We've been looking for a motor home for a few months now and have been mainly looking for a Country Coach Allure 36. The last one was at Motorhomes of Texas and had a couple issues that were a deal breaker for us. While we were there, we looked at a 2001 U270 with Cummins 400 hp and one slide. It had 163K on the clock, but looked to be in great condition otherwise.
After doing some research, it looks like there is only one major concern--the bolts holding the front and rear bulkhead to the coach. Are there any other issues we should be aware of before proceeding any farther?
We were really impressed with the way the unit drove. The Country Coach was a handful by comparison.
If bulkheads have been repaired already, that will be a non issue for quite some time.
These are great coaches in a great time frame. At that many miles (and engine hours) especially if it is a Southern (hot weather) coach then it will likely be needing air bags, fuel lines and maybe shocks about now. Tires too if they are at about six years. Other things to have checked are brake pads and rotors. The slide seal should get a close inspection. Many have replaced them by this age/milage but not all. Each battery should be load tested. If any in a set are bad then plan on replacing the whole set.
Service records are a big plus and unless you know when things were serviced last, service everything so you know where you are going forward.
When you drive off the lot you want to be road ready. This is the time to get these things taken care of. There will be other things to deal with down the road.
Best of luck with your search.
Roger,
Your input is great and valid, but any coach this age will have things due to age out. Yes, all the items mentioned are bigger dollar items (I will add the propane refrigerator if original), but you have hit on the main one, rear bulkheads (failing bulkheads are almost always confined to the rears)
They can be easily inspected by MOT, Xtreme, FOT or Bernd right there in NAC
If coach is a warm weather coach and has not had long term leaks in the bay with the plumbing ("wet bay"), they are usually fine, or need repairs in the 1 coach buck ($1,000) range. Occasionally, they are junk and a big repair bill is in order.
Don (Acousticart) bought a coach and then rebuilt the bulkheads himself, well documented on the Forum. (try the search function for "Bulkhead", plant of info out there, also check out Barry Beudreau's exec lent site Barry and Darlene Brideau's Personal Website (http://beamalarm.com) for all things Foretravel.
MOT is a VERY class act, and if you pay them to inspect the bulkheads (or make it a condition of the purchase) they will not mislead you.
Good luck, and welcome to the forum!!
BTW, the years 1999 - 2001 were the peak of Foretravel Quality. You might also look at U-320 in the same vintage, and 40 or 42 foot coaches. Try them all, and get a feel for the space and storage in each one. Coaches chary from the "bone stock" to the heavily upgraded and maintained, which will effect price to a great degree.
Common upgrades -
Full Body Paint
Residential Refrigerator
Headlights/tailights/roof paint/step mod
Shades (interior)
resonator
washer dryer upgrade to new Splendide
TV's
flooring
probably a few I have that I have forgotten - main difference in U-320 vs U-270
Propane heat/water heater vs. Aquahot
oak vs cherry or walnut cabinets
various convenience items small in nature
Sometimes GVW and towing capacity