Hi all, I'm interested in buying a 34' Foretravel with slide. I've got my radar up in the usual places, but if a member is thinking of selling...
I've owned my 40' Bluebird Wanderlodge for about 10 years now, but I'm looking to downsize by about 6 feet and 15,000 lbs. ;D It's a wonderful coach, just too long and heavy for the places I'm going these days (dry camping in the California desert). I might go for a 36 footer, but I'm thinking shorter is better.
Scott
Scott,
I'm also looking at 34' 36' and 38' tag axle Foretravels, but need to wait 2 years before buying.
If I was ready to buy a 34' today I would see if I could bargain down the price of the 34' at MOT in NAC. Looks great "on paper". If it is as nice in person, it might be worth the premium price. 2005 Foretravel U270 34 Priced at $ 139500 (http://motorhomesoftexas.com/coachrv/foretravel/2005--u270--34--P1145)
On edit - for a 36' this year 2000 U320 36' sure looks good in the pictures, and it's a one owner: 2000 Foretravel Motorcoach Foretravel U320, Class A - Diesel RV For Sale By (http://www.rvt.com/Foretravel-U320-2000-Colorado-springs-CO-ID5475949-UX141053)
A lot easier to find a 36' Foretravel with a slide (or 2). I *think* going for a 34' with a slide limits you to only a U270 from 2000-2005(?). Moving out to a 36' gives you a choice of all the models (U270, U295 and U320) for those years.
Looking at the weight/turning radius info Dan provided in the other thread, I guess it's pretty hard to justify the 34 footer. The 36 is only 3% heavier, 6% longer and the turning radius is only 10% greater. Not a very big price to pay for a lot more storage and living space. And lots more coaches to choose from.
Then again, the whole point of ditching the Bluebird for a shorter Foretravel, is lighter/smaller to help avoid getting stuck in the sand while when out of the middle of nowhere. Been there, done that way too many times.
Yes, Dan those are both really nice coaches. The silver one at MOT is definitely all the money for a 34, but it is also the newest one I've seen, so like you say, it may be a fair deal. The pink/purple/mauve? one in Colorado is quite impressive. Wild paint job and almost equally wild interior. I like it.
If I was a single person full timing, or a couple out for only 1 month at a time, I'd probably go for a U270 34' if I could find one in prime condition - to more easily get into tight heavily wooded campgrounds. Should offer the best mpg as well since it's the lightest.
With my wife and I full timing, a 36' or 38' tag axle will likely work best for our type of camping and choices of campgrounds. Still decent maneuverability on the 36 and 38 tag.
The next question is whether to go with the lighter weight ISL/Allison 3000 series U270/U295, or the higher horsepower and torque (but heavier) ISM and Allison 4000 series in the U320. I guess you opened the pdfs on the wheel base thread and saw the various wet weights of the 2003 model year? (no weights in there for the U320 36' - just add the difference of the engine and trans - engine plus approx 511 lbs, trans plus approx 393 lbs, total 904 lbs more for ISM/4000)
Also whether you want the propane heat/hot water on the U270, or Aquahot on the U295/U320.
Another thing to consider is manual patio awning prior to 2003, or power patio awning 2003 and newer. Also full body paint standard after 2003, or gel coat prior (possibly more scratch resistant for boonie camping). For desert camping (sand) a 2005 coach with the wider 295 series tires "might" have a little more flotation.
I know for me personally, I never want another coach with decals to deal with for sun fade and decal breakdown. If I had to decide today for a fulltime coach for my wife and I and had a variety of coaches to choose from, it would probably be a full body paint, power patio awning, U295/U320 36' or 38' tag axle. I'd chose the best maintained, documented, and updated coach I could find. I'd pay more for a 90 percent plus "perfect" coach instead of paying less for a 70 percent coach.
Everyone's decision point wil be different. Maybe some members reading the thread will point you to some coaches just entering the market.
Lots of good points Dan, thanks. The ISM/4000 combo is almost 1000 lbs. heavier than the ISL/3000, plus a bigger radiator, etc. That's a lot more weight hanging off the tail, but that ISM would be sweet.
I believe 38' is the shortest length available with a tag axle. My non-tag 38' U295 has lots more bay storage than the tag models, easily accessible batteries, and fully loaded leaves me with 2400 pounds to spare.
A 38' no tag coach with IFS (wheel cut higher) would work well for me. A beam axle 38' non tag doesn't simply because we use so may campgrounds with narrow roads and tight spots.
If we used "normal" campgrounds a coach like yours would work fine for us. I just need high maneuverability due to the way we camp. I agree a non tag 38 has much better storage capability, less complexity, lower maintenance cost, lower weight, and lower tire costs. My current coach is beam axle no tag 37'6" - tons of inside and outside storage.
Most U295s have two propane furnaces rather than Aqua-Hot. People who have Aqua-Hot really like it. I think I would rather have Aqua-Hot, but the propane furnaces are simpler, redundant, easier to maintain, and lighter. They have kept us comfortable in cold conditions. The U295 lacks several features of the U320, making them a bit simpler to maintain in general.
The key word is MOST.
But no Foretravel coach is typical.
Mine was ordered with all the options except Aqua Hot. About all a U320 has that my U295 is lacking are the bigger engine and transmission, AquaHot, and beveled glass.
I owned a 99 34 foot 270 and a 2000 36 foot 320. The milage was the same for both coaches over about 100 k miles on each. The 34 foot was too small to put a spare under the bay on the Joey bed. The floorplan otherwise gave the same inside storage for the most part. Now that being said the tag axle on my 42 foot adds tremendous directional stability to the coach. My first choice would be a 38 with a tag, second a 36 u320 and third a 34 foot. Now I loved my 34 foot but the bigger engine just turns slower about 1350 RPMs vs 2100 RPMs. The retarder works stronger too on the bigger engine transmission 36 foot too.
Gonna go small----how about 28 ft , with a tag ,4 slides , a built in pencil sharpener and a ISX 600 etc . ;D :D Brad Metzger
28 too big, slow off line, mAybe 24 and chip the motor? That should keep Dave in second place permanently. Plus you could level almost anywhere!
Thanks John,
Great to hear the voice of experience and real world results.
I still say the humor on the forum is big, I do love it, some are just a grin, sone are knee slapping and some are on the floor rolling out of breath ;D
You would have loved to drive a m14 signature long ago.
Dean & Dee in Maine ... Beautiful coach, 36' ... Dean has posted extensive photos. It has everything you could wish for.
I do like the Maine coach, but as I don't fly, it'd be a sight unseen purchase, with a 3,000 mile drive to get there and a 3,000 mile maiden voyage :o
We bought ours from a fellow in CA. Lots of emails back and forth, lots of pictures. We hd an independent inspection done by a knowledgable person. Any sale like this is contingent on your final inspection and acceptance. We looked for two years for a 34' with a slide. They are not common. We're very pleased with our 36'. Communicate with the seller, get everything you need from them. If you like it make an offer. There re other forum folks up that way that might be able to check it out for you or look for an independent inspector to check everything out. Any deficiencies should be fixed by the owner or used in adjusting the offer. If you are comfortable at that point (and comfortable with the seller) it will probably be OK. We drove ours back to MN, 2500 miles. Check out Dick Reed's RV driving school. They has instructors ll over. We did before returning. Well worth it.
Roger
Good points Roger, with the right seller, a long distance purchase could go smoothly. It would take a lot of trust, and then some serious good faith negotiation if there's a misunderstanding about the condition of the coach when you arrive. A 3rd party inspection with Foretravel experience would help immensely.
Scott
I took two flights to Greensboro, NC. One to check it out and test drive it, the second to complete the purchase...about 2250 miles. By the third day, it was so comfortable driving the coach that I drove it from Jackson, TN to Amarillo, TX...812 miles.
Our coach was a six-hour drive (by car) from us. We drove down one Saturday to look at it, liked it, and early the next week made an offer. It was accepted and we scheduled a date to complete the transaction. We drove down one day, took care of the paperwork, got a run-through, dinner, and conversation. We spent the night in the coach at the seller's place, and then after breakfast the next morning we took off. It took considerably longer than six hours to drive home, but we made it before dark.
I've driven school buses a fair amount, and one Class C motorhome, but until that test drive I had never driven a DP or anything this big. With all of about 30 minutes of driving on the test drive with the seller telling me what to do, I took off for home with Jo Ann in the car. Oh yes, the speedometer doesn't work on this coach. Take it easy, get comfortable driving the coach, and you will do just fine.
We agreed with the sellers that we would bring a cashier's check with us for the balance (of course once we agreed on the sale we sent them a deposit). We took the coach and a bill of sale, but not the title. Once their bank was satisfied with the cashier's check they mailed the title to us. Yes, we had to trust each other, but it all worked out just fine. Others have had a local bank act as an escrow agent. That may or may not involve any additional cost, but whatever cost there is will be a very small fraction of the purchase price.
When we bought our first coach we emailed and spoke long distance with the seller ... then took a long weekend to fly from Phila to Mesa, AZ to see the coach. We pulled the trigger and learned how to drive it on the way home to PA!! We were stupid not to have and an inspection, as we knew NOTHING about any sort of RV (had never even been onside one before!) and were totally clueless. We drove all the way with no collisions and spent our first $3000 on repairs in Oklahoma City when we were halfway home. Our first night on the road, we were assigned a back-in site in an RV park ... had to get help because we could't figure out how to back it into the site!! We were such goofballs!! We have learned and grown with the help of the members of this Forum ... now on our third coach, lived on the road full-time for 3 years and have never looked back.
Someone looking for a 34 ft Foretravel with slide in Santa Clarita, Ca might be looking for awhile.
Frozenh20, you might/should consider a 36 ft with IFS if what you want is tighter turning in close quarters. I have that (IFS) in my FT and it makes it a lot easier to get into, and out of, tight spaces. Not sure of other newer FT's that offer it in 36 ft.
The sharper wheel cut of IFS would be great. When did FT offer IFS?
Scott
3 in year 2000, and "approx." 20 in 2001 had IFS. After that I "think" after 2009 on some Phenix and later some Nimbus.
IFS is more complex and requires more costly repairs/maintenance (when required, not an annual cost), great turning radius is the upside.
More info on IFS: Is IFS a better choice for a good journey? (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=13493.0)
I never had IFS so I can't give first hand info but I do wonder why FT stopped putting them in, at least that version.
My 2001 36ft U320 1 slide has IFS it turns really well, Might be for sale I have been driving prevos for nascar and not using my foretravel , we have 13 in fleet most have IFS it makes a difference when towing I'm 65 ft long. IFS was a $13000 up charge in 2001 FT IFS was made by ridewell suspension co. Heavy duty when compared to some others.
Interesting. I wondered who made it and some comparisons.
I bought our coach sight unseen and have never regretted it a minute. Flew from Oklahoma City to Denver money in hand. It doesn't always end up like this but it certainly can.
Found the one! Just bought a 2003 U270 34 footer with a slide, and it was only 100 miles from my home. How perfect is that? This forum was a great education on what to look for prior to buying. This one only needs tires (badly cracked Michelins that are only 4 years old), a windshield, and the foglights are inop, that's about it. Perfect bulkheads, solid body and roof, no leaks, beautiful paint. Service records back to 2008 and a recent service including new batteries to the tune of $5k(!). This coach was the late Dan Spoor's last (of many) Foretravels, that helped me feel good about this one.
Scott
We looked at Dan's coach in NAC, spring 2013. As I remember, it had all the paperwork, and more. If memory is correct it was a mid door as well. Dan said that was his 7th Foretravel as I recall.
Nice, glad you found a nice 34 footer. That's what I was looking for originally, as well. (Two more feet of trailer that way!) Ended up finding a great 36', but had to go about 2600 miles for it.
The window may have closed on the dunes for this season, so where will be the inaugural trip?
New tires tomorrow and then it's off this weekend to Jericho, Utah for an ATV race, with another race on the return trip in Primm, NV. That'll be about a 1200 mile test drive, we'll see what I missed on my inspection. Something is bound to fall-off, blow-up or leak...