It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Topic: It's a Six! New owner signing in. (Read 1280 times) previous topic - next topic

It's a Six! New owner signing in.

January 24, 2011, 09:58:58 am

I'm happy to report that I'm a happy new owner of a 96 U295! Not only is it a six speed, it's equipped with a joystick retarder. This is Chris Cantrell's coach that took an unplanned offroad trip in Mexico. I've got some work ahead but this rig has been well taken care of by a very knowledgeable owner. I'm happily studying reams of paperwork and sourcing parts.

Life has taken a great turn for the better. We bought this coach taking the long way home from my mom in law's funeral.

I'll be going back to Tucson to pick the coach up, have new tires mounted and shake down from Az. to Tx. After that it's on to bodywork and full paint, HID lights....you know, fun stuff!

I appreciate everyones advice and help during the search. I'll be a-buggin you plenty for more.

Chuck

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #1 – January 24, 2011, 10:06:21 am

Hey Chuck,

Welcome aboard. You will find plenty of help here.

I am glad you are working to rebuild this coach rather than someone else selling off its parts.

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #2 – January 24, 2011, 10:32:42 am

Quote from: skypoke – January 24, 2011, 09:58:58 am

I'm happy to report that I'm a happy new owner of a 96 U295! Not only is it a six speed, it's equipped with a joystick retarder. This is Chris Cantrell's coach that took an unplanned offroad trip in Mexico.

I'll be going back to Tucson to pick the coach up, have new tires mounted and shake down from Az. to Tx. After that it's on to bodywork and full paint, HID lights....you know, fun stuff!

Congrats and welcome to FT ownership! Don't forget to update your profile with you new-to-you coach info, if you'd like. It'll help when you ask questions about your specific model

I'm looking forward to see what you do with the full body paint.

Quote

I appreciate everyones advice and help during the search. I'll be a-buggin you plenty for more.

Bug away - that's what the forum is for!

Michelle

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #3 – January 24, 2011, 11:01:07 am

Congratulations Chuck,
I am a recent convert myself and I have been loving every minute of it. The worst part is watching it sit while I would rather be traveling and seeing the country. Our first trip is right around the corner and I am so stoked. Enjoy the new to you coach and drive safely.

Grace and Peace, Mark

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #4 – January 24, 2011, 03:53:43 pm

Congrats!!! I hope all goes well on your projects...and that you enjoy your new-to-you coach....

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #5 – January 24, 2011, 08:32:42 pm

Congrats on the new to you Coach. You are getting a great coach. I would also suggest you tell Foretravel that you know own your coach by the coach number in the vin. They will put the vin with your name and if you call them or they have a recall they can contact you.

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #6 – January 24, 2011, 09:05:44 pm

Quote

I'm happy to report that I'm a happy new owner of a 96 U295! Not only is it a six speed, it's equipped with a joystick retarder. This is Chris Cantrell's coach that took an unplanned offroad trip in Mexico. I've got some work ahead but this rig has been well taken care of by a very knowledgeable owner. I'm happily studying reams of paperwork and sourcing parts.

Life has taken a great turn for the better. We bought this coach taking the long way home from my mom in law's funeral.

I'll be going back to Tucson to pick the coach up, have new tires mounted and shake down from Az. to Tx. After that it's on to bodywork and full paint, HID lights....you know, fun stuff!

I appreciate everyones advice and help during the search. I'll be a-buggin you plenty for more.

Chuck

Chuck, FWIW, Colaws Salvage in Carthage , MO has a bus type FT in the back row, If I remember the RF corner was not damaged, might be a source for some parts.
Good Luck

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #7 – January 24, 2011, 10:06:04 pm

Mark, I'll see you on the road, Gary I'll be on Colaw parts like a chicken on a June bug, John I'm calling Foretravel tomorrow, Steve and Michelle, will update my profile. You other guys, Foretravel sages, I'm happily absorbing every pearl of wisdom.

Any recommendations for competent tire shops in Tucson? I need six new ones, might as well start off right and I've learned from hard experience to not push your luck on marginal rubber. Interestingly enough, when the front tire blew in Mexico for previous owner he had one rear tire removed, mounted on front blowout, and drove it several hundred miles home on five. That's where it's at now and why I need a Tucson shop.

Chuck

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #8 – January 24, 2011, 10:11:23 pm

Chuck,

I can't recommend a tire shop, but I can recommend a tire brand: Toyo. The Toyo M154 is rated for a coach your weight and heavier.

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #9 – January 24, 2011, 10:27:25 pm

Chuck,
I had a good experience at GCR Tire Center in Tucson. I bought six Michelins there a couple of years ago. They had the best price and seemed to know what they were doing. No problem handling big rigs. Here's the info from my address book.
jor

Store name:   GCR Tire Centers - Tucson (1194)
Address   3801 N. Runaway Drive
City, State/Province, Zip   Tucson, AZ 85705
Manager:   Thomas Vasey
Email:   tomvasey@gcrtires.com
Telephone:   520-888-6001

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #10 – January 25, 2011, 12:28:24 am

Quote from: skypoke – January 24, 2011, 10:06:04 pm

Any recommendations for competent tire shops in Tucson? I need six new ones, might as well start off right and I've learned from hard experience to not push your luck on marginal rubber. Interestingly enough, when the front tire blew in Mexico for previous owner he had one rear tire removed, mounted on front blowout, and drove it several hundred miles home on five. That's where it's at now and why I need a Tucson shop.

Chuck

Hi Chuck,

Congratulations and welcome to the group!

We bought tires at Redburn Tire Co - 3775 E 43rd Place, Tucson - 520-571-1130 - Bought in March of last year, and total price for 6 Michelin XZA3, 275/80R22.5 load rating H was $3500. We had only the front tires balanced. They were fine to deal with and had several coaches in at the same time.

Incidentally, a good source in Tucson for any type of truck parts (suspension, air, brakes, exhaust, etc.) is Truck and Trailer Parts, 2702 North Flowing Wells Road, 520-623-3663. Great to deal with and great prices.

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #11 – January 25, 2011, 07:41:23 pm

I'll give Redburn and GCR both a call tomorrow, see what they can offer. I've always run Michelins on smaller vehicles and have had good luck with them, but then again, that's what was on this coach when a front blew with disastrous results. I took a look at Toyo's site, they have some appeal for sure being pre balanced...cheaper...lots of good comments from others, but no 275/80 X 22.5 listed. I really want the best tires regardless of cost but try to keep an open mind. I just put Hankooks Y rated on my wife's Z3 and like em a lot more than the Pilots they replaced.

I'm thinking I'll go with an H rated tire, it's not feasible to weigh all corners, just want to very carefully limp to the tire shop on five wheels. I read a comment that since the H can be run at a lower pressure than G for a given weight, they give a better ride. I'd think this might bite you on fuel burn, what do you think?

Appreciate the references.

Chuck

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #12 – January 25, 2011, 08:22:20 pm

It's interesting to see Toyo Tires being recommended. I didn't even know they were made for motor homes. I had a set of Toyos on my 1989 Nissan Pathfinder. They provided the best traction on snow and mud of any tire I have ever had and lasted over 100,000 miles. Fortunately I shouldn't need new tires for 6 more years but I will look for Toyos at that time. Let's hope the Michelins hold up as expected.

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #13 – January 25, 2011, 08:31:23 pm

Quote from: Kent Speers – January 25, 2011, 08:22:20 pm

It's interesting to see Toyo Tires being recommended. I didn't even know they were made for motor homes. /snip/

Kent,

Last July I had a conversation with one of the managers of a Les Schwab store in Missoula, MT and even he did not know that Toyo made the H rated 16-ply M154s. Rudy Legget made me aware of this, and it takes some digging on the Toyo website to find this tire.

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #14 – January 25, 2011, 08:44:38 pm

Try loves truck stop they will deal on multiples try BFGoodrich made by Michelin in Canada,,,,,FWIW

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #15 – January 26, 2011, 07:42:28 pm

Just last week I read someplace on another board that Michelin is just putting in place a program for FMCA members... something like 55% off of list price.. FWIW... I don't know anything more about it, and will see if I can find the post.

Cheers

Ted in Seattle

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #16 – January 26, 2011, 07:55:41 pm

Quote from: HohoDad – January 26, 2011, 07:42:28 pm

Just last week I read someplace on another board that Michelin is just putting in place a program for FMCA members... something like 55% off of list price..

This?

Michelin tires discount - Escapees Discussion Forum

There's also a thread over on the FMCA forum (which is how I found the Escapees thread)

FMCA Community

From the second thread, it looks like our very own Brett Wolfe is already "workin' the network" to get more details.

Michelle

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #17 – January 26, 2011, 08:08:38 pm

This was over on SOB board....

one guy has confirmed the price with his Michelin dealer:

"I checked with my Michelin dealer today and if I would qualify for the program the cost for a XZA 2 Energy 315 80R
22.5 would be $467 plus Federal taxes not installed here in Billings"

Yahoo! Groups

YMMV

Cheers

Ted

Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 10, 2025 ...

It's a Six! New owner signing in.

January 24, 2011, 09:58:58 am

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #1 – January 24, 2011, 10:06:21 am

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #2 – January 24, 2011, 10:32:42 am

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #3 – January 24, 2011, 11:01:07 am

Re: It's a Six! New owner signing in.

Reply #4 – January 24, 2011, 03:53:43 pm

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Reply #5 – January 24, 2011, 08:32:42 pm

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Reply #6 – January 24, 2011, 09:05:44 pm

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Reply #7 – January 24, 2011, 10:06:04 pm

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Reply #8 – January 24, 2011, 10:11:23 pm

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Reply #9 – January 24, 2011, 10:27:25 pm

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Reply #10 – January 25, 2011, 12:28:24 am

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Reply #11 – January 25, 2011, 07:41:23 pm

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Reply #12 – January 25, 2011, 08:22:20 pm

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Reply #13 – January 25, 2011, 08:31:23 pm

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Reply #14 – January 25, 2011, 08:44:38 pm

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Reply #15 – January 26, 2011, 07:42:28 pm

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Reply #16 – January 26, 2011, 07:55:41 pm

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Reply #17 – January 26, 2011, 08:08:38 pm

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