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New engine Is installed!

Alright, finally my new 8.3 Cummins is installed! I drove it last night from the shop to home and  back, then back home....WOW feels like a different motorhome. I towed my 3/4 ton Dodge diesel that weights about 8000 lbs. and noticed immediately the strength of the new engine. Although I am not particularly happy about spending the money to get it done. I have a big smile on my face! Tomorrow I am taking it over to Ft. Lauderdale to get the wrap done, with any luck it should be done by next weekend I will keep you posted.
Rick Barna
St. Petersburg FL.
1998 U270 36'
Build # 5232
1972 CJ 5 Jeep

Re: New engine Is installed!

Reply #1 –
Glad to see your journey is about to begin, have to admit I've been following your story with a lot of interest. Would like a summary after the wrap is done with pictures of before and after. Be nice to compare investment vs a new coach...which is what you will have in the end
Good luck, windwalker
2002 Custom No Slide U320
98 U295 36'
92 Grand Villa 29' front engine gas-Sold
Motorcade 18100

Re: New engine Is installed!

Reply #2 –
Cool, A bud and I were sitting  having a beer in front of my GV and got to thinking about extended the  glass/nose  bodyline down straighter  to the  ground. Extending the bumper about 4ft and smoothing the lines. Then  a chrome wrap on the entire bus  ,"Bullet Train." 

Re: New engine Is installed!

Reply #3 –
Quote from: barndog –
Alright, finally my new 8.3 Cummins is installed!................Tomorrow I am taking it over to Ft. Lauderdale to get the wrap done..............................I will keep you posted.
Rick,
I'm glad that you are back in operation.  We would sure like to know more about the cause of your troubles.  The repair facility HAS to know more than they are telling you.  There have to be indicators that would allow at least a WAG on their part.

I know that you have done your homework on the wrap, but it may not be right for most people.

Wraps are great for vehicles that need constant advertisement upgrading and repairs (race cars, business vehicles, etc).  But, from personal experience, a high quality wrap and a high quality FBP are essentially the same price.  Except that the high quality FBP lasts for 30 to 40 years (+) and a high quality wrap lasts maybe 7 years, 8 or 9 at the very most.  And they usually become varying degrees of eyesores after 5 years.  Properly done, the prep for a high quality wrap is even more expensive (especially on a used vehicle) than FBP.  Under close scrutiny, less than 10 feet away, any wrap is always detectable, regardless of age.  But you have done your homework and understand the variables.

In Branson, just yesterday, I was thinking of you when I happened upon this entertainer's vehicle.  I took a few pictures, not just for you  but also for others that I know have a sincere interest in what you are doing.  Maybe this will be of help to you or someone else.
 
Having installed two high quality, front cap, invisible shields on our previous U270 (that we enjoyed excellent service from but were just somewhat satisfied with), I know that technology in wraps has changed a great deal over the last decade. We have also used high quality, 10 year warranted Lexus wraps, on front facing panels, on two different Lexus SUVs, that were somewhat more successful.  But both were vehicles that WE used for less than 5 years.  The quality of the prep and ultra high quality (extra cost) of the wraps were key to moderate success in each case.

In the following pictures, this wrap was easily AS, OR MORE EXPENSIVE, THAN MY FBP, both done about 12 years ago.  But what a difference in appearance today!  I chatted with the owner/operator for a good half hour and learned a small part of the vehicle's history.  It has obviously been neglected and this is someone that (for dozens of reasons) probably shouldn't be into motor coaches.  It has spent its life outdoors, AZ in the winters, touring and in Branson MO the rest of the year.  I don't know how much different it might be appear today if it had been properly applied and cared for, but it certainly isn't a good ambassador for expensive wraps and their longevity.

Hope this may be of help to you or someone else in the future.
Neal
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Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten

Re: New engine Is installed!

Reply #4 –
Neal you are right, a wrap may not be right for a lot of people. The wrap that I am having done will cost about 10k, and should last 7-10 years and longer if stored under cover. The materials that they use today have been greatly improved upon since the early days of wraps. If you will look closely to the detail of the wrap that I am having done you will notice that it is a lot more complex than the average after market paint job, and would set you back about 35k according to my paint sources in Elkhart and Red Bay. I called Navarro Bros. in Los Algodones MX. And they said that they get 15K for the average 4 color paint job and that he would need to have my coach for about six weeks. And if I get tired of how my coach looks in 7 or so years for another 10 K or so I will have it redone and still be 15K to the good.
Rick Barna
St. Petersburg FL.
1998 U270 36'
Build # 5232
1972 CJ 5 Jeep

Re: New engine Is installed!

Reply #5 –
I almost forgot....no waxing for the life of the wrap, The Mfg. of the new motorhomes tout the fact that when you buy a FBP that you do not need to wax your coach.....it's called a sales pitch I think. If you look around at some of the older coaches (10 Yrs. and even newer) that have not been waxed you will find that most of them have paint jobs that are deteriorating pretty bad. Very rarely are there exceptions.
Rick Barna
St. Petersburg FL.
1998 U270 36'
Build # 5232
1972 CJ 5 Jeep

Re: New engine Is installed!

Reply #6 –
I generally don't like 'wraps', but that one is waay cool!  ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: New engine Is installed!

Reply #7 –
Windwalker I will have right at 150K when it's all said and done. If you have been following this over the past few years you will note that almost everything on the coach has been rebuilt or replaced. With that said you can not buy a coach of the same quality build as the older Foretravels because they don.t exist. So for all intensive purposes I will have a 1998 New coach!
Rick Barna
St. Petersburg FL.
1998 U270 36'
Build # 5232
1972 CJ 5 Jeep

Re: New engine Is installed!

Reply #8 –
Quote from: mike leary –
I generally don't like 'wraps', but that one is waay cool!  ^.^d
Way cool, I like it.
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: New engine Is installed!

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
Cool, A bud and I were sitting  having a beer in front of my GV and got to thinking about extended the  glass/nose  bodyline down straighter  to the  ground. Extending the bumper about 4ft and smoothing the lines. Then  a chrome wrap on the entire bus  ,"Bullet Train." 
You will probably rethink that when you are sitting in front of it without the beer.. been there and done that.. The cold beer enhances our vision immensely.


Good for you Rick.. New power, now go turn some diesel into black smoke.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: New engine Is installed!

Reply #10 –
That looks awesome! I agree the modern wraps are fantastic and don't take 6-8 weeks to do!.

Could you send me the website for the company that's doing this?

Thanks, Paul
Prior 2003 U295  40ft  400Hp -Sold
2020 F350 Tremor - Sold
2021 Bundutec Roadrunner - Sold
2017 Airstream Classic - Sold that POS
2017 F250 - Sold
2019 Sprinter Van - Sold
2022 Winnebago Revel 4x4


Army Airborne Vet.

Re: New engine Is installed!

Reply #11 –
Paul, The wrap is going on today and should be done by Sunday. At that time I will evaluate The job and if it meets  the standard that I expect I will then publish the name and contact info. of the company.
Rick Barna
St. Petersburg FL.
1998 U270 36'
Build # 5232
1972 CJ 5 Jeep