My wife and I are considering purchasing our first motor home. I have looked at numerous units at MOT and are considering these.
1999 Foretravel U320 36 Priced at $ 62500 (http://motorhomesoftexas.com/coachrv/foretravel/1999--u320--36--C2130)
2000 Foretravel U270 36 Priced at $ 54500 (http://motorhomesoftexas.com/coachrv/foretravel/2000--u270--36--C2133)
Any help would be appreciated.
Oh, and I have spent way to many hours on this forum already. 🙄
Thanks in advance.
Steve
Both look good,if you will be towing a car get the 320 with the bigger engine,if not towing get the 270.
Have the one you like best professionally inspected stem to stern. Then you have a backup if too many problems with first choice.
That's a hard choice. The U270 has a tv upgrade and a nice looking interior. On the other hand we would give a lot more for aquahot. If you ever use the heat there is no comparison to the quiet and comfort, not to mention the engine heater loop (and the bigger engine.)
The '99 has low miles (whatever * means) and is only about $8K more. Bigger engine, bigger transmission, AH, more batteries. Some will point out the maintenance will be a bit more, a few more things to pay attention to to keep things running at top condition (AquaHot). If you are going to be an all year round user and country wide traveler the U320 will be a good choice.
I like the colors in the U270. TV upgrades are pretty easy. The W/D is an OK option, it uses a bunch of interior space.
The U320 has a ceiling fan, something you will really like.
The best thing if you can is just go look at them. Actually seeing them is really helpful. See as many as you can.
I have looked at both of them. The actual mileage on the 270 is around 121,000. Not sure actual on the other. Both look good. Just a hard decision. Will absolutely get whichever we choose inspected.
Will not be full time. At least for 8 or 10 years.
In our coach-life, an enclosed (separate) toilet room (pot-in-a-box) is a non-negotiable requirement. Neither of these have it.
X 2 on bath close looked a year before we found ours—— bottom line is it doesn't matter what we think get what you like and what best fits your lifestyle
I do agree with Roger if towing the larger engine will labor less but 8.3will do the job
As far as maintenance cost it a little more but again get what best suits you!
Just my 2Centsworth
Chris
2000 u270 36' is in our opinion the best of all Foretravel models. ISC engine is more than enough for anything anywhere. Every other model has some advantages and many disadvantages in our opinion. Buy simple, no slides, no electric toilet, no Aquahot.
Think about how many techs make a living on Aquahot maintenance. Compare that to how many techs specialize in propane furnaces & hot water tanks. Not to mention how much bay space Aquahot takes or how much weight it adds. Aquahot replacement cost is multi thousands more then simpler propane units.
Compare ISM to ISC engines and see how too much power is nice, but adds some complexity, weight, higher maint costs. ISC can easily tow heavy cars like 6000 pounders, for sure slower than ISM, but only on steep up grades. Why carry around the extra power and weight when most roads are level.
Your choice is a no-brainer for us, that is if both are no slide and in similar shape.
BTW, bedroom ceiling fans can be a health hazard when participating in some exercises.
320s with the big motor is nice. However as Barry said electric toilet, and aqua hot are getting up there in age. I can likely buy bothof my propane furnaces for less than some repairs on Ah. JMHO as these good old coaches age simpler is better.
I'd go with the 320, as well. Muscle good. Aren't there also some trim/option advantages, (as well as capacity and braun) to going up the line? Mine came loaded with lots of little touches.
The 99 U320 has the upsized dash air our 97 does not have. We were running dash air only today coming home at 100 degrees outside and it was bearable. Not uncomfortable enough to turn the gen on and turn on the airs.
The bigger Cummins ISM has the higher pressure fuel rail design which all the engines afterwards use.
Can be uprated I think to 500hp,
Driving the torquer engine will make a believer out of you.
Let me give you an example that occurred today coming down a mountain twisty road with a 4K weight tow car behind.
I downshifted the trans to 3rd gear at full revs and the bigger displacement helped hold back the coach as an alternative to the service brakes and/or the retarder.
Both the brakes and retarder generate heat in use. The additional capacity of the bigger engine allows more reserve.
As has been posted the hydronic heatings systems value cannot be over stated IMO.
Small temp swings. Quieter. No air drying internally. The ability to run the system off the engine directly offers an ultimate safety reserve. Plus the system can prewarm the engine in severe weather.
Three zones plus the tank bay offers true 4 season use without any special prep.
Versus 2 zone propane heat?
We are sort of preppers and the propane furnaces run time would be a fraction of the time the aqua hot can run off the diesel tank.
Four or five times longer?
Yes it's more money to buy and service.
With a propane furnace in the low 40 degree weather we were in last night if we tried to maintain a non cold base temp, the swings make the bedroom too hot then too cold and can make sleep harder.
5-7 degree temp swings on propane? 2-3 max on hot water heating(aqua hot).
I sold beaver Marquis in 1991 and they built hot water heating with four zones and each circuit had a fan speed controller on the lower cabinet face.
Your could walk through the coach and every section felt to be the exact temp as the others. Like a nice house heating system.
Three batteries are a big help if you dry camp.
Millions of coaches have been built and sold recently with little increase in campgrounds. So the ability to stay almost anywhere in any conditions make the 320 a true dry camp four season coach.
If you will not need the furnace much and plan to run the gen always and travel from power pedestal to power pedestal then the differences are lessened.
Many customers I sold coaches to wanted to meet more people in the campgrounds as they enjoyed that social life.
Some others want more an individual experience.
Being able to dry camp and use in winter may not be your use. So far. But the ability to be able to do either makes the 320 a true freedom machine.
Versus have to maybe alter our route and timing because of weather and no campground availability would be less useful to us.
I was in the biz long ago and was disappointed with the early coaches designs.
We really enjoy our U320's features and the creature comforts it allows.
DW turns up the bathroom and shower heating circuit just before a shower. She hates being chilled.
With the sliding doors closed she can control the bath temp quickly without leaving the bath,
As MOT mentioned in the ad the 320 for that price point will not last long.
Yes it's green
I agree with the U320. Earlier this year we bought a 1999 36' U320 at MOT. The price on the one now at MOT is IMO good. Less than we paid for ours but we have full body paint. Got lucky and were first in line when it came up. I really like the Aquahot for all the reasons mentioned above plus the 120Vac element keeps us comfortable at above freezing weather and keeps up with hot water usage while showering.
BTW that one's not green but this is GREEN:
1989 NEWELL COACH FAMOUS INDY 500 COACH HISTORY RACE READY WITH TRAILER... (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1989-NEWELL-COACH-FAMOUS-INDY-500-COACH-HISTORY-RACE-READY-WITH-TRAILER-LOOK/323436693856?hash=item4b4e544960:g:XAQAAOSwRn1blIko)
"Oh, and I have spent way to many hours on this forum already. 🙄"
Fireaggie, once you buy a coach Forum time will increase but with purpose.
Both of these coaches look nice. The U270 is at one end of the spectrum, simpler, maybe easier and maybe cheaper to maintain and the U320 is at the other, more engine and transmission, AH, lots of details that for most are hard to see until you compare side to side. Set aside budget to bring all service up to date, check tires and batteries, get an inspection done, you could get Rudy Legett to check the AH. It seems repetative but look at as many FT coaches as possible. You will develop ane eye for differences and condition.
Best of luck on your search.
I don't think it's repetitive at all. I spent a solid year on www.rvtrader.com It taught me a lot about the difference (and prices) of FTs, so when I found ours, I knew enough to make a solid decision! ^.^d
I tow my 2016 Tahoe behind mine with almost same engine that is in the U270 and I do not have any problem. I keep up with an entragra anthem that has 450 hp any where we have gone.
I looked at both of these coaches and almost pulled the trigger on the U270. Very nice condition and drives well. The wife loved the electric awning and it was full of camping "stuff". Here is a link to the original owners page prior to sale to the current owner. http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=351. I didn't consider the U320 due to the heavy cigarette smoke smell in the coach (looked very nice, just couldn't get past the heavy odor). I ended up purchasing a 99 U295 from MOT in August and love working on my new to me coach.
Thanks Greg. That's kind of the same thoughts that I am having. I don't think I could go wrong with the 270. They have worked on the cigarette smell on the other and it is better. My wife really liked the upgraded features and thinks we could get rid of the remaining smell. Going back to look again next week.
Amazon.com: Ivation Ozone Generator Air Purifier, Ionizer & Deodorizer... (https://www.amazon.com/Ivation-Generator-Purifier-Deodorizer-Purifies/dp/B01G62N5SO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1537127336&sr=8-5&keywords=ozone+air+cleaner)
Put this in it and let it run on high... run the ac and let it go for a week... repeat if necessary but it will kill all the smell in a treatment or 2
Did you look st that 1995 with the M11 engine, listed at $42000 as I recall? May be sold, visited with a fellow about it last week. Have not read all this thread, not speaking against any you have looked at. Just thinking about price and immediate costs when buy it.
No I haven't looked at that one. Trying to stay around a 2000 model.
Dear Aggie.....sure. Good luck, that typically good year (1999-2001) though others besides those back then are good solid options.
Mike
Would seriously consider Gary Omell's coach in the classified section,looks super well taken care of.