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Topic: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280 (Read 827 times) previous topic - next topic

Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

 ;D Well James did a great job at presenting the coach to my wife and I. They have done a very great job over the years taking care of it and I hope to continue maintaining it to the same level. My wife in the end would not let us leave without buying it which was my feeling too so we had to buy it. We have found and gained a good friend in the process.

Now, the long process of importing it to Canada only to return it back to the US shortly thereafter in Washington State. We hope to have many years of good memories and with a pride of ownership of one of the best coaches on the road. I may need some advice to fully get to know the coach in the next year and maybe do an update or two with the help of the Foretravel Owner's Forum.

Special thanks to James and Barbara for everything they have done and are still doing to help us with the coach.

John Smith

John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

Reply #1 –
Congratulations on your Foretravel, and welcome to the family...and that is surely what it is.  Any problem or question will generally be met with a quick answer here.  Glad they told you of ForeForums.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

Reply #2 –
John, actually it is a simple process and should be all done in 10 days. I have imported 2 FT for myself and had you not bought it I was already talking to James about coming down to see and buy. Lucky you
John H
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Parati –
;D Well James did a great job at presenting the coach to my wife and I. They have done a very great job over the years taking care of it and I hope to continue maintaining it to the same level. My wife in the end would not let us leave without buying it which was my feeling too so we had to buy it. We have found and gained a good friend in the process.

Now, the long process of importing it to Canada only to return it back to the US shortly thereafter in Washington State. We hope to have many years of good memories and with a pride of ownership of one of the best coaches on the road. I may need some advice to fully get to know the coach in the next year and maybe do an update or two with the help of the Foretravel Owner's Forum.

Special thanks to James and Barbara for everything they have done and are still doing to help us with the coach.

John Smith

 ;D
 
John and his wonderful wife, (I'll let John introduce her to everyone here), have just registered their new to them '94 Grand Villa U280 in Canada, and it was parked on the street in front of their home last night!  Taking up much of the road to boot, as I understand it!  The transaction from beginning to end took a bit longer than what might be expected.  The big delay had to do with getting the new right front windshield put in since the first one had been scratched, and the previous order to that one was never initiated!  A few days after the glass had been installed, John was sitting high in the cockpit heading toward Canada through Seattle's traffic, looking down at semi-truck drivers as they had him sandwiched in, with his bride following in the family car.  I'll let them fill you in on any details, but he did say he thought the new Toyo tires had a bit of a hum to them...my response was that the old girl was just purring for him in that she was happy to be putting the miles behind her since she loves to run.

James
James McBroom
1994 U280 36'

Re: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

Reply #4 –
Congratulations! You will still smiling years from now.

Pierce & Gaylie
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

Reply #5 –
Thanks!!! Yes, it is hard not to smile every time I see it. I do have a lot of work to do on it but it is a pleasure to be working on such a nice coach and to help preserve it for someone else on down the road. We only take care of them for a while in life and never really own anything. It is called paying for the pleasure of stewardship. We have to preserve what was built in America so one day maybe it can be done again to these standards of craftsmanship. I have a small collection of American made woodworking and metalworking machinery that date back to 1893 and most are still working and waiting restoration. Now if I could only do that for myself!

John :))
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

Reply #6 –
Congradulations on your purchase.  I believe you will be even more impressed with the quality as the days go by.
You will find the folks on the forum are great about offering their knowledge on these coaches. 
Welcome to the Forum.
Jerry
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

Reply #7 –
You will love it. Have fun.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

Reply #8 –
Yay! Another Grand Villa within about 200 miles of where we have ours parked. We should form a club. :P

Congratulations! Stop by if you get a chance.

Craig (and Sue)
Moses Lake, WA
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

Reply #9 –
Craig, and once we get back from NJ there will be another one(my Brother Geoff's), although in White Rock area of Vancouver, just a few miles north of the Berlin Wall. (it feels like it sometimes the way they interogate you on return!!)
John H
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

Reply #10 –
Quote from: John Haygarth –
Craig, and once we get back from NJ there will be another one(my Brother Geoff's), although in White Rock area of Vancouver, just a few miles north of the Berlin Wall. (it feels like it sometimes the way they interogate you on return!!)
John H

I know John!!! It will give us lots more excuses to travel north. We have not crossed into Canada since they put the wall up. I love the Okanogan anyway!!!

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."
 

Re: Just bought a 1994 Foretravel U280

Reply #11 –
Are any of you going to Foretravel Motorcade get together at Dayton, Oregon in September? That is Sept 4 - 8 just outside Lafayette and McMinnville, Oregon. I'll be there to find out more about the coaches since I'm still a greenhorn on these. Also, I like the area as there is lots to see and do there. Should be fun and the first outing with the coach.

It is good that we will have a larger group of Foretravels in the area for get togethers.

I have been having fun reading all the info in the factory manuals for the coach. It is good to read through at least once to know where things might be found when needed. Also, all the good info here on the ForeForum for newbies like myself really helps. I've managed to glean enough info to start putting together a check list for my coach that is suited to what I have and require, tools etc. Sure it takes time but as with anything else it will evolve over time into something useful, I hope.

Just remember anyone south of the border, if you come north be sure to fill it up, the fuel, before you cross into Canada. I guess I have been lucky all these years and never had a problem crossing. I keep my coach on the US side of the border under cover and it will very seldom, if ever, see the Canadian side now that it is registered and insured in BC.

John
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion