A kind member here just sent me a link to an 01', U320 listed out in Santa Cruz, a mere 3,000 miles away from my home. It's a model that is high on my list and looks very good in the pics however, and might be worth considering if I could agree on a price and figure out a way to get it inspected...
2001 Foretravel U320 40' 45,000 miles ,000 obo - rvs - by owner -... (https://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/rvs/d/aptos-2001-foretravel-miles-obo/7304352028.html)
Or maybe somebody here has already looked at this one? Long shot, I know.
As an aside, anybody ever bought a used coach from a longer distance than 3,000 miles away?
I'm from Santa Cruz. It's a nice place for a vacation.
Can't help with a Left Coast inspector, but I've got a Long Distance Buyer candidate who I believe has the record: Mr B2 (now known as Mr B3 - he had to change his Forum name when his computer crashed).
Brian bought his coach sight unseen and had it shipped by boat from California to Australia - about 7,500 miles as the crow flies. His story is a fascinating epic adventure...highly recommended. Just search his Forum name with the Forum search tool and sort the results "oldest first".
Its on the road, (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=19138)
Based on the listing photos, exterior cosmetics appear good, roof looks clean, and living spaces appear well maintained. Engine/Gen and basement bay components not shown so no ideas about that. If I was in the market, and depending on how far away/how serious I was about buying, I would definitely give it a look. Even if all checked out clean/functional, I wouldn't offer full price.
Slide bladder and air bags are original. If no bulkhead damage just needs the price lowered to allow for bags and bladder.
We bought our 2001 U320 coach from the original owner in California while we were in Hawaii then flew to Minnesota then to flew back to California, picked it up and drove back to Minnesota. All in at about 14,800 miles.
This coach is worth a much closer look. It appears to be from the owner, maybe not. Call and establish a conversation, ask for more specifics, more pictures. Where has it been? Where has it been stored?
It looks pretty much original which is OK. Then you get to do the upgrades that you want to do on your schedule. Miles are low but OK if used regularly. Price is fair for this coach. If you are going to try to go much lower then you better have a specific reason for making a much lower offer. Too low and the conversation will be over.
At this price in this condition it will not be on the market for long.
10617 is a very "old" Motorcade Club number. Not many numbers lower than that on the current roster. If it is a legitimate number would indicate long-time very experienced Foretravel owners.
SWFL, Air bladder replacement is expensive on the 01. The slide has to be completely removed (unlike in subsequent years, where it can be pushed in). MOT quoted me $3k for labor and $1.5k for the bladder. I have heard enough horror stories about bladder replacements that I would want to take it to Nac to have it done.
What does this mean? I'm not familiar with these numbers or Motorcade Club>
Also, if I were to request photos of the potential hot spots for the corrosion problem, how would I ask that question? I don't know specifically where to tell them to look.
Motorcade is a club of Foretravel owners with connections to the Foretravel factory.
The numbers were issued consecutively, so the smaller the number, the earlier they purchased their first Foretravel. That number is then theirs forever-- same or different Foretravel.
How can you tell that these items are original?
I see, I hadn't paid any attention to that number on the coach previously. I suppose it's entirely possible that the number has nothing to do with the current owner and that it's just a remnant from some previous owner.
Certainly could be, or could be current owner.
Many of us have Motorcade directories and can look up at least what they show as of publication date.
Because they are not mentioned being changed. If they had it would have been on the list of new batteries and tires and changed fuel lines.
Ideally, you would like to see some photos taken of the belly of the beast.
Photos looking down the underside length of the coach should show belly skin that is tight and smooth. You don't want to see any of the bottom panels sagging or bulging or distorted in any way.
The bulkhead area of concern is a piece of angle iron that runs across the width of the coach, located behind the front suspension at the point where the bottom fiberglass skin starts. In the rear it is in front of the rear axle, again right where the fiberglass skin starts. There are bolt heads visible on the angle iron from one side to the other. These are the bolts that we talk about when doing a "torque test" to see if any of them are broken. If any of the bolt heads are missing, that is a bad sign.
Take a look a the photos in the post linked below. These are the areas you want to see in photos, but hopefully in better condition.
Water Leak Below Battery Pad (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=41936.msg419133#msg419133)
At 45K miles and a California coach not likely the air bags or shocks need replacement. Slide bladder subject to inspection, use and luck, about $4500 to replace. Cheaper at HWH.