Hi everyone! I am just starting my journey looking for a good used Foretravel motorhome. I have been reading a lot about them. I have decided on FT for a couple of reasons. One being the quality, and they are still being made. My budget is under 100 thousand. I would like 40 foot or under. I have a question that may have been ask already but I haven't found the answer yet. I like boondocking! Or better yet thats about all I can afford when snowbirding to the lower states for 6 months a year. This is my sixth year doing so. Ok Ok on we go. I believe, but I am not totally convinced that my type snowbird would be better done in a u295 as apposed to the U320's. Why? I am thinking because the U295's use a propane water heater and furnace. Is this enough reason to over look the 320 line? Or would it make a difference? I think simple is better!
Our budget was (much) smaller than yours.
I knew I wanted a diesel generator, and was firm on that. I was surprisingly indifferent on the heating systems. The coach we found and loved was a 320, but we would have bought it based on condition and appearance anyway, had it been a more modest trim level.
The Aqua Hot is a nice thing, but I also am drawn to the convenience of the propane furnace and water heater. I have replaced both on previous coaches, with some wrenches and a few hours. You tap your card at the RV parts place, throw the old appliance in a dumpster, and bolt the new one in!
1. No
2. to us it didn't as we dry camped a lot in a U-240 (forerunner of a U 295) and our 320 now
3. for sure.
If you set a 320 up for boondocking/dry camping it will preform just fine. If you re a credit card repair person the 295 will be better than the 320. If you are a tinkering DIY person then the 320 will be better with our experience past and present.
Mike
I boondocked almost exclusively in my U320. They're exceptional for long term off grid camping. I would prioritize maintenance history over features personally
One small advantage (pun intended) to the propane heaters is that they don't take up any space under the floor. Especially in a 36' model, if you are the kind of person who tries to take EVERYTHING with you, the extra storage bay space could be valuable.
with an aquahot it's also easy to go full electric and ditch the propane tank for similar space savings. I think you'd need at least 2000w solar and 600ah (12v) for that to be doable though.
By set up I think you mean solar power. I have 1200w on my existing touhauler with a 600 amp lithium battery bank. I would transfer the batteries and charge controllers over to my new coach for sure, but would buy new panels. Not at all new to boondocking and solar power. I am new to anything Foretravel or motorhomes in general . I am not a credit card type of person and would do most of my work. At least until I can't anymore. At 72 that could be tomorrow i guess. I don't know much about aquahot or the power requirement of a 4 travel coach. But then again 50 amp is 50 amps
But they do have a much larger propane tank taking up space. U320s have a 19 gallon propane tank. We really re glad we ended up with a 320. 3610 but now believe a longer coach wouldnt make much difference so added length wouldnt be an issue. The 320 does weigh more.
Preferred coach model to use pros and cons (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=47317.0)
With this added info I would sure look at a 320 if the floor plan fits your needs.
Pamela & Mike
Either would be OK for boondocking. I had a Monaco with propane heat it was fine but I prefer
the 320 with the Agua-hot as I like the 3 zone heating and the quiet of the of the small heating
fans. I like the extra power with the 320 as I drive in the mountains a lot.
Just an observation from the boondockers at Quartzsite. 12 Foretravel coaches last few weeks, 4 Aqua Hot rigs, 8 propane heat source. Seems like 3 out of the 4 Aqua Hot units had issues one is totally out of service even after Aqua Hot repair guy made a visit. Haven't heard of anyone having issues with their propane furnace. Extra space needed for 320's diesel capacity, 50 gallons more to accommodate greater overall fuel burn.
Most I have done in over 20 years have replaced a $95 circuit board for the hot water tank.
I would encourage you to look at the other differences in particular coaches rather than fixate on aqua hot or propane. Double pane windows are a plus. The easy repairablitity, maintenance and troubleshooting of the stone ax reliable non computerized Cummins 8.3 is a major plus for me. (But! if you're not doing your own maintenance then the lack of a computer interface means many repair places will be clueless without that diagnostic interface) No problem towing, mountain passes included. The 320 has more HP, for those folks who want to have the fastest turtle in a mountain race. :) If your usage will include cold weather living, then the care and feeding of the aqua hot starts to make sense. The propane heaters will do the job, but they are noisy and go thru propane at a good clip. But if you're not going to be in the cold, then the AH seems an unnecessarily complex and somewhat finicky device to maintain.
Horses for courses. Look for a well maintained coach sold by a knowledgeable owner. Watch out for rusty undercarriages and engine compartments. You don't want one. Research thoroughly based on your priorities and buy once.
Wouldn't a larger propane tank be a good thing when boondocking?
I filled up our U320 propane tank when we bought it in 2015 and refilled it last Aug. and it only took 8 gal. A bigger tank would not help our situation. The only thing that uses propane is the stove and boondocking is all we do.
We had a 1996 u295 36' for over 15 years until this last summer and it had propane and It worked great and easily to repair. The big propane tank lasted a couple years if you don't use a lot of heat. We live and camp in Montana in the summer and need some heat in the mornings in the spring time camping. However when using it when it's cold 0-32F the windows will freeze up some with single pane windows. We also had solar, so we were mainly Boondockers.
THE only problem with a Foretravel is that we could not go down very many dirt roads because of the airbag suspension, does not like washboards, and pot holes can brake your front windshield. We have always had to camp somewhere less off road and then take our tow vehicle which is a jeep exploreIng.
If you are coming from a tow trailer you may not be happy with where are you can go. Just my thoughts.
Now we have a 1999 36' u320 with solar, with all the 320 upgrades so we will have to see how it goes. Either one will limit you on which gravel roads that you will travel. At least for us.
The difference between the 8.3 and the m11. We had been towed twice with that 8.3 due to engine issues. Just because the 8.3 is a manual pump does not mean that it is simpler than a computerized M 11. But I guess time will tell.
With all that being said, we still love the luxury of our for travel !
I have been looking at a 2002 Foretravel U295 4020 AGDS. Don't really know what all that means but so far just looking at pictures on the internet I like what I see. I am still in the "what is all that stuff phase" but it looks like a quality coach. Certainly when I am ready to buy one I would get it inspected and the fluids tested. My list of needed things on a coach seems to keep getting longer. I like insulated windows too!
Aquahot requires a bit of maintenance, but the more you use it the less maintenance mine seemed to require.
Diesel fuel burn is negligible, endless hot water a plus.
Whatever you do, make sure the coach has dual pane windows - especially if you are using propane -
propane creates water inside the coach and single pane windows will sweat or frost up, not to mention heat loss.
bigger maintenance item is slide room, you will have more space and more maintenance with a slide room
As others have said, the prior maintenance on the coach is important, brakes, airbags, steering box, front end parts, tires, refrigerator all can dent the pocketbook and are all things that will need replaced on a 25 year old coach if not already done.
Tim Fiedler
Quartzsite is where I am at now. It would sure be nice to meet up with a few Foretravel owners! I need a lot of teaching on these coaches. I usually stay on dome rock road but I was afraid of all the homeless and illegal aliens coming through there this year. I am at the arm pit of the rv world here at 88 Shades now. I hate it!
Ok I'll bite !
What's 88 shades ?
I gotta know
Go here. You would find lots of folks willing to help.
Quartzsite late '23 to early '2024 (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=47058.msg480286;topicseen#new)
It's an RV park on main st in Quartzsite. The cheapest stay here in town.
As far as engine HP goes, the older engines without DEF, smog control bigger mufflers etc are the equivalent of todays engines that are about 50 hp larger. Our 36' 270 loaded towing a toad positively purs in the hills !
Love the simplicity of the propane furnace which heats the storage bay but probably not quite as well as the aqua hot in freezing temperatures.
And that's what I don't understand about the "boondocking" fascination. I'm not against it, Just don't fully understand it and it's not for us. A Foretravel is not a very high clearance vehicle. So one can't get very far off grid to begin with. Many thousands worth of solar panels, special chargers and lithium batteries will not change the water issue. Barring the water limitations, I could stay in the boondockes for moths with the factory batteries and diesel genset.
Start here. Lots of info on the floor plans, what was available/offered by model, etc:
Getting to know your Foretravel [ForeForums Foretravel Motorcoach Wiki] (http://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=through_the_years:start)
"And that's what I don't understand about the "boondocking" fascination. I'm not against it, Just don't fully understand it and it's not for us. A Foretravel is not a very high clearance vehicle. So one can't get very far off grid to begin with. Many thousands worth of solar panels, special chargers and lithium batteries will not change the water issue. Barring the water limitations, I could stay in the boondockes for moths with the factory batteries and diesel genset."
A person who spends a lot of time off the grid has switched to using the term "off-the-grid" or OTG to refer to staying in places where there are no hookups in use. That could be a parking lot at a store, or a campground that only has basic sites available. He reserves "boondocking" for going well off the road, usually needing a 4WD vehicle to get there (he has a travel trailer).
We checked out three BLM "campgrounds" near Carlsbad a month or so ago. Didn't take the trailer, just the truck for a bit of a day trip. One was literally a big parking lot right off the highway. Just pull into the gravel lot and set up. No indications of where one site ended and the next one began. The other two had designated sites, but rougher roads. We met a MH towing a small car coming out of one of those two as we were going in. Two motorhomes, each with toweds, meeting at that spot would have been interesting, but doable. In both cases, going slow (walking speed or less) would have been fine.
This is boondocking at its best but our newer coach will never go where our '81 does.
For me boondocking is the best! It is much better than being crammed into an RV park, like sardines in a can! Still finding new areas on this site to explore while doing what I like the best! BOONDOCKING!
I too avoid Sardine cans by doing a bit of pre-trip planning and in six years have only been to a couple that fit that description and those were for short stays on the way to somewhere else.
I completed Jungle survival school in the military. So my desire to see how long I can survive without a water refill just isn't my idea of relaxed camping in my old age.
Although I can see the fun of the Foretravel group at Quartzsite.
If you're staying at 88 shades, there's a Grand Villa in Holiday Palms next door. There are a few at Quail run. The gaggle of us (now 15 strong) down at Roadrunner BLM. Drive down 95 to 53rd St (aka La Paz Valley Rd), go through the large dip and turn in at the next opening. You'll see us down at the end. There are GV's, U270's, U295's and U320's.
Yes I have stopped at Roadrunner BLM and talked with Doug and a few others. I also have seen the one in Holiday Palms, but the owner won't be here for another week. I will look at Quail Run tomorrow. Maybe another stop out to the Roadrunner BLM area would be in order now. Waiting for the snow to melt in Michigan so I will be here for awhile longer yet!