floridagame
Florida
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Joined: 07/20/2008
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Can't find much about them. There's a 1991 for sale at LazyDays. I read here that an old Beaver is a good choice but any info on the Baronet would be appreciated. Would I be better off looking for a Foretravel or HR? Would like to stay less than $30K.
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KOG
Winterville GA
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Joined: 01/31/2001
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Bleakley in Tucson has a '93 going to wholesale auction tomorrow. Looked at it yesterday, but condition is pretty poor on this one so didn't look very long. they're asking $33K+ for it, but I might see the auction price and will post back.
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gonesouth
St. Catherine, Florida
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Joined: 02/16/2005
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NADA wholesale will be just over $25,000
fulltime 5 months a year
FMCA 368297
1990 Beaver Marquis 40'
Gillig MHA 3208T chassis, 300 HP Cat 3208, Allison MT647
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gonesouth
St. Catherine, Florida
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They also have a 91 Beaver Contessa and a 91 American Eagle. The pictures look good on all three, and from the NADA's I would think if you offered $30k for any of the three you could have your pick, dinner, and a dozen roses. I'd hope to get closer to $25K in today's market.
Another option would be a Foretravel, but you would have to get it private sale or Ebay, and that's too much risk for some people.... your call. If I had $30,000 for a coach right now I think I'd be looking hard at flights to Tampa.
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Ames
South Central Florida
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Joined: 01/05/2001
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We had a 1991 Beaver Baronet and it was an excellent MH. On a Gilleg chassis and after changing the engine mounted water fuel separator to a Racor prefilter water fuel separator very trouble free over 6 years and 80,000 plus miles.
Max speed 62 mpg at 2400 RPM (3116 CAT 210 HP) and go 10 plus MPG
I looked at the pictures and it has been repainted
Had an LP generator that was a fuel hog
Pre raised rail chassis
Bought it from Lazy Days before they moved and was very pleased with service
Richard and Babs and a Bob Tail Cat
97 Beaver Patriot 40 Kitchen Slide
330 HP Member FMCA, BAC, Good Sam, CAT RV Club
Toad 04 Durango HEMI
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st687
tampa Fl
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Joined: 10/09/2003
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Take a look at the 95 Foretravel U320 SE that LazyDays has on the lot, it is a clean 95.
Doris &Bill
97 U270 Foretravel
05 Saturn Vue 265HP
When all else fails call a MARINE
Semper Fi.
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zmotorsports
Utah
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Joined: 11/29/2007
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I can't speak specifically on the Baron, however, we had a 1991 Contessa and it was a great coach. It was our first DP and we were very pleased in the 7 years and 40K miles that we had it. The Gillig chassis was very well built. The only two downsides were the power (3208 CAT @ 300HP) and the trans was only a 4 speed. If it had the six speed I probably would have been more content with the power as the gears would have been a little closer ratio. We pulled a 24' enclosed trailer and it did a good job. Overall it was a great built coach, the cabinets would rival about anything out there today. We had it over most of the western US and into Canada once and it performed very well. Mike.
Mike & Chrystal (F315002)
2003 Monaco Dynasty/ 26' Haulmark Edge trailer
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
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SteveRankin
Sequim, WA
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Joined: 05/05/2005
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A '91 Baronet would have a Gillig chassis, which was one of the best and very solid. But, it would probably have a Cat 3208 & 4-speed Allison. Cat 3208s weren't bad engines, but they had common durability issues, especially with their 2-ring pistons. They were also pretty gutless, especially with just a 4-speed.
I checked out an 89 Beaver Marquis with 250/300 HP (depends on who you believe) for a forum member last year. That coach had a fatal structural flaw (interior bulkhead came loose that led to a large buckle in the exterior wall near the shower. Driving it was also a disappointment. Besides being slow, it was quite sloppy & numb to drive. The owner swore it was 300 HP, but it weighed less than our 300HP C8.3 Cummins and was MUCH slower. More than could be relegated to the 4-speed.
Also, no exhaust brake, which is unacceptable IMO. Sully will swear you need an engine (Jake) brake, but a good exhaust brake works fine IMO. Neither is scary.
Steve & C. J.
"Gracie" the Rough Collie & "Bo'sun" the Bichon Frise
2009 Arctic Fox 29V
2005 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 4X4 Crewcab
Hensley Hitch
TruControl Brake Controller
Our Beaver Technical page
Wildlife rescue at the Northwest Raptor Center
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chastho
arkansas
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Joined: 07/27/2005
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Another thing you may want to consider, the pilot and copilot seats are good step up from the floor. Anyone sitting behind cannot see out the windshield, it feels like you are sitting in a deep hole. We got rid of ours real quick. That may or may not be a problem for you.
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Deen
Vancouver, WA
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Joined: 12/07/2000
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zmotorsports wrote: The only two downsides were the power (3208 CAT @ 300HP) and the trans was only a 4 speed. If it had the six speed I probably would have been more content with the power as the gears would have been a little closer ratio. Mike. Six speed Allison doesn't usually change the spread of the lower gears, it just adds 2 overdrives (.75:1 and .65:1) to the four already there which end at 1:1. But different models may be different too. Even in the 3000MH there are 6 or 7 different torque converters that are used to match to the engine.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
435/1200 ISC Cummins/Banks PowerPak
'08 Honda Civic/dolly
'05 Honda Odyssey/dolly
NRA Benefactor Life Member
FMCA f47302s, Life Member: Good Sam,
Newmar DP Owners Group
51st yr of RV'ing
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