Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Topic: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise (Read 2350 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #25 – August 12, 2020, 04:59:17 pm

The 3208T should be a good engine. Lots of cubes so reasonable engine braking on downgrades. Dash AC is worthless in my opinion. We just run the roof AC if needed while driving. This one looks really nice. Should be able to get 10 mpg if you don't go too fast and not too many hills.

Pierce

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #26 – August 12, 2020, 05:23:26 pm

I haven't seen any post on brake system issues with these coaches, is there anything to look out for there beyond normal servicing? Any systemic/design issues? Same question for steering?

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #27 – August 12, 2020, 05:26:32 pm

I have read about several coach owerners who use and enjoy the dash air. Hope their right after replacing a few parts recently in anticipation of firing it up.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #28 – August 12, 2020, 05:33:36 pm

Quote from: Bob & Sue – August 12, 2020, 05:26:32 pm

I have read about several coach owerners who use and enjoy the dash air. Hope their right after replacing a few parts recently in anticipation of firing it up.

I am not alone in having good dash air. It isn't rocket science but needs someone with auto truck A/C experience.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #29 – August 12, 2020, 05:52:00 pm

My dash air works perfectly....'93 GV

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #30 – August 12, 2020, 05:57:21 pm

Quote from: len.barron – August 12, 2020, 02:10:34 pm

Is the dry/curb weight for these listed anywhere? I haven't been able to track that down...some anecdotal stuff that suggest 20-22klbs is all I've seen.

These are the only weight listings I am aware of. Take a test drive and run it over a truck scales for a ballpark figure.

Foretravel Vehicle Weight

1988 Foretravel Grand Villa U280 Specifications

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #31 – August 12, 2020, 05:58:47 pm

I have to laugh at the comment 'snow belt coach' and it's connotations. Our coach came from San Diego and of course we live in the Okanagan Valley of BC Canada so I guess this qualifies us as snow belt. The odd thing is that in the almost 12 yrs we have had it the only snow it has seen was an overnight snow storm that left 14 " on top of it while heading down south for our usual winter jaunt. Now the snow came down while we were in Northern California just about in Hornbrook while on I 5.
So does this qualify as a snow belt coach now even though it has not seen any while driving north of the Border?
It was also gone within 24 hrs.
I believe that most Bulkhead / Rust issues are more inclined to be the result of carelessness with water tank levels and bad house keeping-of bay floors From spills etc.
JohnH

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #32 – August 12, 2020, 06:27:24 pm

My RV.org rating book only has the 1990 year but I think they are very similar:
36 ft U280 SBID floorplan, Cat engine:
28,000 GVW
Ave. curb: 23331 lbs.
Net payload: 4669 lbs.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #33 – August 12, 2020, 06:52:40 pm

My 88 is Oshkosh. Not sure if the brakes are the same . Decent but not super.
Wedge rear, cam front.
My nose weight is sub 8500.
I have modernized many systems. Air dryer, Fuel filters, Fridge,Interior lights to led, Tile floor,.
The engine and trans have been sweet. Little shutter at 4th gear lockup. Slight gear whine at 68MPH, so I drive about 63. Gets 10 ish mpg.
The water tank is prone to fall out of the fiberglass floor. I built a frame to mount it directly on the frame rails.
I also rebuilt the cap seams with structural glue and rivits instead of the sorry screws. Plus many other corrections.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #34 – August 12, 2020, 07:13:09 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – August 12, 2020, 05:58:47 pm

So does this qualify as a snow belt coach now even though it has not seen any while driving north of the Border?
It was also gone within 24 hrs.
I believe that most Bulkhead / Rust issues are more inclined to be the result of carelessness with water tank levels and bad house keeping-of bay floors From spills etc.
JohnH

You live the the maritime climate where everything is good and everyone has salmon for dinner. Did you ever watch the movie Fargo? Not that I would stuff anyone in a wood chipper.

I remember going across the Northern States in winter where at Yellowstone, the rare to be seen Rocky Mountain goats were blocking the road licking up the salt. Further east, the parking lots were full of cars with rotted rocker panels and the bottom of doors with huge rust areas. In a Foretravel, the sure tip off besides the bulkhead is the bottom of the side radiator usually at the front. If it has rot, it's a sure sign it's seen snow.

Pierce

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #35 – August 12, 2020, 08:29:34 pm

Quote from: craneman – August 12, 2020, 05:33:36 pm

I am not alone in having good dash air. It isn't rocket science but needs someone with auto truck A/C experience.

Not that I would mind having the dash AC but it's 100 degrees here every day and there are no flat roads in our parts of the Sierras. Our cooling system is marginal in summer and I don't want to load it any more with the compressor. Going to pull the condenser out of the nose so I can put a radiator up there with the heater hose for a supply.

Runs nice and cool in 3 seasons but we don't need AC then.

Pierce

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #36 – August 12, 2020, 10:25:14 pm

I liked the coach, I offered 20k a year ago, J.D didn't want to budge much, needed tires, then the radiator had to be replaced. Then I lost interest with the 250 hp CAT and propane generator. I do believe this one is the one in Tallahassee, Fl. It is right for someone, and the exterior condition looks great. Could make a great coach if a few things were changed.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #37 – August 13, 2020, 02:36:18 am

I drove a 250 car/643 Allison that the Texan had a marine shop in Galveston bolt on a marine twin turbo top end on the stock bottom end. Only drove it hard when in fourth locked up.

Impressive

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #38 – August 13, 2020, 07:04:24 am

We keep finding potential owners excited about old coaches with very low mileage. This coach was only driven 1600 miles a year. Or was it? Since you have the maintenance records you should have the answer. Was it used regularly? Lubricants replaced on schedule? Old tires make me wonder. If the records show that it was stored for many years then be careful.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #39 – August 13, 2020, 01:11:13 pm

Quote from: amos.harrison – August 13, 2020, 07:04:24 am

We keep finding potential owners excited about old coaches with very low mileage. This coach was only driven 1600 miles a year. Or was it? Since you have the maintenance records you should have the answer. Was it used regularly? Lubricants replaced on schedule? Old tires make me wonder. If the records show that it was stored for many years then be careful.

I know for sure it has not been used(just started and locally exercised) regularly. Owner states it has been 3-ish years since his last trip. I would be a lot happier if it had more miles and more recent usage...the best thing for a coach is to be used. John Hobbs is correct this is JC's coach in Tallahassee, generator is still an issue and likely would require replacement; when you don't use them for exceptionally long periods then use them hard once (on dirty brushes and slip rings) you tend to damage the stator. I would probably just convert to a modern Cummins/onan unit...they are a lot quieter/more efficient. Tires are still the same...and I agree...the biggest problem (for me) is the 250 cat and 643 trans...if it was a 300 cat/647 trans I'd be a lot more aggressive in pursuing it. Adding the Charge air Cooler and turning up the fuel isn't a huge obstacle, the strength difference between the 643 and the 647 is...so...I'd have to be willing to baby it until I was ready to do the ISL repower.. The main attraction of this coach is the preservation of being indoor kept for the past 20yrs and the fact that it is the narrow track (which I prefer)...I'm also still actively looking at other coaches.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #40 – August 13, 2020, 01:22:10 pm

The 250 Cat with the fuel up one notch and the revlimit up to 2600 , along with muffler delete, is plenty fast. I turned my fuel back down.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #41 – August 13, 2020, 01:37:11 pm

Just noticed a low time rebuilt 3208T on Sacramento FB Marketplace for $1000 OBO. Photo is of a 3208. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2066212456847947

Pierce

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #42 – August 31, 2020, 10:04:39 am

JC and I agreed on a deal for the coach (88 GV U280) above. I won't pick it up until late Sept/early October but will be working to learn as much as possible between now and then.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #43 – September 09, 2020, 10:07:55 am

Part of the deal on this coach was for the owner to take it out on a 200mile roadtest and report back/deal with any mechanically limiting issues. He completed that Sunday and sent me a shot of the gauges at hwy speed mid trip. Voltage appears a good 1vdc lower than it should be, trans temp is very concerning, he lives in the flats of north florida and the rig is unloaded; it should (to my thinking) be tracking right with the engine coolant temp, 240dg is pulling a load up a grade on a hot day-hot...hot! He had the radiator recored last year (engine coolant temp confirms that is working well) but I'm concerned they may have boogered up the trans cooler and somehow clogged it...this is the first extended drive he had since that work. Otherwise he reported it drove perfectly, shifts were consistent and appropriately firm no other problems at all. Any other thoughts on this?

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #44 – September 09, 2020, 10:25:01 am

Volts: Yes, somewhat low. Looking for a little over 14 volts at that RPM. If he had the headlights on (especially the high beams) then the voltage at 13 could be OK.

Trans temp: Yes - way high. On our coach (different transmission) the trans temp, even when really working hard, never exceeds engine temp. (We do not have a retarder) Might just be a bad gauge, but certainly needs to be addressed. Would have been informative to smell the tranny fluid immediately after engine shutdown. If it smelled like "burned toast" - not a good sign.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #45 – September 09, 2020, 10:31:52 am

Hours vs miles = 29 mph avg...idle time? Oil pressure seems high for engine temp.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #46 – September 09, 2020, 10:33:05 am

Yes, Oil pressure does seem high.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #47 – September 09, 2020, 10:40:29 am

Quote from: Doug W. – September 09, 2020, 10:31:52 am

Oil pressure seems high for engine temp.

I had thought that too...but...after some searching found a lot of 3208 owners who report 80-90psi.
Hrs to miles is about what I had expected, the owner has been real clear that this rig has been stored inside and just run around the block occasionally for the past many years.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #48 – September 09, 2020, 10:42:08 am

That's the same pressure that my '85 crane with a 3208 has at operating temp. Pegs the gauge cold.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #49 – September 09, 2020, 10:50:33 am

Not sure on your year but if you don't have transmission lockup, the transmission temp will go up on grades. I notice a big difference on ours in town where we are in first and second sightseeing. About 190 degrees on the highway but after a half hour in San Francisco, over 200 degrees.

Don't take the dash readings for voltage or temp as fact. Use a voltmeter at the dash lighter plug and also at the batteries.

Pierce

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