Hello, I am new to the forum and to Foretravel Motorhomes. I am looking into a 1995 U320 and would appreciate any tips or advice on this year of Coach such as trouble spots, things to check, etc. Also normal annual maintenance costs. I have read a lot of the posts and gained good information just looking for more information from owners of Coaches in this year range 1995-1999. Thank you
Several of us have 95 models. Most were custom ordered so there are lots of differences. The 400 hp M11 did well on mileage as first year was pretty much the lightest year made. Some coaches had trans retarders and some had Jake brakes as the trans retarder was a $10K option. All were special edition U320C models as far as I know as they were first year of the Unicoach. Some had aquahot diesel, a couple had Primus heating. Most had propane heaters and hot water heaters. All had heat strips in the AC.
By this time your reefer is showing its age. AC units are getting long in the tooth, etc.
I speak from the perspective of an owner of a 1997 U295. We have had the coach about 5 1/2 years and driven it something over 72,000 miles. We are "sometimers" who use the coach several weeks each year. We have traveled in temperatures from 0F to 100F. We've traveled in elevations from sea level to 11,000'. The coach moves at least 20 miles every month in order to keep systems lubricated. We usually travel 1,600 to 6,000 miles when we take a trip. However, having our own quarters at gatherings closer to home is very nice.
We owned another brand of diesel pusher for eight months. It was the same model year and size as the Foretravel. The increase in quality and comfort when we traded for the Foretravel was remarkable.
We've enjoyed the coach and have not traveled by commercial air line since we bought it. We've had memorable "big" travel experiences, as well as good times visiting family. We can visit and have our own "space," for the pleasure and comfort of everyone.
Continue to search the forum and read posts about replacing parts and systems on a coach of that age. We have replaced tires, fuel lines, air bags (air springs for suspension), interior floor coverings, wheel bearing seals, refrigerator cooling unit, and headlights. We have had a few fiberglass repairs as a result of age and a few as a result of "self inflicted wounds." It's been almost six years since we put on new tires, so it is time to do that again.
My experience has been that I should budget about $500/month for maintenance. That covers most of the replacements, repairs, and upgrades I listed in the previous paragraph. I think it would be wise to have about $5000 available at all times in case of a significant failure. For example, I expected a simple repair when our generator would start, but would not keep running. The reason was that the fuel lines were old and cracking. That was true for the "big engine" as well. While the coach was in the service bay, an air bag started leaking, so we replaced all of the air bags. The bill to get out of the shop was about five "coach bucks" (~$5000). A bill like that will seldom plague you more than once in a year, but it can happen. Other folk may be willing to share ballpark figures for their maintenance budgets.
A 1995 U320 at market price will be an excellent coach for the money. The basic quality is likely to be better than a new vehicle that costs ten times as much. Be aware that operating costs will be significant. The maintenance and upgrade costs are likely to be less than depreciation costs on a newer vehicle.
Before you buy, be sure to have any coach inspected by someone very familiar with Foretravel coaches.
Thanks so much for the information it is very helpful. I am continuing to look through past posts as well. I do have a $5000. cash reserve for repairs and have a $1000. a month operating budget for traveling and routine maintenance. I am retired and mostly full time but I do have a 5th wheel set up on property that is my base of operations. For the most part I travel to visit kids and grandkids and prefer traveling by RV. I plan to look at the U320 this coming weekend then I'm sure I will have more questions. I have seen older medium to high end coaches in my travels in RV parks and talked to many owners and most seem to be pleased with their Coach and not to concerned with the age. I look forward to more replies.
Maintenance all depends on if you can do most of it. I do virtually all of ours and the remodelling etc and I figure it costs less than $100 a month over the year. Tyres are something else as well as a major fault that may happen while travelling on trips (we had a small one last winter that caused some heavy tow bills and shop time) but in the end was not bad. I figure that any updating you want to do is the most expensive if done by others. Along with vanity changes that really do not need to be done, but hey that is life.
My suggestion is get it inspected if you do not feel up to it and drive it for a year before changing anything and that way you will find the most important issues that need to be addressed..
johnH
We hope you're able to make the deal on the 1995 U320. In our opinion that was the finest year for the U320. We've had our for almost three years and have really enjoyed it. Please keep participating here; Foreforums is a fantastic resource!
No, no. The best Foretravel year was 93.
No, wait a minute. It was 99.
Forget it. It was 95!
:D :D :D :D :D :D
Best Interior trim was pre 97.
Most of us are very lucky, me, me thinks the 36', 2001, 320 is the very best (For me) of all. For getty up go, For stoping, and being reliable, affordable b^.^d
White walls make the coach feel more open and brighter.
Dark interiors /walls like more hours of daylight.
All the Oregon built coaches had oak interiors offered for a reason.
The best coach is the one that you buy, use and love....................... ^.^d
Our '95 has been with us for a year now and we just completed 4000 miles to the Rockies and Midwest US. The trip when so smoothly until I was stranded in Wisconsin. This great group on the Forum had me fixed in hours. I got phone calls and emails with part numbers and patient explanations. Wow.
That said, I am getting to really enjoy this machine! With available parts, sound advice and so many resources... You can't go too far wrong with one of these coaches if they have had some care in their service. JD Stevens and others said it well: there's value (and maintenance) with a 1995 coach. But, once the big items are addressed (fuel lines for me) the Big Hits slow down.
I encourage you to explore everywhere and keep the MOT and FOT stock of rigs on your radar, too. They seem to get some good ones ready quiteoften. Best of luck! Paul
Thanks for all the helpful information. I made the 200 mile drive to check out the Coach just in time to congratulate the new owner, (not me) Bummer. I guess mine is still out there. I will continue to search the forum posts to learn more and ask questions when I need too. Instead of a Foretravel I will begin traveling from Eagle River Alaska to Lake Havasu City Arizona next week in my 1999 Chevy pick up with 290K miles on it with my 8ft slide in camper resting in the bed of the truck. Thanks again for all the tips and advice.
Sorry you missed out on that one, but keep looking--and participating here.
Have located two coaches that may meet your needs. I have sent you private message with my phone number.
One coach is a 1991, the other is a 1997. I can give you info on each and contact info if you think these might be of interest. Both are in Texas and meet your price
mike
We are just preparing the posting to list our 1998 U295 36 Foretravel on the market. Would be happy to have you take a look. Will likely get it up by the end of today.
Thanks, Bill
The 95 and 96 U320 models were similar, while for 97 Foretravel introduced some changes which you may want, however I did not want them. I bought a 96 U320 over five years ago.
1995/96 U320 had: tamboured cupboard doors, through roof A/C, walnut panelling, propane furnaces and Hot Water, single pane windows, M11 400HP with retarder.
1997/98/99 U320 had: top hinged cabinet doors, ducted A/C (lower ceiling), white vinyl walls (brighter), Aquahot (diesel heater & hot water), dual pane windows (creeping sealing), M11 450HP with retarder.
Most important difference between U320 and U295 is the engine (M11 vrs 8.3 ).
many would say ducted air, aqua hot and dual pane windows a big plus (ask Dave Head for instance ) - agree that early dual pane windows have creep. Can be fixed by handy do it yourself, or two outfits, one in Hudson FL and another in Arkansas (I think) fix them as well.
tamboured doors a SWEET door, wish they had not changed on that one.
The Aqua-Hot was available on the 1995 U320 if ordered as a factory option. Ours has one, and we really appreciate having it.
Have a 1995 and love it. Previous maintenance is the key. Change tires by age, approx 7 years old. My '95 has all walnut interior and it's dark as we also have tinted windows. Don't mind it at all. I believe '96 on has the light walls. I don't think Foretravel ever made the same coach twice even though they all look alike. Take your time and keep looking. Buying from a Forum member may be the best way to go.
Keith
Thanks for all the information I am not in a big hurry to buy a rig I just happened to be in Homer Alaska and saw the 95 u320 for sale in Anchorage and looked into it but didn't act quick enough on that one. I will be driving down to Arizona and then traveling the country this winter and looking at coaches as I travel.
It may be obvious but make sure to visit FOT and MOT, MOT should give you quite a few manufacturers and FOT appears to be getting more reasonable on pricing for used Foretravels