92 U240

Topic: 92 U240 (Read 829 times) previous topic - next topic

92 U240

March 15, 2025, 11:36:32 am

Hi,

New to the forum and have some questions. I have the opportunity to pick up a 92 foretravel u225 with a cat 3208 with 158,000 miles. This would be our first class A. I know it's an older coach and that it will need some work which I'm far from afraid of. I'm an electrician by trade but car guy at heart. I have more than addiquate mechanical ability.

As for my questions. The interwebs as always gives conflicting info as far as the reliability of the 3208. I know cats are known to be reliable, is that something I should expect from the 3208? Does mileage play a part? I'm looking to tow an open car trailer and maybe a 20ft enclosed at some point, is that possible? Do to it's age are parts becoming nla or is there good support still?
Is there anything to look for other than the standard water spots, soft floors, etc?

Sorry if I seem ignorant or out of my league, but I really like the coach and would like as much information as possible before I go take a look.

Thanks in advance and any info is appreciated

Re: 92 u240

Reply #1 – March 15, 2025, 11:55:06 am

Larro,

Welcome to the ForeForum.

The Caterpillar 3208 is was a widely used engine in on highway, off highway and marine.

Like any engine that age, how it has been maintained is important to its longevity.

A unique feature on the U240 is the Torsilastic Suspension. Ride height needs to be measured and adjusted if out of spec.

Re: 92 U240

Reply #2 – March 15, 2025, 12:18:09 pm

If it's a U225, it should have the Cummins 5.9. If it's a U240 it will have a Cat 3208 or the later model 92s had a Cat 3116. Mine has a 3116 which I haven't had problems with engine parts but I echo Brett's comments about maintenance being an important element of any 35 year old Foretravel. If you can find a trusted inspector, they can be a big help.

Good luck and have fun. These old machines can be a lot of fun.

Michael

Re: 92 U240

Reply #3 – March 15, 2025, 12:50:27 pm

Thank you for the quick replies. I found out about it through a friend and was finally able to get in touch with the owner. The owner loves it but doesn't use it nearly as much as he thought. After speaking with him I'm finding out the mechanical side isn't his strong point which is ok. He thought it was a 3208, he had the motor serviced by a diesel mechanic who told him that. He has been told by someone else that it is a straight 6 turbo which leads me to believe it's the 5.9 cummins as you mentioned.

I'm sorry there are some holes in the story but I'm posting as more info becomes available.

I'm familiar with the 5.9 cummins in trucks, is it safe to assume they are the same? Do you think there is any advantage to one over the other? Not that I have a choice, just curious....

I'm setting up a day next weekend to go take a look. Anything else I should look for at that time?

Re: 92 U240

Reply #4 – March 15, 2025, 12:54:31 pm

Look carefully at the frame rails and bulkheads. ESP if planning on towing.
My 3208 has been rock solid with just checking valve lash and keeping fresh filters all around.
I have about 160k , mostly pulling a small race car or two. My chassis is substantially stronger that the Foretravel chassis , Oshkosh .
There are a few of us that pull race trailers with the ORED package. Not many with the Foretravel chassis .

Re: 92 U240

Reply #5 – March 15, 2025, 01:05:07 pm

Again pardon my ignorance, how can I tell which chassis it is and what should I look for? I'm looking to pull an open trailer with a 2700lbs car. Would like to eventually work my way into an enclosed trailer as well.

Re: 92 U240

Reply #6 – March 15, 2025, 01:29:03 pm

If it's a 3116, that's a straight 6 as well. A 3116 is 6.6 liter. I've not driven a Foretravel with a 5.9 but I have with a 3208 and 3116. There should be a little more hp from the 3116 but all that info is a google search away. The 3208 would be a V8 and the radiator should be on the back of the coach where a 3116 has its radiator on the passenger side. None of these will win you a race but with time, they will get up a hill 😊

A little investigation when you can see it will be super helpful. An inspector familiar with bulkheads for a unibody can protect you a great deal. If they need repairs, I know a number of folks on the Forum have done the repairs themselves and others have had them repaired. You just want to know what you are buying so you can factor any additional costs into the purchase price.

I will say that these machines are fairly simple in comparison to most manufacturers and they are built on a whole other level of quality than anything if their vintage or even newer. It's why they are still available after 35 years. There aren't many other brands that you can find still being driven at this age.

Keep asking for help on the forum. Many of the folks that are on started with these early days unibodies.

Michael

Re: 92 U240

Reply #7 – March 15, 2025, 01:33:26 pm

You just need to know what it really is. The Unibody can pull but the tongue weight is limited . If I remember correctly, our 92 240 is limited to 400 lbs tongue weight. I'd have to check all things Foretravel site but I don't think Foretravel was using a manufacturer's chassis in 92. Others on the forum will correct me if I'm wrong 😊.

Re: 92 U240

Reply #8 – March 15, 2025, 01:36:58 pm

What color is the engine??? If yellow and a V8, it is the Caterpillar 3208. If it is yellow in an in-line 6, it is the Caterpillar 3116. If Cummins B engine, it will not be a U240. It will be a U225.

The "chassis" was completely built in-house by Foretravel, so no chassis like Freightliner or Spartan.

The 1992 may have a rear or a side radiator, depending on when in the model year it was built. Same for transmission, it could be the 4 speed hydraulic Allison OR the 6 speed electronic Allison 3060.

As far as ride height, park the coach on a level surface. Only "tools" you will need to check ride height are a yard stick cut off to 34" and a 12 " ruler. Behind each wheel position is a horizontal area that forms the top of that part of the wheel well. Measure from there to the ground. The 12" ruler is just to help you extend the plane of the horizontal area so you can hold the yard stick vertically.

Factory spec is 32-33". Please let us know what you read at each wheel position and also how many of the 1/4" thick shims you find in front of and behind each wheel position.

So, zero cost and under 30 minutes to do this. We can assist from there.

Just fill us in on exactly what mechanicals you have, as 1992 was a transition year.

Re: 92 U240

Reply #9 – March 15, 2025, 01:39:32 pm

Larro, when you can see it, post pics and the folks on here can help you identify the model and particulars.

Follow-ups
- Dimplex heater

Re: 92 U240

Reply #10 – March 15, 2025, 01:54:03 pm

You guys are awesome! Thank you! I will get more information and let you know later tomorrow. We will be taking a ride to look at it in the morning.

Re: 92 U240

Reply #11 – March 15, 2025, 02:19:02 pm

If it's a 225, it probably a 5.9. Excellent engine and this one will have the bullet proof mechanical injection. Perhaps a little slow if you are pulling a trailer in the mountains a lot of the time but it will get good fuel mileage. Make sure the killer dowel pin modification has been done as it could slide out and do a lot of damage.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/what-is-killer-dowel-pin/

I would not even consider a coach with salt, rust, corrosion damage. This excludes many northern coaches. Too many good coaches to choose from. The price should be under $10K, less if a fixer. If it's a fixer, the P.O. may have not done much maintenance. Add up the cost of new tires, etc and see where you are. This is the slow time of year for sales and really slow for old coaches.

Pierce

Re: 92 U240

Reply #12 – March 15, 2025, 02:39:44 pm

Also, read the write up on BULKHEADS: Bulkhead Repair-- A Comprehensive Look

If bad, and a 1992 U225/U240 walk away unless the coach is close to giveaway price or you are a welder and looking for a lot of work.

Re: 92 U240

Reply #13 – March 15, 2025, 03:05:57 pm

I don't intend to offend anyone so if I do, please forgive me. I wish I thought you could buy a 35 year old Foretravel for 10k or less. It may happen but I haven't experienced it. I'm shocked all the time what people are listing U225s and U240s on FB for. Obviously, I don't know what they sell them for but I know I paid more than 10k last spring for ours and it needed tires and maintenance.

I do agree that the class A market is softer than it seems like it has been for a while. In the Ohio valley, it seems like people are looking for their summer travel machine though and things are moving more than they have been.

Knowing what you are buying and not being married to a specific coach is the key. There are more Foretravels for sale than I remember seeing for a while but the folks on the forum have been around longer than me.

Michael

Re: 92 U240

Reply #14 – March 15, 2025, 05:56:10 pm

Thank you all for the info. I'm not married to a particular make but I do like the vintage and style. I did read something in my info search that has me 2nd guessing even looking at it.

If I am reading it correctly the gross vehicle weight raiting is 24000lbs. The gross combined vehicle weight rating is 26500lbs.

If that's correct than my car and trailer exceed the weight limit. This will be coach would be dual use. Traveling with the wife as well as towing my car and sleeping at the track. If I can't tow my car than this coach doesn't serve me much purpose. Any thoughts....

Re: 92 U240

Reply #15 – March 15, 2025, 06:22:43 pm

That's a question for the group. I know a lot of people pull all sorts of things behind their 225s and 240s. I'm not sure gross vehicle weight is a challenge as long as what you are pulling has brakes but again the group will have better experienced data.

Re: 92 U240

Reply #16 – March 15, 2025, 07:44:34 pm

We followed a U300 pulling a trailer with a Case 580 plus construction stuff. The big trailer was long and everything must have weighted a lot more than our coach. But, if you have an accident...

Most of the prices you see for coaches are not selling prices but asking prices. The Foretravel 3208 close to us was advertised at $8K but the last I saw it, it had come down to $5K OBO. The photos looked good. Needed tires owner said.

Older coaches with any kind of corrosion are not worth binging home even if free. If you can't do engine or tranny work yourself, any kind of internal engine work will run $30,000 no matter CAT, Cummins or Detroit.

So easy to see a coach and be wildly optimistic for what it's going to cost to make it nice and safe at the same time. Some members have had no real expenses in 20 years of ownership but others have not be so lucky. A knowledgeable inspector and lady luck can make a big difference. Buy in haste, repent in leisure.

Pierce

Re: 92 U240

Reply #17 – March 15, 2025, 08:03:11 pm

The information about the 3208 not being a good engine is mainly because it wasn't designed for the 1 million mile life that other heavy duty diesels were at the time. It's designed for about 500k. Which should be plenty in an RV.

Bulkhead and corrosion issues are a possibility. The floor at the bottom is a 1.5" square tube frame sandwiched between fiberglass. There is polystyrene insulation between the tubing. Water can get in there and rust the framing out. Look for spots of the fiberglass being pushed up or poke around and see if anything crunches. It's not the end of the world, depending on how much needs to be replaced, but it can be expensive if you can't do it yourself.

On the wall, next to the drivers seat is a data plate with the VIN and Model numbers. Get a picture of that and the forums can decode it and tell you exactly what it is.

Re: 92 U240

Reply #18 – March 16, 2025, 08:52:08 pm

The Cat 3208 in the ORED will do your mission . ThTs exactly what I do with ours.
It's towed from Florida to eastern Canada . Rock solid.

The ORED chassis /drivetrain is mostly a school bus, garbage truck chassis . Stout . The downside is that Foretravel stopped using them about 1991 . ish. The guys that tow with them are lurkers here, other than I.
Mine is heavily modded .

Re: 92 U240

Reply #19 – March 17, 2025, 11:54:25 am

I have a 95 u240/Cat 3116. I have 229K miles on the coach. I burnt the little Cat up at 144K miles, did an inFrame overhaul back to Cat specs. for $10K. I have towed a 11 Chevy HHR for years, its curb weight is 3200 lbs. I have went over Raton Pass, CO both ways towing, about 15-20 MPH at the summit. I will leave for 4 day trip to Galveston, TX on the 26th will get 9 MPG, all down hill from Lufkin, TX. Planning a trip to beat the heat to Montana for the month of August, 3600 miles round trip.

Do the maintenance at home not on the road!

Pat,

Re: 92 U240

Reply #20 – March 17, 2025, 02:05:20 pm

I want to thank you guys for sharing your knowledge. I've decided to pass on the unihome. However much I really like it, I don't think its the right chassis for me. I'm going to continue to look for a foretravel but something on the ORED or similar chassis.

Whether I stick with the foretravel or not you guys have given usable advice for my search and when I finally purchase something

Thank you..... really

Affiliate Notice