Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

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Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

September 17, 2016, 06:24:16 pm

Hi
We just drove 11 hours to see a 1999 and have many ?s now after looking at it. we are checked in a hotel for now.

Would love to be able to call someone that is a Foretravel owner that knows a lot about them and ask some ? and talk with.

Inside looks good, No real water leaks, outside body decals look very good not much fading.

Microwave was removed and a small one is sitting in its place. No a big deal.

Back passenger side has some damage to the fiberglass that should fix up easy.

Things i am not sure about.

Muffler is broke off just at the very back so it is shooting right onto the fiberglass i would need to add on a chrome muffler extenion so it sticks out

Motor seems to run good we drove it. Petal to the floor and it shifts good picks up speed good. Brakes work no problem.

Has not has a oil change in some time.. so we would get one before hitting the road if we buy it and new front tires.

Strange leak i do not know what this would be to fix?

Looking in from the back at the motor it has two large fans that blow on the radiator the first one closest to the back i can see some fluid that has or is leaking out of what looks like the center of the fan shaft.

Anyone know anything about this.. dose the fan have a place to add oil to and if this is leaking from the center of the shaft how big of a problem is this ? what would i be looking at to get this fixed it looks like it would be very hard just to get to the fan motor unless it is more easy from in the bedroom down..... If it is leaking would it be safe to drive it around 600 miles home like that?

Thanks

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #1 – September 17, 2016, 06:28:24 pm

As buyer, assume that the fan motor (hydraulic) will need to be replaced. It could just need a seal, but often with the volume of leak you are describing, the motor will need to be replaced.

Monday, check with Foretravel for $$-- have VIN handy.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #2 – September 17, 2016, 06:34:52 pm

After reading almost all of your post for the last few days I have some unsolicited advice. Take a few weeks or months break. Then go to MOT or wait for a forum member to sale a decent, well maintained older Foretravel. It seems from your post is all you are looking at are someone's problems they are trying to get rid of.
Larry

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #3 – September 17, 2016, 06:36:29 pm

All under it was very wet with fluid on the metal parts and it looks like it is coming from the shaft area .. but it is not leaking out dripping just all wet like it has leaking not seeing any fresh drops coming out the other side is dry.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #4 – September 17, 2016, 06:42:38 pm

Yes, it is common for a fan motor to only leak when under high PSI-- that IS how they start. No PSI, no leak.

And, if exhaust is "aimed" at fiberglass, the fiberglass will blister it. Need to be inspected for current damage. If none, fix before driving.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #5 – September 17, 2016, 06:46:44 pm

The inside is very nice good shape,, both ACs work so dose the generator we drove with both ACs on. Fridge works text with thermometer;s.. Has service paper work on it from 2014 and all the back to original owner. New own has owned it for two years and done nothing to it put on around 7000 miles on it.

Newer air bags, new fuel pump and dryer and other custom things done in TX plus full service back in 2014.
Dose have retarder with stick, Ice maker, Even has extra belts and filters,

Has been under cover all the time when not being used so looks like a 5 year old coach on the out side.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #6 – September 17, 2016, 06:50:26 pm

It all comes down to the bucks.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #7 – September 17, 2016, 07:21:38 pm

Sounds like it could be a good find IF the price is right. However just the exhaust, fan motor, and fiberglass damage could get to 10k or more. Then tires, house batteries, full service chassis trans engine cooling system could be that much again! Then you have bulkheads, and you mentioned minor water leaks. In short a good inspection by a qualified inspector could save you way more than it costs. I didn't do that with mine but hey I got lucky and got a good one.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #8 – September 17, 2016, 07:25:54 pm

Bruce has it correct.
If you tell the forum where the coach is, there may be a member in the area that can help you.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #9 – September 17, 2016, 07:41:09 pm

Quote from: DigitalEd – September 17, 2016, 06:24:16 pm

Looking in from the back at the motor it has two large fans that blow on the radiator the first one closest to the back i can see some fluid that has or is leaking out of what looks like the center of the fan shaft.

Hydraulic fan motors are a complicated subject. The original motors were built by several different companies. Two same-model coaches built in the same month can have completely different fan motors. Some fan motors can be rebuilt, or resealed - some can't because parts are no longer available. A fan motor can seep oil for a long time before it becomes a problem...the original motors on our coach have 180,000 miles on them. They seep a little, but don't drip oil, and still work fine. I watch them, but will not worry about them unless they get much worse. It is up to the coach owner, or his mechanic, to decide when a fan motor must be rebuilt or replaced. Replacement can be expensive. $$$$

Here is a thread that may give you a better idea what you might have to deal with, if a fan motor becomes a "problem".

hydraulic fan motor

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #10 – September 17, 2016, 07:58:43 pm

Just spend a good time talking with a guy at Foretravle in TX .. he says the back fan gets the most use and it is normal to have some oil leaking as long as it is not dripping out and over time that area i see will be wet with oil and is not a problem unless it starts spraying out but that may never happen ever. So feeling a lot better about that now.

He also explained how to use the retarder and many other things including checking filters.
Wow what great service.

He told me i could drive that coach from New York to Florida with that motor will all the belts cut off as they only run exturnal items that do not effect the motor running. And turn the generator on to run the headlights keeping the batterys charged.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #11 – September 17, 2016, 08:00:40 pm

Since we don't even know what model/engine you are looking at, can't comment on driving without belt. Some you would burn up quickly......

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #12 – September 17, 2016, 08:08:26 pm

3.8L

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #13 – September 17, 2016, 08:14:05 pm

Tell me who you talked to at Foretravel, so I can make sure I don't ever talk to him. Buy it cut the belts off and see how fare you get.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #14 – September 17, 2016, 08:28:48 pm

Spoke to someone at FT on a Saturday? That's pretty unusual. Normally only the emergency phone would be answered.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #15 – September 17, 2016, 08:31:19 pm

I am done with this one........................................................................

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #16 – September 17, 2016, 09:18:41 pm

Go ahead and cut the belts off and give it a good old hard run see how it works for ya.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #17 – September 17, 2016, 09:28:18 pm

You need the belt to run the water pump and the hyd pumps to cool engine,without that belt engine would overheat fast.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #18 – September 17, 2016, 09:35:18 pm

Depends on the engine, on my present coach, only things belt driven are the ac compressor and the alternator. I have driven many miles with no belts. of course. no dash ac and you must run generator with the boost switch on to supply 12v to engine electrics.
The inverter/charger will charge house batteries, and with boost switch on, start batteries.
Jim

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #19 – September 17, 2016, 09:36:21 pm

It was a weekend support line they have emergency line.. He told me if i can any more ?s about it he would be working all this week end.

Phone number is 888 627-2952 Clyde..

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #20 – September 17, 2016, 09:38:47 pm

Quote from: jcus – September 17, 2016, 09:35:18 pm

Depends on the engine, on my present coach, only things belt driven are the ac compressor and the alternator. I have driven many miles with no belts. of course. no dash ac and you must run generator with the boost switch on to supply 12v to engine electrics.
The inverter/charger will charge house batteries, and with boost switch on, start batteries.
Jim

Yes that is what he was telling me using the boost switch to supply the 12 volt power.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #21 – September 17, 2016, 09:41:04 pm

Sounds like the Cummins ISC 8.3 liter? There is a remote hydraulic tank that feeds that fan. Check the dipstick for level.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #22 – September 17, 2016, 09:43:25 pm

Quote from: DigitalEd – September 17, 2016, 09:38:47 pm

Yes that is what he was telling me using the boost switch to supply the 12 volt power.

That takes care of no alternator on the belt (running gen to charge batteries, depending on how chargers are wired, and/or with boost switch. On my 1994 Cummins 8.3, the water pump is belt driven.. No belt - cooked motor.

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #23 – September 17, 2016, 09:44:10 pm

It would save a lot of confusion if you were more specific about the coach you are looking at. A 1999 what? To answer your questions accurately ...... members need specifics. Model and engine type.........

Re: Can i call someone here and talk with them about a 99 we are looking at?

Reply #24 – September 17, 2016, 09:57:29 pm

A 99 u320 will drive without any belts on the engine. The Hyd. motor, fuel pump and water pump are all gear driven. Like posted above only alt. and air cond comp. are belt driven. The person he talked to at FT probably asked his model number and gave the correct information.

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