Talk me down from here . . .

Topic: Talk me down from here . . . (Read 1574 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #25 – June 05, 2014, 10:44:32 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – June 05, 2014, 09:16:16 pm

It's interesting, I know some folks that are looking for a motorhome and they refuse to consider a DP because they smell and believe that mechanics are hard to come by. Would rather have a Ford V10 as it can be serviced just about anywhere.

I heard that there are people who refuse to install solar panels because they will suck the sun dry creating an "end of the world" scenario.

Craig

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #26 – June 06, 2014, 06:31:34 am

Yep--me too . Think I'll take another dumb pill . Brad Metzger

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #27 – June 06, 2014, 08:57:29 am

Quote from: wa_desert_rat – June 05, 2014, 10:44:32 pm

I heard that there are people who refuse to install solar panels because they will suck the sun dry creating an "end of the world" scenario.

Craig

I believe there was a prominent person who said the wind power would create an imbalance in the atmospheric conditions creating climate disturbance...LOL

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #28 – June 06, 2014, 09:00:29 am

Where'd I put my hip waders? <grin>

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #29 – June 06, 2014, 09:14:11 am

Running a diesel engine on idle for ;ong extended periods, It will Glaze the Bores,
I had to sell my AS 400 welder for that reason, The electrodes I was using, Never even made it lift off Idle,

As long as it has some load, It wont be affected, A lot of diesel farming machinery runs for 3 weeks a year, Then sits in the barn for the rest of the year, With no harmfull effects,

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #30 – June 06, 2014, 09:29:37 am

We have the 10kw diesel genset and couldn't be happier. It has about 700 hours or so (really about 500 and a stuck fuel pump switch that I hadn't noticed until a couple hundred hours were added) and it starts and runs fine. Don't exercise it regularly and when I do I'm really pressed to load it since it produces 83 amps and I just don't have that much stuff. Having changed all I could to efficient electric stuff (read LEDs, etc.) the load just isn't there. Anyway, I think I had it on at the Brooksville rally in January and will probably run it in September when we get back on the road from a summertime project. The hardest thing I find with this genset is changing the air filter since it goes out the back and my hands and arms are to big to reach back there easily. Saying all this to say that I don't think the "exercising" is that big a deal and if it is, just be forewarned that when I go to sell our coach in 20-30 years the genset hasn't been exercised properly!

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #31 – June 06, 2014, 09:34:58 am

Drive in the summer and you will get to exercise it, especially in the south.

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #32 – June 06, 2014, 09:42:18 am

I live in central Texas and have no problem exercising my 10kw diesel generator. I use one ac a lot and both ac's many times nine months a year.
Most of our travel have been all over the west of the country so again it gets a lot of use.

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #33 – June 06, 2014, 10:07:29 am

Get the Foretravel (as opposed to SOB), and get the big diesel generator. In the long run, you'll be glad you did both.

Chris

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #34 – June 06, 2014, 10:30:45 am

I've traveled in the South a few times in the summertime. It's an experience I wish to minimize.

Actually, summertime is the season during which we figure to be traveling the least, except for a planned long trip to the maritime provinces of Canada.

We live in the Allegheny Highlands. On any given day, it is at least 10 to 20 degrees cooler here than where most of you live. And we don't do humidity. In the days before air conditioning, the privileged class of the South would escape the oppressive summer heat by flocking to the many resort hotels that were here once, usually in connection with mineral springs. We retired here from the Midwest due in large part to the pleasant climate here in the warm months. We plan to head south in winter.

My concern is that Foretravel generators were sized for running ACs in the sun and heat of Texas summers. Our camping will mostly be in the cool and the shade of the Allegheny mountains in spring and fall. Plus snowbirding South to escape the winter weather. (It's also 10 or 20 degrees cooler here in winter.

) We don't figure to use the generator as hard as most of you. Not even close.

I've been doing a lot of reading on this "wet stacking" issue. One thing I've learned is that to run the diesel at the recommended 75% load to burn off unburned fuel and carbon, it is not necessary to load the generator to 75% of its capacity. I need to learn how much of a load it takes periodically to keep the diesel generator engine happy.

Wayne

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #35 – June 06, 2014, 10:40:07 am

If you want to load the gennie a bit in cool weather buy one or two of those "radiator" type oil-filled electric heaters. We like to take our '93 U225 cross-country skiing and usually stay at an RV park near the trails. We plug one in forward and put it between the driver and co-pilot seats and the other back aft in the bedroom. These don't "blow" hot air at you but they are very efficient at keeping a large space warm. (We also use them to keep the coach from freezing when stored at our shop.)

Two of these will load a gennie nicely for an hour in the morning while you use the microwave for breakfast and cut that early morning chill, too.

Craig

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #36 – June 06, 2014, 11:14:33 am

I agree with many here that you are concerned about a non-issue. We too are only in the South in the winter, spending the summer on Cape Cod. We have rarely used the generator to provide A/C. Instead, we have used it for peace of mind and the occasional night of boondocking. It has come in handy when we've had power outages either in RV parks or at the cottage. If you have any load at all, genny speed is elevated and wet stacking is not going to happen. Since you would not run the generator if you had shore power, the generator would always have load from 110v demand.

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #37 – June 06, 2014, 01:58:48 pm

Wayne

I can't tell from your posts if you have previous experience with RVing in general or not. You may be better served with a nice travel trailer or 5th wheel altogether as they are much simpler and cheaper to maintain than a diesel motorhome and may serve your needs better. Its all a tradeoff.

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #38 – June 06, 2014, 02:18:21 pm

Hmmm, and give up a lot in comfort and convenience

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #39 – June 06, 2014, 02:55:43 pm

I live by the skyline drive. It is cooler up here then in the city by about ten degrees but I like to travel in the summer too. If you leave the coach packed up and ready to go you just have to throw a few things in and head out. I have been up in New England where they say no AC is needed but they got a heat wave and the power in the park dropped. Nice to have the generator. I think this is a none issue.

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #40 – June 06, 2014, 03:00:57 pm

Wayne, it sure appears you are readng things that are not as serious as your thinking, without experience the wet stacking sounds serious, but in the real world a simple solution IF it were to ever happen. Do not drive your self crazy over a non issue.
I hghly suggest a simpler no frills setup. In the end, you gotta do what makes you happy, at one time a tent was a palace for me. Glad those days are only a memory.

Dave M

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #41 – June 06, 2014, 03:14:13 pm

Dave,

The reason I started this thread was to give you good folks a chance to convince me that this would not be a serious issue when (not if) I use the generator for little more than charging the batteries on my extended fishing trips in the mountains in the spring and fall. You all have done a good job of persuading me that it will not be a big problem.

Robert,

We've had a travel trailer for many years. A small portable generator for a few hours every other day keeps the 2 golf-cart batteries charged when boondocking.

A fifth wheel is not a good option for us.

Somewhere along the way, I got old. I want the comfort and convenience of a motorhome. An older high-end coach appeals to me. Foretravel appeals because of the quality and durability. It also has large tanks for boondocking, which will be one of the principal uses.

Wayne

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #42 – June 06, 2014, 03:41:50 pm

It is great too boondocks. We can go two weeks on our tanks if we are careful and maybe a bit more. depending on how hot it is. I also added a fourth battery and there is room for a 5th in my coach. I had 4 in my 270 and that was a boon docking machine.

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #43 – June 06, 2014, 04:36:07 pm

Wayne - With all Due respect - I do not think that any one on this site wishes to convince you of any thing or should they/we. We can only offer our experiences and opinions. And you know what they say about opinions - every one has one. This web site is a wonderful place to ask questions and often get multiple answers.

On another note: If you wish to have a DP it will probably have a diesel gen set. I appreciate that you have heard not so good stuff about diesel gen sets and you are struggling to learn enough about them to make your own decision and that's a good thing.

This forum is largely populated by passionate owners and most of us feel that the Foretravel is the best option for us for many reasons. Many of these reasons are reflected in posts and threads on this web site.

I wish you good luck in your journey.

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #44 – June 06, 2014, 05:08:08 pm

Wayne -
You are on the right track - pull FT over, hit the button twice - levels itself. Aquahot and a bunch of other stud nice, i you want to Bdock, add some solar.

Yup, best value today is a 1999 or 98 non-slde U-320 40 or 42 footer. Have someone like Bret Wolfe do a pre-purchase, budget $10K first year to fix stuff (it won't be that much if you don't need batteries and tires) and enjoy. If you want a slide coach, buy what your budget allows - but I like the 2000 and 2001 for reliability and value (no, mine isn't for sale) James Triana (FT tech rep/VP) was asked at last Gran Vention which used FT he would buy, he didn't hesitate - 2001 U-320 42' with a tag.

Any 36 - 42' FT will make you happy. Have mechanicals checked, and don't worry after that. Search the archives here and you can maybe find two issues with motor or transmission issues, and the only generator issue you see is agina fuel lines and occasionally an alternator. Really, the mechanical cost/upkeep is very low, and rusty bulkheads are about the only structural issue that we see and the great majority of them need less than $2,000 to fix what may be going on (if you hire it done, cheaper if you do it yourself)

Feel free to PM me to discuss, you are absolutely on the right track, and if you buy the 95- 2001 era coaches, they will retain a lot of their value for the next 5 years.

Good luck, let me know how I can help!

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #45 – June 06, 2014, 05:31:24 pm

There were only 2 issues with the 2002s, and you won't have to have the front end re-done because the lights are too low to see at night like the earlier years. The two issues are endcap cracking that has likely been repaired (and easy to see by looking at the junctions of the sides and ends). No cracks? Test passed.

The second issue can be the front slide. But this is really just an inability for some repair folks, surprisingly including FOT, to not seem to understand the system that was used for one year on Foretravels, and also on some Country Coaches. A $108 Isolation Kit available from HWH and 4 steel caps at your local hydraulic/plumbing shop for about $6 and you have everything you need to identify any slide problem particular to a 2002...and what is really necessary instead of guessing. The slide problems are magnified only when apparently ill-trained folks start throwing expensive parts at the slide. You can check this problem on a prospective coach by having the seller extend the slide and then hanging around for 30 minutes to an hour. If the slide creeps in at any corner, then you can get all concerned and get a dropped price. Then go buy the aforementioned kit and follow the file Scott and I created to see what the problem really is. There are only two likely culprits (one or the other), and each one is less than a $200 repair at HWH. Send in the part and have whichever rebuilt. It is NOT hard to do with one helper for the worst of the problems.

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #46 – June 06, 2014, 05:58:31 pm

Tim,

I've got a well-considered list of what we're looking for in a motorhome. Since I haven't found one that has everything as we would design it, or prefer it (not even Foretravel!

D) ), there are lots of tradeoffs involved.

Since we will travel a lot on unpaved Forest Service roads in the mountains, 36' seems about the right length. Shorter, and I worry about the ride and highway handling of a diesel with a too-short wheelbase. Longer could get more problematic in tight corners on narrow mountain roads. I might go 40' if everything else was right, but I'm more comfortable with 36'.

Dual pane windows are a must-have due to condensation in cold weather. 1997 seems to be the first year that Foretravel included this as standard. I'm not sure how common they were before then.

A 1997 to 2000 or so Foretravel, assuming a floor plan that would work for us, would seem to fit within an amount I feel comfortable taking out of retirement savings.

We would feel better having no slide for simplicity sake, but can live with a slide or two.

Wayne

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #47 – June 06, 2014, 07:05:12 pm

For the record my 34 foot rode no different then my 36.

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #48 – June 06, 2014, 07:14:34 pm

Our longest car is one third the wheelbase of our U300 but rides well, actually very well indeed. Come on! It's the right combination of shocks and airbags plus first rate engineering that makes for a good ride and handling regardless of length.

Pierce

Re: Talk me down from here . . .

Reply #49 – June 06, 2014, 07:32:57 pm

As far as Forest Service roads go, I drove 30 foot fire trucks over many a back country road on campaign fires and didn't think much about it. With our U300, the extra 6 feet and 102" inches makes a big difference on the tight turns/switchbacks. We also go down a lot of unpaved FS roads to campsites. At 40 feet, the anxiety factor would go way up. I can see a RV newbie getting into trouble pretty easily.

Pierce

Affiliate Notice