Hello everyone,
My wife and I will be full-timing in about 2 to 3 years. I plan to purchase a used 40' coach within the next 2 years. I'm seriously considering selecting a 2000 - 2005 U320 for our future coach. My budget for the coach is $120K. Budget for any renovations and upgrades is $30K.
I plan to read and learn from as many of the posts from this great forum as time allows. There is a lot of great information here. Any help with learning about the U320, the Foretravel coaches and what to worry about when buying a 15 to 20 year old DP is appreciated.
Your budget looks good especially in 2 years as prices will be lower. Keep reading the Forum and visit any sales that you have time for. Near the end, see what is available at MOT and on the classified here, and buy your coach after having it inspected.
My advice is, to buy as soon as you find your "right" rv. Often in the past, when new motorised rv sales were off, used prices rose. All is not certain. Your "remodel" items often take much longer than you planned, as documented by the years going bye, since and as some of the forum members projects progress.
Last and most important, this gives you time to use, enjoy, get the updates you require, and make some 1 to 2 day short overnight stays to get familiar with your, new to you, purchase. Some of our most fun, and informative trips have been these local, short overnights.
When I find a forum member I like, in the past 2 years since acquiring our FT, I will click on their avatar picture, and read all of their posts, as you say, as time permits. Many of these go back 8-10 years. Yes, much terrific information here on this forum. Best of wishes, your on the right path.
My wife's favorite update was the Samsung residential refrigerator, Samsung tv, and mine too. My second favorite is the Progressive Industries and Hughes Watchdog power protection with the electrical powere off feature protecting me from both bad power from my rv park post and generator. Next is my Xantrex Sine Wave inverter/charger giving us clean power and better microwave performance. Since that acquisition I am enjoying both Victron products, the battery monitor 712 and the solar controller 150/85 tr with approx 1200 watts on the roof. The quality, usefulness with bluetooth displays are awesum. The Kill O Watt AC meter, and Victron 712 are helping me measure my usage so future battery upgrades are meaningful.
All,
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post. I'm impressed by all the great information in this forum and the willingness of others to step up and help by posting. I hope one day I get a chance to share some information on the Foretravel coach that others may find useful.
Regards,
Peter
Buy your coach as soon as you can so you have time to do the remodeling projects before you live in it full time. We replaced our floor this summer. So thankful for farming friends who allowed us to moochdock on their property and stay in their home during the process. Doable, but much harder to complete projects and live in the RV at the same time.
Deb