Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #25 – May 24, 2018, 11:41:30 am Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – May 24, 2018, 11:28:16 amChuck,GM had a stroke of genius in their sidewinder design for their highway coaches. A full monocoque chassis, the engine crosswise at the very back of the coach with the engine and transmission available for easy access with opening rear and sides. You could remove the engine in about an hour and about the same for the transmission. The 8V-71 didn't have any belts to fail. The alternator was a direct drive 300 amp brushless design cooled by the engine oil. The radiator fan was operated by a PTO fan off the engine. The front bumper even folded down to hold the spare tire. No chassis flexing here with the monocoque design so you could go offroad without any creaking or worries about shifting (or breaking) glass. It even had airbags all around. No long overhang behind the rear tires with the sidewinder. Forgot about the nifty compartment doors that opened up, not out. I loved that coach.The only shortcoming was the crashbox Spicer 4 speed. No tachometer in the earlier versions so smooth shifting was a real art. No compound low so it was limited for steep inclines. Motorhome conversions have seen lots of Allisons and 6V-92TAs installed. Agree that you have to think a little outside the box to make maximum use of the length. Wish we did more of that here.PierceHad the 40 ft model with an allison v-730, bus conversion, over 400 cf in bay storage. Great ride, but long wheelbase [43 inches longer than a 40 ft Foretravel] so needed a little extra attention on corners. GM Buffalo bus - Wikipedia Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #26 – May 24, 2018, 11:58:55 am Brett,Twice in Istanbul on the trip. Not nearly long enough. It's changed so much since the 1970's when I did a long road trip from Germany. Much wealthier now with a big Euro influence mixed with the Bridge to Asia charm. Planning a return to Turkey and Greece next year. 17 days in Egypt. Traveled independently with only a couple of hotels pre-booked. Cairo for 4 days, day train to Luxor. Bargained for a Nile cruise after arriving in Luxor. Ended up costing $200 pp for 4 nights/5 days full board on a really deluxe ship from Luxor to Aswan. Then Aswan to Abu Simbel (ten miles from the border with the Sudan), sleeper train back to Cairo and another train to Alexandria on the Med. Can't imagine a friendlier country or people anywhere. With the Egyptian Pound devalued, it's amazingly inexpensive now. For example, a twenty minute taxi with Uber cost $1 U.S.I always vehicle watch. Mercedes owns the big bus market, Toyota the mid-size bus and van market with Suzuki strong in the mini-mini van scene. Some Chevy small trucks with the flat bed. No Fords anywhere. China is making inroads with quite a few cars and SUVs. Millions of Tuk-Tuks from India. Even on the highway. They cost about $1K new. Will have a YouTube travelogue in a few months for those interested. For those worried about safety, see the Nationmaster's comparison at: Egypt vs United States Crime Stats ComparedPierce Quote Selected
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #27 – May 24, 2018, 12:04:06 pm Ya, did one hitchiking trip completely across Turkey before the bridge (1973).Then another with a rent car from Izmir (ferry from Greece) with 10 days "free form" and returned car/flew home from Istanbul. Yes, the first trip was "pre-marriage". Quote Selected
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #28 – May 24, 2018, 12:06:01 pm Quote from: jcus – May 24, 2018, 11:41:30 amHad the 40 ft model with an allison v-730, bus conversion, over 400 cf in bay storage. Great ride, but long wheelbase [43 inches longer than a 40 ft Foretravel] so needed a little extra attention on corners. GM Buffalo bus - WikipediaJim,Yes, the 40 footers were long. Lots of them from Hawaii for sale in the past. Since they didn't travel interstate, they didn't need the tag axle. Ours was a 35 footer. Armstrong power steering. I remember making a tight turn coming out of an alley in Juarez, MX where I had to back and turn 16 times to make it. Arms have never been the same since. I filled the compartments and interior with furniture and took it to Santa Fe, NM.Pierce Quote Selected
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #29 – May 24, 2018, 12:10:07 pm Great forum!!! Too bad we can't all video chat so we could all argue, tell stories, share memories and laugh. What a nice group of people! Pierce Quote Selected
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #30 – May 24, 2018, 12:20:45 pm We are presently on a British Isles cruise. In Scotland, Ireland and Wales, were rode tour buses 37' and 39' in length. These could be the basis for wonderful motor coaches. Quote Selected
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #31 – May 24, 2018, 12:22:40 pm Quote from: Tom Lang – May 24, 2018, 12:20:45 pmWe are presently on a British Isles cruise. In Scotland, Ireland and Wales, were rode tour buses 37' and 39' in length. These could be the basis for wonderful motor coaches. Tom if you go by Toward Scotland wave at my clans burnt out castle :-) Quote Selected
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #32 – May 24, 2018, 07:04:30 pm Do not forget the 38, no. Seems good option, especially if you could talk Bill Blackmon out of his now. Maybe you could just tell the park it a 36 if length an issue? Friend Randall Cox had a 34. It was like a dragster, well sort of. Really would go. In time they got a 40 ft but they liked the 34 quite lot. Quote Selected
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #33 – May 24, 2018, 07:49:44 pm My 40' is going to a 36' space in a campground that I have been going to for 2 years now. I pull ahead until the tires are about to fall off the pad. From the rear it looks the same depth as all the other units. Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #34 – May 25, 2018, 01:43:22 am Quote from: wolfe10 – May 24, 2018, 12:04:06 pmYa, did one hitchiking trip completely across Turkey before the bridge (1973).Then another with a rent car from Izmir (ferry from Greece) with 10 days "free form" and returned car/flew home from Istanbul. Yes, the first trip was "pre-marriage".We lived in Izmir Turkey for 2 years with our two kids from 1994 - 1996. Toured many areas of Turkey. I was active duty, but we were civilian clothes only with no fenced in base in the city of Izmir.Also did Germany, Philippines, Saudi. Toured many areas. Car camped England, Scotland, Whales, etc. Great times. Got the travel bug, thus full time RVing now. Quote Selected
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #35 – May 25, 2018, 08:40:14 am Quote from: AC7880 – May 25, 2018, 01:43:22 amWe lived in Izmir Turkey for 2 years with our two kids from 1994 - 1996. Toured many areas of Turkey. I was active duty, but we were civilian clothes only with no fenced in base in the city of Izmir.Ephesus is probably THE highlight of the many, many overseas trips we have made. On that trip spent New Years Eve at a celebration in Bergama. Had a wonderful time-- we were the only foreigners at the whole celebration. Were treated as family. Quote Selected 2 Likes
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #36 – May 25, 2018, 03:16:42 pm So, what is the preferred length of Foretravel in Turkey - 34, 36 or 40 feet?? LOLCouldn't resist. Quote Selected 2 Likes
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #37 – June 02, 2018, 10:48:17 am Regarding the short DPs: My previous experience has been with Safari. Though I had a 34', we have friends with a 30', driven by a 3126 CAT. It is a little squirrely on the freeway and requires focus to keep it on track, resulting in more fatigue. The short wheelbase and too much weight (relative) in the back create this issue, which is well known among Safari owners. Some have added weights to the front or even a spare wheel hanging off the nose. FTs are much more balanced with the generator up front, and of course the heavier suspension and longer length. Quote Selected
Re: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40' Reply #38 – June 02, 2018, 04:05:46 pm We feel left out of this conversation. 😀 Quote Selected 3 Likes
Topic: 34' vs. 36' vs. 40'