Finally Made the Jump

Topic: Finally Made the Jump (Read 815 times) previous topic - next topic

Finally Made the Jump

September 28, 2015, 10:52:01 am

Sold the Barth Breakaway to a lovely local couple and flew to Omaha last week to pick up our new 1999 36' U320!

My brother-in-law and I high tailed it west (1,500 miles in 2 and a half days) and dropped it off @ RnR RV in Spokane, WA, the NW Foretravel specialists here in our part of the country as I learned from this great forum. Need to get the airbags replaced as they were at the end of their life cycle and on the drive back we were getting questionable and variable read-outs on the oil pressure and water temperature gauges. We loved our Barth but she was a little small for our dog and cat and our plans for some cross country trips. And 450HP after 190 is a transformative experience. What a dream to drive! (Strictly by chance had a great breakfast in Rapid City, SD at Tally's Silver Spoon and by design a great steak dinner at The Drovers in Omaha before we left!)

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #1 – September 28, 2015, 10:54:54 am

Congrats, you will love it I am sure

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #2 – September 28, 2015, 11:04:23 am

Quote from: RainCatcher – September 28, 2015, 10:52:01 am

And 450HP after 190 is a transformative experience.

I am sure even that is a MASSIVE understatement! Congratulations on the upgrade (no offense to Barth). That must have been a tough drive - we just went from Midland, TX to Eugene, OR (1800 miles) in SIX days, and felt like we were pushing it. You guys are rugged!

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #3 – September 28, 2015, 11:15:04 am

Rainmaker
We have the same coach and I believe you will find it to be a GREAT coach. I replaced all 8 airbags this summer and at the same time replaced all 8 shocks with new Konans, easy to do while replacing the airbags.

Also you may want to check your fuel lines as many of this vintage have fuel line problems.

Have fun making it your own
Jason

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #4 – September 28, 2015, 11:51:14 am

Consider VMSPC for reliable read outs of your critical data. Way better Please add your coach info to your profile

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #5 – September 28, 2015, 12:10:23 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – September 28, 2015, 11:51:14 am

Please add your coach info to your profile

It is done. Newbie question: what are VMSPC?

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #6 – September 28, 2015, 12:22:03 pm

Quote from: RainCatcher – September 28, 2015, 12:10:23 pm

It is done. Newbie question: what are VMSPC?

A computer program that interfaces with your rig and gives you a lot more information about what is going on without worrying about whether the old gauges on the dash are still accurate.

Welcome to the forum. We're in Moses Lake.

Craig

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #7 – September 28, 2015, 12:23:09 pm

Quote from: RainCatcher – September 28, 2015, 12:10:23 pm

It is done. Newbie question: what are VMSPC?

VMSpc | SilverLeaf Electronics, Inc.

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #8 – September 28, 2015, 12:49:28 pm

Congrats to another newbie! I just helped deliver our new to us coach in May, and we are very pleased with our summer in her, and looking forward to several months in the SW USA very soon. Enjoy!

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #9 – September 28, 2015, 12:50:14 pm

Congrats to another newbie! I just helped deliver our new to us coach in May, and we are very pleased with our summer in her, and looking forward to several months in the SW USA very soon. Enjoy!

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #10 – September 28, 2015, 01:10:57 pm

And another newby question. I'm thinking the "VMSPC" option isn't an option on the 95 8.3 mechanical engine.

Or is there a different that I'm not aware of.
Currently all gages work fine except fuel. Just sayin

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #11 – September 28, 2015, 01:12:13 pm

Welcome to the "family." We are sure you will continue to get lots of enjoyment from your "new" Foretravel!

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #12 – September 28, 2015, 02:13:59 pm

Welcome

Rear airbags run with circa 75psi, while front run with circa 45psi. Also, rear airbags get more abuse from flying stones off the rear drive wheels. Replacing rear is your best value. I replaced all my airbags (1996), but front could have been used for more years by carrying a spare bag and a fitting to plug the airline going to a failed bag.

For erratic dash gauges, clean electric connections under the dash, including ground connectors.

For erratic fuel gauge, clean connectors at sender on top of fuel tank. This has worked for me for five years. Others on this forum have reported that cleaning connectors did not work and they had to replace the sender inside the tank.

Replacing shocks is controversial, some report a great improvement while others have told me that they noticed little change after spending two thousand dollars (eight shocks). I still have original Bilstein shocks which seem to work fine.

I drive 1350 miles in 48 hours when going from Victoria, Canada to Palm Springs, CA. This includes the two hour ferry trip. I am very tired at the end, but could not do this drive in a car.

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #13 – September 28, 2015, 02:15:36 pm

Mike, glad you had a good trip, sorry I couldn't make it with you.
But we are enjoying our shake down cruise. Looking forward to longer trips.
Where are we going?
Cheers Ric

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #14 – September 28, 2015, 03:14:11 pm

Welcome to the small but enthusiastic club of non-slide 36' U320 owners!!!!

I don't know how many of these are out there but it is likely that you will not find a DP with better power to weight numbers. We are enjoying ours more and more all the time!

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #15 – September 28, 2015, 03:24:48 pm

The vmspc will not work on the mechanical 8.3 Cummins but will on the m11

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #16 – September 28, 2015, 03:36:11 pm

Red. Thanks for the answer, I think 😂
I posted a new question "Grand Villa dashboard" with my concerns.
Robert.

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #17 – September 29, 2015, 12:43:29 am

Quote from: P. Wyatt Sabourin – September 28, 2015, 02:13:59 pm

Welcome

Rear airbags run with circa 75psi, while front run with circa 45psi. Also, rear airbags get more abuse from flying stones off the rear drive wheels. Replacing rear is your best value. I replaced all my airbags (1996), but front could have been used for more years by carrying a spare bag and a fitting to plug the airline going to a failed bag.

For erratic dash gauges, clean electric connections under the dash, including ground connectors.

For erratic fuel gauge, clean connectors at sender on top of fuel tank. This has worked for me for five years. Others on this forum have reported that cleaning connectors did not work and they had to replace the sender inside the tank.

Replacing shocks is controversial, some report a great improvement while others have told me that they noticed little change after spending two thousand dollars (eight shocks). I still have original Bilstein shocks which seem to work fine.

I drive 1350 miles in 48 hours when going from Victoria, Canada to Palm Springs, CA. This includes the two hour ferry trip. I am very tired at the end, but could not do this drive in a car.

Once a drive straight through from Redmond Washington fmca rally to corona ca. 900 plus miles.

At 90 it was much easier.

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #18 – September 29, 2015, 12:45:13 am

Quote from: Caflashbob – September 29, 2015, 12:43:29 am

Once a drive straight through from Redmond Washington fmca rally to corona ca. 900 plus miles.

At 90 it was much easier.

Saturday drove from lassen national park to San Juan Capistrano. 629 miles. 12 hours wth three stops

Re: Finally Made the Jump

Reply #19 – September 29, 2015, 08:49:27 pm

Congrats on your new Coach. Welcome to the Forum.

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