1984 35ft diesel Foretravel

[Outlaw45]

hi all. am new here so be good to me. i cry real easy.lol

it's ok, you can tell what you really think, i can take it.

my wife and i live in Bothell, WA and we are retired but do work part time for now until we sell our home. then we will buy a smaller one and buy a class a to live in Az during the winter months then come back home and travel around here.

so, i am looking at a 1984, 35ft diesel front engine with a V8 8.2 DD and a HD Allison 4 speed auto. i have not looked at it yet and need your thoughts on this. i know it's hard without seeing but just a general idea of what you all think of this unit. it has a 3rd axil with air.

ok, i am ready, let me have it. yes the pic's look really good and it does have the 80's look. thanks for your thoughts .

Outlaw

[Outlaw45]

i have had 39 views. thanks all for looking. is there not anyone here who owns a foretravel? i don't have any of the pic's of this unit to down load as yet. what i really want to know is what is your thoughts on the diesel V8 8.2 DD front engine and HD Allison 4 speed auto with a 3rd axil w/ air.

well hope i can get some answers about this. thanks all.

Outlaw

[parmm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outlaw45 i have had 39 views. thanks all for looking. is there not anyone here who owns a foretravel? i don't have any of the pic's of this unit to down load as yet. what i really want to know is what is your thoughts on the diesel V8 8.2 DD front engine and HD Allison 4 speed auto with a 3rd axil w/ air. well hope i can get some answers about this. thanks all. Outlaw

Lots of us have Foretravels. But you want to know about a older Foretravel, and that all depends on how well it was taken care of. You say that it has the 8.2 Detroit Diesel in it. That Detroit is called the Fuel Pincher and does not have the greatest reputation. It is know for having a turbo which blows up. And when turbos blow up they often do internal engine damage. And having said that, I know several that have Lots and Lots of miles on them without having that problem. One thing to remember, it does not have the Foretravel suspension under it. Most likely has a Oshkosh V-917 Frame rail type chassis. You need to get into a U225 or U240 to get into the Foretravel torsilastic Unihome monocoque suspension.

The Foretravel has always been top of the line motorhomes and there are many out there. Really you should have someone who really knows older Foretravel check it out before putting any money down.

For more info on the Foretravel Motorhomes, visit: FORETRAVEL Motorhomes service and Repair Information

and The Foretravel owners group forum:
Foretravel Owner's Forums -- ForeForums

[TXiceman]

I have seen lots of older Foretravels with well over 150K miles and still going strong. If the coach has been maintained there is not reason that it won't continue to run. One thing to remember is when you do have a problem with the larger diesel pushers, it is expensive to get them worked on. You may be looking at brake drums or a muffler.

Ken

[Outlaw45]

thanks guy's. sorry it took so long for me to answer. i just got back from twin falls,ID.

Outlaw

[Diesel Guy]

Hello I can;t tell you anything about your Foretravel chassis but the DD 8.2 I worked on them about 20 years ago rebuilt about 200 for the Canadian Army they are very old and i am sure not too many know anything about them they had head bolt problems yes i am sure there are a few around & some with very little problems but when you DO who going to repair it & will you be able to get parts personally I would look for something a little more newer engine wise,sorry best I can say.

[jholder]

Hello,
Just an opinion from someone who owns a 1983 Foretravel diesel pusher.
I love the Foretravel coach in any form! I have been through the factory several times and at one point was a transport driver for the company. I too saw the coach you are considering on craigslist (I believe) That is mounted on a Road-master Rail chassis with the 205 HP Turbo 8.2l DD. Now, Lots of folks say that engine is junk but, I make my living with them in the excavation business. I run them in dump trucks and road tractors and of course my beloved pride a joy '83 Foretravel. Now any engine is only as good as the care it receives. I have had to replace head gaskets on my dump truck but, lets face it it is a 1981 model with over 300k on it! If properly cared for this is a very capable motor coach engine and, its good on fuel. Now of course there are more powerful engines on the road but, in a 16-18k GVW like this Foretravel you are considering it will be fine. Shoot, my road tractor grosses out at 48k on a daily basis with that little 8.2l just a rolling along! 'Course it is hooked to a 13 speed tranny. I'd say go for it. The Foretravel is the best coach on the road. and the 8.2 aint bad as folks say it is. I know these old Foretravel coaches like the back of my hand and would love to chat with you about any questions you have.
James. jaholder76@yahoo.com

[Outlaw45]

James, thanks. glad you said something. i am also considering a 88 with a ford 460 and c6 tranny. 33ft, front engine and 456 gears. give your oppinon on the two. probably the 8.2l would be the better choise. thanks

Outlaw

[jholder]

Well,the Grand Villa is a bit more modern but, The diesel will perform better and the roadmaster chassis handles better than the john deere/oshkosh. The only drawback. Is the diesel NEEDS to be driven if you are going to sit for long spells than the gas may be better. The 460 is a fine engine a fairly inexpensive to maintain. The c6 is equally as good. Personally I prefer the diesel/allison but, again if you are sitting most of the year take a close look at the gas.

[Diesel Guy]

Hello I am not tell anyone what to buy or not to buy but as I former DDA mechainic with over 35 year exp.I overhauling over 200 8.2 I would buy something else engine wise, the engine is the heart of the unit and without you are kinda hooped the problem with the 8.2 is when they were designed the engine they formed the liners free standing meaning they were not connected to the top of the engine only at the bottom also when they first came out they had 14 mm head bolts as the engine ran the liners & heads moved causing head gasket to fail. At overhaul time the machine shop drilled out the head bolt holes to 15 mm to add move clamping force this did help but the engine was doomed with the free standing cyl bores. Also the later engines that came out with 15 mm head bolts from the factory. so you can guess what engine you would have in that unit and who will fix it down the road & with over 43 years as a Heavy duty mechanic eveything at some point in time will need work. and try and find a good DDA mechanic with 8.2 engine know how is like trying to find a hen with teeth. Again my thoughts take or leave it thanks for the time to reply Michael.

[Diesel Guy]

Hello one more input from me Diesel or Gas, Diesels are made to haul the goods, work horses, tough, long lasting, better miles per gal,you have something heavy thats what diesels are made for,but like everything in life you get what you pay for.

[Outlaw45]

well, i won't worry about that coach, it's not posted anymore. look's like someone else got it. want to thank all of you for posting. good stuff that other's can think about.

Outlaw

[jimkate]

As a lifetime diesel mechanic and diesel engine machinist, I have to agree with Diesel Guy. Those free standing liners in that engine would settle downward until the head gasket fire rings couldn't seal the compression any more. Detroit tried to 'solve' the problem by using bigger head bolts, but you can't bend a cylinder head down below the block deck to seal the head gasket fire rings.

We used to rebuild them by resurfacing the block deck until the top of the free standing liners was brought back up to the level of the block deck. But the nature of the beast meant that it would only last a while until the liners settled down again.

Long term, find a coach with a different engine. Just my humble diesel engine mechanic/machinist's opinion.

[Diesel Guy]

Hello JimKate thankyou for your support nice to know there are people who know their stuff Thanks again. Sorry Outlaw 45 but things work like that for a reason I believe you are better off without that 8.2 which down the road would have could have caused you lots of problems reguardless what some have said, I believe the engine is the heart of any unit you can wrap any body over it but with a bad heart to start with its no way to start RVing.