Another NO GO Coach

Topic: Another NO GO Coach (Read 2031 times) previous topic - next topic

Another NO GO Coach

March 07, 2017, 09:39:22 pm

Newbie here, looking for my first motorhome. We have looked at three FGV's to date, including this one.

Unit inspected:

1996 U280 SBID, 36', Allison 6 speed w retarder, vin#: 1F97D5368TN054267, diesel gen, few pics but looked great. Listing has since been taken off Oodle, so no pics.

Ran vin# on CarFax. Only one entry returned, in 2010, which noted it had 77k miles, in TN. At the time, I thought this was odd.

Pics looked great, called owner who said it was in excellent condition, had owned it abt 3 years. He said he did not know how to determine tire mfg date, but they were Michelins and had plenty of tread, unit had no leaks, replaced batteries, fluids and belts when he bought it, said when my wife steps in will fall in love with it. Would not take less than $35K, so I said ok upon my acceptance after I inspect it. Located a bank near his hometown in MT that could access my bank account and allow me to get a cashiers check for the amt agreed to. Got insurance quote from my ins company, State Farm, abt $1K a year by the way. Owner owed bank, so I called his banker (which he ok'ed) who said he needed four days for the cashiers check to clear: In Montana owner has title, but bank needed 4 days for check to clear before it would send a lien release to my home address. Explained to owner that I have never driven a motorhome and would need detailed explanations of how things worked.

To see this one we drove from Nashville, TN to Montana, 4k miles up and back, to look at it. Called owner several times prior to leaving, morning we left, and in route, half way to location of coach.

Basically drove non stop, changing driving with my wife, slept in car maybe 4 hours, about half way there, because owner said he was leaving on vacation that Friday. Got to the coach abt 1:00 on Tuesday for first inspection.

After introduction and we talked a bit, turns out the owner has owned 5 motorhomes over the years, including one with a tag axle. Very experienced. Unit was running when we got there.

I checked the tires first, all Michelins, newest was 16 years old and weather checked.

Owner said he had only been up the ladder to the roof one time, when he bought it. I went up the ladder, snow on the roof, rear air conditioner had hole in it the size of a large softball. I did not walk on the roof due to the snow. Search light on the front top center of coach broken off.

Air suspension bags all in good order, bulk heads had no rust at all, front and back.

Checked inside windows, cabinets, and ceiling for leaks, found none. I went to the back AC to see if any leaks, owner called me to the front so he could explain how everything worked, going from front to back.

Refrigerator in very bad condition. Owner had emptied coach, but did not clean it. Front passenger seat seam ripped open, tach did not work, fuel gauge did not work, corian cover on sink broken.

I said I wanted to inspect the coach more thoroughly, read the maintenance history and would probably finish by afternoon the next day.

I figured it would take $3K to $4K for tires, $2K or more for a new fridg, probably another couple of K's to fix the roof and replace dash instruments.

Owner said he wanted me to make a decision and take the check to his banker COB the same day we got there. That is, he expected me to inspect the coach, learn how to operate it, get the cashiers check from a local bank, take the check to his bank, in three hours. Said he had a business to run and could not give me until the next day to inspect.

We left and drove back to TN.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #1 – March 07, 2017, 09:48:43 pm

Check out the coaches for sale in Nacogdoches. Usually priced near true market value, reputable representations before you leave home, usually a few in any given price range to look at.
You can spend a lot of $$ chasing "bargains" and miss important items on an inspection unless an expert is involved

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #2 – March 07, 2017, 09:55:08 pm

You may check out some of the coaches for sale on the forum.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #3 – March 07, 2017, 10:03:41 pm

Great advice given, Head to NAC, the Mecca for everything Foretravel. You can shop coaches at FOT, MOT and Old Town.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #4 – March 07, 2017, 10:42:52 pm

You did good to walk away from that one. But, while you were here in Montana you could have come and looked at my 40ft U320??
Only joking as I haven't even advertised it yet!! But, it will be in NAC the second or third week of April as I do a state visit to the home of all FT's, and have it polished and the coach part inspected and/or serviced.
You have come to the right place for information and there are several with known history on here for sale. Save yourself a lot of mileage.
Speedbird 1.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #5 – March 07, 2017, 10:51:57 pm

So is your 93 gv for sale?

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #6 – March 08, 2017, 04:25:26 am

All of the comments are appreciated. I assume NAC = Nacogdoches, TX, I know FOT and MOT. Did not know about Old Town. Just went to Old Town Website to see inventory.

In their inventory they show this:

1994 Foretravel GRAND VILLA, Nacogdoches TX - - RVtrader.com

and which is also listed here, with just a tad bit more information:

1994 Foretravel GRAND VILLA, Nacogdoches TX - - RVtrader.com

I came across this coach some weeks/month ago, and passed on it because it does not have a retarder and because it has sat outside most, if not all, of its life. I have talked to a man who was trying to handle the sale of the coach for his father-in-law. It has a CAT 3116 with Allison 6 speed, but no retarder, original tires, belts, etc, so I passed on it. I bet it is on consignment. But since a reputable dealer now has it on their lot, maybe I will rethink my position on this coach.

We have been planning on leaving for Florida in a couple of hours (again driving from TN) to look at a (this is listed in this forum's classified section as "93 GrandVilla") 1993 FGV ORED with a Cummins 8.3L engine, 4 speed, possibly with a retarder, steel springs.

DRAT. DRAT. DRAT: Now I am equivocating again, this would be the second time I will have told the owner of this GV ORED I am coming down to see his coach, only to cancel the trip.

I think I will call Old Town Motorcoach when they open and talk to a salesman. If I don't visit this page for a couple of days it is because we are either on the road to FL or TX.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #7 – March 08, 2017, 08:38:49 am

Quote from: Rzrbrn – March 07, 2017, 09:39:22 pm

After introduction and we talked a bit, turns out the owner has owned 5 motorhomes over the years, including one with a tag axle. Very experienced.

I checked the tires first, all Michelins, newest was 16 years old and weather checked.

And yet he doesn't know anything about date codes on tires?

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #8 – March 08, 2017, 08:48:25 am

Remember Nacogdoches is the home of Foretravel. Lots of coaches to compare.
Should make trip there. U could just leave with a coach.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #9 – March 08, 2017, 09:28:06 am

Quote from: Travelin' Man – March 08, 2017, 08:38:49 am

And yet he doesn't know anything about date codes on tires?

Big red flag there. If he isn't taking care with tires how is he treating the coach? It amazes me to see some seller's photo's. They can't clean the coach and put the junk away before they take pictures? Not a good sign.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #10 – March 08, 2017, 09:28:52 am

Take a look at this one. Ran across it this morning on The Craigslist. Much closer. I know nothing about it. Just pointing it out.
2000 36' Fore Travel Motor Home

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #11 – March 08, 2017, 10:16:23 am

Rzrbrn, I sent you a PM.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #12 – March 08, 2017, 10:47:40 am

If you are going to shop and look at a lot to find a deal, you gotta have experience in playing the game. Get pictures, talk and feel them out on the phone, have deal set up before arrival. But even then, one often has to walk away.

Boat and RV shopping.....the more you look at, the better you become! I can only explain it as, when you come across the right one, you just get that feeling. Trust the gut. I almost bought a boat (I'd been looking at a lot), but I just wasn't excited over it. Fair value, but not exactly what I wanted. The broker bugged me to make the offer, but I ultimately stayed quiet. For a while I wasn't sure if I made a mistake. Then a few months later I asked a guy about his performance figures on his re-powered boat, and jokingly asked "if you are ever going to sell, let me know". Well, a few months later I owned his boat...and he never listed it!

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #13 – March 08, 2017, 11:02:42 am

Quote from: Jeff & Sandy – March 08, 2017, 09:28:06 am

They can't clean the coach and put the junk away before they take pictures?

Love it when there's a picture of the commode with one-ply hanging off the roll almost reaching down to the floor.

Ours doesn't look that way when we're not trying to sell it.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #14 – March 09, 2017, 10:30:26 am

Note to self;

Have owner send picture of tire date codes prior to driving a long distance to inspect coach.
Depending on circumstances.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #15 – March 09, 2017, 10:42:15 am

Quote from: Travelin' Man – March 09, 2017, 10:30:26 am

Note to self;

Have owner send picture of tire date codes prior to driving a long distance to inspect coach.
Depending on circumstances.

Respectfully disagree. Ruling out an otherwise excellent coach because it needs tires may not be in a buyer's best interest.

Subtracting for cost of new tires would likely be a better answer.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #16 – March 09, 2017, 11:19:17 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – March 09, 2017, 10:42:15 am

Respectfully disagree. Ruling out an otherwise excellent coach because it needs tires may not be in a buyer's best interest.

Subtracting for cost of new tires would likely be a better answer.

Agree, every coach we considered, I figured tires into the deal. We bought the coach we have now, knowing it needed tires.It wasn't a deal breaker.Besides that, it's an advantage, you have the peace of knowing you have new tires.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #17 – March 09, 2017, 11:27:33 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – March 09, 2017, 10:42:15 am

Respectfully disagree. Ruling out an otherwise excellent coach because it needs tires may not be in a buyer's best interest.

I agree with both of you. Opinion # 3 is if the PO has not paid attention to the tires, what else has not been serviced?

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #18 – March 09, 2017, 11:39:11 am

My suggestion is to call Mel at MOT and tell him what you want and let him call you when he gets one. I bought mine sight unseen based on Mel's judgement. It was never listed on the MOT web site as it was traded in on another Foretravel. And I bought it after a independent inspection. I think there is a number of Foretravel motorhomes that never get listed. If I wasn't so satisfied with mine, I would have bought Dave's FT before it ever got listed. Good luck.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #19 – March 09, 2017, 08:32:14 pm

I sent you a pm last night about a coach in Florida that is in excellent condition

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #20 – March 10, 2017, 09:07:01 pm

I have new tires and possibly oil change, belts, etc in the budget. My concern is when the owner is not up front about the weaknesses of the coach, perhaps thinking that it simply being a Foretravel is sufficient to overcome objections to such issues.

It has been expressed on this forum that 20% of the purchase price should be allocated for rectification of issues and unforeseen problems with the purchase of a coach. I am attempting to abide by this consideration.

I certainly will not pass up a coach because of old tires, or chipping decals, etc, if I can see that the coach has otherwise been taken care of.

My objective is to find a Grand Villa unihome exclusively, mfg'ed between about 1992 through 1998. I just don't much care for the look of the unicoaches.

Thanks to all who have offered advice.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #21 – March 10, 2017, 10:17:39 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – March 09, 2017, 10:42:15 am

Respectfully disagree. Ruling out an otherwise excellent coach because it needs tires may not be in a buyer's best interest.

Subtracting for cost of new tires would likely be a better answer.

Quote from: gracerace – March 09, 2017, 11:19:17 am

Agree, every coach we considered, I figured tires into the deal. We bought the coach we have now, knowing it needed tires.It wasn't a deal breaker.Besides that, it's an advantage, you have the peace of knowing you have new tires.

You guys missed my disclaimer "Depending on circumstances."

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #22 – March 11, 2017, 08:16:55 am

I agree on calling Nach. We bought our U295 from Tyle before it was listed (I think the engine was still warm from the previous owner getting it there from Kansas for us to look at) and our U320 from Stu when he told me it was just listed and they didn't have any pictures yet. He went out and snapped a few pics with his cell phone and I said we are on our way. Bought it on the spot.

Re: Another NO GO Coach

Reply #23 – March 23, 2017, 01:24:56 am

I can relate to all that running around only to be let down...when it comes to motorhome shopping. Wife and I left for what was to be a 4 day trip to San Antonio Texas to buy our new....used dream RV.
We live in WI so it was a 24 hour trip for us. We made the deal...pending inspection...looked at dozens of photos...made the trip. Only to get there and ...well to say the least. Never even drove it....
Looked at if for 30 minutes or so...went in told the sale gal...not interested. Got our money back from the inspection fees.
Drove to Houston...looked at another one...test drove...drove out well...needed some TLC.
Made an offer pending inspection....well 4 days are now 2.5 weeks...
Passed on that RV.
Ended up at MOT...
WOW...what a difference in dealerships.
Looked at a few nice coaches. Test drove a 1999 295 40 ft Foretravel.
Never heard of them before this trip...drove amazing. Made an offer. 4 Days later headed home. I cannot say enough as to how well we were treated... Brad our sales guy was incredible...he checked on us as we traveled home...
It was our 3rd rv but by far the nicest one we have ever owned.
We put on some 5,000 miles last fall. Ended up back in Texas. Took the RV back to MOT just because I had a few questions, they spent some 4 hours with me going over every detail concerning the electrical systems...air..suspension. I have called with tech. questions,was promptly answered. It was night and day difference in the dealerships.
I would gladly pay extra for the peace of mind as well as the great service we have been offered.
Love our new....used rv.
Looking forward to this year on the road.

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