This Foretravel is for sale within a couple hours from my house. I don't like the paint job, I don't like the twin couches but neither would stop me from buying it. He says the paint is not perfect but pretty close. I am getting more pictures from him a few at a time.
From talking to the guy it has been serviced at TN RV in Knoxville. Just put on 4 new tires on the back, the two fronts are 2 years old. To me it seems a bit on high end of the prices for this vintage coach but I don't have a good feel for that at this point. I am going to call his service guy at TN RV and pick his brain some.
I will probably drive over on Friday and take a look to see if it is a possibility. If it is possible, I am going to want to find someone to hire to do an inspection so I understand what I am getting into. Does anyone have a suggestion on someone to call?
Hints on what to look for on this coach would be nice as well.
Thanks
Matt
1998 Foretravel U295, Knoxville TN - - RVtrader.com (http://www.rvtrader.com/listing/1998-Foretravel-U295-121163531)
From the pictures, looks like a nice one. Does it have aquahot? Don't believe it will last long at that price.
Matt, contact James Holder at TN RV. James is the service manager and is a FT expert. He has one himself and is always generous with his time when it comes to these classic coaches. It this coach was there, James will know it well. Good luck!
That price is high for a u295 with no aquahot but in good shape, it could easily be a steal versus something cheaper that needs tons of work.
That is the name the owner gave me. I will call him tomorrow.
In my opinion the 38.9K is not a high asking price, seems in the ballpark to me.Remember asking price is not always the selling price.2 hours away is a plus, if you found a coach 800 miles away and had to fly to see it then your talking some amount of money just to look at it.
Considering the milage, full body paint, tires. If there are no major issues, seems like a very fair price to me.
John
Foretravels of that year were pretty reliable, need to check bulkheads for rust jacking. Do a forum search for bulkhead separation for more info.
Not sure you could even get an Aquahot in a 36' coach. Don't know where you'd put it.
You can put an aqua hot in it but not worth the work and loss of space.
This price is cheap if it does not have major problems like B head.
Even with that if it locallized area it still is good.
JohnH
Nice looking coach. Generator hours and coach mileage have an unusual proportion, really high on genset. Could be numerous reasons for this. Might ask about it.
Yeah. My 96 U295 has 98K miles, and 1700hrs on the genny.
Chuck I guess it was lived in on a lot without power maybe??
johnH
Nascar coach, parked in the infield with no power poles.
Struck me as a bit strange as well. The current owner says that most of the time they are in campgrounds.
FWIW,
Agree high hours (but should not be a problem) with the generator. It looks like a fair price to me. Agree, it probably won't last long especially if paint is pretty good. That costs some coach bucks. Noted also are new tires batteries, upgraded TV, and low mileage. Those things do add up. If other problems don't show up then might be great deal. Sage advice, calling the folks who did service, but I would consider getting someone to check everythig out before writing check. Best of Travels.
Campgrounds........................not RV parks with a power pedestal?
If we were home I'd check it out for you.
This coach is a bargain at the price.........I would be all over it.
I am heading to see it tomorrow afternoon.
The price makes me wonder, I'd be looking for paperwork. ^.^d
The only paperwork needed for me would be a sales agreement, once I have given it the "once over"
JohnH
Move quickly imo
We were told that the generator sometimes will not turn completely off. The machine is off, yes, but the hour meter isn't, and hours rack up without it actually running. We were told to make sure that the green LED goes off when shutting down the generator.
If odometer is VDO, would be good to check and make sure it is original and not replacement that wasn't set with actual at the time of replacement. (search forum for odometer set for more info)
I bought a '97 U295 (without the full body paint, but with some other upgrades) last year for about the same money and thought it was a sufficient bargain that I took it without even looking at it in person first. I figured I could still invest a good sum of money and still come out ahead at that price.
After a few upgrades of my own (about $5K), it has been appraised (by a real appraiser, not an insurance adjuster masquerading as an appraiser) in the high 70,000s which matches the value that Progressive Ins. has in their own company value book.
The only thing that would concern me about this coach is the mileage. If correct, that is less than 3000 miles per year which means a lot of sitting that I personally don't regard as particularly good for HD diesel-powered vehicles.
Thank you all for your insights and suggestions. I am on my way to TN after lunch today. If all is as it seems I will probably drive it home. The beginning of a new phase in life is always exciting and a bit scary.
Might be worthwhile to ask James Holder, the service manager at TN RV to do an inspection, he is knowledgeable, personable and qualified. He is also a Foretravel owner.
I also have a 97 U295 with the Cat 3126, in great shape, with several upgrades. Great motorhome and I'm not interesting in selling but if someone offered $70k I think I'd probably jump on it. I 'd be surprised if anyone would pay that much though. Maybe I'm not giving it enough credit.
Value is a very hard thing to come up with as if varies by who is the buyer and what they see in an item. Auctions thrive on people not understanding value. Some people would not pay 70k for a non slide coach. For some people that is exactly what they want and they understand a well maintained one at 70k is a better value than a poorly maintained one at 50k, or even 40k.
I am on the list of people that would not pay 70k for a non slide late 90's coach. I would rather buy a pretty good one in the 40's and get to make it like I want it. While some people do amazing modifications or pay the factory to do them some don't.
I spent a while on the phone with James, really nice guy, very willing to talk about Foretravels. He is only 2 hours from my house and will be where I get service done on the coach.
I'll be there on Monday. Good luck with the coach!
In November 2016 we paid similar money for our 97 U295 36'.Had to go 2400 miles round trip to get it. Its a cat, 104K miles. Ours has 750 hrs on a 4K Kabota. Tires were good, but we put new ones all around because of age.
TV's upgraded. Front TV has custom 1st class cabinet work.Auto Sat dish. No W/D
We did get the Silver leaf, and some more extra's,including all new Motion windows 5K, and 5k new heated flexsteel front seats. But no full body paint. Minor bulkhead separation in the rear, has already been repaired.36' coaches are hard to find. I prefer a 36' over a 40' personally.
Our coach is in great shape, well maintained. I consider our coach a steal.We have it insured at stated value for 60K. I consider that on the conservative side.
Search forum for Vmspc or silver leaf. A proprietary product that connects to available ekectronic control momitor systems for temps, rpm, mpg, etc etc....contact Roger Engdal this Forum if want one.... I have it...and be sure with him what data is available that coach and engine
Mike
"I am on the list of people that would not pay 70k for a non slide late 90's coach. I would rather buy a pretty good one in the 40's and get to make it like I want it. While some people do amazing modifications or pay the factory to do them some don't."
While I agree mostly the slide floorplans move the dining area away from the curbside and put the galley their instead.
Almost all the early coaches have the dinette on the curbside. Not the galley.
We orientate our coach so the view is on the curb side.
Basic drawback IMO to slide coaches.
Mid 2000's I think went back to curbside dinettes. And eliminated propane stoves to allow the stove top to move in the slide.
While it's safer I like the propane cooktop personally for its backup cooking methods.
It's a integrated system.
Hobbs choice, more space but design drawbacks IMO.
We will stop at this versus adding the front door disadvantages/advantages.
My old time foretravel manager two cents.
I would and did pay more for a non slide coach to get a 97 WTBI 40' u320 mid door with the dinette on the curbside
Well Did You Buy It? 8)
I made him an offer. He has not responded.
Some more stuff came up during the inspection.
Matt, replied to your PM on condition, repairs etc.
JohnH
Run it over to a shop and have the ECM read.
I see it's sold. Did you buy it?
I did not. Just couldn't get comfortable with it for the price he wanted. Probably missed a pretty good deal.
Don't look back. There is one out there with your name on it. 😁
Sorry, I thought that too on the 1st two I missed, but then a better one came along. Sometimes I think they are hard to find, but then I see them pop up like that one. Just takes patience I guess
Chris
I know where there is a very nice 97 u270 36 ft it is in Florida right now, but if not sold will be in Ohio. send me a pm for contact information. Thanks Ron