I am a former Wanderlodge owner, looking to buy a Foretravel. There is a 1998 U270 for sale in Spring, TX at a dealer, Top Choice RV. Does anyone know this coach. I am interested, but if there is one thing I learned from being a Wanderlodge owner, it's to have provenance on the coach before buying. Any help would be appreciated.
https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/-5015306527
See if the dealer will give you the build number info off the data plate by the driver's knee. It will be a number that starts
F98
The next 4 numbers will be the build number. Note, this is not the VIN number (which likely starts 1F98, so it will be confusing - you want the number that starts with the letter F, not the number 1)
Foretravel Model Code [ForeForums Foretravel Motorcoach Wiki] (http://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=through_the_years:model-codes)
That looks like a FOT headlight conversion
I think its a little over priced for a 1998 U270, but the market is crazy and dealers are asking crazy prices. It does have full paint, can't see the inside. I did notice they painted the bulkhead angles black? Just would have to do an inspection. I also seen a electric fan in the engine bay? must be trying to pull air why?? I would think normally this should be about a 50k coach, but if one wants a coach right now looks like they are going to have to pay.
May put what you are looking for, Model, year, others may help you locate one.
If I was going to spend close to the 65-70k range John Morales has his coach forsale its a 1999 U320, alot of goodies, bigger engine, wider entry door, etc, check his ad in the classifieds section.
How are you able to distinguish between FOT and Xtreme conversions? I need to figure that out with mine so I can call with a few questions
Over half the fan is against the wall which makes no sense. It can't push or pull air through the wall.
Yours look like extreme headlights. Gary Omel helped design the cutout on the side of the main lights.
Mark
I do know they have it listed cheaper on rvt.com.
They had pictures on the interior previously. Reading their add, they are redoing the interior. The interior was definitely dated when the pictures were first up. So you might talk to them to see exactly what they are doing to the interior.
Oh the price on rvt was the same before they decided to redo the interior. The rvtrader price was raised.
I love the paint job but I think this baby is waaaay overpriced.
jor
Shape of the fiberglass around the lights, the bulbs themselves. If you look at a Phenix and compare side by side, a FOT conversion has the same exact design. We spent a lot of time looking at both up close.
I saw this coach briefly about a month ago. Very nice exterior paint. Interior pretty much all stock but good shape for age. Just getting over Covid and hopefully will get the all clear this week. Wouldn't mind taking a more detailed look for you.
Electric fan on the left wall is usually AC condenser fan
I have a genuine question to those who think it is overpriced, why do you think it is overpriced?
I got nothing to do with this but really would like to understand if anyone can get a Class A diesel pusher for $75-$100K at the caliber what we see and know and for a second assume it is a good FT all around.
A new and few years old diesel trucks, for example a F250 or Ram 2500 run around $50-60-70K, yet the new engines with all kinds of restrictions and DEF.
I personally struggled with this before the pandemic. Beginning of 2020 I thought about selling our FT and tried for 3 min and just did not want to deal with the process and kept our FT. We have a 2003 FT, I will burn it before I give it a way for $50-60K
I will give a genuine answer since I made the comment. Typically the ones who don't like the comment are the ones from my experience who have priced to high and do not sell, commenting to justify why these high quality coaches should bring over priced amounts. I let the market decide. I have followed Foretravel's for 7 years. I watch what prices people are actually getting compared to there asking price. Covid has thrown everything out the door. There are not enough coaches out there so the people has raised their prices, I mean I have seen stupid price gouging...... from what I'm used to seeing. Good for sellers, and bad for people who just now are looking at prices, they don't know any better. I could give many examples of member coaches that I have seen and sell for what you may consider low prices, but that was just the market then. I would love to make my point and give examples of what I would call good buys. It was just what the market brought, not what sellers always think their coach should be worth, I know I have sold before, we always think our coach is worth so much more typically then what the market says.
I think it would be a good time if you are thinking about selling, the market is crazy. I don't think 125k crazy but I think more realistically you could get 80-90k.
I will give an example....one of those "stupid prices" I will keep it safe and talk about a 1999 Bluebird LXI 43ft on RVtrader. No slide asking $189,999.
This coach typically will bring 85-90k, but since this is so "pristine" I would say 95-105K. I know I follow bluebirds and I owned a 1999 LXI, 5 years ago and sold it.
I agree completely - what is going on now in the used market, price-wise, is ridiculous. Used 2017 LTVs are selling for more than we paid for ours, new, right now. I don't believe it to be sustainable. And I agree - under normal times this would be a $50-55K coach.
Compare it to John Morales coach in the classified then say it isn't over priced.
I think the used RV market has changed from a "something I might like to try" market to something that might resemble a commodity market. There are those buyers that are buying that say "this will do," others have really done their homework. Those that say "this will do," some will be discouraged some will come back and say "I want a little better quality".... They will want better AC, better heating, a little more space, and want it to run like a screaming Comanche. This has happened in the land buying market, home market, and various other markets. When the craziness subsides, a little coherence will set in but the price will still be at a premium...... Just my crystal ball.....it's broken in the past a couple of times.
Overpriced is a difficult thing to determine. Assuming the coach is overpriced and a standard U270 with no upgrades or modifications would be in the mid 30's. One would say that the cheaper coach is good value !
So you buy the good value coach at $35000 and add the headlight conversion at $3000, new stripes for $10000, repainting the roof $2000 then bring it to MOT for new fuel lines and miscellaneous repairs $10000.
New shocks, air bags and tires $7000
Update the drivers seat and passenger seats $5000, recover the sofa and dining chairs & replace the recliner $4000.
Engine belts, hoses, full service and new sound insulation $2000.
Repair failed window seals $2400
As your spend goes on you might want to update the mattress, window treatments, the lighting, flooring, radio, televisions, etc.
if the coach to are buying has had solar panels added there are thousands more involved.
New batteries can cost $2000.
Good value/ bad value has to look at what you are getting. Many of the older Foretravel's are sold for way less than that are truly worth.
This coach in question may not be a good deal if it has not had a lot of upgrades.
The value of any coach can only be determined by doing the math.
I am not sure if there is any tangible case can be made for any given time and call it a buyers or sellers market for the "Foretravel product" that is from 93 to 06. This is strictly my opinion. There are brakepoints, $30K, $50K, $75K and $100K. For some folks when the asking price is over $50K no matter what the details are it will be "overpriced" while anything under $30K may be a bargain for that person. In a perfect world Foretravel buyer is an educated buyer, done his/her homework and the seller is ready to move on, so everyone is happy. I was lucky to purchase 2 this way and sell one.
We seem to be in the same situation with our 2018 fifth wheel. We'll find out shortly if the market is really willing to bear the high asking prices I'm seeing.
Thanks for all of the replies. I am currently doing my homework. I looked for 2 years before I purchased my Bluebird. It was considered to be finest example of that particular model in the country. I owned it for 6 years and only made it better. I sold it last March for thousands more than I paid for it. I would think that there are buyers in the market for only a Foretravel just as there are in the Bluebird market. When I listed my Bird, I sold it in 3 days. I have owned 6 class "A"s, and will not own another junk Elkhart built coach. If this particular Foretravel coach was as pristine as they claim, at the right price it would already be sold. Based upon my research so far, I would agree that a max target price would be around $50K. Due to my shop's size constraints, I can only get a 36' in there. My Bird had a height of 11'6", which is identical to the U270. I have a max height of 11'9" that I can get in there. My criteria is that I am looking for a coach that is is a 9 out of 10 in every category, with detailed history of ownership and maintenance.
Again, thanks for the discussion replies and the help.
It is a nice looking coach, but it is a U270, smaller motor, transmission, fewer house and start batteries, and no aqua hot. The paint job looks nice and it says it's a Foretravel factory paint job which I assume means it's a Foretravel headlight conversion and was painted at Foretravel. But paint and extras that are added on are kind of like putting a swimming pool in a house, you will never get your investment back when you sell a house. I've been to this sales lot before. They're a small consignment lot that has a few units that they've bought to flip. When I was there last year the guy had no idea about a Foretravel or what it was. I have a friend that recently bought a 97 u320 and paid 49K for it and another friend that bought a 99 U295 and paid 41k for it. So my opinion of this one is it is overpriced quite a bit but everybody's got a price on what they're willing to pay so who knows might be a great deal for somebody. Just my .02.
Keith
pictures look to be updated. The interior looks like new wood flooring. The chairs and sofas also appear to be recovered. I have no connection to this unit, but I just noticed it in my search.
Mike
A small thing, but for me, at that price point it should have hose and power reels. This coach seems to be over priced. The paint is beautiful but it does not add a 15K premium.
These discussions about the price of a coach seem fruitless to me. A coach is worth, at any given time, what a buyer will pay for it. Supply and demand. Doesn't matter what price is set by the seller - it won't sell unless a buyer agrees that the price is acceptable. At the exact moment a deal is struck between seller and buyer, that particular coach IS fairly priced. Impartial observers may disagree about the value of the coach, but their opinion is irrelevant to the deal between the seller and the buyer.
It isn't until after the sale that buyer's (or seller's) remorse kicks in... :headwall:
My husband and I are purchasing this coach. We noted and appreciated the comments of forum members re overpricing. We did get a break on the purchase price, but several factors helped us make the stretch: - we had the coach inspected and it is in 100% working condition, the interior is clean, updated and aesthetically pleasing, the exterior is near perfect with a great paint job and all new windows with no creep. Service records were available, and showed good maintenance. A major consideration was that the coach was nearby and we were able to view it on several occasions. It was probably the 10th coach we had looked at, and bottom line, we thought it was worth it when you added up all the improvements and excellent condition. We are excited and look forward to seeing you down the road - we are moving up from a Camp Inn teardrop!
PS - the dealer was reasonable and ethical to work with.
I printed out Reply # 23 (which I agree 100%+ with) and showed it to my wife, and she pointed out that this might be the case, but it only showed the difference between right and left brain thinking dominated people. I forgot which category (engineers) I am in, but it is inferior to hers.
The only thing we both agree on, is the fact that we like the coach we bought last summer.
I just hope the seller is as pleased with the deal I made as I am.
Taking off next week to the first trip from home (north of Spokane, WA) to Texas, brought the coach for trip preparation out of winter quarters today
Regards
Klaus
It looks great. Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy ours. We easily spent any premium you paid on getting our interior all updated.
Rich
Congrats on your purchase. BIG step up! ^.^d
It sounds like you did your due diligence and found a coach that met
your requirements. That is all that counts. When you get the time, please start a new thread, introduce yourselves to the group, tell us about your coach, and ask questions. There
will be questions. We are always glad to welcome new members to the Forum.
PS: You might consider joining the Motorcade Club. In "normal" years, they sponsor many group activities, plus you get a 10% discount on parts at the factory.
FORETRAVEL (https://www.foretravel.com/motorcade-club)