So I'll try and ask the question in a way that won't invite controversy as that is not my intention.
2017 will be our year to try and find our first Foretravel. We've narrowed it down to a series of 34 & 36' years/models that don't have the toilet, vanity and shower on the same side of the coach. But floorplan isn't the underlying question in this post.
On the list of "desireables" are U270/U295 and U320 models. I've pored over beamalarm and brochures on the different models spec & standard features and understand both the basic differences as well as recognizing that original owners could have ordered options on a U270 or U295 that would have added features that would have come standard on U320 so that's not really my question either.
What I'd enjoy hearing are:
1. What features on the model you have (please specify your model) are features you could have done without, e.g., maybe a U320 owner says I could have done without Aquahot, for example.
2. What features on the model you have (please specify your model) are missing that you wish you had, e.g., maybe a U270 owner says they would have liked a safe, for example.
Again, this is not about "good" or "bad"...."better or worse"...its simply our attempt to try and logically decide which features are most valued or most missed once owners have lived with their coach for a while.
For example, the car I drive has a sunroof. It was standard equipment on the model I bought but I think I may have only opened it a dozen times in 15 years...so it was "nice" but I wouldn't have ordered it if it was an option. Or, the same car has heated seats (we're in Florida) which was standard, but I would have ordered air conditioned seats if it had been an option.
OK...so please play ;D nice and let's see what folks think.
Randy and Karen
Sarasota, FL
One major difference in the models you mention is engine size. Depending on what you plan to tow, and where you plan to go, you may find that "size" IS important. Most U270/U295 owners who have the "small" 8.3 engine get along fine, but if you pull a big load and spend much time in the mountains, you might be happier with a big block in a U320.
A 34' is a nice size for getting into small parks. On the other hand, if full-timing is considered, I'd have a 40' Our 36' is a great middle size, and, as long as we don't make it a rolling stationary/hardware store, we're fine. ^.^d
Randy, you lose some space in the kitchen with the 34 footer, I like the extra 2 feet + the fact that the fridge is not right up against the sofa.....making a more "open" & spacious feel, from the kitchen to the LR....more counter space is a very good thing, there is never enough. Oh, and the 34 footers are not as easy to find as the 36 footers!
You won't have issues with 'playing nice' - everyone gets along great here, and you are simply asking for personal opinions! We don't all need to agree.
The hardest decision for us BY FAR during the decision making process was the slide/versus no-slide model decision. We planned to do a lot of impromptu travelling and rely primarily on solar, which we anticipated would leave us on overnight stays in rest areas and wal-marts more often than RV parks. Those lots and rest areas are places where putting your slide out would probably be frowned upon. But we also have a 1 year old, and didn't want to be stuck having a "walkway" instead of the "living space" that a slide provided. In the end, we found a non-slide 1999 where one of the prior owners had the 3rd captain's chair removed, and a thin bookshelf with TV installed against the wall. That provided us with LOTS more space, a real "living room area", and the flexibility of spending evenings bookdocking both discretely and comfortably without a slide. I highly recommend this type of modification to non-slide models. It's been the single best livability feature of our entire coach. Be happy to post pictures if it would help.
But... back to your question:
- We have a U270 34', and you already hit my single greatest "wish list" on the nose. We just began full-timing a few months ago, and it would be great to have a built-in safe for our most valuable items. We will add an aftermarket safe one of these days.
- Although it fills like we have filled every nook and cranny - space has been much less of an issue than I thought full-timing would have. The 34' model has only one passthrough storage bay, while some of the large models have two. You just have to be a little more creative, that's all. We've instituted dozens of small little space saving techniques, and we have room to grow if needed, given a little time and creativity.
- Although we have the hookups, we do not have a washer/dryer. Even as full-timers, we don't miss this option. We have lots of friends and family nearby, and laundromats in a pinch. The added mental security of not worrying about an additional source of potential water leakage outweighs the convenience for us. (Full disclosure: We spend a lot of time not hooked up to water, so we probably wouldn't use it anyway for conservation purposes)
- I wish we had a better laundry basket solution. Some of the later/bigger models have a built-in laundry drop behind the toilet. Ours does not. Wish we had one. In two weeks we plan to cut a tunnel into our storage bay, but using it as a laundry chute finished in 2nd to using it as a way to store/hide the cat litter box.
- You don't want the shower/vanity/toilet on the same side. Is this an aesthetic decision? Ours are on the same side, and from a functionality standpoint, I like it that way. That is primarily because the ceiling fan is in a great location both to clear the smell from "your business" and also remove moisture generated by showers effectively. I'd imagine that a shower and toilet on opposite sides would require a fan location that isn't quite as effective, but maybe someone with that type of floor plan could chime in to let me know that isn't the case.
Forgot to mention - on our original wish-list was an aqua-hot. But we didn't get one. In retrospect, we haven't missed it one bit. The propane furnace is very effective at keeping the entire underbelly warm, and doesn't cost nearly as much much to run as we anticipated.
And every now and then, I read about how someone on the forum finally got around to removing a frequently malfunctioning aqua-hot. Now that doesn't appear to be the norm - but perhaps with the system age within the coaches you are considering, you should anticipate some aqua hot maintenance dollars if you choose to go that route.
I have a 1996 U320 with the M11 because I wanted hill climbing performance. I did not even look at a U295/U270 in 2010 when I was looking for a Foretravel.
I did not want Aquahot because I dry camp most of the time and seldom stay in RV parks. I wanted the versatility of being able to use one furnace, or two furnaces, and/or the hot water heater independently. I also understood that the Aquahot unit used far more 12 volt watts then furnaces and a water heater did. I have recently learned that while the Aquahot uses more 12v watts, the difference is not as significant as I thought it was, and most folks love their Aquahot even though it requires annual maintenance.
I wanted a 1996 U320 because I wanted walnut panelling, tamboured cabinet doors, and non-ducted A/C, all of which were replaced with the 1997 model year. With the 1997 model year Foretravel introduced white vinyl wall paper to brighten up the dark interior, ducted air (which lowers the ceiling), and top hinged cabinet doors (like SOBs). The M11 also increased in HP from 400 to 450.
I considered a 36 foot U320, but decided against it because the 36 foot U320 has only 60% of the basement storage of a 40 foot, and does not have the monster pantry across from the refer that the 40 foot has.
By the way, I am seeking a Lexus IS 350 because it is a rear wheel drive (no FWD for me) and will not buy one without a sun roof, unless it is a convertible.
Thanks to those who have replied so far but just a point of clarification...length is no longer an issue as we have resolved the space tradeoffs between 34-36 and larger. So too floorplan tradeoffs of the walk-thru vs private bath. And our desireable list has more non-slide models...but does have a few slides included.
You're on the right track with the "other standard vs optional" features of the U270/295/320. Our desirable coach list has all three models with the length/floorplan alternatives we're seeking. Its trying to better understand the model #/feature trade-offs...like aquahot vs furnaces. while we'd gladly buy a U320 with our length/bath configuration due to "all the goodies" and the bigger engine. Its trying to understand if we'd be just as happy with the U270/U295 features that delete some of the other U320 features.
So keep the comments coming. Bottom line is that we will buy the best coach we can buy with length/floorplan. Its more about resolving the "nice but necessary" things we might not get on a non-U320.
Thanks
Randy
Wyatt - can you tell me whether you see other advantages of ducted vs non-ducted AC....other than ceiling height?
The slide no-slide was a not a concern for me because I did not want the extra complication with a slide. Foretravel started slide models in 1999 or 2000, and (most important) a motorhome with a single slide sells for $40,000 more (new or used). The market price of a non-slide 40 foot 2000 Foretravel will be $50k or $60k, while the slide model will be $90k or $1000k. The reason for this unusual pricing is simple: the vast majority of buyers want a slide, so you almost have to give away a non-slide motorhome.
We started looking for a 34' thinking we could get into more places. Our 36' gets into everywhere we have wanted to go. The biggest reason for us to change to 36' was engine size. Towing a car was a given and I did not want to be the slowest thing up the hill. No way to make a 300 or 350 HP more so the U320 ISM11 at 450 HP in a 36' was what we focused on. It also has a bigger more robust transmission. We were looking at a 2001 or 2002 mostly based on our target price point. Slide or no slide got a lot of discussion and while we know many with no slide coaches we are glad we chose the single slide. We did not like the BR slide in the 2002's. It changes the BR configuration (less room on the drivers side between the bed and the wall) and it changes side access to the engine as well. The 2002 have a slide system that was only used in that year. It may have been more troublesome that the 2001 and it definitely uses more interior space. We are on the original bladder after 16+ years. We think we have at least 400 cycles on the slide in 6 years with no faults. We did not want a dinette booth. The J shaped dinette has worked well for us. The position of the table (front to back) is easy to change if you need too. We added drawers under the J dinette for more storage. At table and chairs might have been OK but they were not OEM. The bathroom works fine for us. The double closet with doors is nice. We did not want a toilet in a small room. The toilet in the 36' at an angle is snug but ok. The 40' bathroom is roomier.
The AquaHot is wonderful. Flawless with normal operation and maintenance. "Annual" maintenance can be every two years or more with regular use. Easy to do that service yourself. We have had LP gas furnaces before and they do work well. For us the AH is a big plus.
There is so much of this micro detail that you only learn with time and experience. Look at as many coaches as you can. Take pictures. Wonder and ask why. Find the best coach you can that fits as many of your needs as possible in your price range and buy it. We looked at several. A blue interior was not us but it could be changed. The one we bought after looking some more was so much better for our tastes and a much better coach overall.
Ducted AC lets either AC cool the length of the coach, I am 6-2 and have no headroom issues. The low point in our coach is the sliding door track trim.
Top mounted hinges were used for a couple years after the tambour doors. Hidden European style hinges in our 2001.
Earlier AH heat exchanger fans were less efficient. By 2001 they were much more efficient.
The non-ducted A/C motorhome allows replacing an A/C unit with a fan (maxair or Fantastic) because all RV roof A/C units are mounted over a 14 inch by 14 inch hole in the roof. I plan to replace the front A/C unit with a fan to increase the ceiling height and the light coming in. I seldom use the A/C units because I summer in Canada and move around in the winter.
U-270's came standard with Honey Oak Cabinets, all others mahogany with some Cherry
I have had both a 270 34 foot and two 320s one 34 and the other 42. I will say that the Aquahot is the one thing I would miss. It is one of the best things to have. It is quiet and works great when driving.
I wasn't aware there was a 34' U320. What year?
I think Tim meant Walnut not Mahogony and John had a 36' and a 42' U320.
We wanted a Grand Villa specifically so we found the nicest 36' ft that we could, had it inspected (Thank you Gary Bouland very much) and haven't looked back.
Although the diesel geny works flawlessly, I might have opted for the propane geny instead. Diesel fumes verses propane ( no fumes ). Propane owners may chime in and disagree but I drove a propane truck for years and no smell.
I second this. In our 34', we had to get a creative and put a drying rack on the underside of the sink cover, as well as wall holders for the sink covers when we need sink access because the majority of the the non-stove, non-sink counter space is "tucked in the corner" between the two. Even after space-saving, it took some getting used to. We have to use the table as counter-top space during dinner food preps.
Yes, propane.....three coaches, all prop, no smell, clean-burning, zero problems. ^.^d
Our neighbor with his Blue Bird has AH, I can smell it every morning, and I know he's put a few CBs into it over the years.
My understanding is that propane generators are more expensive to buy, more expensive to run fuel-wise, and have a shorter lifespan (in hours) than equivalent diesel counterparts. But they are much more forgiving in colder temps, more forgiving when left sit for long periods, and more forgiving under light loads. So if you don't plan to use the generator often, or are going to put it in storage without "maintenance trips" for 7 months a year, a propane generator may be a good choice.
Yes, Duh. Walnut.
Had no slides and propane, fine if you never had Aquahot or slide you won't miss it, if you have, you will.
You might be correct about the diesel geny longevity. While at Oregon Motorcoach for service they spoke of an owner that came in to have a diesel generator replaced. Unit had 40,000 hours on it but still operating. Owner just thought it was time to replace it. That could be 1,600,000 miles at 40h average. Wow.
Diesel gen-sets for coaches have not been around that long. Our Onan propane gen is original with 6K. How could you wrack-up 40k? Sounds like a bad Hobbs meter or someone who needs glasses.
One thing I definitely like on the 295 vs the 270 is the bus style, pop-up outside bay doors. I have a couple of standard hinged doors (under the slide) and they are the most annoying things to work with. Luckily those bays seldom need attention, but when they do, it's frustrating.
Also, something to think about in deciding whether certain options are worth the cost, is to figure out if it will be something you will use on every trip. So, a washer/dryer or a safe, for example, probably wouldn't be needed on a weekend, or even one-week trip. But for full-timers, that's something that may be well used.
For me, since I don't full-time, not having an aqua-hot system is not a deal breaker. I'm pretty sure if I had one, I would like it, but in general, most trips I take, the heater is never even fired up. So it would just be sitting idle, until it was time for hot water for showers.
My coach came with most all of the 320 standard features, because it was a show coach, but it doesn't have the big motor or transmission (or aqua-hot.) In the Colorado mountains, it would be nice to have all three of those upgrades, but for what I do for 90-95% of the trips, the 295 set-up is perfect.
I've seldom used the Bose 321 and have never used the safe, but I have used the heat function of the heat pump AC. I like the LP drawer, I love the joey bed, water and shoreline reels, zip dee window awnings, and the electric sun visors (all of which are options on the 270.)
I have owned a motor home since I was 21, I am now 65, except for 1 year when I got a hair and sold my 26 GMC and could not find a motor home I liked. I had never owned one over 5 years except for the 1997 U295 36', which I have owned for the last 17 years. This one is my 3rd Foretravel.
I think the one thing I would have liked different is the M11 motor. I have a 30' boat with 1600 HP, so I just like to have plenty of HP for when I may need it.
I was told that he was a preacher that went around to various correctional facilities in the rv and almost never shut the geny off.
Our coach is 1995, so 22 years and 40,000 hours works out to 5 hours per day. Don't remember what vintage his coach was but certainly doable?
We have a 2000 non slide 36 295 with the C 350 but banks stinger which I figure is now equal to an M11 400 but better mileage. No problem towing and going up hill grades is deffinitly not an issue. Happy with all the changes we have done and now a real nice coach that we take anywhere. We do not stay in RV parks as to us that is 1/2 of you day finding one and hooking up then having a neighbour that either plays music or BBQ is smoking you out. Like the quiet life so have solar to live on.
All works great for us.
DWMYH
JohnH
Good question for discussion: Our coach has phone jacks everywhere and I cannot jack Jack into any one of them.
Like so many items in life, (glove boxes, buggy whips, external hard drives) things change. Quickly.
As far as wish list, put us in for an Aqua Hot and you can have our Primus. Deal?
I had a 1997 40 ft 295 and now have a 1999 42 ft U320 and would find it very hard to go back to not having Aquahot, I do not miss hearing the furnace noise, The fans on the heat exchangers are very quite, Also I have the rare side kitchen which is very nice for extra space, It is my understanding they only made like 12 with this floor plan, I will be selling mine shortly and going to a Born Free and will really miss Aquahot.
Our safe is floor mounted and right in the way of any work on the isolator. All I can figure the safe is worth is knowing which ashes were the important papers out of the mess following a fire and subsequent attempt to "save" the coach.
I' m with Larry. We use our safe to haul Wisconsin air to Texas and Texas air to Wisconsin. Have never put anything else in the safe in five years.
I would prefer our coach didn't have any carpeting. Seems strange that an RV intended to go to a multitude of places with different surfaces we walk on that end up being traipsed into our coach has carpet. Always cleaning the carpet or removing shoes.
Coach designs don't have carpet in the kitchen area but do have carpet from the front door to the kitchen area. Deductive reasoning says: "DUH??" what are the designers thinking. Leave all the dragged in dirt in the living room carpet so the kitchen flooring stays clean? ???
I KNEW that a MAN must have designed the interior of our '02 U320 coach with the walk-thru bath when I considered the massive, mirrored sliding closet doors. In WHAT WORLD is it a good idea to have a giant mirror opposite the commode in which you must view yourself first thing in the morning??? (Or, at ANY hour of the day??) They rattled, they broke the closure latches, they made noise, and they just showed too, too much information. Securing them gradually involved drilling holes for pins ... dowels ... tension rods ... none were effective. Happily, my husband is a man who knows when to just say,"Yes, Dear." and the Remodel shop at FOT made me some lovely louvered doors as a replacement. Life was good and peace reigned once more.
I would prefer our coach didn't have any carpeting. (Nighthawk)
Remove it and put in floor of your choice ^.^d ^.^d
JohnH
The PO ripped our carpet out & installed a heavy-duty linoleum floor, including the bathroom. Still have the carpet in the stern, but big deal, sure makes cleaning easy! We've got rubber bottomed throw rugs in the high traffic areas, I like it.
We have a 1997 40' U320. We are fulltimers. I know you are interested in a 36', and I'm not sure if you will be going fulltime. Those differences aside, this is what I love about our U320, that may or may not be standard in a U270/U295.
Screen door (depending on the vintage)
Bose Surround Sound
Leather couch
Windowsills
Swivel dining room chairs
Dishwasher (installed June 2016)
Stack washer and dryer (installed June 2016)
Safe (ours gets utilized)
AquaHot
Bus style bay doors
Joey bed
Water & Power reels
Retarder
Cummins M11
Diesel Generator
Ducted Air (depending on vintage)
Double pane windows (depending on vintage)
We did extensive research. We knew we wanted most of the above items, so a U320 was the only option for us. We were going fulltime, so a 40' coach was the only option for us. The 1997 coaches were the perfect price point where we wouldn't have to take on any dept. Lined up all the ducks and waited patiently to pounce when the perfect one came along. Bought the coach in April 2013, and have zero regrets. This is the perfect coach for us. Every "perk" of our U320 gets utilized on a daily basis, and we can't imagine having any other coach.
There are other reasons we love our coach that are not model specific - length, floorplan, no slide - 2 of those are different than what you want, and the other is a matter of coach vintage.
We got everything we were looking for. Happy searching! Happy researching! The coach search is roller coaster of a ride, with definite ups and downs, but once you get your very own coach, the real fun begins! ^.^d
We have a 2000 36' u320 with m11 engine and mid entry, which I understand is very rare.
1- Mid entry: You lose some basement pass through, but have direct access to kitchen which is good for camping and loading/unloading both into kitchen and bedrooms.
2- 36': I have three sheds on my property and have found that if I build another, I could easily fill it with stuff I don't need. We have found that the combination of the single pass through and smaller exterior compartments have accommodated everything we had on the Safari. There have been campsites that would not have handled the longer coaches. A campground may have pull throughs and spaces for 40'ers, but they may not have many and they can fill up fast. Maneuverability is a given.
3- Slide: We purposely sought out a non slide in our previous coach (34' Safari), due to the reported issues of maintenance, weight. loss of storage and leaking. It worked great until we did a 3 month trip across the country. We started to feel like we were living in a tube. We love the single slide. We did not want a bedroom slide, since you lose the cross ventilation, view, and access to engine compartment.
4- Aqua Hot: We love it for the reasons previously mentioned, but make sure you have it thoroughly checked out prior to buying. A seemingly small problem could be very expensive. A propane heater was louder and I was always concerned about running out of fuel - another thing we always had to top off at fill ups. Waiting at a fuel dock for an attendant was a pain.
5-Diesel generator: We have had a Kubota tractor for years and it has been very reliable, especially in starting after months of storage. They are easier to work on in my opinion and much more accessible than the propane generator we had in the Safari.
You are on the right track in choosing a Foretravel - that is a great start. You will also find that this group is a tremendously valuable resource. Good Luck
Mirrored closet doors in bathroom:
Carol S and I have had this discussion before and I love her hilarious discussion about them. I love the mirrored closet doors and the view they provide, except be aware when bedroom blinds are up, the commode is visible from outside. To lock the rear closet door for travel, I use a 3/4 by 3/4 piece of wood cut to the correct length - door has never moved.
Propane Genset:
I still plan to replace my diesel 10K genset with a "real" 5K propane genset. Diesel gensets stink (like Aquahot) when running, propane does not. I use my genset about 20 hours per year, with half of those hours just for exercise to keep it healthy. A "real" propane genset cannot use gasoline because the compression ratio is too high for gasoline. A gasoline genset running propane is very inefficient, so uses twice as many gallons of fuel as a diesel genset.
Rug flooring:
I agree that rug in the living room is foolish and plan to install vinyl flooring. However, I will replace the rug in the bedroom with rug.
Safe:
I use the safe all the time and would not want to be without it.
Yes, both are stinky. We have a Onan 6500 "Marquis" which is beyond quiet and smells not. We liked the idea of a floor safe, but the PO had lost the combination! Finally found it a couple of years later. ^.^d
Good info here. My basics were to have the dinette under the main awning. Looking out at our campsight.
As the early slides did not want to flex the plumbing lines the dinette was moved into the slide room.
Propane furnaces have noticeably larger temp swings as the design requires the fan to come on first for safety and when the unit shuts off the fan continues on until the furnaces box trump drops. 5-7 degree swings. Aqua hot is around 2 degrees.
Less noise and the aquahot does not dry out the air.
The ducted air allows the opposite end a/c unit to quietly feed the other end. The rear air unit was moved from over the bed into the bath area to reduce the noise in the bedroom.
Beaver did this in 1989 Foretravel in 1997.
We are really radical and lucky as we were offered a mid door u320.
My non full time coach would be a 36' u320 mid door. If you see one buy it as mid doors were a tiny percentage of builds.
DW is a photo gal and the front door parts would be in her way.
The 40' requires more thought about where you are driving into as the large turning circle restricts things considerably.
The advantage to us is the faded non painted white exterior. Hard to damage it with branches and such scraping it and the gel coat white has much less solar heating and requires much less a/c use.
All the painted coaches around us in campgrounds have their airs on at temps we just open a few windows for.
Different idea. An rv. A motorhome not a home motor.
Versus do you plan to camp from power pole to power pole or drycamp?
The non slide, non tag 40' has the most storage inside and out of any coach made up to and including 45's.
For others with this issue:
Foretravel has records of the safe combinations, and with proof of ownership is happy to provide the combinations. to owners.
Send yourself an email with the combination. You can't lose it then (if you already have it). If not, Brett's suggestion is good. His also works with lost radio codes too (if you disconnect the battery).
Pierce
Randy, Karen,
Bargain for this much info? Should give you enough to chew on for a few months. It's a pretty standard response - everyone here is unbelievably helpful!
Hope to welcome you officially to the club by the end of the year!
James
1997 36' U320. Favorites: The screen door, Aqua Hot, M11 engine, larger black water tank, and best of all, the dual -pane windows. The coach stays nicely warm or cool, depending on the season. It also stays very quiet inside --even with too-noisy neighbors. Our '36' has worked well for us, even though we are full-time with no slide. Tip: websites for national/state/COE parks often stipulate 35' max when making reservations for sites. Our coach "shrinks" to 35' at those times with no issues.
1) I have zero issues with my propane furnace - I would probably prefer an Aqua-hot due to the 148 or 198 gallons of available fuel
2) Propane gen fumes will kill you just as fast as diesel but you just can't smell it. I happen to like the smell of spent diesel (and fresh dirt)
3) 8.3 is enough M-11 is much better
4) Dual pane windows - absolutely
5) "Bus style" bay doors are very nice especially if you have a sore back like me
6) Hose reels are nice but not a deal breaker - they can be added later
7) My 270 has everything we need and then some. The other stuff is just fun to have. 😎
They made a u320 in 34'?
As for options. If you RV in warmer weather, I think the aquahot is more of a pain and costs more in the big scheme. It's silly to run the big boiler to make hot water in the summer when the super simple propane water heater uses no power (this is mostly for boondocking). For colder weather, like below freezing, the aquahot may be nice. But for boondocking, my Buddy HEater keeps the whole place warm and uses zero electricity.
Aquahot is better for driving down the road to use engine heat to keep the RV warm....though one can easily install an extra heat exchanger or two that runs off engine coolant.
I like the lighter oak cabinets better...makes the RV feel more spacious and happy inside (my fiend has the dark walnut).
I like ducted A/C...I almost never run both A/C units at once.
Layout on the 34' vs 36' some say 34' is better laid out upstairs and more usable. The 36' bathroom sink is kind of silly. The private toilet on 36' is huge waste of space (but I also travel alone, mostly).
One more thing about the (lighter) oak cabinets, have had people come in and say the coach looks larger than theirs, which had slides...so the lighter cabinets (and lighter color fabrics & sofas) seem to add space, especially with all the windows open.
After our first year 13,000 miles in our 270 our impressions on this first coach are as follows:
1. We wanted honey oak or the apparently rare maple for a light interior. Never found maple or 295 with oak.
2. There are a number of more discreet differences. The water heater is two way not three. Hot rod fixes this.
3. Our coach had the upgrade to a smart wheel which I enjoy as well as an air chuck but I prefer my compressor
4. I like our propane appliances. Our Norcold was commissioned when we bought the coach but considering residential
5. We extended the vents to just before seats and they now carry air forward and we have eliminated the dash air. So I like the 97.
6. I definitely did not want a slide.
7. I do wish we had the bus style doors!
8. I did not want utility reels for a number of reasons but have become more wishy washy on this.
9. While our power is sufficient even in the mountains, I would not mind the larger engine but as a VW van guy that's more a curiosity.
Now with that said, it was exactly what we were looking for in our purchase. I wanted good bones and few if any upgrades. I wanted bare bones that we could then do our way without paying for things we would then redo. We purchased the coach for under 30k but have put that much into it getting it to what we wanted. Just as an aside, we went to Hershey before buying the FT to make a decision on purchasing a new Tiffin DP. I was not impressed with what I saw there and what the true costs of ownership would be. Occasionally I get a little ribbing of what we have put into the coach and I get it. However, my expenditures are still less than the depreciation in the first 15 months alone of that Tiffin. And we are really, really enjoying this coach.
One other quick note...this is a very useful thread for other prospective buyers. If it were renamed, it would be easier for others to search.
Our 2001 U320 has Cherry wood inside and a pleasant easy to clean vinyl wall covering on the upper walls. Our coach also has what seems to be a fairly rare color choice with a more SW look. Reatta Red it was called. Maroons, tans, golds. It matches our area rugs well and our now 38 year old dishes. A nice wood choice between the darker Walnut and the lighter Oak. I am a woodworker and this wood really appealed to me.
I agree Dani...... it makes the area "seem" roomier and lighter colors need less lighting. However we prefer the "warm' feeling of our darker walnut cabinets and decor. We get a lot of compliments on the look and quality of the cabinetry.
Most of our "camping" is in National Forest Campgrounds or State Parks and dry camping is the norm. Our 36' will fit in most campgrounds and with the 270lb propane tank and Dometic refrigerator, it suits us well.
FWIW,
I liked my propane generator in my previous SOB. I did like that it was quiet and was problem free. I really like more the fact that the FT engine and generator use the same fuel (diesel). It was a pain with the SOB when I would pull into a Flying J or another truck stop to get fuel for both the diesel and propane. It added a lot of time/hassle to a fuel stop. The SOB had smaller tanks than that of FT (both diesel and propane) which made this a too regular occurrence . Other than the hassle of two fuelings, propane generator was fine with me. I believe the diesel exhaust also to be safer than the propane. Though I never want to breathe either, propane produces carbon monoxide and my understanding is that diesel exhaust which smells worse usually does not produce much carbon monoxide but will make you puke. I understand in the perfect storm situation, the diesel can also be deadly but almost never happens as there is less carbon monoxide produced than with gasoline or propane engines. It seems that the two fuel issue with propane generator would be less of an issue with a FT which has a larger tank. In Texas where I live, we run the generator a lot as I like the AC and this requires a generator. On the dual pane windows, I have the single pane and don't have any complaints. Agree with most of what has been said regarding Aqua Hot, I have propane furnaces, and they are fine, kept temp fine in Breckenridege in winter, louder though. The 8.3 is not a speedster but seems fine to me. I don't climb a lot of hills in Texas. It will get up to faster than I want to drive. I am AOK with my FT, and have had it for about 8 years now. Best of Travels
Hi Randy
Thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.
We've had our u270 - 40' for about 2 years, have been full time for around 6 mos.
Wanted the light oak cabinets, lighter interior
No slides
40 because we were planning to full time
Ok, stock 'options' I could live without
washer/drier, we go to laundromats
ice maker, but then we don't drink much
carpet thru living room, bathroom, I'll eventually replace with wood
Things I'd like to have
solar panels
Better headlights, I'm working on this one.
change out table & chairs to dinette, for storage & sleeping space
We like the separate enclosed toilet for privacy
The 40 has alot more storage room than the 36
the 350 motor is fine, though more is more
I'm a motorhead, I have been very impressed with the construction quality and driveability of these coaches.
Hope this helps with your decision.
Cheers Ric 8)
Hi Randy
Linda here, we missed each other last year when you were in Medford and we were on the Oregon coast. After nearly two years on the road, full timing in our 34' no slide U270, here are some of our observations:
Things we like
--washing machine, absolutely would not be without it. Also, it's our clothes hamper
--galley layout. I like the L shape, and Robert has added a flip-up countertop extension by the cooktop
--I like the location of the fridge and the way it divides the space. It's also very handy as a backrest when sitting on the couch with my feet up :)
--the ice maker
---the oak and brass. We preferred the oak originally for its lighter, brighter tones, as Dani said it makes the coach feel bigger and airier. But I've come to like the warmth of the brass against the oak (can hardly believe I'm saying that, as I've always detested brass bathroom fixtures)
--I find we have more than adequate interior storage for the two of us ( no pets)
--we love the roominess of the walk through bath,
Things we wish we had
---bus bay doors!
---more bay storage , we keep stuff in the car that we would probably put in the bay if we had more room. (We tow an Acura MDX which has a lot of cargo space)
Things it would be nice to have but not deal breakers for us
---aquahot, for the quietness. For warmth, the furnace does a fine job
---a bigger engine with more power is always welcome but not a necessity for us
So, our $.02. Hope it helps.
--
Randy, we've had our 1993 U300 40' coach for just under four years and have been full-timing in it for about 30 months now. In our case, we started with a blank sheet of paper - no preconceived ideas about what sort of coach we wanted. We did our research over a period of a couple of years, and eventually settled on this coach as the best one for us at that time. Why?
1. We had decided that we wanted a high-end motorhome, but at a price we could afford. We knew that meant we would be buying an older coach, but we could live with that. The 'Birds on our list were older.
2. We wanted a diesel generator, rather than a propane one, because we learned that the diesel engine would use less fuel for a given amount of work. The generator is plumbed above the engine from the fuel tank, so there is no way we can run out of fuel by running the generator.
3. We wanted a no-slide coach. It seems that slide issues are the #1 problem for many recreational vehicles.
4. Our coach has walnut walls and cabinets. They look great, but the interior IS darker than necessary.
5. We have two rooftop a/c units that also can produce heat. We have two propane furnaces. We can keep comfortable no matter what. The only complaint we have is that the furnace for the bedroom (the one that is set to a cooler temperature) is the one that provides heat to the wet bay. It would be nice if it could be the front furnace that heats the wet bay. I do have a small electric heater there. Never had a problem with solid water.
It has been said that the lighter interior coaches are mostly made north of the Mason/Dixon line and darker colored interiors are predominantly made south of the M/D line.
The reasons? Coaches made "up north" were desired by folks that get tired of the long, dark winters so light colored interiors. Folks down south get tired of the blazing sunshine and like the feeling of the darker interiors.
I didn't make this up--someone else did.
Our 2004 U270 had the pop up bay doors, Joey bed, electric water and electric reels, Zip Dee Awnings, electric sun visors, consolidate electrical bay, etc.
We have the walnut paneling in our coach the OEM furnishings were a dark wine color. It was dark in here in the daytime. We changed everything around in the past year; out with the dark carpet, chairs, curtains, valences and in with light flooring and upholstering everything possible with lighter colors. We also removed the J-couch. The coach is brighter and seems bigger. We love it.
Roland
We really noticed the light walls on our 97. Or did not notice the previous dark paneling, contrasts the dark wood nicely
Well for us most things have been changed to suit us- courtesy of me, so no real cost incurred. Love the solar as Ruth is a nature bird and loaths the rv park life and all its trappings. She would not be with me if I wanted to do that sort of living.
The desert, ocean, wilderness is very important to her and the solar gives us that. Definitly no slides and all the expensive issues they bring for a few feet more room.
Would I change anything done in this coach, no. It fits us great and I KNOW it will last for many years and as I keep it serviced etc I know were we are with it.
So that is my 2cents worth.
JohnH