I bought it: 1988 GV

Topic: I bought it: 1988 GV (Read 1910 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: I bought it

Reply #25 – April 11, 2013, 11:47:11 am

I haven't had time to really get into it yet, because I still have a job and three sons that are into a lot of sports. I will try to get all the info and post pictures this weekend.

Re: I bought it

Reply #26 – April 11, 2013, 02:00:59 pm

Congrats! -- A nice looking GV.

Now the fun starts -- the first part is discovery. Poke around and you are going to find all kinds of stuff that either you had no idea it was there -- or you have no idea what it is/does !! <smile>

Been through the same thing for 6 months now on my U300.

Re: I bought it

Reply #27 – April 12, 2013, 12:33:25 pm

Quote from: Twig – April 10, 2013, 05:48:21 pm

If I had known then what I know now about what you can have done for 10 cents on the dollar in Mexico, I would have KEPT my '87.

I'm sure planning to keep my 93 U225. And also planning to use it a lot in Mexico. The low profile and 8-foot width is invaluable for narrow roads with low bridges.

Robhatric: they are a work in progress. It helps if you have a place to park them where you can work on them. But they're designed and built so well that working on them - while still a lot of work - is not a chore.

We have replaced the battery charger/converter (high priority!), added a pure-sine inverter, added a battery systems monitor, added solar panels and MPPT charger, replaced the forward TV with an LED, added an LED TV in the bedroom, and put a new tile floor in the bathroom. All since December of 2011.

Plus wiring repair... but that's another story.

Welcome to the group.

Craig

Re: I bought it

Reply #28 – April 12, 2013, 03:15:17 pm

Do you have the battery system schematic? The coach had all the batteries paralleled and I don't think it is the best way to hook the system up. How is your solar/inverter system wired?

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #29 – April 12, 2013, 05:27:06 pm

Quote from: Robhatric – April 12, 2013, 03:15:17 pm

Do you have the battery system schematic? The coach had all the batteries paralleled and I don't think it is the best way to hook the system up. How is your solar/inverter system wired?

I sent Barry all my schematics for U280 and U300 models in PDF format. Don't know if he has had time to upload to the Foretravel document site. If not, I can send to you. There will be differences but until you get the exact schematics, it will give you a general idea.

Quite a few Mexico fans on the forum. Let us in on your destinations, plans.

Pierce

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #30 – April 14, 2013, 11:31:05 am

Here are some more pig's. I have a couple of things I need to fix ASAP. The headlights are too dark and the padding in the engine compartment disintegrated. I some suggestions on the up grade.

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #31 – April 14, 2013, 11:37:25 am

Quote from: Robhatric – April 14, 2013, 11:31:05 am

Here are some more pig's. I have a couple of things I need to fix ASAP. The headlights are too dark and the padding in the engine compartment disintegrated. I some suggestions on the up grade.

Headlights are a problem even on some of the newer (post 2000) coaches. I am waiting for a plug-compatible light with better operating qualities. Until then I buff the lenses every year, add U/V protection, and avoid driving at night as much as possible.

Craig

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #32 – April 14, 2013, 11:58:19 am

The pictures are on my phone and is only loading one at a time

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #33 – April 14, 2013, 12:03:50 pm

Steve Mud posted that he changed out the insulation in his engine compartment with home depot insulation foam. Has anyone else done this, if so how is it holding up?

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #34 – April 14, 2013, 02:10:30 pm

I re-did mine with 1 1/2 air conditioning duct board . Screwed to walls and bottom of bed platform with 2" screws and fender washers. taped joints and ends with AC duct tape. Put fiberglass side toward old crumbling insulation and shinny side out. Makes engine compartment much brighter. Did this three years ago still looks likes new.

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #35 – April 14, 2013, 02:14:21 pm

Awesome looking Machine...Love the look of the double stacked bumpers

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #36 – April 14, 2013, 10:26:19 pm

thanks, i like it too. It's one of my favorite parts about the coach.My wife and I spent the whole day tearing everything apart and cleaning.My wife is kind of a clean freak. She will not camp in the coach unless she bleaches the whole thing. I gave away the mattress because she said she could not sleep in it.

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #37 – April 15, 2013, 12:20:19 am

Quote from: 96u270 – April 14, 2013, 02:14:21 pm

Awesome looking Machine...Love the look of the double stacked bumpers

Had a customer remove the bumpers and had them polished and reinstalled.

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #38 – April 15, 2013, 10:24:18 am

Quote from: Chuck Van Tassel – April 14, 2013, 02:10:30 pm

I re-did mine with 1 1/2 air conditioning duct board . Screwed to walls and bottom of bed platform with 2" screws and fender washers. taped joints and ends with AC duct tape. Put fiberglass side toward old crumbling insulation and shinny side out. Makes engine compartment much brighter. Did this three years ago still looks likes new.

HVAC Duct Board: Master Flow 48 in. x 120 in. Duct Board - R-6-DBOARD1 at The Home Depot

Pierce

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #39 – April 15, 2013, 10:36:39 am

i went to buy it, but it says it is not fire retardant. doesn't the material have to be fire rated?

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #40 – April 15, 2013, 10:51:25 am

Quote from: Robhatric – April 15, 2013, 10:36:39 am

i went to buy it, but it says it is not fire retardant. doesn't the material have to be fire rated?

Here is a quote from the PDF at the Johns-Manville site: "Fire-Rated Assemblies
EnviroAire, Mat-Faced Micro-Aire or SuperDuct RC, 1" (25 mm) thick is
accepted in lieu of sheet metal duct in many fire-rated assemblies. See
UL Label for design numbers."

Here is the link to the PDF with specs and contact numbers: http://www.jm.com/insulation/technical_info/ahs30_micro-aire.pdf

Pierce

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #41 – April 15, 2013, 11:23:05 am

this would be a lot cheaper than boat insulation which runs about $300 dollars for a 4x4x2

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #42 – April 15, 2013, 11:24:35 am

Pierce, I just this AM checked with a local supply house on DUCTBOARD. According to the MSDS it is non flammable but I could not find any data about the facing which is aluminum foil embedded with what appears to be a fibreglass strand for reinforcement. It comes in 4X10 sheets at about 35 bucks a sheet. In addition to the foil facing it also has a backing that appears to be some kind of fibre, probably recycled paper. I believe this is what I am going to use to reline the engine compartment.
Gary B

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #43 – April 15, 2013, 11:40:44 am

Gary,

I didn't look at the MSDS, but the front has printed label said it will burn if exposed to flame. I could be mistaken, but it said it was only fire rated when used in conjunction with drywall. anyway here are some pics from my renovation yesterday.

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #44 – April 15, 2013, 11:55:44 am

Robhatric, The brand I was looking at is by Owens Corning. The MSDS says non flammable, and there is no flash point or flammable limits shown it also shows no boiling or melting point. So I would think that it will be safe to use.
I am not going to try to remove the crumbly foam now in place, I will run a vacuum over it to remove loose stuff and then put ductboard over it using aluminum tape on the edges and to secure it to surround.
Gary B

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #45 – April 15, 2013, 12:03:07 pm

Quote from: Gary Bouland – April 15, 2013, 11:24:35 am

Pierce, I just this AM checked with a local supply house on DUCTBOARD. According to the MSDS it is non flammable but I could not find any data about the facing which is aluminum foil embedded with what appears to be a fibreglass strand for reinforcement. It comes in 4X10 sheets at about 35 bucks a sheet. In addition to the foil facing it also has a backing that appears to be some kind of fibre, probably recycled paper. I believe this is what I am going to use to reline the engine compartment.
Gary B

Gary,

It's supposed to be a layered fiberglass construction. Don't think recycled paper would pass fire testing. Generally, the thicker the material, the better the fire rating. That's why garages require 5/8" drywall instead of 1/2". Not that I'm a fan of drywall/stick construction.

According to the spec sheet below, a layer of Owens Corning QuietR Duct Board should give 30 minutes fire protection.

"vTypical Physical Properties
Property Test Method Value
Maximum Operating Temperature Limits UL 181 Internal: 250°F (121°C)
External: 150°F (66°C)
Maximum Air Velocity UL 181 Erosion Test 6,000 fpm (30.5 m/s)
Static Pressure Limit UL 181 ±2 in. w.g. (500 Pa)
Water Vapor Sorption ASTM C 1104 <3% by weight at 120°F (49°C), 95% R.H.
Mold Growth UL 181 Meets requirements
Fungi Resistance ASTM G 21 Meets requirements
Bacteria Resistance ASTM G 22 Meets requirements
Surface Burning Characteristics
Flame Spread
Smoke Developed
UL 723
1
< 25
1
< 50
Fire Retardancy UL 181 Flame Penetration 30 min.
1
The surface burning characteristics of these products have been determined in accordance with UL 723. This standard should be used to measure and describe the properties of materials, products or assemblies in response to heat and flame under controlled laboratory conditions and should not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products or assemblies under actual fire conditions.

However, results of this test may be used as elements of a fire risk assessment which takes into account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use. Values are reported to the nearest 5 rating."

A 12 minute video is available in both Flash and .m4v formats at: Fiber Glass HVAC Insulation - Know the Facts (12 Minute Presentation) : NAIMA

Pierce

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #46 – April 15, 2013, 01:24:29 pm

here is what we did yesterday.

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #47 – April 15, 2013, 02:36:41 pm

sent the seats and the sofa to get reupholstered. The wife does not want window treatments, so I trying figure out a way to secure new blinds. anyone have any ideas.

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #48 – April 15, 2013, 09:33:40 pm

Robhatric, here is what we did on our, used some walnut to build the frame and attached like the old plywood frames for the windows, in the bedroom wife just recovered the top part to match the bed spread and didn't put anything down the sides

Re: I bought it: 1988 GV

Reply #49 – April 15, 2013, 11:57:33 pm

thanks Jim, that looks really nice.

Also fixed the storage latches today. Some of them were not latching, so I took them apart and it was filled with dirt and grease that the previous owner was lubing it with. The angle hooks on the inside were all bent and some of them were not catching. Straighten them out and they work perfectly. I do have one door that has the fiber glass that is coming off the main part of the door, which would be an easy fix if there was a way to take the door apart from the coach.

Affiliate Notice