Last spring I purchased a partially restored '91 Foretravel 36' Grand Villa ORED with the intent of finishing the resto with a few modifications to change it from a high end MH meant for a full timing couple to a four season camper for a family of five.
We took it on a few trips last year including a 600 mile jaunt through Ohio, which included driving through a thunderstorm with 40 to 60 MPH crosswinds which really made me appreciate the stability of the heavy Oshkosh chassis.
Early this year I started to work in earnest on the upgrades and modifications. The first thing to go was the Sony cassette deck head unit and the nearly shot in-dash CRT monitor for the Audit system and back up camera. Both units were replaced by a single DIN Pioneer CD/DVD player with a flip up LCD screen, I clipped the bayonet connector off of the Audit system and replaced it with a male RCA plug which went into the video in port on the head unit. Now I have a very clear picture of what's behind me and a great sounding radio with iPod in. The original 12 Volt CRT television followed the radio and was replaced by a 19" Hitachi LED TV on an articulated arm mount and a 400 watt modified sine wave inverter.
Next I removed the defunct Kool-O-Matic fan and replaced it with a MAXXAIR TurboMaxx unit with which I am extremely pleased, it moves a truly astounding amount of air on less than half of the amperage drawn by the Kool-O-Matic. Tomorrow I will be replacing the dead vent fan in the bathroom with a new Fantastic Fan unit. After Memorial Day Weekend camping with friends I'll be deep sixing the recliner and swivel chair and replacing them with a second jack knife sofa to provide comfortable sleeping space for the three kids and a friend or two.
Future modifications include deciding what I am going to do with the little entertainment center in the bedroom, we're not big TV watchers so I think I'm going to yank the TV and convert the whole deal into a small wine/ liquor rack. Replacing the aging Audit system with a modern SeeLevel or equivalent tank monitoring system and installing heat blankets under the grey and black tanks for full four season capability are also on the books. As some point I am going to have to decide what to do about the exterior, which looks good from afar, but up close the striping and gelcoat are far from good. I have an idea involving a matte tan or khaki paint job and big eyes and shark teeth like a Cobra gunship, unfortunately my spouse has declared that said paint job may also involve a divorce attorney : (. Finally I suspect the engine will have to be dealt with eventually, it's currently running a Detroit 8.2TL Fuel Pincher, which runs great and gets 11.5 MPG, but at 210HP and about 500 ft/lb torque is pretty light on the power side for a coach that runs 20,000 lb wet and loaded.
I'm sure the modifications and upgrades will be an ongoing process for a few years to come, but hey, it's fun and it keeps me from running the streets!
MDH
We took it on a few trips last year including a 600 mile jaunt through Ohio, which included driving through a thunderstorm with 40 to 60 MPH crosswinds which really made me appreciate the stability of the heavy Oshkosh chassis.
Early this year I started to work in earnest on the upgrades and modifications. The first thing to go was the Sony cassette deck head unit and the nearly shot in-dash CRT monitor for the Audit system and back up camera. Both units were replaced by a single DIN Pioneer CD/DVD player with a flip up LCD screen, I clipped the bayonet connector off of the Audit system and replaced it with a male RCA plug which went into the video in port on the head unit. Now I have a very clear picture of what's behind me and a great sounding radio with iPod in. The original 12 Volt CRT television followed the radio and was replaced by a 19" Hitachi LED TV on an articulated arm mount and a 400 watt modified sine wave inverter.
Next I removed the defunct Kool-O-Matic fan and replaced it with a MAXXAIR TurboMaxx unit with which I am extremely pleased, it moves a truly astounding amount of air on less than half of the amperage drawn by the Kool-O-Matic. Tomorrow I will be replacing the dead vent fan in the bathroom with a new Fantastic Fan unit. After Memorial Day Weekend camping with friends I'll be deep sixing the recliner and swivel chair and replacing them with a second jack knife sofa to provide comfortable sleeping space for the three kids and a friend or two.
Future modifications include deciding what I am going to do with the little entertainment center in the bedroom, we're not big TV watchers so I think I'm going to yank the TV and convert the whole deal into a small wine/ liquor rack. Replacing the aging Audit system with a modern SeeLevel or equivalent tank monitoring system and installing heat blankets under the grey and black tanks for full four season capability are also on the books. As some point I am going to have to decide what to do about the exterior, which looks good from afar, but up close the striping and gelcoat are far from good. I have an idea involving a matte tan or khaki paint job and big eyes and shark teeth like a Cobra gunship, unfortunately my spouse has declared that said paint job may also involve a divorce attorney : (. Finally I suspect the engine will have to be dealt with eventually, it's currently running a Detroit 8.2TL Fuel Pincher, which runs great and gets 11.5 MPG, but at 210HP and about 500 ft/lb torque is pretty light on the power side for a coach that runs 20,000 lb wet and loaded.
I'm sure the modifications and upgrades will be an ongoing process for a few years to come, but hey, it's fun and it keeps me from running the streets!
MDH
