U225 - U300 coaches

Topic: U225 - U300 coaches (Read 1986 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #25 – October 14, 2022, 02:48:00 pm

Torsilastic parts are made in Leon Mexico and there are still many busses with this system. A 94 gv 240 is ideal rig to go with and if anything does stop working Mexican mechanics can fix it, on the road side.
We had no issues using our 2000 U 295 all over Mexico and up many rough mountain tracks especially thru Oaxaca and Chiapas states.
We traveled on our own and never once had an issue needing to be in a group setting.
Johnh

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #26 – February 01, 2023, 06:33:11 pm

I have stumbled across a 86 ORED (cat 3208 ) by happenstance. The current owner doesn't know much about it other than the tires are 6 years old and the genny and engine work well. Interior looks great, has a new AC unit, fridge, and hot water heater.

How much of a hurtin' am I asking for with this? Would you say the '$10k in your first year' rule still applies to these older coaches? If I go check this thing out, what do I need to be on the look out for?

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #27 – February 01, 2023, 07:18:40 pm

[quote author=Elliott link=msg=465056 date=167529439
How much of a hurtin' am I asking for with this? Would you say the '$10k in your first year' rule still applies to these older coaches? If I go check this thing out, what do I need to be on the look out for?
[/quote]
Only if you can't do your own work. If the coach is in good shape and not corroded, it can be cheap. In over 15 years, our mandatory repairs have been under $3000 including new tires for the entire time. But, buy a coach with a bad engine and $30,000 can take wings quickly. Sometimes no matter how good things look, snake eyes comes up. And occasionally, more than once.

The price of used motorhomes has really come down after the pandemic so this one should be cheap with mid-winter dropping the price even more.

Pierce

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #28 – February 01, 2023, 07:48:42 pm

That would be on an Oshkosh chassis, so no bulk head issues. 4 speed transmission, no retarder.

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #29 – February 01, 2023, 08:02:43 pm

What can you guys tell me about the cat engine in these? A major issue there or in the transmission is the only thing I don't think I could repair myself.

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #30 – February 01, 2023, 09:13:11 pm

Quote from: Elliott – February 01, 2023, 08:02:43 pm

What can you guys tell me about the cat engine in these? A major issue there or in the transmission is the only thing I don't think I could repair myself.

I too saw that coach. Fun to look at but then got distracted by a squirrel or something. I have a tranny guy that can handle the trans (95% sure) so dont worry about that. Get me the trans info and ill check for you.
No towing capacity
Its a lot of work on every old vehicle, I would recommend seeing what the resale value is and you may find a better return on investment on a newer coach.
Think the difference between a four door 50s Lincoln and a two door. Same cost and time to repair but when your done one is worth 13k and the other is worth 45k

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #31 – February 01, 2023, 09:19:24 pm

Quote from: dsd – February 01, 2023, 09:13:11 pm

I too saw that coach. Fun to look at but then got distracted by a squirrel or something. I have a tranny guy that can handle the trans (95% sure) so dont worry about that. Get me the trans info and ill check for you.
No towing capacity
Its a lot of work on every old vehicle, I would recommend seeing what the resale value is and you may find a better return on investment on a newer coach.
Think the difference between a four door 50s Lincoln and a two door. Same cost and time to repair but when your done one is worth 13k and the other is worth 45k

Good points and thanks. And yes, I saw he posted it online tonight. I have been talking to him about it for a couple days now but I guess the cats out of the bag

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #32 – February 01, 2023, 11:42:58 pm

On the other hand, GVs are known for being well built coaches and I can think of several other owners who, like us, have never had any kind of major problem with the coach other than occasional bulkhead damage which does not even apply to this ORED coach. For someone thinking about Mexico as Elliot mentioned, it's a lot easier to not buy comp insurance and not worry about a $7K coach being totalled. We don't have hull coverage and while losing our coach to an accident would be dissapointing, it would not be the end of the world.

Pierce

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #33 – February 03, 2023, 07:40:55 am

Quote from: Elliott – February 01, 2023, 09:19:24 pm

Good points and thanks. And yes, I saw he posted it online tonight. I have been talking to him about it for a couple days now but I guess the cats out of the bag

Well we couldn't come to an agreement on price so the search for an ORED continues.

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #34 – February 03, 2023, 07:49:14 am

Elliott are you looking to replace your U320 or add to your collection?

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #35 – February 03, 2023, 07:59:32 am

Quote from: Geodmann – February 03, 2023, 07:49:14 am

Elliott are you looking to replace your U320 or add to your collection?

Right now we're looking to add to the collection.

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #36 – February 03, 2023, 08:11:31 am

Only issues we had with our ORED 1992 was driveline brake and hydraulic emergency brake actuator if engine cut out. It had hydraulic brakes.
Rest was updating etc, but a great coach to start with.
Johnh

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #37 – February 03, 2023, 08:20:49 am

Quote from: Geodmann – February 03, 2023, 07:49:14 am

Elliott are you looking to replace your U320 or add to your collection?

Maybe this is a good starting point for your build:

https://www.meritor.com/applications/truck

I'm looking forward to seeing a Foretravel Grand Villa lifted and with 4-wheel drive sitting on all-terrain tires.

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #38 – February 03, 2023, 08:23:19 am

Elliott,

If you are looking for a narrow body (a good idea for travel south of the border), don't rule out the U225 and U240. All U225's were narrow and all the U240's except 1995 were narrow bodies.

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #39 – February 03, 2023, 08:26:26 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – February 03, 2023, 08:23:19 am

Elliott,

If you are looking for a narrow body (a good idea for travel south of the border), don't rule out the U225 and U240. All U225's were narrow and all the U240's except 1995 were narrow bodies.

Are those narrow bodies still on an oshkosh chassis or do they come with bulkhead concerns?

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #40 – February 03, 2023, 08:36:43 am

Quote from: Elliott – February 03, 2023, 08:26:26 am

Are those narrow bodies still on an oshkosh chassis or do they come with bulkhead concerns?

They are unibodies, so, yes the bulkheads need to be checked. But, with the smaller motors and no retarders, bulkheads are not put in as much strain. U225 had Cummins B 230 HP and 4 speed hydraulic trans. U240 had Caterpillar 3116 and all but the very early ones were side radiator and Allison 3000 series 6 speed transmissions.

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #41 – February 03, 2023, 08:36:56 am

I may be wrong but do not think they have issues. Torsilastic on some, spring on my 92, and limited to 36 ft, again may be wrong. Brett will know.
Johnh (in England still)

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #42 – February 03, 2023, 09:08:39 am

To add to Brett's comments about strain on the bulkheads, the Torsilastic suspension is mounted totally different than the air suspension coaches. This alone puts the loading up higher along with the shorter bulkheads there is a lot less loading down low. Now if the coach has been driven in in salted roads and neglected then all bets are off on the bulkheads integrity.

Mike

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #43 – February 03, 2023, 11:07:12 am

Quote from: Elliott – February 03, 2023, 07:40:55 am

Well we couldn't come to an agreement on price so the search for an ORED continues.

Probably a good decision. Photos make everything look better than it is.
P

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #44 – February 03, 2023, 12:36:57 pm

Quote from: Elliott – February 03, 2023, 07:40:55 am

Well we couldn't come to an agreement on price so the search for an ORED continues.

You really want an ORED for what you and the Missus are planning to do.
The U225 has a torsion bar mounted at right angles to the axle just inside the wheels. That combined with front and rear sway bars means the cornering is squeal the tire awesome and the spring rate of a torsion bar is different from leaf and coil springs and definitely air bags. Many luxury automobiles used torsion bar suspension for the ride quality. Chrysler Imperial and Packard Caribbean are two that spring to mind. There's a reason B.F. Goodrich was able to advertise their rubber mounted torsion bar system as "Velvet Ride."
No you really want a leaf springed ORED chassis because I want to see you build a Foretravel with which you can break your neck upon exit.
And FWIW the Alison 643 in the U225, while not as sexy as the 6-speed does give you six discrete speeds at which you can drive efficiently if you count the torque converter lock up in 3rd and 4th.

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #45 – February 03, 2023, 12:56:52 pm

Not sure I agree on eliminating the U225 and U240 from "back mountain road driving in Mexico" (which I assume is the use Elliott is contemplating).

I say that with around 50,000 miles in Mexico in our U240. Some of it on serious back switchback mountain roads (like to Ocampo to visit the Monarch Butterfly Preserve and just north of that Los Azufres, their geothermal area). Did just fine. Never popped a windshield or did anything else untoward.

Liftied and all wheel drive?? Way past my pay grade. But if contemplating that, leaf spring ORED is probably the way to go. But, wonder where you are thinking of taking any diesel pusher that you would need those kinds of mods.

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #46 – February 20, 2023, 10:39:54 am

Quote from: Pamela & Mike – October 12, 2022, 04:17:31 pm

225/240 were 96" wide all but the last few bult. They all have Torsilastic spring systems and there are a lot of parts available south of the border. The last year had the world trans. but there isn't a problem with the 4 speed either as there is a lot of shade tree people can fix one of them without a computer. Build quality is the same as all built during that time frame.

Could one of you please give me a crash course in Torsilastic suspension? How do they work and roughly which years were they available in Foretravels? My googlefu hasn't come up with much in the way of explanations. The 87 ORED I just bought has bags and shocks (two on each axle). This is NOT a Torsilastic suspension correct?

I'm trying to read through Brett's post from many moons ago but don't think it even applies to me. None the less, I'd like to understand the suspension referenced there: Torsilastic suspension recommendations

Thanks

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #47 – February 20, 2023, 11:04:31 am

U225's and U240's had the Torsilastic suspension. Nothing for you to burden your mind with

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #48 – February 20, 2023, 11:05:12 am

The torsilastic suspension takes the place of air bags. Yours doesn't have it. Think torsion rod suspension on some early Chrysler cars and Chevy C-10 trucks.

Re: U225 - U300 coaches

Reply #49 – February 20, 2023, 12:36:38 pm

While Mexico has a lot of first rate highways, there are lots of more remote destinations like Brett is describing with twisting climbing roads. But, all of these destinations are served by buses, lots of buses. I can't imagine a destination requiring lifting and all wheel drive. I've not found a road yet served by Mexican tour buses that I would not take our U300 on. We've even driven unpaved roads to the beach after watching the tour buses take the road first. No cracked windshields yet (fingers crossed).

[Off-topic comments removed - Michelle]

Pierce

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