastic suspension we had no problems with the suspension or any part of the drive train. It had a 3208 with no problems ran great with proper maint. like any engine.

Pamela & Mike

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Reply #8 – December 31, 2014, 04:59:04 pm

Mine is a 3208T, and the best of the lot in my opinion--- no offense Detriot fans. It just goes and goes with no problems.

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Reply #9 – December 31, 2014, 09:12:05 pm

Ours is a little over 160,000 and appears to be ready for many, many more miles.

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Reply #10 – December 31, 2014, 10:01:11 pm

You'll want to look at the windshield gasket, do a careful check for roof leaks, and then go over things like furnaces and fridges and other such items that age. Tires especially. On ours, I knew we were going to be up against a windshield gasket, an exhaust manifold gasket, and a couple bad egine pulley bearings, and tires. If you get a 3208, the oem radiator fan needs replacing before it shatters. I thank this forum for that bit of preventive maintenence...Bringing all this up to snuff plus the purchase price still puts us far far ahead of any alternative we've found yet!

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Reply #11 – January 05, 2015, 03:07:22 pm

Well... To date my '83 ored has 361,296 miles...on the original 8.2l detroit. The coach is just as solid now as it was in 1992 when I bought it with 87K on it. I used this for years in my equipment business as a mobile office. I frequently hauled an equipment trailer hauling farm machinery and hit weights of 15k at times. I have religiously maintained this coach. oil change every 5K with Rotella shell and marval mystry oil using wix filters. I always warm it and cool it down. It now lives a quiet life only going out a few times a year. I have thought many times of getting a newer coach but I just can't part with my "old Friend" This coach is comforting and is a place of solitude and peace for me.  Its my "escape" 

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Reply #12 – January 06, 2015, 10:23:18 am

Our 1993, U300 has 165,000 miles with no mechanical problems. It does have a Detroit 6V92 and the four speed transmission. I would much rather buy a used coach with mileage appropriate to its age than one with very low miles that has sat around for months or years at a time.

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Reply #13 – January 06, 2015, 11:33:06 pm

Our 99 U270 (Cummins ISC) has 157,000 miles on it and engine is probably just about broken in.  No problems with engine or transmission (or retarder).  As others have mentioned, the things that will need looking at on an older coach are mostly the standard RV maintenance items - refrig, water heater, furnace, tires, fuel lines, etc. 

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Reply #14 – January 12, 2015, 01:19:10 am

Our 97 has 148k miles.  I doubt I'll wear it out, but I'll try.  Very stout machine.  I've done a water heater, furnace fan, some dash AC parts.  There is always something to do if you want. 

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Reply #15 – January 14, 2015, 01:44:17 pm

Our girl has 177k on her 3208T CAT...mostly original big equipment too. (AC's, Furnace, Awning, Genset,Micro)  I think the big thing is find one that has been loved and used by the PO.  My PO has her for 21 years and I have most maintenance records including multiple trips to Alaska.  Maintain your mechanicals, tires, and of course your interior upgrades as the boss likes and all should be well in your world.

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Reply #16 – January 14, 2015, 06:08:48 pm

I'm a big fan of the 3208T.  It is the best of the fuzzy worm medium duty motors.  Our newer U320 has the M11 Cummins, and I think I like the old Cat in our 1990 U280 better.  It cranks instantly, gets amazing fuel mileage and is a completely mechanical engine.  Any diesel mechanic can work on it, no computers required.

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Reply #17 – January 14, 2015, 06:25:56 pm

We had 130k miles on our C3208T, 300HP

we were in Tucson and it was 15 degrees out I didn't have it hooked up to the block heater, sucker turned over and blue white smoke for 3-4 minutes. Ran perfect, my Dad 454, had trouble starting. ? Lol

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