Good evening folks, I am new here and this is my first post, I live in the DFW area of North Texas and currently have a Puma Toy Hauler but I am looking to get a pusher and towing my GMC for a toad. My past RV's started with a TT in the mid 70's, then a Class C, a Slide In, and my latest a 5er.
I have been looking around at brands N and T but I met a nice gentleman this past week that had a older Foretravel that looked great to say the least, so I am adding this to my list too.
I found one for sale and I will only be about 200 miles from next week, so I plan on going over to take a look at it but I have some questions if you folks can help me out :) .
The coach is a 97 Foretravel 3602 U270, the listed engine is a C8.3 325HP. Has this been a good engine for coaches? They say it is coupled to a 6 speed Allison which I have a newer version in my GMC which had been good so far at 80 K.
It is also listed with Spring Suspension and not airbags, does this suspension give a good ride? These roads in Texas and some other places I have been have been rough on RV's to say the least.
What is the construction of the coach like, is it wood frame, does it have fiberglass insulation or is it a foam sandwich?
It has a Power Tech generator, was this a factory generator or has someone changed it out?
Are there any other things in particular I need to look at on this vintage coach other that the usual water leaks and the like ?
Thanks
Steve
Eight air bag air ride. Air disk brakes. STD powertech 8kw diesel gen. 6k tow capacity.
Foretravel Specifications, Floor Plans, Photos & Brochures by Year (https://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=through_the_years:specs)
Very different transmissions.
If you have a link, someone may be able to give you more information.
Listing the wrong suspension doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy. With a 20 year old coach, its "care and feeding" is important. Not being aware of what suspension it has suggests .... well, you know.
Thanks Caflashbob, I am trying to gather all the info before I go over there. The folks at this consignment store are not very accurate in their advertising. They have advertised a 210 hp Cummins 7.5 L engine at least 3 times but when I call the manufactures with the chassis ID they said it was a 5.9 l engines, they also like to fudge on the lengths.
Just sent you a PM re: a visit to Nac.
Great sources of info:
- Foreforums Foretravel Wiki (https://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php)
- Foretravel Specifications, Floor Plans, Photos & Brochures by Year (https://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=through_the_years:specs)
Lots of great folks here with tons of info. :D
Thanks for the link jcus, very good information.
I have sometimes seen air bags called air springs.
Trent
Thanks woolfe 10, this place is bad about the info in their listings, to do have some good stuff but their advertising hurts them :(
Thanks TulsaTrent, I guess that could be the case but most of their other add do call them airbags to that made me wonder. I need a smoother ride as my poor 2013 toy hauler has had the staples in the paneling shear off and then the paneling comes loose :o
Listed at PPL?
My guess is that your coach in question is just up the road from us. Send me a PM if you need us to take a peek at the thing. Is it parked near WurstFest on I-35?
Thanks Old Knucklehead but it is south of I-10 and Sam Houston.
Steve,
With this info from your post, would this coach happen to be the coach you are talking about?
1997 Foretravel Unicoach 3602 U270 for Sale (37626) (https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/used-rvs-for-sale/diesel-motorhomes/1997-foretravel-unicoach_rv-37626)
Pamela & Mike
Actually, I feel a lot better knowing that the inaccurate information is coming from a consignment lot and NOT the owner.
PPL is the largest RV consignment lot in the U.S.
As with most consignment lots, the condition of their vehicles range from terrible to pristine-- depends on how the owners cared for them.
Said another way: caveat emptor.
Thanks Wolfe10, I have been browsing pushers for the last 3 to 4 months and have seen some that make you wonder how they even got to a lot to some very nice ones.
My biggest concern is how sound one is and functional over the finish, the little stuff is not a problem either. Example this last week in a class I took we used my Suburban water heater for show and tell and I notice that my Element and thermostat covers along with the
boot for the igniter wire show signs of excessive heat so I need to replace those and the cause for this is the flue collector back does not fit tight to the case so it is letting heat escape to the side so I will have to add a couple of more screw down that edge to seal it up better. This sort of small stuff I enjoying doing.
When looking at a 97 U270 you need to check the engine serial number to determin the HP some 97's had the 300 hp engine.
Hold-on a minute Bill!
I learned something...so if some 97s had 300 hp, how early did that change to when some other coaches had more than 300? Was it only in 97?
I had in mind maybe the 95's, some GV had 325.....i have not had a reason to know those hps but you have me thinking. I bet you already know this so i can be lazy and not have to search Beamalarm!
Thanks
Thanks Bill I will call them tomorrow and see if they will give me the Coach VIN and Chassis ID numbers, so I will see if they can give me the engine S/N too.
I have had to do this on others I have looked at also.
Six things determine the value of any used coach:
Condition
Condition
Condition
Equipment
Miles
Model year.
I would pay a large percentage premium for garaged like new coaches
The $25k and the $50k similar coaches here are probably heavily weighted on the condition.
Easy to spend the difference between on equipment if not up to date.
If the $25k one has new everything underneath move quickly....
Thanks Caflashbob, they say it has 140683 miles so it has been used but that is not bad for a diesel but did they take care of it?
I will have to look it over, in, out, on and under now. :)
There is a garaged member coach here that was posted for sale. That was the $50k coach.
Tires, fuel lines, shocks, air bags, full fluid change is an easy $10k+.
Not to scare anyone but this is reality. Batteries another $1,500?
Then we can start on inverters, solar if wanted,
I called FT with the VIN# and it is a 325hp cummins, it is a E25 engine and a MD3060R transmission.
the floor plan is WTDI but she didn't know what that layout looked like, and the Unit # is 5179.
She could not tell if it had airbags or what the listed tow capacity is on it.
Now to figure a fast route from New Braunfels to Houston without a lot of road construction "LOL"
It will have HWH level system and airbag suspension
Thanks Tim, isnt that a air leveling system?
That is what I meant via HWH, sorry not clear
Yes, it ABSOLUTELY will have 8 outboard air bags and HWH air leveling (two 6 pack valves).
Wonder who you talked with at Foretravel that did not know about air bag suspension???
Particularly if not familiar with Foretravels, be sure to check bulkheads (unique to Foretravel) as well as the "usual things" on a 20 year old coach.
Thats ok, being new to this sort of high end stuff thought I had better make sure.
I need to go read up on the compressor system and how it works and how to get the air going if the system bleeds down while sitting.
Thanks
Thanks Wolfe10 , the operator is the lady that looked stuff up for me and she was limited to what she could see as she could not get into the part that has what the Unit # says is on the coach. Not sure if this makes sense to you but I guess there is a system that you have to be a member of so that you can see a lot of the build information of a given Unit????
Your are correct-- it doesn't make sense for any company to NOT give all the help they can to a prospective client/buyer.
But, not everyone adheres to a quality business model.
yes super, they seem reluctant at time to give out lots of info on a coach unless you buy it......I am sure others will disagree and that was some time ago I ran into that, maybe just got the wrong person, tis odd. Not sure why would be so except might offend the owner.
some of what you are asking will come easier once you have one or you are looking at one with someone knowledgeable, can show you.....e.g. the aux compressor, which more than knowing how to operate it are questions such as how is it supposed to behave and does it.
Such as that will come from an inspection, which if you are totally new to this I would consider hiring done once you find a coach in price range, floor plan, the condition you want. that condition part is first the simple visual looking at it, the second not so visible takes experience of how to see and how to interpret what you see.
hope I am not being discouraging, certainly not my intent, just trying to allay fears of how much there is to know, that will take quite a while even after you buy one....call if help to discuss particulars but the inspection recommendation is important.
P.S. Hire that fellow in the post right above this one, if you can get him, to inspect.
To be honest, these items were STANDARD on that year Foretravel. ALL 1997's would have been built with HWH air suspension. It's not like Super8 was asking for service records or even what options were install on that specific coach. This is basic stuff that is not customer-confidential.
Maybe the phone-answerer at FT needs to spend some time on the forum Wiki Foretravel Specifications, Floorplans & Brochures [ForeForums Foretravel... (http://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=through_the_years:specs)
Thanks Mike
Hmmm I was wondering if he likes Steak and Lobster :D
I'd suggest you get in touch with MOT and schedule a visit. You will learn more than you think. If you find one you like be sure to have it inspected. I used Brett Wolfe and wouldn't have bought a coach without him.
Spend lots of time in this forum and on Beamalarm learning. I spent a year lurking/learning and another few months looking for the right coach...which fell in my lap.
Thanks Michelle
I am not sure she is even on the forum but I will give her credit she is the operator and that if she didnt know something she said she didnt know and didnt make something up
Thanks Jeff
I am not sure if my 5er will last a year with these roads, I use it about 9 months out of the year just traveling to Scottish festivals and then there are places I go to for fun by the end of the year I will have put over 7k on it this year :o
It appears that folks are getting their insurance money from the hurricane and MH's are going fast now.
Jeff, I did not talk to the operator back then with questions but rather went to the lady that you pay for service. She had the build number records. But she would not give specific info on the history of the coach since it was still owned by someone. As for what items that a coach of that year has, as Michelle said, that is commonly available. Guess you know of the Beamalarm web site? There is a great listing of coaches and models by years with the list of equipment and even the prices of the coach.
Just have to say......That is so dang clever, Michelle. "the FF Wikipedia". :D
Thanks Michelle
I am browsing that now and it raises more questions, Imaging that "LOL"
Does the air for the Disk Brakes, Air Bags, Entry Steps and Step Well Cover come from a engine compressor and the Computerized Air Leveling System uses a aux 12v compressor?
Does the Air Leveling System just level the ride of the coach?
I dont see a leveling system for setting up at a camp site though?
Take a look here:
Search [ForeForums Foretravel Motorcoach Wiki] (http://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?do=search&id=hwh+series+600)
Might answer a bunch of your questions. :D
Super8 you will need a class B driver's license in Texas to operate. Make sure it includes all the manuals.
Thanks, I think I have the leveling system figured out now
Thanks, I will check that out too :D
The engine driven compressor provides air for air suspension and air brakes-- basically all air functions while driving. When parked, if the air leveling system is used and air pressure drops, the auxiliary electric compressor kicks in.
Thanks Brett, I strolled over and look at the HWH systems and really got confused (which is easy) with all they offer for OEM so I was not sure what all parts of the HWH systems were standard on the FT coaches.
The way you put it makes it easier to understand
Thanks