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Topic: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind? (Read 2690 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #20 –
Well don't think I'm nose blind. But not to many 20+ year old fleetwoods and Winnebagos that run back and fourth across the country full time. The older F/T's, Beavers, Country Coach, and Monaco's are good solid machines yet today.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #21 –
The statement from the dealer is really off the wall, I can only believe he was sending someone up.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #22 –
IF you build a coach "over carpeting" you are a mass market product.  Cabinets on top of carpeting.  Gimp molding at the cabinet ceiling junction.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #23 –
Don't consider myself nose blind.  I have owned both, a 1996 bounder and a 1999 Foretravel.
The best way to experience it is to live it.
They all have their issues, but some have ALOT more issues than others. JMO
Jerry

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #24 –
Owned a 1999 gas Bounder and there is no comparison.  Had some great times in the Bounder with the kids and put 36k miles on it.  It was a rattle trap and could only drive it about 8 hrs and you were worn out. And that was 20 years ago.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #25 –
BOUNDER! "A great machine", you forget who made the comment, a guy who probably started out as a used car salesman! All he wants to do is SELL!
So many RV sales people have never gone camping , know nothing about RV's in general and are technically inept!
The old Bounders were a low end, budget coach if ever there was one.
Twenty year old BOUNDER vs FORETRAVEL, one still works, the other is dead or dying with a lot of water leaks at the corner joints!
If you believe that the BOUNDER is a better coach than a Foretravel, he must be one hell of a good salesman!
Seriously, an underpowered front engine, small holding tanks, a small cheap generator, bargain basement interior, RV shower and plastic basin, not much storage, all on a chassis that flexes, and if I am correct a wood framed shell,
Even a blind person can see the difference, why did they use a Bounder on Breaking Bad? Because people could laugh at it and wonder where you would find something so awful.
Everyone to his own, I love how well our 21 year old Foretravel rides, just got back from 925 miles in the Pennsylvania mountains over the week end, and it's KING!

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #26 –
This wasn't a Bounder, probably slightly better build quality. Fortunately the occupants survived.

No real structural integrity. Likely a shoebox fastened to the chassis by means of wood screws into the wood floor.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #27 –
Deplorable..... really ,,,
Ad us to the nose blind group. Pretty happy with our pointy nose GV also.

  And who the heck uses the water valve anyway. Go with direct fill and pump It out with the on board water pump, to be safe.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #28 –
One reason you see more of them is many are rentals.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #29 –
Quote from: "Irish" –

Seriously, an underpowered front engine, small holding tanks, a small cheap generator, bargain basement interior, RV shower and plastic basin, not much storage, all on a chassis that flexes, and if I am correct a wood framed shell,


When we needed to replace the Rockwood, I was resigned to flexible chassis, and sticks and staples construction.  But for the amount of money I wanted to spend I was looking at late 1990s Fleetowood Bounders.  I also wanted the V-10.  And just as the road to hell is paved with gold, and gently sloped I was budgeting $2,500 for that 100,000 mile spark plug change when Lynn innocently said, "Have you considered a Foretravel?"  I was sold on the Unihome frame.  Yes, just as it is with any limited production vehicle there are "issues," but I jumped on the best example that fit my wants and desires and have not looked back.

Yes I'd like a 6V92 but after 33 years of summertime driving the same 1950 Chrysler, I'm comfortable with the 5.9 Cummins and the 4-speed Allison.  Air bag suspension?  Very nice but the torsion bars are properly sized for the weight of the U225 and I'm o-kay with the stiff ride.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #30 –
Old TM,

I wonder if  new progressive rate shocks would do for your ride? That's part of the way that they get the cars with the ultra low profile tires to ride well. Not much flex on a tire only 2 inches from wheel to pavement.

Pierce

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #31 –
Have an 01 Excursion with a V-10,read up on the spark plugs,the $2500.00 is only if the threads get stripped,was an easy change,
get the plugs,for the price get a set of new coils,Let the engine sit OVERNIGHT,and soak in some penetrating oil,take your time and change the plugs,not rocket science.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #32 –
Quote from: John44 –
Have an 01 Excursion with a V-10,read up on the spark plugs,the $2500.00 is only if the threads get stripped,was an easy change,
get the plugs,for the price get a set of new coils,Let the engine sit OVERNIGHT,and soak in some penetrating oil,take your time and change the plugs,not rocket science.
John,

You have it. A friend of our neighbor did a plug change on his PU and then had to have it towed to the dealer to have the heads pulled. Like you said, overnight, something like Liquid Wrench and then out they come. Anytime the heads or a oil pan is made out of aluminum, you need a torque wrench to install them correctly and make sure the next time they are pulled, they don't take lots of aluminum with them.

If you do use anti-seize on the threads, a little goes a long way and reduce the torque by about 20%. Here is a discussion on it: No Anti Seize on NGK Spark Plugs For Aluminum Heads? | For B Bodies Only.... 4 thread aluminum heads only get about 11 ft.lbs.

Pierce

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #33 –
When I put the new plugs in I used a 1/4 inch ratchet and if you do reuse the plugs get new washers.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #34 –
Steel plugs into aluminum heads, turn them anti clockwise slowly till they drop into the thread pattern. Wish I had a dollar for every small engine aluminum head that I've had to fix, heli coil or scrap bin mmm, had a rental store.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #35 –
And, by HAND.  If too deep to reach by hand, slip a hose over the top/outer end and start it that way.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #36 –
Two different levels/classes of motorhomes.. Assumed we all knew that before now.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #37 –
Quote from: John44 –
Have an 01 Excursion with a V-10,read up on the spark plugs,the $2500.00 is only if the threads get stripped,was an easy change,
get the plugs,for the price get a set of new coils,Let the engine sit OVERNIGHT,and soak in some penetrating oil,take your time and change the plugs,not rocket science.

Well, I passed on the Fleetwood Bounder and am happy with my 5.9 Cummins.  But I am the proud owner of a shiny new M12 X 1.25 TiCN coated thread forming tap because after all of the above, over the period of a week, I found the tap had an aluminum bug welded in at the start of its thread and I wound that all the way out.  Luckily reforming the threads saved my bacon.  The first generation Honda V-4 motorcycle engine is like working on a watch.

FWIW the problem was that the spark plug center electrode broke and was arcing to the side of the shell, right where the bug formed.  About 30,000 miles ago.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #38 –
Quote from: Dub –
Two different levels/classes of motorhomes.. Assumed we all knew that before now.

I honestly did not believe that anything less than a bus conversion could be built this well.

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Old TM,

I wonder if  new progressive rate shocks would do for your ride? That's part of the way that they get the cars with the ultra low profile tires to ride well. Not much flex on a tire only 2 inches from wheel to pavement.

Pierce

Yeah, about those shocks.  When that task surfaces I'll deal with it, but for now there is no dampening on the front.

Re: Are Foretravel Owners Nose Blind?

Reply #39 –
No Koni FSD's for the U225 and U240.  The Koni shocks are the red/brown adjustable shocks (rebound dampening is what is adjustable).  The suggestions on the Koni website are from our coach in working with one of Koni's engineers.  This was before FSD's. 

Not enough volume in the U225 and U240 line to warrant marketing a unique shock.

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