Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

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Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

August 15, 2021, 05:30:25 pm

Well, hopefully not a day late or dollar short. Just made offer on 1992 Foretravel Gand Villa and they accepted it! She has 159,000 on her but odometer shows only 59,000? 8.3 Cummins Had extensive work done to generator by Cummins Knoxville, new fridge, net water heater. has very bad leak on rear air bag so didn't get to drive, I know, probably stupid. I looked at bulk heads and they looked good, all gaps looked good. Very nervous, it's on facebook marketplace Knoxville. Redirecting...

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #1 – August 15, 2021, 05:59:43 pm

Quote from: 442john – August 15, 2021, 05:30:25 pm

Well, hopefully not a day late or dollar short. Just made offer on 1992 Foretravel Gand Villa and they accepted it! She has 159,000 on her but odometer shows only 59,000? 8.3 Cummins Had extensive work done to generator by Cummins Knoxville, new fridge, net water heater. has very bad leak on rear air bag so didn't get to drive, I know, probably stupid. I looked at bulk heads and they looked good, all gaps looked good. Very nervous, it's on facebook marketplace Knoxville. Redirecting...

Looks like a fun project. Hope you are young. You are at the right place for knowledge on this coach. A wealth of information is here and available. Good Luck and keep us informed, take lots of pictures.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #2 – August 15, 2021, 06:11:51 pm

Is the 92 a good coach? I'm not young anymore. She needs tires, Do you think this is too much?

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #3 – August 15, 2021, 07:02:22 pm

Yes, if the coach is in/can reasonably be brought back to top shape, an excellent choice.

Do you have the 4 speed or electronic 6 speed Allison transmission? 1992 was kind of the transition year.

As with any 29 year old vehicle, its "care and feeding" thorough the years counts.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #4 – August 15, 2021, 07:08:32 pm

Yes the 92 can be a great coach, that is the first year of the 102 wide body.it does have a flat roof so i will settle water on top so a secure roof is a must. As far as the bags go should not be to difficult. Just take your time . Good luck.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #5 – August 15, 2021, 07:10:01 pm

Not sure how much you paid.

Looks a lot like my 91 u300

I was super nervous too when I bought mine. Had few sleepless nights 😔. But no worries, the people on this forum will save you just like @stump saved me!

I think @stump bought his coach from Knoxville area too.

Changing the air bag is not hard at all. Just take the skirt off, the air bag will be right there. There are quite few detailed threads about it.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #6 – August 15, 2021, 07:25:05 pm

Quote from: 442john – August 15, 2021, 06:11:51 pm

Is the 92 a good coach? I'm not young anymore. She needs tires, Do you think this is too much?

No, it's not too much. If you have the check book there is factory and aftermarket support, but most things can be done by a talented amateur or the truck repair place. As far as replacing the air bags, if it's physically too much for you, $100 and the promise of food and beer (later) buys a lot of muscle.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #7 – August 15, 2021, 07:28:56 pm

Quote from: 442john – August 15, 2021, 06:11:51 pm

Is the 92 a good coach? I'm not young anymore. She needs tires, Do you think this is too much?

It may be a little late now, but buying without a forum member to do an inspection and needing tires, air bag, seems very risky, especially for someone "not young anymore." What else does it need? And without taking for a test drive? You have to ask how much other maintenance has been deferred.

When a CUPS repair can cost $10,000 or any internal engine repair $30,000, you can't be too careful, especially if you can't do the work yourself.

Pierce

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #8 – August 15, 2021, 07:33:58 pm

Yep, pretty stupid probably on my part. How much different is it to drive a wide body over a 96" wide coach? Never driven wide body, I thought this one was 96", guess I'm wrong. Is there anyone in Knoxville that could look it over? It's a little late, but if possible it'd be great. Should've thought of it sooner.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #9 – August 15, 2021, 08:03:52 pm

Quote from: 442john – August 15, 2021, 07:33:58 pm

How much different is it to drive a wide body over a 96" wide coach?

Not enough to notice going down the road. In a tight camp site yes maybe a little.. But if you have never drove anything but a 102" you won't have to worry about adjusting.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #10 – August 15, 2021, 08:11:29 pm

Get it looked at closer by someone who knows what to look for if you can. Not stupid imo. It's not like you bought a used one for 300k that could easily need 35k in repairs. Have some fun.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #11 – August 15, 2021, 08:17:30 pm

Thanks so much. I know a little and am learning MUCH MORE on this forum, which in future I hope I can help others. I don't understand how they're telling me it has 159,000 miles but only showing 59,000 miles? Anyone heard of this before? Digital miles too.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #12 – August 15, 2021, 08:22:39 pm

Quote from: 442john – August 15, 2021, 07:33:58 pm

Yep, pretty stupid probably on my part. How much different is it to drive a wide body over a 96" wide coach? Never driven wide body, I thought this one was 96", guess I'm wrong. Is there anyone in Knoxville that could look it over? It's a little late, but if possible it'd be great. Should've thought of it sooner.

I'm not trying to be mean and absolutely wish you the best luck. It's just that your coach is one year older than ours and that makes it almost 30 years old.

Come on members, if close, give this guy some help.

The best way to buy is spend lots and lots of time online researching models for pluses and minuses. And then, take your time finding just the right one. It can be an absolutely trouble free coach with only minor replacements needed in the next 20 years or it can be a very frustrating and costly experience. Luck has a little to do with it but mostly getting all ducks in a row before you pull the trigger.

I don't see much difference driving a 102" coach vs 96". We like the room in the 102" but 96" is also fine. Narrow is not a deal killer. Both have a blind spot on the road below and slightly forward of the passenger's seat.

Pierce

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #13 – August 15, 2021, 08:23:12 pm

Replaced mileage indictor.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #14 – August 15, 2021, 08:37:08 pm

John, where are you? I know you bought the coach in Knoxville, but many of us have traveled many miles to get our coaches.

Suggestion: do the shocks and air bags together. Unless you are either doing the work yourself or paying by the hour, you won't save much money, but you will have happier mechanics. With the air bags out it is much easier to change the shocks.

Now, update your signature and post pictures when you can.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #15 – August 15, 2021, 08:45:09 pm

The coach is in Oak Ridge. That's a very good idea to do both at same time. Thanks for suggesting that 👍. It could be a blown line going to air bag, just didn't check close enough.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #16 – August 15, 2021, 08:59:06 pm

The air could leak from the tank.

If the air tank is not drained regularly, it can rust from inside out. For mine, that is the main cause of the leak.

After fixed that the air bags can be inflated. Air bags are pretty tough, not unusual to see 30 years old still functioning air bag.

Fix the rust hole is pretty simple too, for me I tapped the hole lager then use the bolt to seal it. Works great!

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #17 – August 16, 2021, 08:44:29 am

I would be more concerned with the "needs work on the roof", then replacing air bags.

Roland

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #18 – August 16, 2021, 09:29:48 am

Quote from: Roland Begin – August 16, 2021, 08:44:29 am

I would be more concerned with the "needs work on the roof", then replacing air bags.

Roland

Because of the welded aluminum structure, roof repair is easy and straightforward.

Before I handed over my cash however I would want to run the DOT air brake test, and move the rig forward and backward a few feet under its own power just to make sure everything works at least that well.

The fuel bay door repair is ready for gel coat as soon as the rain stops.

Or you can read about my roof repair here. I learned many things I won't do again. But it wasn't a big deal, and "up there in age" is relative. I'm 65 and living with heart failure, Craneman is 78 and may be Lazarus himself. I can work on a project such as these 2 hours a day. And I won't stop.

U225 Roof Repair

The photo of the 46 by 48 inch skylight repair is just before gelcoat.

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #19 – August 16, 2021, 09:56:59 am

Some people are done at 40, others 90. I just saw a 101 year old doctor still practicing. Working on the roof can be really dangerous and you have to look in the mirror before tackling it. In a couple of years, I'll be 80 so I check everything really carefully before getting up there plus let my wife know where I'm going.

Plus, you have to have the background. The roof is not a good place to start learning.

Pierce

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #20 – August 16, 2021, 10:53:11 am

442 John,
I would try and get information from OWNER of this coach, May possibly get better/more information. I texted "seller", or should I say the guy who is helping the owner sell this unit, and mentioned back and forth for close to a day that it was very unlikely it was a 5.9 cummins.

If you can get to the actual owner, you may get some better history for future decisions on maintenance.

Could be a screaming good deal!!
Good Luck,
David

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #21 – August 16, 2021, 11:00:14 am

Yup, there WAS a Foretravel built in 1992 with a Cummins 5.9/B engine-- the U225. But only in 36' and on torsilastic suspension and rear radiator.

Any 40' 1992 Foretravel was either a U280 with Cummins 8.3/C engine OR U300 with Detroit Diesel 6V92.

And, if this is the owner selling it, and he doesn't even know what engine it has, I would be suspect of its "care and feeding"!

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #22 – August 16, 2021, 11:21:16 am

First post says 8.3

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #23 – August 16, 2021, 01:24:01 pm

So 442john is looking at a 40' 1992 Foretravel was either a U280 with Cummins 8.3/C?

Is this the entry level into that awesome air-bag suspension?

Re: Almost bought a 1992 Foretravel 40' Grand Villa [update from OP further down]

Reply #24 – August 16, 2021, 01:28:19 pm

Quote from: Old Toolmaker – August 16, 2021, 01:24:01 pm

So 442john is looking at a 40' 1992 Foretravel was either a U280 with Cummins 8.3/C?

Is this the entry level into that awesome air-bag suspension?

Yes, 8 outboard air bag, 8 shock suspension.

But, not sure I would describe it as "entry level".

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