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Topic: Primus heat system (Read 1352 times) previous topic - next topic

Primus heat system

Hello
This is my first post. I've been reading and gaining as much information on the Foretravel coaches as I can before I purchase a unit.
A forum like this is extremely helpful to a beginner. I thank all of the members for there shared knowledge and willingness to share it with others.

I'm looking at a 1995 U320. It has a Primus heating system. I have not been able to locate very much information on this system. The unit was installed at the factory when new.

Is there a source for information on this system?
Does anybody use this system in there coach?
What should I look for when inspecting?

If I buy this couch I'm sure I will be back with many questions.

Thank you for your time.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Primus heat system

Reply #2 –
Quote from: lframke –
I'm looking at a 1995 U320. It has a Primus heating system. I have not been able to locate very much information on this system. The unit was installed at the factory when new.

Is there a source for information on this system?
Does anybody use this system in there coach?

http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1857
http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-332.html
Parts:
http://www.dupreeproducts.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=24
Quote
What should I look for when inspecting?
50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel
http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=10866.0

The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Primus heat system

Reply #3 –
As Barry indicates, the Primus system was used on Blue Birds (and some Prevost models) along with boats. Parts and service are available. This could have been a one off ordered by a customer, or a trial the factory did before deciding on an Aquahot system. If installed by the factory then the wiring diagrams and instructions (hopefully) are there.
Are you sure its not Aquahot? Aquahot, Webasto and Primus tend to kind of run together like Kleenex in RV circles...
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Primus heat system

Reply #4 –
Quote from: lframke –
Hello
This is my first post. I've been reading and gaining as much information on the Foretravel coaches as I can before I purchase a unit.

A forum like this is extremely helpful to a beginner. I thank all of the members for there shared knowledge and willingness to share it with others.

If I buy this couch I'm sure I will be back with many questions.

Thank you for your time.

Welcome!!  You will find that the people on this forum are very knowledgeable and very eager to assist us "newbies".  And that is invaluable.
Morris and Janice
1997 U270 36'

Re: Primus heat system

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Dave Head –
As Barry indicates, the Primus system was used on Blue Birds (and some Prevost models) along with boats. Parts and service are available. This could have been a one off ordered by a customer, or a trial the factory did before deciding on an Aquahot system. If installed by the factory then the wiring diagrams and instructions (hopefully) are there.
Are you sure its not Aquahot? Aquahot, Webasto and Primus tend to kind of run together like Kleenex in RV circles...

I called Foretravel and asked for the build ticket for this coach.
They promptly emailed it to me.
It states under systems;

2  Install Primus system
2  Delete std furnace
2  Delete std water heater & water heater door
2  add special 2 way water heater ( Motor-aid & 110 volt)


under interior;

Modify replace cabinets associated with installation of Primus system
Delete std sofa add spec sofa to be used with Primus 
Delete std dash add spec dash to be used with Primus
Delete std step add spec step to be used with Primus

Build sheet also states a Cummins M11 400hp engine


I tracked down the original owner (one owner since new) He told me that he bought it new from the factory. It was used in the 1995 Foretravel brochure.
He also told me he had the engine pumped up to 410 HP be Cummins.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Primus heat system

Reply #6 –
Interesting!!! I will have to take a peek at my factory brochure and see if the ext heater vents (propane) are not there. You are looking at a special coach!
If you decide to buy it, make sure to ask the prev owner for any possible documentation.
You are looking at a special coach, for sure!!!
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Primus heat system

Reply #7 –
The original owner said he had the brochure but wanted to keep it so he could remember the coach. He said that the owner of Foretravel had the first unit and he had the second unit made that year.

Thanks for the links Barry!
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Primus heat system

Reply #8 –
Quote from: lframke –
The original owner said he had the brochure but wanted to keep it so he could remember the coach. He said that the owner of Foretravel had the first unit and he had the second unit made that year.

Thanks for the links Barry!
He didn't even offer to make a copy?
1994 U225
build #4514

Primus Heat

Reply #9 –
I have a few questions on the Primus heat system.
Anybody out there have one in there Foretravel?
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Primus heat system

Reply #10 –
We had a Primus kerosene heater in our sailboat. Simple, good looking all stainless construction with no moving parts. They did make another model with a small electric fan. Was a life saver in winter up in Japan and Hong Kong. Installed a supply tank under the kitchen sink with a hand pump. Only had to pump it every few hours. Was chimney style that mounted on the wall with short stack up and out. As I remember, it was made in Sweden for those cold Arctic Circle nights. A real quality product for boaters to backpackers. Others have copied the backpacking stove but use a plastic pump handle that breaks in cold weather. Primus cost a little more but worth it. Used all over the world for generations now.

Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Primus heat system

Reply #11 –
Thanks for the help.
The Primus system looks very impressive. There are heat radiators tucked away everywhere, some in remote areas with fans. The system also runs through the dash for heat and windshield clearing.

I have a factory wireing diagram for the system and 3 books from Foretravel.
My problem is; there are 4 wires that were cut by somebody. I assume to
Make sure the system would not run.
Two wires look to be snipped at the solenoid. However there are 2 red wires that are next to the other snipped wires. I can't see anywhere near them  that they tied into. Unless they splice into the other 2 wires and also go to the solenoid .
I hoped somebody on the forum had the Primus system and could give me a lead as to how this wiring tied together.
I will check with Foretravel and hope somebody there still remembers how this was setup.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Primus heat system

Reply #12 –
We have a 1995 Foretravel with Primus propane heating system. Husband wants to replace this with something else. We have 20 gal electric hot water heater and heat strips in ac's . Does anybody have a suggestion?

Re: Primus heat system

Reply #13 –
From my research I found the simplest conversion would be to a Wabasto system.
The Primus uses two LP gas boilers the Wabasto uses diesel fired boilers.
You have all the internal plumbing already done with the Primus heat exchanges, it would seem that the replacement of the Primus boilers with the Wabasto boilers would not be hard, the replacement of the system brain might be a challenge.

The Primus can be serviced and is not overly hard to work on. I found the ONLY source for Primus parts to be Dupree Products located in MN. They have some new parts available and some used parts, but they don't give this stuff away.

I recently saw they had a few Primus boilers used. I bought two to have on hand. Solenoids are available along with the control panel and boiler electrical boxes that fit on front of the boilers and activate the solenoids to fire the boilers.

I would stick with the Primus system on a coach of this age. My gut feeling to switch to Wabasto or even a Aqua Hot or oasis system would be many thousands of dollars and finding somebody that is an expert at this conversion would be tough.
It would be much easier to re-build your Primus system with the parts available from Dupree, those parts should address any problem with the Primus you would have.

I have run on one primus boiler with no problems, I hope to soon fix the other boiler so they both work again.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.