I have been looking around for a while and based on what I have seen I thinking I want a full body paint 36' U320 with the headlight conversation and would consider a 295. I wanted to get some input about the 270. Anyone been in my mindset and ended up with a 270? Also any input with any 270 owners would be great. Lastly full body paint or not? Thank you for your input!
I was shopping for a 295 when I crossed paths with the 270 I bought.. May not have bought it but it had new interior including floors.. All seats and valance's redone in genuine leather never sat on.. I ended my search after a though inspection.. I could be perfectly happy with 320 295 but I don't regret "settling" for this 270. I've never felt like I was missing anything that mattered much going down the road in it.. Towing capacity is the biggest difference and with what we tow it is a non issue.. Different people from different parts of the country have different needs and wants and all are legitimate.
Shiny white gelcoat is the best in my opinion, boats to mega yachts for a reason. Could not be happier with my present U270.
I wanted the headlight conversion as well and this one had it. At the time Extreme was about 10 month wait to have it done..It could have easily taken me a year to find exactly what I was looking for and at my age I need to be in the road and not waiting to get in the road.
Dub I figure as long as I'm vertical I'm good to go lol
Chris
Don't let the length of the coach or model number limit your shopping experience. When you see what you like, you'll be satisfied. The headlight conversion is also a good choice.
These are worthwhile questions but, respectfully, only part of the equation. First, IMHO, is how you plan to use the coach. Foretravel coaches came in lengths from 34' to 42'. Also in slide and no slide versions. 270's are simpler coaches in the sense that they run on propane or electric for refrigeration, heat and hot water. Simple systems, easily repaired and maintained and almost universally available replacements while you're on the road. Given the age of these coaches plan to invest in repair or replacement of refrigerators, furnaces and hot water heaters.
295's could be special ordered with Aquahot and 320' came standard. A really nice option but requires regular use and maintenance for troublefree operation potentially adding to higher long term costs.
Slides are really great for the extra elbow room they provide but be prepared for the additional maintenance and higher cost repairs than no slide coaches. Non slide coaches can be had in all lengths...spend time on the beamalarm website looking at floor plans...especially kitchen and bathroom layouts.
270's typically came with oak interiors (our 270 was ordered in walnut) while 295's and 320's came in walnut but a few in maple. None of this affects operation...only aesthetics.
MOST important, IMHO, is engine and transmission maintenance. Good records, regardless of mileage are the most important purchase consideration. Costs here for poor maintenance and possible breakdown trump all other considerations.
Last on the list, IMHO, are full body paint and headlights. A perfect coach in all other aspects can be fixed by adding $27k full body paint at Xtreme (much less in Mexico) and headlight conversions ($3500 at Xtreme). Best of all is a perfect coach in all other areas with existing full body paint and headlight conversion since most coaches won't ever recover the full cost of these cosmetics.
Finally, don't forget interior cosmetics. 20+ year old coaches might need:
1. Recover dash
2. New floors and /carpet
3. New or refurbished captains chairs and seating
4. Window valances
Don't let this scare you. No matter which model or length you choose and no matter what you pay or spend, intelligently, you'll have a better quality coach than ANY new RV at comparable cost.
Darn, when I saw "models", I got all excited :o . Can't do that to old people.
We have owned our 1997 U27 for over 20 years, living full time & traveling the US & Canada. Extreme Full Body Paint 9 years ago and looks like it just came out of the paint shop, looks great & shinny, easy to care for.
Would not have it any other way. We pull a 5,700 lb Jeep Grand and all mountains are flattened, of course some at 30mph. Great coach, easy to maintain, most things ourselves.
The Bowman's U270 is a real beauty. Maybe they will chime in.
We love our 2005 U270 36', which was the last model year for the U270. Our paint is in near flawless condition and we have it professionally detailed every other year. Instead of a headlight conversion we had MOT replace the bulbs with LED's and put in new LED marker/turn signal light housings. Happy with the illumination and way less costly. Updated with residential fridge and will update front TV and receiver. We have two slides also have tile and MCD's..
TEXU270, do you have a source for the LED marker/turn signals?
We love our 36 ft 99 U270, started looking for a 320, the power etc. Decided we would prefer simplicity and bought a coach with good bones and remodeled it to our taste.
Found that we have plenty of power with the 350hp Cummins engine, and the ride is great.
Way prefer the white gel coat, easy to buff a scratch out and cooler than a painted unit in the sun.
We had the headlights done, painted stripes, roof, upholstery, new captains chairs, etc etc.
would we like the extra switch to turn on the generator or water pump, probably. Would the aqua hot be nice in freezing weather? yes .., but when our simple suburban gas heater quit anyone can repair it.
We do not live near Texas, we wanted something to enjoy, and enjoy we have!
look at units and buy one you like, them make it yours'
Good luck
Richard, my source was MOT, Blake Land, the parts manager, 1-800-651-1112, ext 501. It was MOT who chased down the source for the LED bulbs and replacement housing for our generation lights. The LED bulbs for regular headlights are 13000 Lumens and 6500 Kelvin (white light) and for the highs: 15000 to 20000 lumens. There are conversion headlight assemblies available with projector style lights with halo rings (upper housing) or you can just put in the LED bulbs in the existing OEM housing.
Look at this 2003 U295 36 ft single slide with an aquahot. 2003 Foretravel U295 36 Foot for Sale (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=40147.0)
A 2001 U320 has painted graphics, full length ducted AC, the newer dash style, a headlight conversion can be done, more basement space than the same length coach in later years.
Look at everything, try to learn all of the variations from year to year and model,to model in trim, equipment, basement arrangement and floor plans. Talk to owners with specific floor plans that you are interested in to get feedback. Imagine yourself living in the coach you are looking at. Sit in the bathroom, try the kitchen, both of you sit in the dinette. Some things can be changed, others are harder/more expensive to do.
Best luck and success with your search.
I was shopping for a U320 when I found my U300 on the forum. No regrets and I'd do it again.
I suggest you check out the various years and models. Depending upon your tastes and uses any one of them might be "perfect" for you.
We wanted a 40-ft U320 and wanted to pay cash. In 2012 here on Foreforums we found a 1995 U320 in outstanding condition and purchased it. We have done some routine maintenance and I have personally done some upgrades (such as installing a Samsung RF18 residential refrigerator in 2018, removing the vinyl stripes and sanding, buffing and sealing the gelcoat in 2019 and installing LED headlights this year). This U320 has been and remains "perfect" for us. (For us, at least, the Aqua-Hot is a significant benefit. It's great for domestic hot water as well as heating the interior, storage bays & engine preheating. We would definitely not want a motorhome with an Aqua-hot.)
However, there are various members here who have U295 or U270 models, including some with full-body paint, and each one appears to be "perfect" for the one who owns it.
Bottom line: Study and shop carefully and carefully evaluate your intended use, and you will probably find your own "perfect" model!
Love that new front end and so different than any other coach out there
Johnh
I second that. I printed out David's list of parts. I'd sure like to knock it off. I think it's the best looking front end here.
Re starting the generator from the bedroom, I hated that damn switch. I was forever hitting it by mistake. Different strokes.
jor
Jor I agree about the bedroom generator switch. When I did the rewire for my generator I purposely didn't hook up that switch.
Count me in, I disabled the bedroom generator switch because of several inadvertent starts.
Richard