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Topic: Foretravel service questions (Read 643 times) previous topic - next topic

Foretravel service questions

Hello all, I am headed to Foretravel in mid April for some service and have a few questions.

1. I plan on staying at the campground there. Do I need to to call ahead for a space?

2. Since I bought the coach last spring should I have them do a general inspection and get and idea of the overall condition of the coach and possible repairs?  Is this SOP for a lot of new owners?

3.  I'm having the air dryer checked out as I noticed the dreaded white powder the other day when I bled off some air from the valve on the left rear.  Should I attempt to bypass the air dryer for the drive down there to prevent further contamination to the air system? (500 mile to get there)

I called back and scheduled an extra day for some extra stuff like Aqua-Hot service but I figure that I'll run out of money long before my allotted time is up. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks ahead of time.

P/S Do they frown on me rubbernecking while they work on the coach?
Bruce & Teresa
2000 U320 4010
2015 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Foretravel service questions

Reply #1 –
Exurb, don't know about the rest of the stuff but I would change out the air dryer ASAP.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Foretravel service questions

Reply #2 –
Thanks Richard, I thought about trying it myself but shoulder reconstruction surgery has me behind the eight ball. I will get them to either replace or rebuild the air dryer.  I'm sure they can do it in a tenth of the time I could at tens times the cost!
Bruce & Teresa
2000 U320 4010
2015 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Foretravel service questions

Reply #3 –
Bruce, If you have white powder in the air system already its not going to get better. Bypassing the dryer is an option, BUT you will introduce a lot of water into the system on a 500 mile drive. The mix of desiccant powder and water is not something you want to happen.
IMO you should get the dryer rebuilt before you make that drive, save you a lot of grief later.
Gary B

Re: Foretravel service questions

Reply #4 –
IMHO answers to your questions:

1.  No.  If you are having service done at FOT, you get the "campground" free.  When you get there, just pick any open slot - they are all 50 amp and water.  Try to arrive before dark, so you can see the faded angled parking slot lines - makes it MUCH easier to get parked correctly.  There are 2 dump stations - if you don't see them ask someone after you arrive.  If a parking slot has some orange cones or a tow car blocking it, it is being used (probably by a coach that is in the shop for the day).

2.  Do what makes you comfortable.  It is not necessarily SOP - every new owner has different levels of confidence in their purchase.

3.  Air dryer.  The sooner you get it replaced, the better.  If you must wait until you get to FOT, then that's the way it is.

4.  I'm sure you've heard it:  each in-the-shop day at FOT (on average) costs 1 Coach Buck ($1000).  Plan your budget accordingly!

5.  PS:  No, they do not mind if you watch them work.  Just try to stay out of the way - it is a busy shop!  If you engage the mechanics in chit-chat, just remember you're paying for the shop time, no matter what they are doing!

Good luck.  If you have a pet that travels with you, you will love the special "pet owner" waiting rooms.  They have 2 small rooms with couches and chairs and a TV, where you and your pet(s) can relax in comfort without bothering the rest of the waiting customers.  VERY NICE!

Our experiences at FOT have been exceedingly pleasant - it's only the bill that hurts!
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Surely, no age has been more fraught with insecurity than our own present time."

Re: Foretravel service questions

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Ecurb –
3.  I'm having the air dryer checked out as I noticed the dreaded white powder the other day when I bled off some air from the valve on the left rear.  Should I attempt to bypass the air dryer for the drive down there to prevent further contamination to the air system? (500 mile to get there)
If you are seeing white powder be prepared for multiple intermittent failures of check valves, protection valves etc causing air leaks. Desiccant powder in air system - anybody else with this experience?
You may want them to blow out the lines, inspect inside each tank and clean, as I found out the last tank in the system collected a lot of the white powder, replace the check valves & protection valves as a starting point after you replace the dryer. Otherwise you will be fighting air leaks forever IMHO. It is a nightmare. I have spent so much time under the coach troubleshooting the air system it became my second home  :headwall:
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: Foretravel service questions

Reply #6 –
What is the source/cause of the white powder?
Fiddler
1959 Parris Island grad
40' 2001 U320 Build 5875
1999 Suburban K1500 toad
1986 Corvette Pacecar
ssoftail@comcast.net

Re: Foretravel service questions

Reply #7 –
The white powder is the desiccant that removes moisture from the air.  That moisture is then purged when cut-out pressure is reached-- the "sneeze" you hear.

If a dryer is not serviced as it should, the desiccant can "escape" and travel throughout the air system. 
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Foretravel service questions

Reply #8 –
You asked about bypassing the dryer for your trip from Lubbock to Nac.  I'm no expert, but will give you my opinion and experience:

My dryer quit, and the coach was disabled as it wouldn't build pressure (many threads here on the issue).  I could have bypassed it and driven it, but didn't have the parts or tools with me to do that on the side of the road.  Road service got me going and I limped home after replacing only the regulator.  I was lucky to make it without losing pressure again and being stranded.

When I got it back to my local truck repair shop, they had to order the dryer.  In the meantime, I wanted to drive to College Station and back.  My shop bypassed the dryer and sent me on my way.  I was hesitant to drive it that way, but they assured me that it would be fine for that trip - and it was.  300 miles round trip.

So, if you're worried about it, I think you could go ahead and bypass the dryer and head to Nac.  Others here will have much better opinions and experience, but I thought that might help.

Chris
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: Foretravel service questions

Reply #9 –
Thanks to all who responded, my mind is now clear....as mud.  The main reason I was going to The factory was to have the air dryer replaced, but if it's better to get it replaced here, so be it. I contacted a truck repair shop here that would replace it but I thought that FOT would be better since they know of all the other problems associated with the desiccant powder infiltrating the system.

I won't go to the Cummins dealership here as they have made it clear that they hate working on Motorhomes. I feel that if they don't want to work on it then I will not be getting their best effort.

Would I be better off having it replaced here and then going down  to FOT and having all of the solenoids and check valves checked and the system flushed out?  Sorry, I'm just trying to make an decision and my brain keeps getting in the way.

Chuck, I see your point as to the rubbernecking, I'm paying them for conversation.
Bruce & Teresa
2000 U320 4010
2015 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Foretravel service questions

Reply #10 –
My two cents is to bypass it and drive it to motorhomes of Texas or FOT
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Foretravel service questions

Reply #11 –
First off, I'm not familiar with your model coach--- so take what I say with a grain of salt.  My brother in law has a 2000 U320, and added an inexpensive 1 hp AC powered self contained compressor with it's own tank to his system.  He installed it in one of the non slide bays.  It is connected (T into) to the wet tank.  He uses it for just the situation you describe.  If he looses everything on the engine driven compressor, he cranks the generator and runs the Added AC powered compressor to air up the system--- it will keep you on the road, you just have to run your generator.
My 1990 U280 came from the factory with a similar system, a 3/4 hp compressor piped into the wet tank.  It works the same way, that's where he got the idea.
Hope this helps.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: Foretravel service questions

Reply #12 –
Forgot to mention, I just added a 1 1/2 hp AC powered compressor to my "newer" 1996 U320 as a back up for the engine driven compressor, again, T'ed into the wet tank .  That little DC aux compressor for the leveling system is not very good on my coach.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280