Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Thinking of purchasing a 1998 U295 (Read 613 times) previous topic - next topic

Thinking of purchasing a 1998 U295

Hello Everyone, this is my first post. I have been a Foretravel fan for a longtime and thinking about purchasing a 1998 U295 from MOT. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to get an understanding of cost of maintenance.
Brian & Lisa Freeze
1996 U295 36FT Build #4914
Motorcade #18760

Re: Thinking of purchasing a 1998 U295

Reply #1 –
Welcome! Lot's of info on this forum, search is our friend. I've owned my coach for 18 months. Probably around 10-12K first year for tires and all needed or maybe needed services, maybe because there wasn't history so did them anyway. Cost will greatly depend on what you can or will do yourself, also be prepared for the upgrade/add-on bug, the nice to have stuff will add up quick. Knowing what you are starting with will aid you as well, an inspection by a qualified person is well worth it. Good luck!
Bill and Marsha Kuykendall
1999 Foretravel U320 36' CAI
Build Number 5446
2006 Lexus GX 470

Re: Thinking of purchasing a 1998 U295

Reply #2 –
We have had 5 coaches.  One was a 1997 U295.  It was both comfortable and dependable.  It drove like a dream and we enjoyed it a lot.  One of our forum members bought it when we traded it in and still has it as far as I know.  You get a a lot of coach for the money on those non-slide U295's if it is well maintained.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Thinking of purchasing a 1998 U295

Reply #3 –
Quote from: brianefeeze –
Hello Everyone, this is my first post. I have been a Foretravel fan for a longtime and thinking about purchasing a 1998 U295 from MOT. Any thoughts are advice would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to get an understanding of cost of maintenance.
first off welcome to the forums. Wealth of information here from the people that know these coaches inside and out. As far as maintenance is concerned it's pretty difficult to determine how much you would have to spend on a coach since we don't really know what coach you're looking at, what's been done to it, and how it's been maintained. However if you're looking at one at motorhomes of Texas then you're probably going to find what's in pretty decent shape. regardless try to get it inspected by someone who knows foretravels. Might save you a lot of money.
when it comes to these coaches there are several things that you need to think about. Those are the obvious potential defects such as bulkhead issues, the maintenance or lack of, engine drivetrain and air leveling systems to name a few, and then the upgrades to the interior such as replacing flooring, how well the wood was maintained, the condition of the appliances etc.
I can only tell you my experience.
I only looked at one coach. That may have been the mistake but the coach that I looked at was the kind that I was looking for. I wanted a u320. I wanted an aqua hot. I had been reading the forms for a number of years before purchasing so I was aware of some of the issues. My basement had been replaced. My airbags have been replaced recently. The tires were not that old although I have to start thinking about replacing them next year or so. It was being used full time and seemed like it was in good shape. I got it expected by Brett, we did a good job pointing out a lot of the issues and potential issues as well as maintenance issues that I have to look at over the next couple years. Money well spent.

Since then I've replaced quite a number of systems or items on the coach. These include both air conditioners, fuel lines, a toad braking system, recovered the jackknife and dining room chairs, replaced the pilot and copilot chairs, recovered the dash and all the front vinyl, replace the tile floor, replace the mattress, change some of the plumbing around, put in a new toilet, put in all new LED lighting, redid the front steps, redid the front cap with insulation and soundproofing as well as new LED lighting up top on the clearance lights, just re wallpapered, replace all the countertops and sinks and faucets, going to replace the sanitation valves, put in new water and electric hose reels, and quite a few other things that I can't think of right now. It's all added up to a pretty nice chunk of change. Very little of it was absolutely necessary other than the fuel line hose. I have yet to do some of the engine maintenance and general maintenance that I'm planning on. I'm also going to reinsulate the engine compartment and generator compartment which I have the materials for just haven't got around to doing that yet.
If you can find a coach set somebody's already done that stuff to it, then that's money will spent, assuming that they did what you wanted them or liked them to do. Really depends on what you're going to use to coach for. My personal feeling is that buying one of these things to have it sit most of the time and use it just on a once or twice a year basis is not a good idea. They don't like to sit. But if you're buying it to use it you won't find a finer coach for the money out there. And you won't find a better place to get the information you need to keep it up than these forums.
Good luck.
Bob
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Thinking of purchasing a 1998 U295

Reply #4 –
These coaches are like beautiful boats, how much will it cost you? Many members say you need 20CB just in case. You are going to bring mechanicals your to date, if the previous owner documented maintenance that's a big saving. You are going to update interior items that can cost a lot.
You are buying a coach that is so much better than a more expensive new coach. If everything was up too date you will certainly have 2CB in oil changes and routine service. Tires will work out at about $700 per year over 7 years.
The unexpected is exactly that and 2CB does not buy you much.
We bought a coach that ran beautifully, was in good condition an spent 11CB at MOT on about 45 items we wanted repaired, fuel lines, cleaned fuel tanks, etc.
Even with what we have spent it's less than we would have spent on a new Forest River 24' Class C, which we have also owned, there is no comparison.
There is so much we have done that may not have really needed doing, it's tough to say how much it will cost, but it's so much fun. An amazing ride, great holding tanks, auto start generator, leveling with jacks or planks, a dependable engine designed for heavy use in the likes of garbage trucks, comfortable seats, solid wood cabinets, storage that makes the competition weep.
It's not what you will spend on it, it's how much time you will want to spend in it!
Hope you buy one and it exceeds your dreams.
David & Emma Roche
Dino (Golden Doodle)
1999 U270 WTFE 36' Build # 5534
Xtreme "Lights, Stripes & Roof"
Motorcade# 18321
Dayton, Ohio
Towd: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Two Townie Electra Bikes

Life is made to enjoy, the Foretravel helps!
 

Re: Thinking of purchasing a 1998 U295

Reply #5 –
Welcome to the forum! We bought our first ever rv nearly 3 years ago. We love our Foretravel and just bought our 2nd one, found one we really liked. Our 1st one is consigned at mot right now. 2000 U320 recent updates and has been well loved since we had it...  big motor and aqua hot 👍👍👍
2000 Foretravel U320 4010 | Motorhomes of Texas
The selected media item is not currently available.Keith & Jo
2003 U320T 4025 PBBS Designer series
Build 6203    Cummins 500hp
2000 U320 4010 WTFE / Build 5762 —Sold—
Motorcade #18070   
Pasadena, Texas
2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara-Sunset Orange pearl coat
Don't argue with a fool, people watching might not be able to tell the difference.