Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: How far away would you shop for a motor home? (Read 2032 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #25 –
This is my first rv I ever bought. I'm in Newark, Delaware. The coach was in Lakeland, Florida. A thousand questions over the phone and pictures led me to make a deposit. Flew down, spent a day going over EVERYTHING, and drove it back, a trip of 1053 miles.

I did take a risk, but it was worth it in the end. And I don't think it would have happened without this forum and Barry's website. An absolute treasure trove of info on the older coaches. I could not find this kind of information on any other make anywhere.

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #26 –
Good looking coach! Did the owners live in Mt Olive Shores (south)? It used to be known as Camp Foretravel as it was started with the backing of the Fore family and local realtors...
The Foretravel History booklet talks about it.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #27 –
Thanks Dave.  ;D

I have the bill of sale from the second owner (I am the third). It was purchased in 1995 from Foretravel of Florida (for $111K - yikes). I didn't know they were set up in Florida. Need to catch up on some history.

FWIW - she has only 85,000 miles on her and came with a freshly rebuilt Cummins 5.9 diesel and a fresh set of Toyo radial tires all around. The previous owner did his own maintenance, but neglected to keep the rad clear of debris. She overheated and the owner had to foot the bill for a new rad ($1538) and an in-frame overhaul, to the tune of $12,560. Only 2500 miles since the rebuild.

And while she does have but a 4 spd Allison transmission, cruising home I averaged 11.43 mpg. Very impressive for a coach this size. I think I stole it for the price - $17.9K. She needs some TLC, new coach batteries, and a new bathroom fan, but overall very nice. Just about ready to go fulltiming.  :D

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #28 –
Quote from: Merle Hench –

/snip/
 She needs some TLC, new coach batteries, and a new bathroom fan, but overall very nice. Just about ready to go fulltiming.  :D


Steve

If your fan is made by Fantastic you might get free parts from the fan factory.  However, Fantastic Fans was recently sold so I don't know if the new owners are honoring the former practice of providing free parts and shipping. 
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #29 –
I would say you did VERY well. That is a rock solid chassis and is sounds ready to go anywhere for you!
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #30 –
Quote from: Merle Hench –
Thanks Dave.  ;D

I have the bill of sale from the second owner (I am the third). It was purchased in 1995 from Foretravel of Florida (for $111K - yikes). I didn't know they were set up in Florida. Need to catch up on some history.

FWIW - she has only 85,000 miles on her and came with a freshly rebuilt Cummins 5.9 diesel and a fresh set of Toyo radial tires all around. The previous owner did his own maintenance, but neglected to keep the rad clear of debris. She overheated and the owner had to foot the bill for a new rad ($1538) and an in-frame overhaul, to the tune of $12,560. Only 2500 miles since the rebuild.

And while she does have but a 4 spd Allison transmission, cruising home I averaged 11.43 mpg. Very impressive for a coach this size. I think I stole it for the price - $17.9K. She needs some TLC, new coach batteries, and a new bathroom fan, but overall very nice. Just about ready to go fulltiming.  :D

Steve

Steve! Foretravel of Florida, in the old days when Foretravel owned the dealerships, was in San Antonio, Florida (near Tampa), It was right next door to a huge Marathon Dealer and just a short distance from Lazy Days. It was a small operation, not near as large as Foretravel of Tennessee.
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #31 –
We are looking at a coach that is 1,125 miles - as Google flies - away.

Have an inspection and oil analysis this week and if all is well we will be joining the club.

Keith & Joyce
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #32 –
Fly and drive! its the beginning of a grand adventure.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #33 –
My first FT was purchased while we were in Michigan and I found it in AZ. We started full timing after that purchase.

My second FT was when we were visiting MI in 08 we saw our dream coach. It was in WA.


Jeff & Deanna Stewart
98/04 Foretravel 4200
03 Yukon
Jeff, Deanna & Brianna
98/04 U320 4200 DGFE
06 GMC Yukon XL K2500 SLT
VET-US Navy Sub Svc

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #34 –
Looks like educated people do not have any travel limits when they find the coach they are looking for.  :)

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #35 –
1st gas coach bought over the phone 700 miles away, met the dealer half way swapped $$ and title in truck stop parking lot, 1st diesel pusher 900 miles away drove up bought it drove it home, Foretravel 2 miles from the house. I have used appraisal services to look at motorhomes as far away as 3000mi. If it's the right coach, and the right deal distance is not so much of an issue
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #36 –
How far, my wife and I flew from Contador Island Panama  to Panama City then on to San Antonio. In San Antonio we rented a car and started looking for a motorhome. I wanted to look at Beavers and American Eagles.  Over 10 days we drove to Houston ,Dallas FT Worth even Oklahoma City. Didn't finded any in our price range that seemed to be for us.  Then we drove to a place called Nacogdoches and took a test drive in a 1999 coach called a Foretravel.
joseph gambaro
1999 U295 36'

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #37 –
If there is anyone of you who might be looking for a GREAT 02 U320 40ft, 1 slide with 51,439 miles well maintained (by well trained & respected RV professionals) coach, this unit will be going on the market (here in the greater Seattle area) in just about three weeks.  It has lots of upgrades and amenities.  While I'm not looking for TOP Dollar, I'm not willing to give it away either.  Excluding all the upgrades (including the Glass Dash and 7inch VMS-440 color monitor) the current book value is $143K.  If you're interested, don't hesitate to contact me.  For the right person, I'm also tossing in for "free," a Thousand Trails VIP/Alliance membership (value $8,990) all you pay is the transfer fee, but annual dues is paid till 12/31/2011.  This is 3 weeks stay with no time out and reservations up to 150 days in advance.  I'll also toss in an RPI Preferred/Access membership, but hurry--that expires the end of July 2011.  Lots of extras such as 30 ft 50amp almost new electric extension cord, Progressive Industries EMI power monitor, engine & genset brand new belts, & filters, AquaHot filters & fuel nozzles.  Reply thru this forum or send me an e-mail direct to jrc@gypsyjohn.net.  I will not be able to deliver it to your location.  Priced for a quick sale, I'll take $139K tossing in all the extras and more, above.


John Christman (aka gypsyjohn)


John Christman

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #38 –
Hi John,

I know from our correspondence over the past few years just how well you have maintained your coach. Someone is going to get a really fine motorhome.  With the thought in mind that not everyone will read this post, you might want to put this information on the Classified board. Best of luck on the sale.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #39 –
When I bought my first FT, I flew to Dallas, TX from Sacramento, CA to see a "perfectly kept" 1990 U280.  It wasn't.  While in Dallas, I contacted a person in Florence, CO who agreed to meet me in Raton, NM.  So I flew to Amarillo, rented a car and drove to Raton to find another "not so well kept" 1991 U280.  Drove back to Amarillo, flew back to Dallas, and used the return ticket to Sacramento that I had "just in case."  Then I bought a 1990 U280 about 75  miles away in Twain Harte, CA.

When it was time to move up in 2005, I found a 2002 U270 in Greensboro, NC in a magazine ad...2212 miles from where I was living in Arizona.  Flew there, liked it, completed negotiations and flew home.  A week later, I flew back and then drove it home.  Second day was 815 miles from somewhere in TN to Amarillo, TX...and I wasn't even tired.  What a difference from a 250 HP 4 speed to a 400 HP 6 speed.  I'm down to more like 300 mile days now, LOL.
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: How far away would you shop for a motor home?

Reply #40 –
Just did...979 miles. And tomorrow I will be home with it!!!

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159