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Topic: Front Entry (Read 1730 times) previous topic - next topic

Front Entry

I have installed a wooden front entry in the Foretravel. I purchased commercial grade wood that has its color all the way through and has a hardened finish on the top. It is still looking good almost two years later.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Front Entry

Reply #1 –
Very nice, John.  Do you do this on the side for ForeForum friends? :))
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Front Entry

Reply #2 –
John,
I just finished putting a tile floor in. Besides pulling the seats (hard to get to the nuts under the coach), I found the steering wheel & brake to be challenging.  Trying to do FT level of work, fitting the edges under the dash and around the furniture, and making the walnut wire run covers require professional level tools and expertise, or patience and determination.
Did you have fun?
I tiled the whole coach.  Carpeting does not belong on a boat or in a RV.  Rugs are OK!
IMHO
Michael Baldacchino
'97 40' U320

Re: Front Entry

Reply #3 –
I had a difference of opinion with Ft about IFS and a Nimbus. I asked to have a new Nimbus with IFS and delete a slide and they said no, if you want to delete a slide it is a custom and if you want IFS you have to buy a Phenix so I bought an 2001 and gutted it really.  I have replaced the drivers and passenger seats the couches the table and chairs the small desk that is behind the passenger the carpet and sat system the TVs and added a WIFI router/booster and replace the radio with the panasonic avic Z2 with gps and xm and backup camera. I have redone the bedroom and put in electric blinds that are room darkening and have a window boxes around them made out of Cherry. I have a pair of electric front shades as well.  I have replace all the outside marker lights with LED and had Xtreme do the headlight conversion.  I am thinking about the rear doors and a fuel door.  I have also learned way way too much about HWH slides. I had delam on my slide and replaced the bladder while they were out. I had three boxes fail and learned about the hidden 40 amp fuse that will release the pins.  Wally Swest was at the 2009 rally in Williamsburg and he had an issue his slide would not go out, I laughed and said I can fix it.  He said how and I said I will show you. We found the fuse and pulled  it and cleaned it off and did a continuity check on it. It was good so we put it back after cleaning the crud off it and lo and behold the pins retracted and the the slide went out. I know about fixing that T shaped sensor on the pins and how to fix the box so I can drive with the level light on and the constant dinging that you have to tape over so you can think.  It has been a learning experience. I have also changed the starting wiring on my coach so it runs directly from the battery to the starter and no longer have that hesitation.  It has been a learning process that i hoped I would not have had. I guess I like the lifestyle enough to stay with it for a sane man would have thrown in the towel long ago.

In other FTs I have replaced the radiator and the Aquahot and have learned way too much about driving large units in very tight and narrow spaces and in very heavy traffic. I followed a friend across the GW bridge in NYC at rush hour and it only cost me 30 bucks.....

Then again, I have made wonderful friends and seen this great country. I guess now that we have a remodel section, I will have to post some of my older pictures of my remodel. Feel free to ask, I may have already done it....
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Front Entry

Reply #4 –
Quote from: purplehazembdb –
John,
I just finished putting a tile floor in. Besides pulling the seats (hard to get to the nuts under the coach), I found the steering wheel & brake to be challenging.  Trying to do FT level of work, fitting the edges under the dash and around the furniture, and making the walnut wire run covers require professional level tools and expertise, or patience and determination.
Did you have fun?
I tiled the whole coach.  Carpeting does not belong on a boat or in a RV.  Rugs are OK!
IMHO

I agree with you but with my slide I found I needed to have carpet or the slide would scratch the tile or wood. I have wood and tile most of the coach but in the center and the bedroom I have the new carpet.  I was told by a number of People that wood floors or tile in the bedroom would make the engine noise much louder.  I did not do it so I have no way of knowing how much it is or is not louder.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Front Entry

Reply #5 –
Quote from: John Sichenze –
I agree with you but with my slide I found I needed to have carpet or the slide would scratch the tile or wood. I have wood and tile most of the coach but in the center and the bedroom I have the new carpet.  I was told by a number of People that wood floors or tile in the bedroom would make the engine noise much louder.  I did not do it so I have no way of knowing how much it is or is not louder.

John,

Sometime when you have the time, could you put up a photo and/or description of where the 40 amp fuse is located?  While I hope I never have to do it, it would be nice to know where it is located and what it looks like.

Great story about all that you have done on your coach. Someday when you buy another coach, this one will make someone very happy.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Front Entry

Reply #6 –
THey are not in the same location for each coach. You need to look for a 40 am fuse if the pump comes on but the pins do not release. It is in the line from the board to the pump and mine was inside a wire loom.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Front Entry

Reply #7 –
Quote
I have also changed the starting wiring on my coach so it runs directly from the battery to the starter and no longer have that hesitation.

I never thought about the hesitation when starting - just thought it was normal for the big diesels - (this is my first).  So it is caused by something before the starter.

Can you (or anyone) tell me more about this?    What are the issues about changing the wiring - pro and con?
Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee

Re: Front Entry

Reply #8 –
Larry,
It might depend on your coach.  I have not gotten back there to look, but my schematic show a direct run.  Some might go to a terminal strip which can be eliminated.

Bigger wires might get rid of the hesitation, or cleaning the terminals/connections.
Michael Baldacchino
'97 40' U320

Re: Front Entry

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Larry Rubin –
Quote
I have also changed the starting wiring on my coach so it runs directly from the battery to the starter and no longer have that hesitation.

I never thought about the hesitation when starting - just thought it was normal for the big diesels - (this is my first).  So it is caused by something before the starter.

Can you (or anyone) tell me more about this?    What are the issues about changing the wiring - pro and con?

Larry, if you have a 295 you have an ISC or and ISL and they did not have the issue that ISM engines have. I am at at Foretravel motorcade rally this weekend and there are a couple coaches who have already completed the extra wiring directly to the starter. There is a junction box that goes between the start batteries and the isolator and that is where we are losing the power. SO by bypassing that directly we can get move amps to the starter and it turns over faster. In fact now with my new cables and my new starter and the upgraded ECM it turns over faster without the boost switch than it ever could with the boost switch on.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Front Entry

Reply #10 –
Well, I can attest that even on an older 295 with mechanical 8.3, if you don't check and clean/tighten the terminals and connections in the starting circuit, she'll get "slow" to start.
Steve & Ginny Hill
96 U295 36'/Wrangler
Tampa

Re: Front Entry / slow to start

Reply #11 –
Re: slow to start
I guess I'll have to have someone who knows what "normal" is to tell me if my coach starts slowly.  I do have an ISL
Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee

Re: Front Entry

Reply #12 –
Larry,
I agree with Steve, and, as I said previously, clean terminals and connections are a must.  A lot of amps have to go between the battery & starter through the wires and connections.  A dirty/corroded connection is a kink in the water hose.

Get to know your that coach is in good hands, yours, when you get in there find them, pull them apart, clean them, and put them back together right.

And, you are getting paid to learn! (consider what you saved by not having to pay someone $100 an hour to do it as a salary!)
Michael Baldacchino
'97 40' U320

Re: Front Entry

Reply #13 –
Quote
Get to know your that coach is in good hands, yours, when you get in there find them, pull them apart, clean them, and put them back together right.

I have two daughters, neither of which was ever interested in getting dirty working around cars or machinery, so when I had the chance to help my son in law with fixing an electric window lift on his car, I was ecstatic.  Finally, I had the chance to be a shade tree mechanic with a son!

He has a younger brother and a mechanically oriented father so the 3 of them had been getting dirty together for years.  When I toasted him that night and told him how great it was to get dirty with my new son, he was clueless.  My wife and daughter got the joke right away and laughed and laughed.
Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee